Some trips are organized months or even years in advance and are the result of painful savings. Others, on the other hand, are spontaneous and exciting. Going on a trip is a good way to have an adventure, relax or have a good time. By organizing yourself well, you can be sure that you and your friends or family will have a pleasant stay punctuated with surprises, good ones only.
Choose the place of your stay. When people want to go on a trip, they usually already have a place in mind. Where do you think you are going? Try to determine precisely the place of your stay: it is easier to organize a stay in London than in England .
Research the Internet and discuss it with other travellers. On the Internet, you can find travel photos, travel diaries and videos posted by people who share their experiences. For example, before you go on a trip to Japan, do a quick search: you can read all kinds of stories and advice from people who have recently visited this country. Each story will be different, so you can get an overall idea of where you want to go.
Take into account the weather conditions, the pros and cons of the location, the kind of activities you can do there (beach, culture, shopping), the kind of infrastructure you can find there (transportation, restaurants, etc.). ). What clothes will be suitable? Will you be far from civilization? What should you pack for this destination?
Choose the period of your trip. The period of your trip will be determined by a number of things, but above all by your schedule. How long can you be away from the office? In addition to these factors, take more general factors into account.
Do you want to travel off-season to communicate quietly with the locals or when the place is teeming with tourists which considerably increases all prices? By traveling off-season, your trip will be cheaper, but in some places, many tourist attractions and activities will be closed.
Prepare a flexible itinerary. Preparing your itinerary too carefully could backfire, as holidays rarely go as planned. Leave room for spontaneity, but keep some circuit ideas in mind. Write down the places you want to visit and the things you want to do. How many days will you have? Keep your general schedule in mind, you don’t want to end the vacation exhausted or completely bored.
Make a list. Write down the places you want to visit and include restaurants, museums, malls and other places of interest. This will give you ideas and save you from being completely lost when you get there.
Consider your mode of transportation. Should you take a taxi? The Subway ? Take long walks? If you take public transport, make sure you know how it works in the country you are going to.
Beware of travel agencies. When arranging your trip, the biggest savings you can make will be arranging your trip yourself using websites, travel guides, books and making your reservations on the internet instead of delegating the task to an agency. Agents obviously charge for their services, otherwise they wouldn’t be able to run their business, but in the end the result is much more expensive. By researching the Internet, you’ll save a tidy sum and be able to browse through hundreds of options in seconds.
Some travel agencies will assist you in the complete organization of your stay, while others will only manage your reservations for you.
Estimate expenses. Will you bathe in the bubbles of champagne in the swimming pool of a 5 star hotel or will you pace the youth hostels feeding on dry bread? The cost of your trip will largely depend on what you choose to spend. Spend an hour or two figuring out what your trip will cost you and your fellow adventurers. Remember to include the price of plane tickets and transportation costs.
Always leave yourself a margin and prefer to overstate prices rather than understate them. During a trip, unexpected expenses are inevitable.
If the result of your calculations is higher than what you are willing to pay, save where you can. If you have to shorten the length of your stay to do so, make that sacrifice.
Make a budget. Let’s say that, according to your calculations, your trip will cost you 1,500 euros, including plane tickets. You are leaving in 6 months. This means that you must save 250 euros each month to be able to afford to leave. Here are some ideas that will help you save money.
Ditch your daily coffee. If you treat yourself to a coffee for 3 euros three times a week, without it, you will save 50 euros per month, that is to say 300 euros in 6 months.
Eat at home. Eating in a restaurant is pleasant, but it is also very expensive! By cooking at home, you will save money because the food will be cheaper and you can eat your leftovers the next day.
While you’re saving, do your research. By planning your trip in advance, you can save money thanks to the offers and other deals that you can find online, for your flights or your accommodation on the spot. Find out what activities you can do and research travel tips for your destination. Look for bargains and buy your hotel nights, museum tickets and flights at discounted prices.
If you can, get a travel credit card. These days, many credit cards are associated with major airlines. You will thus be able to accumulate miles each time you spend money. You can use this card for all your daily expenses and watch your miles balance soar. Just be careful not to put yourself in the red!
