Traveling, whether for business or pleasure, is a great way to see and explore new places. But how do you decide where to go, what to see and how to get around? People look to get different things out of different trips. I usually want to see as much as possible when venturing to a new place. I know other people, however, who prefer to sit back, relax and wander without much of a plan. Even if you’re the type that likes to explore on a whim, it doesn’t hurt to take a quick look at the essentials: how you’ll get there, where you’ll stay and how you’ll get around. A little research can go a long way to determine how you want to shape your travel itinerary.
Where will you go?
If you don’t already have a destination in mind, it’s time to pick one! Pinterest is a great place to inspire some ideas. Pinterest users post photos and travel guides, and it’s a great place to visually browse locations around the globe. Better yet, you can save your ideas on a travel board to look back on as you continue planning.
How will you get there?
If you need to book a flight, I tend to use Google Flights to compare prices across airlines. Depending on what you want to spend and the type of experience you’re going for, budget airlines, like Ryanair or Spirit, are great opportunities to travel at a lower cost. Most of these charge you to check luggage, but if you travel lightly, you’ll benefit from their prices.
If you’re traveling by train, check out Trainline. I have primarily used this for travel within the U.K.; however, they do dedicate part of their site to European travel. I have also purchased tickets from Eurostar when traveling from London to Paris. If you’re planning to visit many European cities in one trip, it’s worth checking out rail passes. While I have not used them before, I have heard great things about Eurail passes.
Where will you stay?
Because I have done most of my traveling as a student, I have been quite limited in where I have been able to stay. Hostelworld has been a great resource for me. I’ve had friends that also use Airbnb, VRBO and TripAdvisor. Staying in apartments, homes, etc. is a great option if you’re traveling with a larger group and need more space than the traditional hotel room. My hosts have always been a great help in making recommendations on what to do and where to eat. You tend to get a more local perspective when staying in these types of places. It’s worth comparing prices across sites, and make sure to always read reviews!
How will you get around?
Will you need to rent a car? Will you need a bus or underground pass? Research on your destination should provide insight on the best ways to get around. Depending on the length of your stay, it could be more cost-efficient to buy multi-day travel passes. These passes are sometimes offered through city-affiliated tourism websites. A quick Google search will lead you in the right direction. TripAdvisor and Viator are also great places to browse transportation information.
What will you do?
Like I’ve mentioned, I like to see as much as possible, and I like to have a plan. I usually start out with a “Things to do in…” search. Then, I make a list of top places to see, and I organize an itinerary based on the proximity of those places to each other and how long it will take to visit each destination. Among the plenty of resources out there, travel blogs are also a great way to find insider tips and advice, as well as specific travel guides.
Once again, TripAdvisor and Viator are great sites, and I have often booked tours and tickets through Viator. Regardless of how planned you’d like your trip to be, I would make a general recommendation to kick off your trip with a city tour, and here’s why:
Doing a city tour, like a hop-on hop-off bus tour, is a great way to see the main sights in a short time frame, while also having your transportation organized for the day. You can use these tours as an overview of the city and decide which locations you would like to venture back to during your stay. These city tours will often offer activity bundles. For example, I have done The Original London Sightseeing Tour, which groups together the bus tour with a river cruise down the Thames.
There’s a lot to consider when planning a trip, but thinking about the where, how and what sets the framework for smooth trip planning.
