I would love to indulge and just be spontaneous, but not everyone has the luxury of being able to do that. If you’re like me who dreams about the number of travel destinations to visit while concerned of not having enough vacation days (and money) banked to use for the holidays, I plan my travel well in advance, and plan wisely!
Here are some tips and tricks to consider to help you plan your dream vacation.
- Select your travel destination well in advance. You’ll get the best availability and prices on airfare and hotel rate if you plan your trip six months to a year in advance. The holiday season is just around the corner so be on the lookout for discounted airfare and hotel deals for your summer travel plans. Airline and hotel companies tend to join in on the “Black Friday” hysteria as well, so be sure to take full advantage.
- Download Travel apps. Travel apps have seriously made my travels easier. I love FlightAware, as it allows me to track my inbound flight. Booking.com is excellent for great hotel deals. AroundMe tells me what’s near me, including ATMs, restaurants and emergency rooms. When I’m visiting Asia I use Klook which not only helps me explore destinations but gives great rates on activities and transportation. And one of my favorites is Rome2Rio which I tend to use a lot before and during my trip. The app tells me distance and mode of transportation available to get from point A to point B.
- Visit a destination during shoulder season. It is basically the period in between peak and off-peak season. More often than not, you’ll find good deals on hotels during this period. For example, it’s best to visit Europe in April, May, early June, then again in September or October, rather than during the busy summer travel season.
- Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). STEP is a free service that allows U.S. citizens and nationals traveling and living abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Before embarking on a trip, make it a point to check the safety environment of your destination. Even if you are an experienced global traveler, conditions and social climate can change at any time. Always exercise precaution and include safety measures in your trip planning.
- Try to avoid traveling to a destination during Typhoon or Hurricane season. It’s your vacation so don’t give yourself the added stress of flight delays or cancellations due to weather.
- Start with a HOHO (Hop On Hop Off bus tour). When you arrive at your destination especially when traveling in Europe this is by far the best and most economical way to acclimate yourself. You pay once and climb on and off as many times as you want. The Hop On Hop Off buses allow you with the purchase of one ticket, to get on and off as many times as you need. I tend to do the entire tour the first time I hop on to familiarize myself and from there I plan the sites I want to visit.
- Begin and end your trip with the splurges. The first and last impressions of your trip are typically the ones you’ll remember most. So start and end your vacation by staying at a splurge hotel or a dinner at a Michelin rated restaurant. Hey, why not?!? You deserve it!
- Give yourself time to really explore and enjoy your destination. I’m guilty of trying to squeeze in as much as I can when I travel to a new destination. Try not to do that! Enjoy and focus on areas that you’re most interested in. When you’re researching your travel destination you’ll usually have an idea what you want to do first and foremost. Visit those areas and do the things you want to do in the beginning of your trip and if you have time remaining, check off other ones on your list.
Safe Travels!