Travel Planning Tips

So you have picked your destination! Great job!

Now for the fun of planning your adventure!

My first stop is always Google flights – it gives you lots of flexible options so you can see when it is most financially beneficial for you to fly. A few days can make hundreds of dollars of difference. Being flexible on dates is very important if budget is a concern! Do not submit your time off request without checking flight prices first. Make sure you shop around for a bit before buying your flight. If you are planning on visiting multiple cities – look into buying the one-way flights separately. There are a variety of websites that can look into one way flights that take advantage of layovers and deals that might now be available on google flights. Skiplagged and Skyscanner are some good ones. Check your dates and use the tools on the websites to find the cheapest dates.

TIPS - 

• Check your layovers and airlines! You may have got a great deal, but check if you have to change airlines on a layover. If that’s the case and you’re traveling internationally, make sure you have enough time to go get your bags (if checked), go through immigration, check back in with the new airline, and find your new terminal. It may be worth a little more money to skip the hassle of changing airlines, or see if you can fly the same airline the whole time. The less stress, the better when flying in different countries.

• Beware of the extra charges!! If you’re checking a bag make sure you check the rates – buying the bag fee while buying your ticket can sometimes save you half of the price of checking at the gate. If you have a carry on, make sure you check the dimensions that are allowed on the flight! Some of the more budget airlines will charge you crazy amounts at the gate – more than the ticket in some cases. Be diligent in your purchases if you’re on a tight budget. Pack light!!

• When buying shorter flights within a country (or between close countries) check the currency rates before checking out. If you have a credit card without foreign transaction fees – it may be cheaper to pay for the flight in local currency. Check your credit cards and updated currency rates first!

Ok so now that you have booked your major flights, you will need some places to stay!

We live in a great time where there are various ways to experience travel. You can really tailor your journey to your personal comfort level.

Beginning to look for accommodation can be very overwhelming at first. Especially if you are a novice traveler. FEAR NOT!! The internet has blessed you with your new favorite thing – Reviews.  Now, it is so easy to get caught up in the review culture that plagues us. You may find yourself at 4 a.m. on the 17th page of trip advisor reviews just looking for an excuse not to stay somewhere, or thinking maybe you just need to read a few more reviews to make sure this is where you want to lay your head. PUT THE REVIEWS DOWN AND CLEAR YOUR HEAD. Doing your due diligence to find the right place for you and your group is one thing, but it is so easy to fall down the rabbit hole of booking sites, pictures, and reviews. Stick to your budget, location, and comfort needs. When I travel I know that my boyfriend and I need air conditioning, WiFi, and to be within walking distance to some restaurants. There are some places where we want to be in the city center with all of the hustle and bustle, and then there are times where we want to get as far away from everyone as possible. Do what makes you happy, and enjoy each day that you have on your trip. Here are some of my recommendations when you’re starting to plan your get away -

Trip Advisor  – Trip advisor is a fantastic tool to centralize your search of good reviews and recommendations. It is a great place to get an idea of what accommodation is available and at what price point. It makes it easy to explore restaurants, historical sites, and activities within the area you want to stay, or ideas about different neighborhoods that you may not have known about. The forums are great places for questions you didn’t even know you had about an area. The app is also a useful tool when you’re out and about and want to look up local restaurants or shops around your current location. Just make sure you turn off the background use – it will drain your battery.     tripadvisor.com

Hotels.com is a personal favorite of mine. I use it because of the rewards – after 10 nights they give you a credit that you can redeem towards you next booking. I find they have great prices, and if you are a frequent traveler the extra credit is really fantastic. When you sign up for hotels.com they give you “secret prices” that aren’t advertised on their regular website. Even if hotels.com is a few dollars more than a competitor, I will still book through them in order to get the credit for the “free night.”        Hotels.com

Booking.com – I really like the variety that booking.com has on their website. They have hostels, hotels, apartments, homestays, and plenty of other options. I think their interface is more user friendly than others, and it gives you lots of reviews from fellow travelers. Booking.com makes it easy to see the variety of options available for your budget.       Booking.com

Hostelworld.com – If you are interested in staying at hostels this website has the best user reviews, but not always the best prices. Their website is very user friendly and helpful, but make sure you shop a bit before booking with them.        Hostelworld.com

AirBnB – AirBnb has become a great new way to experience different places. It is a unique way to experience life as a local in a house or apartment. If you are staying with friendly hosts they will tell you things about the city that a hotel or hostel may not have provided. It is also nice when you get your own apartment, and really have your own space within the city. You can cook, make coffee, or have a quiet night in with your own space. There are some truly amazing Airbnb hosts out there who strive to make sure you are taken care of, informed, comfortable, and leave with great memories of their cities. When traveling as a couple, booking an Airbnb room or whole apartment is sometimes a much cheaper option than buying two hostel beds.      Airbnb.com

There are plenty of options when it comes to booking your accommodation. These are just a few that I use the most often. 

Take your time when picking out your accommodation. Figuring out where to stay can be daunting. Google is your best friend. There are countless blogs, locals, and  fellow travelers that have can help you figure out what neighborhood or area you should stay in. Think about if you want to be close to a specific site or activity, within walking distance to lots of restaurants, if you are going to need a rental car or local transport to get around, if you want to be close to a beach, close to nightlife, or if you want a remote vacation where there is nothing around. Don’t stress too much, stay within budget, and spend your time exploring the sites around you.

When looking into activities while visiting a city, think about what interests you, but do not be afraid of what might challenge you. 

Look into the history of the city, into what it is known for, what the region is known to offer. I prefer planning only a few things beforehand - or just doing research about things offered in the area, and then deciding more day to day activities upon arrival. That way I am able to talk to other travelers, locals, and get a feel for the city. If you are going somewhere for a specific activity it is always a good idea to book beforehand so that it will not be sold out. Be flexible and open to trying new things! 

TIPS

• Before you leave make sure you have some local currency. You can request to exchange your own currency at various banks, AAA, and travel agencies. It is always nice to arrive with some cash on hand for taxis or food on the first day. The currency exchangers at the airports have high exchange rates and you will end up paying too much. 

• Using ATMs abroad can also get pricey. Look into the fees on your credit or debit card for foreign transaction and ATM fees. If you have enough time, open an account with zero foreign transaction and ATM fees. It will save you a lot of time and money. I personally use the Charles Schwab checking account, and have had a great experience with it. 

• Check your travel rewards with your credit card as well. See if you are eligible to redeem any accumulated points for airfare, accommodation, or dining. 

These are just a few tips and ideas to get you started on your planning adventure. 

Have a blast!!