Now is the perfect time to start thinking about your travel plans for this year. There are many fantastic destinations to visit and so many fun things to do. And, yes - there is something to be said about going on vacation without any particular plan, just roaming the streets, meeting the locals, and going with the flow.
Exploring your chosen destination this way will bring you so much fun and great memories. However, if you want to be sure you'll see and do everything you want, we suggest creating an itinerary. By doing this, you'll be able to plan a perfect trip and experience the destination to the fullest. So, if you like the sound of it, keep reading to find out how to make a perfect travel itinerary.
Choose your Destination
Although pretty obvious, choosing your destination is the first and most important step of making a perfect itinerary. All the following steps will depend on this one. So, if you already have an ideal destination in mind - good for you! However, if you can't decide between two or five amazing places you want to visit, we suggest you do a little research. Fortunately, the Internet can help you in this decision-making process.
Furthermore, if you have no destination in mind, you can always throw darts at the world map. This is a fun way to choose your destination and open yourself up to new experiences. Of course, choosing a destination is easier if you travel alone or with your partner. However, if you're planning group travel, you'll have to meet and decide together. What's important in this situation is to be open-minded.
So, once you decide where you want to go, whether you're travelling alone, with your partner, or your friends, it's time to hop onto the next step of your perfect itinerary.
Set the Budget
No trip planning should go without budgeting, and this is no exception. You can't plan where you'll go, what you'll eat, and what you'll do if you don't know how much money you have to spend. That's why setting a budget is a must if you want to make a perfect travel itinerary. After all, your vacation can be as expensive or cheap as you want it to be. It all comes down to one thing - what you can and cannot afford. So, before making any further decisions about your trip, make sure to check your credit card balance and see what type of trip you can go on. If you're planning a group vacation, make sure it's something that everybody from that group can afford.
If you want to make every step of this budgeting process organized and transparent for everybody, we suggest installing a budgeting app on your phone. This way, you'll be able to document everything as you go and keep everyone involved in the process
Go over the Basic Information
If you want to make a perfect travel itinerary, you have to think about the basic information considering your chosen destination. This should be the backbone of your itinerary. So, let's talk about what basic information you should include when planning your next trip:
- Transportation. Flight numbers, transportation to and from the airport, directions to the airport and your final destination, car rental company (if needed), fees, and hours you'll spend on transportation. These are the key pieces of information you'll need to document and keep them within easy reach at all times. If you're going on a group vacation, let one person be in charge of this but keep everything transparent to others as well.
- Accommodation. Depending on your budget, you'll have to choose the type of accommodation you'll stay in. This can be a hotel, motel, Airbnb, etc. Whatever it is, make sure you book it in advance and put it in your itinerary. Additionally, if you decide to book accommodation with an access key, don't forget to write it down!
- Food. You may ask yourself, Why is food basic information? Believe us - it's crucial. You need to know ahead if you'll have food in your accommodation or if you'll have to eat out every day. If you're travelling on a budget, it's always good to research cheap restaurants in the place you're visiting. If you plan to cook, make sure to find a local market where you can shop for fresh food every day. The way you'll eat during your vacation will affect both your budget and time
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transportation, accommodation, food, etc. Photo by Dino Reichmuth from Unsplash
Plan the Activities
Now that you're finished with all the serious points of your itinerary, it's time to plan the more fun ones - activities. Again, making an itinerary when you travel solo or in a group differs significantly. But the gist of both is the same - finding activities you want to do, places you want to see, and creating a timetable for all of the above.
Of course, the activities you plan depend on the type of vacation you're going on and what you prefer to do while there. Some people like to do sports while on vacation - skiing, cycling, fitness, etc. Others want to experience a once-in-a-lifetime adventure such as scuba or skydiving. On the other hand, some like to relax by the pool and try different local specialties every day
If you like culture and exploring all the significant landmarks, make sure you do your research and put each stop in your itinerary, so you can easily track your schedule. For example, if you decided to vacation in Florida, make sure to plan and see the best of what Florida has to offer and then some more. There are many Florida attractions you should explore, so make sure to put each on your list.
Put Everything on the Map
Make a perfect travel itinerary by mapping out each place you'll visit. This is an extra step of planning you don't want to skip. When you decide what places you want to see, where you want to eat, and where you want to stop and take pictures for your Instagram, it would be a good idea to mark all these things on your map. You can find the map of the city you're visiting on the Internet and print it out. Also, you can rely on Google Maps; whatever works for you.
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By marking all the places you want to visit, you'll have a clear picture of your path. Estimate how long it will take you to get to each place, and the time you'll spend there. This will help you optimize your trip. Additionally, make sure you're using up-to-date maps with working schedules for public transportation.
Leave Room for Flexibility
Whether you're planning a solo or group trip, it's very important to make a perfect travel itinerary. However, you cannot plan absolutely everything. In fact, you shouldn't. Leaving some room for flexibility and, thus, using your imagination is always a good idea. You never know what you'll stumble upon once you arrive at your destination. And it would be a shame not to do it just because it's not in your itinerary. That's why flexibility should be on your list as well.
About MiTravel
MiTravel reimagines group travel planning. We offer an efficient, intuitive, and collaborative way for travel enthusiasts and avid planners to organize group trips.
Ditch time-consuming back-and-forth communication across multiple channels. Say goodbye to spreadsheets. Step into the future of adventures abroad with the MiTravel Planning Board!
To learn more about MiTravel, please email us at hello@mitravelapp.com or visit www.mitravelapp.com.
