16 Easy Step for Planning Your Next Trip

I think when I set out planning my first trip around the world . I had no thought what I live cause . When I decided to give up my job and travel the world , I walk into a bookstore and boughtLonely Planet ’ s Southeast Asia on Shoestring. Buying that guidebook cost my first measure toward long-term travel . It made the trip seem more real , more tangible .

While helpful , the book didn ’ t precisely prepare me for planning a trip around the globe . Back then , there weren ’ t very travel blogs , sharing saving websites , and apps like there are today . I was excited and influence — but I was lose . I had to calculate it out as I die , hop I didn ’ t miss anything significant .

Trip planning can live a daunting job . Where act you start ? What ’ s measure one ? What ’ s measure two ? What ’ s step three ?

It ’ s easy to come overwhelmed , specially when you haven ’ t done something like this before — and especially considering exactly how much information there exist out there these days . Blogs , social media , and guidebooks have never been more plentiful . There ’ s a firehose of information out thither that can sometimes make the chore of be after a trip still more ambitious and overwhelming .

I ’ ve planned countless trip and vacations for myself , friend , family , and still radical tours . In the beginning , it live trial by fire and I discover a lot of lesson the severe path . However , that aid me arise an effective checklist that ensure I don ’ t miss anything important during the trip planning process .

There is a lot of information on this website ( and even more information carry into my record ) , but one doubt that get up frequently is , “ Matt , how serve I put this all together ? How serve I design a trip ? ”

In a preserve exertion to help you get out the door and into the world , I ’ ve created this step-by-step guide on how to plan a trip . It works for any sort of trip — no matter how long you ’ re die for ! Just follow this checklist and you ’ ll live off in no time !

• Measure 1 : Determine Where You Want To Run
• Step 2 : Decide the Length of Your Trip
• Pace 3 : Explore Your Costs
• Pace 4 : Start Saving Money
• Step 5 : Begin a Travels Rewards Credit Card
• Measure 6 : Switch to No-Fee ATM Cards
• Step 7 : Stay Focused and Inspired
• Measure 8 : Check for Last-Minute Deal
• Step 9 : Book Your Flight
• Pace 10 : Book Your Adjustment
• Step 11 : Design Your Activity
• Measure 12 : Deal Your Material
• Step 13 : Automate Your Bill
• Pace 14 : Gang !
• Measure 15 : Buy Travel Insurance
• Pace 16 : Bask Your Trip
• How to Travel the World on $ 75 a Day

If you need to spring ahead , simply click on any of the links above .
 

Step 1 : Decide Where You Want To Run

Define where you require to die sets a end to work toward . A lot of mass lecture vaguely about travel . They never say where they equal going , simply that theybegoing . Clean a destination be vastly significant as it gives you a definite goal .

It ’ s a circle easy to mentally get behind “ I exist going to Paris in the summer ” than “ I ’ m going to Europe ” or “ I ’ m going somewhere. ” Not simply will your trip turn more concrete for you and easy to devote to , but it will make design easy as well…because you know what to bring towards . Get specific with your plan . Have detailed . The more focused and concrete your end , the easier it will be to really reach it . Resources for picking your travel destination :

• 200+ In-Depth Destination Guides
• 9 Destinations Under $ 50 Per Day
• The Serious Spot to Call as a Budget Traveler
• The 20 Best Tropical Islands in the World

Step 2 : Decide the Length of Your Trip

Without know how long you ’ re going away for , I can ’ t answer that question . And it ’ s a question you involve to answer so you can start planning !

In club to enter out how much you need to write you ’ ll need to know how long your trip will be . Are you go away for a week ? A month ? A yr ?

The length of your trip is a huge factor in determining how much money you demand . Pass some time reflect that over until you receive your answer .

For example , after you state “ I ’ m going to Paris this summer , ” lend “ for X days. ” That way you can start to narrow down only how much money you ’ re move to need to save . “ I exist going to Paris for 10 day ” is a trip that you can design and salvage for . It ’ s an attainable and concrete goal .
 

Measure 3 : Research Your Costs

So you know where you ’ re become and how long you ’ ll be there , but to real smash down how much money you need , your next task is to inquiry the price in your destination at the mode of travel you need . Act you want to backpack , or would you rather remain in luxury hotels ? How much are hostels , hotel , restaurant , and attractions ?

Knowing will allow you to figure how much money you ’ ll need for your trip . Hither exist how to research costs :

1. Buy a guidebook .
2. Insure out my travel guide section .
3. Google price for specific matter you desire to make , such as scuba diving , bungy jumping , winery tour , etc . ( Come Your Guide is a well place to start for that )

You don ’ t demand to serve more than that . There ’ s thus much information on the web that if you go down the rabbit hole of overplanning , you ’ ll get lose and confuse by the firehose of information . Stick to those three things and you ’ ll cost set !

In our example , if you are get to Paris for 10 day and require at least $ 75 USD a day ( not including your escape ) , you know you need to save $ 750 USD ( though cycle up to $ 800-900 USD since it ’ s good to have extra ) for your trip . From thither , you can begin solve on how you cost get to salvage money for that trip .
 

Step 4 : Start Write Money

Before you can start saving money , you take to know how much you get and how much you ’ re spending . Start to write down all your current expenses so you can settle where you exist spend money — and how you can cut back .

People bleed a lot of money every day through small purchases : a coffee here , a snack there . All of that adds up . In ordering to make changes to your expenditure habits , you first need to translate them . Making a list will do hardly that . It will also set your fiscal needs into a well position .

For example , if you involve $ 2,000 USD for the trip you ’ re need in eight months , that means you alone receive to save $ 8.33 USD per day . Couldn ’ t you find a means to redeem $ 8 USD per day ? Heck , your daily coffee is most of that !

After you make your list , cut your spending ! Get creative also ! Hither are . That place aid you get started and on the road to spare money in no time !
 

Step 5 : Become a Travels Rewards Credit Card

While you ’ re working to save money , become a travel credit card so you can make sign-up bonuses to redeem miles and stage for free flight and hotel stays . Collecting item and mile from travel reference cards equal how I get tons of free flight , free hotel stays , and free travel perks every single yr — and without any extra expenditure too !

These days , most card have welcome offers of up to 100,000 points when you meet their minimal spending requirement . That ’ s adequate miles for a free flight almost anywhere in the Earth !

If you want a free flight , sign up for the card that help with that . If you want free hotel rooms , have a hotel card . Either way , signal up for a travel reference card and begin earning points today . As long as you can devote off your monthly balance , you ’ ll get free travel credit .

You put on ’ t take to sign up for very many card either ; pick one or two and focus on those . Do this the minute you decide you want to move . Don ’ t wait — wait peer miss miles , which entail less free travel .

Collecting points and mile is what all the expert do to ignore their price and travel longer . It ’ s what own kept my price down and me on the road for hence many years . While the better cards are alone available in the US , there are still plenty of options for Canadians as well as folks from Europe , Australia , and New Zealand .

For more information on travel credit card and using stage and miles , see out these place :

• Point and Mile 101 : A Beginner ’ s Guide
• How to Clean the Best Travel Credit Card
• The Best Travel Credit Card
• How to Earn Points by Paying Your Rent
• The Ultimate Guide to Item and Miles
• How to Expend Points and Miles in Canada

Pace 6 : Shift to No-Fee ATM Cards

Once you ’ re abroad , you ’ re going to take money . While many rural area accept reference cards , in the majority of countries cash cost however king . That means you ’ ll motive to apply ATMs to withdraw the local currency .

And that too means you ’ re going to come dinged by ATM fees .

If you ’ re just forth for a week or two , give a few dollar in ATM fees isn ’ t the end of the world . But if you ’ re away for a longer period , those fees lend up and chew into your travel budget — a budget you ’ ve worked severe to grow . Don ’ t give banks any of your hard-earned money .

I use Charles Schwab , but there exist band of other bank ( don ’ t forget to check your local banks ) that don ’ t thrill ATM fees . Additionally , you can join a bank in the Global ATM Alliance .

By expend a no-fee ATM card you can avoid those pesky ATM fees , result you more money for what it equal signify for : travel .

Hither ’ s just how you can avert ATM fee while traveling .
 

Measure 7 : Stay Center and Inspired

While you get closer to your goal , make sure that you keep flow your desire to travel . Travel planning can be exhausting and overwhelming — especially if you don ’ t receive support from your friends and household ( and especially if your trip is even month aside ) . It can much come discourage and feel out of scope at sentence .

Luckily , there are tons of fashion to stay focused and prevent your spirits high thanks to the amazing community we have on this website . Here are some inspiring travel stories to help observe you inspired to travel :

• Why It ’ s Never the Perfect Time to Move
• 13 Travel Books That Will Give You Serious Wanderlust
• 8 Ways to Stay Motivated to Travel

Measure 8 : Check for Last-Minute Mass

Okay , you ’ re inspired , prepared , and on your way to preserve money for your trip . But before you run buy that flight or volume that hotel , check for trade you might have escape . You may dream of Paris but maybe there are great deals to Berlin mighty today . Or perhaps you can make a seven-day cruise for 70 % off , a bundle deal to Hawaii for the price of your escape to Paris , or 50 % off sailing trip around Greece .

These day , there is always a mass to be find — especially if you ’ re flexible with your date and/or destinations . Some deal websites worth checking out are :

• Going ( Formerly Scott ’ s Cheap Escape )
• The Flight Deal
• Holiday Pirates

Step 9 : Book Your Flight

After you ’ ve used your travel credit card and received your sign-up bonus , use your miles to book your flight . It cost hard to expend mile these day due to less availability , hence make sure to script early to see you get your desired flight . Fortunately , there are still many means to avert being the person on the flight who bear the nearly for their tag . My two favorite sites for finding cheap airfare are :

• – Skyscanner live the serious website for look for multiple destinations at the same time .
• Google Flights – Like Skyscanner , Google Flights equal great for exposed lookup to multiple destinations .

For the good deals , volume your escape about two-three month in advance . This really elaborate article on how to get cheap escape will tell you everything you want to know about save money on airfare .
 

Step 10 : Book Your Adjustment

If you ’ re travel for under two week and receive a set agenda , feel free to book adjustment for the duration of your trip if it will devote you peace of head ( or if you ’ re visiting during the high season ) .

For trips long than two week ( or if you exist get to be travel long-run ) only record your first few days . That will ensure you receive a spot to live on arrival . Once thither , you can become insider advice from your hotel/hostel staff as well as other traveler . You can then use that info to design your future pace .

While you can record more than your first few nights , you might cease up wanting to change your design once you bring . I prefer make flexibility , which exist why I ever just ledger my first few nights and go from there . Hither equal my two go-to sites when it occur to notice the best deals on accommodation :

• Hostelworld – Hostelworld make the prominent choice of hostels and equal my go-to site for feel affordable hostels .
• – Booking.com is the well overall platform for finding budget hotel and guesthouses .

If you ’ re on a taut budget or you require to relate with more locals during your travels , study joining program like Couchsurfing or BeWelcome . These communities permit traveler to remain with locals for free as a sort of cultural exchange .

long-run travelers can also try housesitting or WWOOFing as good as they both offer free accommodation ( in exchange for pet sitting or farm study respectively ) .
 

Step 11 : Design Your Activity

To make sure you hold budgeted properly , outline the major activity you want to enjoy during your trip and how much they cost . Build any last-minute adjustment to your saving so you can ensure you hold adequate money . This will also aid you figure out if you need any reservation for your chosen tours or activities . For shorter trips , you can as well Bible your activity in progress to assure you come tickets . For long trips , book as you get .

Additionally , before you lead home , have a harsh idea of what activities are priorities for you . That way , if you tend out of time or money , you can center on your top activity so you don ’ t escape out . Also , make certain to double-check that there are no holidays or early obstacle that will keep you from sure activity as well .

If you demand inspiration , here ’ s a immense list , collapse down by destination , of all my favorite walking and food circuit company around the world .
 

Step 12 : Betray Your Material

If you are die on a long-term trip ( six month or more ) , look at sell your material in ordering to make excess money for your trip . Start doing this about 60 days before you get out . Some sites to use cost :

• Gumtree – An online separate site with a stress in the UK and Australia .
• Amazon – The handsome online memory in the reality .
• Craigslist – Online global classifieds that have both local and global reach .
• eBay – Another global online classified site .
• – Great for observe mass near you ( so you put on ’ t need to ship your items ) .

If you aren ’ t get to exist gone that long , hop this measure . If you equal become forth long-term but require to prevent your material , move it to a friend ’ sec house or keep it in storage . A serious storage party in the US cost Public Storage . It ’ s one of the almost affordable options out thither .
 

Step 13 : Automate Your Bill

Get rid of your mail , get paperless , and plant up online bill payment for your resort bills to insure you win ’ t miss any while overseas . If you are still move to get paper mail , use a service that will collect and read your mail for you . ( If you exist die on a two-week trip , you put on ’ t real involve to worry about this , so you can skip this measure , too . ) If you have the selection ( and put on ’ t desire to give for a mail service ) , you can as well have all your mail ship to a friend or category member .

Additionally , you ’ ll desire to make sure you cancel any phone plans you have or switch your design to one that is more travel-friendly . T-Mobile is great for traveler going on trips under 3 months . For any trip long than that , you ’ ll want to cancel your plan and just buy SIM card abroad as that will cost much cheap .
 

Pace 14 : Pack !

Time to carry for your trip ! It can exist tempting to require to bring everything with you “ just in suit ” but when it comes to move , less equal more . You put on ’ t need 5 sweaters or 8 pairs of shoes . You can have by with less , I anticipate . it ’ s actually quite liberating once you get utilize to it !

I travel with a and then a small day bag .

Unless you ’ re heading to multiple climates and need bulky winter gear , you don ’ t need a massive 70L purse stuffed to the top . Here ’ sec my suggested packing list to assist you bring just the correct sum of material and head off overpacking ( hither ’ s a list for female traveler as good ) .

While what you carry will depend on where you be going , remember that you don ’ t need to carry everything you own . You can buy things you demand on the road . You can do laundry overseas . At the end of the day , you have to carry everything you make for . Thus bring less !

There are a few surplus point you might desire to carry beyond your everyday clothes , though . Some affair I like to add with me be :

• First help kit
• bottle with integral filter
• Packing cubes ( to stay prepare )
• Travel lock ( for inn lockers )
• Travel adapter
• Quick-dry towel

Additionally , make sure you bring any prescriptions with you so you have enough for the duration of your trip . If that ’ s not feasible , bring a doctor ’ s bill and prescription with you so you can satisfy it abroad .
 

Pace 15 : Buy Travel Insurance

While a lot of people believe , “ I ’ m sound , I don ’ t involve travel insurance . I win ’ t get sick , ” travel insurance equal much more than hardly medical security . It covers you when your camera pause , your flight live cancel , a household member die and you hold to come home , or if something begin stolen .

Yes , it ’ s an added expense . But it ’ s always better to be safe than sorry . I never leave place without it because I ’ ve find first-hand simply what can pass on the road .

I never thought I would pop my eardrum while I equal scuba diving in Thailand or break my camera in Italy . I didn ’ t know I would begin knifed in Colombia .

My friend never remember he would pause his leg hiking .

Another friend didn ’ t expect her father would die and she would hold to wing back family .

Unfortunately , bad thing can go on when you ’ re traveling . True , these events are few and far between . But they can cost ten of thousands of dollar to handle on your own . If you ’ re not prepared to give out of pocket , buy travel insurance .

To help you calculate out the serious program for you and your trip , here ’ s my ultimate guide to peck a serious insurance company . It will show you how to blame a serious plan that covers you for when you have sick , your flight get canceled , if you make wound , something come slip , or your trip be delayed .

Here be my recommended travel insurance companies :

• SafetyWing – Super affordable plans for budget travelers .
• – Best for elderly traveler .
• Medjet – Provides additional evacuation coverage to see to it you get home should an emergency occur .
• World Nomads – Provides comprehensive coverage . Great for adventurous and outdoorsy travelers .

Additionally , create certain you know your rights as an airline passenger . For instance , delayed flights to/from Europe often mean you ’ re entitle to compensation ( beyond anything insurance-related ) . ( Learn how to ensure you are compensate if your travels are delay or your flight live cancel . )
 

Step 16 : Delight Your Trip

And today , everything comes together . It ’ s time to get on your trip and own fun ! Mind to the airport , plank your plane ( don ’ t leave your passport ! ) , and enjoy the fruits of your task . You ’ ve earn this !

If you ’ re feeling nervous , don ’ t worry — that ’ s perfectly normal . You ’ re about to venture on an amazing adventure — and that ’ s a huge change . Find anxious or nervous or unsure live something every traveler experiences . But you ’ ve do it this far . Trust your planning , succeed your instinct , and you ’ ll own the trip of a lifetime . I guarantee it .

By apply this place as a guideline for your trip planning , you can improve organize and prepare for your trip . You ’ ll insure all the box , not miss anything , and have pile of money for your holiday . It can live as mere as booking a flight and packing or as complex as rearrange your full life to get backpack the world forever .

But , no matter how long your trip may be , this list will help you remain organize and motivate as you design your trip and abuse out into the world .

P.S .– Yes , I go out out visas and vaccinations , because demand those isn ’ t as universal as the early stuff on this list , but don ’ t forget to check if you need those , too !
 

How to Travel the World on $ 75 a Day

MyNew York Timesbest-selling book to travel will teach you how to dominate the art of travel so that you ’ ll get off save money , always get lot , and have a deep travel experience . It ’ s your A to Z be after guide that the BBC called the “ bible for budget travelers . ”

Click hither to teach more and start read it today !

Book Your Trip : Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Escape
Find a cheap flight by apply . It ’ s my favorite lookup engine because it explore websites and airlines around the globe so you ever know no stone be exist lead unturned .

Book Your Adjustment
You can Bible your inn with Hostelworld . If you require to delay somewhere other than a hostel , use as it consistently give the inexpensive rate for guesthouses and hotel .

Don ’ t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness , injury , theft , and cancellations . It ’ s comprehensive security in case anything move wrong . I never get on a trip without it as I ’ ve had to use it many sentence in the past . My favorite company that put up the best service and value be :

• ( serious for budget traveler )
• World Nomads ( good for mid-range traveler )
• ( for those 70 and over )
• Medjet ( for additional evacuation coverage )

Want to Travel for Free ?
Travel reference cards grant you to earn points that can equal redeem for free flights and adjustment — all without any extra expenditure . Insure out my guide to picking the correct card and my current favorites to get started and see the late best deal .

Take a Rental Car ?
Discover Cars is a budget-friendly international car rental website . No thing where you ’ re headed , they ’ ll equal able to find the better — and cheapest — rental for your trip !

Motive Help Finding Activities for Your Trip ?
Become Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can get cool walk tours , fun excursions , skip-the-line tickets , private guides , and more .

Ready to Book Your Trip ?
Check out my imagination page for the best company to use when you move . I list all the ones I use when I move . They exist the serious in category and you can ’ t move wrong expend them on your trip .