This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. Please check our disclosure policy for more details.

Do you ever feel stuck when you have to plan a trip? The entire process can be very overwhelming, but know that you can do it! Give yourself plenty of time to plan and keep reading to see how I typically tackle planning for a trip in advance.

Read on to learn more about planning for an upcoming trip. If you need some destination ideas, [click here] for my Travel Guides!

Pre-Planning

Planning out time in advance helps visualize what’s ahead. Before the year begins (ideally around November), I look at next year’s calendar and plan out tentative travel dates based on holidays, time-off, and bucket list destinations. I find this helps immensely for travel planning, especially if you’re limited on time-off or can’t afford to take too many days off from work.

Some ideas for those with few days off…

• If visiting family for the holidays, perhaps tack-on a short trip to a nearby city.
• If there’s a three-day weekend, possibly plan to take a few days off of work to extend that weekend.
• If a job sends you on a business trip, maybe ask to take a couple vacation days before or after to enjoy yourself.
• While you can’t plan for the unexpected, you can plan around what is already known. I use this to my advantage, which helps me make wise travel decisions—and you can, too!

>> Check-out my [bullet journal] blog for organization and planning inspiration. <<

Saving Money

Save, save, save! It’s no secret that traveling is expensive for most people in the world who have the privilege to do so. That being said, save all the money possible. If you have enough funds socked away, you can purchase tickets and accommodation well in advance, potentially saving money in the long-run.

How do you do this exactly? If you’re new to budgeting, check-out my [Budgeting for Beginners] blog for some tips! Also, make realistic financial goals for yourself if planning a trip seems impossible. Saving a little each paycheck really does add up, as does tracking spending habits. Moreover, a trip doesn’t need to be lengthy or to some far away destination—it can be a stay-cation or somewhere close to home. Choosing a place based on your budget, interests, lifestyle, and life circumstances is important.

Travel tip #1: Don’t feel pressured to book a flight to Bali, Indonesia or Seoul, South Korea simply because you’ve seen hundreds of people posting dreamy photos on Instagram about their trip—these plans are about you and what you want to do. However if that’s what you’re into and you want to chase those types of things, then by all means please carry on!

5 Step Travel Planning Process

1. Research: While saving money, research on where to potentially travel. Sometimes I plan trips based on cheap flights or accommodation—I love looking at travel deals to see if there’s anything I’m interested in before picking a place. On the other hand, I may want to go to a very specific place on my travel bucket list . No matter what, I always do research beforehand on best times to visit, weather, cuisine, what to expect, prices, and culture to get a rough idea of the places in mind.
2. Request time off: This can be tricky for some, as not all workplaces are flexible with time-off. Yet, you should be aware of your employer’s policies and flexibility before booking anything. I submit my request as early as possible so I can make changes and plan accordingly.
3. Book flights: Once time-off has been approved, I usually start looking for flights. Oftentimes, I use a tracking app to keep me updated on price changes while keeping my days and times as flexible as possible. (An early morning flight is never fun, but it may be the best deal. Similar with red-eye/ overnight flights or flights with short layovers.) Some flight tracking and searching resources I typically use include: Hopper, Kiwi, Kayak, and Google Flights.
4. Book accommodation: Once my flight is booked, it’s pretty safe to book accommodation. If you’re super excited, you can do this in advance and then change your dates once your flight is finalized. I use Booking.com for almost all of my international travel accommodation because many places offer free cancellation and there are typically a fair amount of reviews and photos. When in America, I usually opt for Airbnb.
5. Plan the itinerary: I like to start by listing general travel times and dates, interesting activities, sightseeing spots, and top foods to try. I love saving all of the places on a list in Google Maps so I can see where everything is and plan my days out. You can adjust your itinerary accordingly leading up to your trip or while you’re in the place. Remember to stay flexible and prioritize what you want!

Travel tip #2: When searching for flights and accommodation, make sure to use a PRIVATE browser window! This prevents websites from tracking your search history and displaying more expensive options.

So there you have it—some tips to get you started on planning a trip using my general travel planning process! Keep in mind that it’s perfectly fine if you’re not the planning type or you prefer to book through a tour company. I’ve personally tried “winging” a couple trips and have figured out that’s definitely not for me, and I like to save a bit of money by doing things myself when I travel rather than using a tour guide or company.

For possible places to visit, [follow this link] to see my personally created Travel Guides! Get some travel inspiration, read about places to visit, food to eat, and places to stay based on my personal experiences.

Peace & happy planning,

Tay