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Since travel is an integral part of my life, I’ve noticed through exchanges and meetings that organizing a trip abroad can sometimes intimidate newcomers. Some time ago, for example, I received a Facebook message from Laura (another one 😉) explaining her deep desire to travel but also her confusion and hesitations in the preparation task:
See also : How to Choose Your Garden Pond?
I’m asking myself a lot of questions that I think you can answer. I have a job, but I really want to travel. I’ve never left Europe and I’ve flown once, but the beautiful scenery and other cultures attract me. So I’m wondering where to start?
When you’ve never really traveled, how can you jump in and start organizing a trip? This is the topic I propose to explore today. Rest assured, organizing a trip is within everyone’s reach! With time, patience, and most importantly, with the right tools, anyone can succeed in organizing the trip of their dreams. But we must always have the desire to do it. Because there are probably as many ways to travel as there are tourists on earth! So, if you find packages too heavy (or both) and you’re motivated, here’s everything you’ll need to look at your travel planning 🙂
Further reading : How to Choose Your Meeting Room?
Also read — Traveling with carry-on luggage: tips and rules
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Organizing a trip — How far in advance?
As you might suspect, a weekend in Rome is not organized in the same way as a three-year world tour… Since world tours are not my specialty, I will write here focusing on short and medium trips. First of all, it’s important to know whether your trip takes place during the high or low tourist season! Check your calendars! Since these vary depending on the destination, it’s important to inquire about this factor as soon as possible.
Regarding deadlines, here’s a little idea of the timeline of my preparations:
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I organize my short stays in Europe (capitals and/or European cities) about two to three months in advance. I usually choose the exact dates based on the most attractive flight prices. I mostly travel during the low tourist season. For these short city trips, the accommodation and transport options are generally abundant, so there’s no rush to book too far in advance.
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On the other hand, for short-term destinations that do not offer many accommodation and transport options (rural areas, winter trips), you can start booking 4, 5, or even 6 months in advance to ensure you have the maximum possibilities.
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I plan my long stays in North America about 6 months in advance. Again, the flight should be booked as a priority but not too far in advance. Buying a plane ticket a year in advance does not really guarantee you the best rate!
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A top ally: the paper guide
Once your destination is set, first of all, take an afternoon to skim through some travel guide sections! The paper guide is indeed the essential tool to start planning a trip. Why? Before even starting to talk about the program and activities, you will be able to dive into all the information you need to know about your destination:
- entry administrative procedures for the country (ID for the EU, passport and/or visas for the rest of the world);
- air services of the companies serving the country or city;
- climatic or weather characteristics;
- what time is it advisable to go to this place?
… and all sorts of other useful information.
How to choose in this jungle of travel guides when you know nothing about it?
Most guides today are of good quality: the information is generally reliable and regularly updated. Therefore, the choice will not be based on content, but rather on the form of the guide. Because what will really make you lean towards one guide or another is its style: the writing style, the editorial line, the layout, it’s a matter of taste! If all the guides to Rome will tell you to visit the Colosseum, compare the differences in content dedicated to it in the different guides: the information will be more or less dense, the visiting tips will not be exactly the same, etc. take your time, go browse and handle the guides on the shelves before making your choice.
See the offer of paper guides on Amazon
My favorite guides
From the beginning, I have been completely Backpacker Guide! Honestly, don’t be put off by its moderately sexy appearance. They are not the most picturesque and colorful guides, but the information and tips on visits are really of high quality. And above all, they truly match the dynamic I want to give to my travels. You may not know, but you can find everything in the backpacker guide and not just addresses… the backpackers! All ranges of accommodation and activities are covered and all types of travelers will find their fit.
From a practical point of view, all backpacker guides are organized in the same way: the area (country or city concerned) is divided into neighborhoods or zones. For each area, you will find a section “Where to sleep?”, “Where to eat?”, “Where to go” and “See, do”. All with tons of addresses sorted by budget (from cheap to pure madness!) as well as some maps. There is also a handy booklet at the beginning or end of the guide with useful information and some historical and/or cultural reminders about the destination.
Of course, it is entirely possible to buy several guides on the same destination. It is even recommended to have as much information and advice as possible. Once your choice is made, you will be able to start planning 🙂
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Useful websites
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To book plane tickets
Whatever the destination and flight duration, I always recommend booking your tickets directly on the official website of the various airlines. Why? In case of disputes and/or cancellations, it is always better to have as few intermediaries as possible. Comparators are a useful tool to give an overview of the airlines serving different destinations and the prices they charge. Once you’ve spotted the most interesting flights, it’s best to make the purchase directly on the company’s website. The prices will not necessarily be more attractive for the comparison function, as the base prices are always ultimately increased by management fees.
Good to know: Don’t forget to check the promotions and/or flash sales page on the company’s website. You can find some very good deals here! That’s how I found two very interesting rates for my flights to New York. Otherwise, for small flights to major cities in Europe, head to Easyjet or Ryanair.
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To book accommodation
After 5 years of traveling, I have made about 90% of my bookings through a single website: Booking.com. Year after year, I still find no complaints against this internet giant and especially the immense satisfaction of never having had the slightest regrettable experience with them. They even resolved errors for us that were only attributable to the establishments we booked.
Why do I still trust Booking after more than 70 bookings made on the site:
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we not only find hotels but also increasingly unusual accommodations and/or apartment rentals.
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customer service is accessible in French 24/7.
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I love the flexibility, the ability to cancel my bookings if necessary and to be able to pay on site without necessarily advancing the amount upfront.
- there are often very many options and you can enjoy good deals with the Genius loyalty program.
Please note that not all booking hotels have the same cancellation and/or late payment rules. First, consider the specific conditions of each hotel as well as payment practices in different countries. For example, in North America, hotel rates are quoted without taxes, and it will be necessary to add between 10 and 15% of the total amount on site.
What about apartment rentals?
Of course, I have also booked accommodation through other platforms or directly on the establishment’s website when there are no other solutions. Despite the current trend, I am not really a fan of renting apartments from individuals: too many apartments leave much to be desired, legislation issues, difficult-to-contact owners… I like to start with a light spirit and avoid as much as possible unforeseen last-minute issues, so I always prefer bookings with professional accommodation providers. Be careful, I’m not saying this method is absolutely flawless, it’s just the one that best fits my way of traveling.
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To book activities and visits on site
Once we have identified in the guide(s) the activities that interest us the most, it is always useful to adjust and/or complete this list with TripAdvisor. A true wealth of information, the site allows you to quickly visualize the most popular activities and for some time now it has also been possible to book tours and excursions directly on TripAdvisor.
Make sure to book your tickets in advance to avoid wasting time on site
Whatever the destination, all cities, countries/regions have their main attractions, those that attract crowds and make the place famous on an international scale. Today, it has become very easy to avoid wasting crazy amounts of time in gigantic lines to buy tickets for these attractions. After sufficiently preparing the trip in advance, it is entirely possible to have a clear idea of the visits and activities planned. It is entirely possible to establish a list and book tickets for the must-see attractions, those you will necessarily visit one way or another. For several years, I have recommended making these reservations on the French platform Cetiz. It is impossible not to find what you are looking for (from the major must-see sites in the biggest tourist cities to small tours organized by locals in much less frequented places). The rates are also negotiated very advantageously, and it is possible to reach customer service (in French of course) all day by phone or email.
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Travel forums for additional advice
Finally, if despite everything you have already read about your future trip there are still points to clarify, you can always take a look at travel forums. With over a million registered members, travelforum is the largest in the French-speaking community. By digging a little, you will always find someone who has asked the same question as you and to which other members have responded. And even if your question has never been asked, you will find someone to answer it. Otherwise, backpacker forums and Tripadvisor are also very active.
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Planning vs. improvisation
When it comes to organizing a trip, one quickly realizes that there are two main schools in this area. Those who plan everything down to the smallest detail with an ultra-precise schedule and those who think that too much organization partially distorts the travel experience. Personally, I don’t really fall into either of these currents. There are far too many specificities to each trip to say that one way of doing things is better than the other.
On the other hand, when asked, I always warn against the temptation to establish a schedule that is far too rigid or too dense. Indeed, many things can disrupt our plans (transport issues, weather risks, etc.), so we must take this into account and generally organize flexible days. For my part, I usually work through a list system: I leave knowing which activities I want to do, then I plan my days more precisely based on different elements (fatigue, weather, overcrowding, etc.).
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The importance of travel health insurance
If there is one topic I don’t joke about, whether in my travel experiences or in my blogs, it’s health insurance. I realized the importance of having good coverage while traveling after a health issue and a night spent in the emergency room in New York. As we all know, health costs are exorbitant on the other side of the Atlantic, but we are fully aware of this only when we are actually faced with the problem.
And even if the costs are not as impressive in Europe, I remain a staunch advocate of “prevention is better than cure.” So, definitely think about obtaining a European Health Insurance Card for the relevant countries or taking out travel health insurance for the duration of your stay. When organizing trips worth hundreds or thousands of euros, the amount of insurance is just a grain of sand in the mountain of incurred expenses. The packages offered by Chapka are suitable for all types and durations of travel: there are special contracts for trips to North America with very high reimbursement limits and even special packages worldwide!
For those who care about you, insurance companies also allow you to opt for cancellation coverage in case of last-minute problems, as well as compensation options in case of flight delays and/or lost luggage.
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The conversation guide to get out of all situations
Last little thing to remember in the suitcase: the conversation guide that can really prove to be a good lifeline. In case of misunderstanding (and God knows that problematic situations can be numerous while traveling), you will always have enough to make yourself understood at least a little. They are available in all languages and guides usually cost only a few euros.
Check out the conversation guides available on Amazon
Good to know: For frequent travelers, rather than investing in a conversation guide for each trip to a different country, there is the famous mini guide G’Palémo from the Backpacker. Filled with small universal illustrations, it allows you to show your interlocutor the object or place you are looking for and thus be understood anywhere on the planet without having to say a word. A true must-have to always have on you!
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And now you have all the keys in hand to organize a trip that reflects you. But above all, don’t forget that even if you have planned everything down to the smallest detail, unforeseen events and last-minute changes are also part of every trip! So relax, enjoy, and don’t forget to send postcards! If you still have questions after reading this article, feel free to ask them in the comments so that the answers can help other readers 😉
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