Key steps to plan an overseas trip
Are you planning to travel overseas? Here I break down the process of planning overseas travel into manageable and enjoyable steps. Get ready to turn your yearning for travel into a well-organized adventure!
Choose your destination
For some of us - choosing where we want to go is hard because there is so many interesting places to travel to. Do you have a bucket list of places you want to go or activities you want to do?
Some of the things you might want to consider when thinking about where to travel to are:
the nature of your trip - do you want to relax, experience an adventure, go to old cities, hike, ski ….
the time of the year you want to go travelling - if there is a specific time of the year that you can take leave or low season for your business this might limit your options
your travel budget. Some countries are more expensive to travel to than others
any visa requirements and the length of time it can take to get a visa.
Grab a piece of paper or folder and put down any places that could be worth investigating. Other approaches could be to visit a travel agent for brochures, look on small group travel sites for ideas or go to the library for books like 100 places to visit before you die for inspiration.
It can be tough to make the decisions and travelling too many places might not give you a good taste of countries.
Depending on what you want to do, you might want to look at things like small group travel.
Shape up a broad itinerary
Do more research to short list of places you want to go. Look at travel guides, blogs, and videos. Learn about its culture, attractions, local customs, and must-try dishes. This research will help you shape your itinerary.
I use a spreadsheet for my travel planning. It sets out:
number of days for the trip
key transport e.g. air travel, long distance buses and trains. Some days may be largely focused on getting from A to B.
decide how many days to spend in a particular place - based on activities want to do and how much time there is on travel days.
put in some indicative figures based on internet searches on the ‘high side’ for airfares, travel, accommodation, activities, and day to day expenses.
This can be an iterative process. For example, you might develop a high level plan for a 3-week trip and initial costings and decide it is too expensive. This is why at this stage it is estimates and not detailed planning.
Start saving
If you have not already - start saving for your trip. Consider setting up a separate savings account dedicated to your travel fund.
Plan your itinerary
Once you have broadly decided where you want to go, for how long and how much it is likely to cost you can begin planning your itinerary in detail. Things to think about include:
if you need to book accommodation and activities well in advance - normally online travel forums have advice on this
your style of travel - do you want to (and is it possible to) go with the flow and see where you end up. Sometimes this is possible - like a road trip I once did in the US, but other times like going to the South Island of New Zealand in December I had to book by August for the prime locations to stay at.
Sometimes I look at small group travel itineraries for inspiration of things to do and how long to stay in places. I have done a few small group trips in my time (and loved them), so I know sometimes it is good to add a bit more time to avoid the feeling of arriving one day and leaving the next.
Decide if you will self-book or use an agent
You need to consider if you are going to organize your travel and insurance.
Travel agents can offer lots of knowledge and can organize things like flights so if anything goes wrong you are put on the next available flight. This might not happen when you book your own travel in parts.
Get your passport and other travel documents
Before booking flights it is important to ensure your passport is up to date and check if you need a visa for your destination.
Some visa applications can take months and require in person visits to an Embassy.
Organize travel insurance
Protect yourself with comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and unexpected events.
I tend to get cover before I start booking too many high cost items like airfares.
Book your flights or other travel and accommodation
If you are booking your flights yourself, compare flight options across different airlines and booking platforms. Being flexible with your travel dates can help with finding good deals.
Research and book accommodations that suit your preferences and budget. Options range from hotels and hostels to vacation rentals and boutique guesthouses.
Ask people you know who have been where you want to go for any recommendations.
Plan activities
Do your research online and in guides. What activities do you want to do? What activities need to be booked in advance and by when.
If you want trips on packing lightly see my blog on packing lightly. I also have a travel outfit planner in my ESTY store that helps work out what to take and ensuring items taken work across several outfits.
Planning can help make travel less stressful
Planning your trip can help make it less stressful. It allows you to focus on enjoying the travel experience. It also reduces the risk that you will miss out on doing some things when you are at a place because you were not aware of them. While spontaneous travel is also a lot of fun, booking ahead is often necessary in busy destinations or during peak periods.
Happy travels.
