Travel is fun, exciting, and educational. To many the prospect of going somewhere new and different makes for a pretty amazing adventure. Yet traveling can also be daunting and nerve racking – especially the planning part. Where to go, what to do and how much money is required to have a good time are all very valid questions. And if you are traveling with a group or even just your spouse, the responsibility of making sure everyone has a good time can be quite overwhelming.So how do you plan a trip such that all the above criteria are met – fun, exciting, satisfying and within budget.  Here are some tips on how to plan a trip from scratch with plenty of options on what to do and where to go

#1 Figure out what kind of trip is it going to be

This is a great place to start if trip planning really overwhelms you. What kind of trip are you looking for? Is it a family oriented trip with people of different age groups including kids? Or is it an adventure based trip with friends? Perhaps it is even a solo-trip that you want to take as a way to get out of your comfort zone and recharge your batteries. Maybe you want to just relax by a pool or on a beach and go through a stack of amazing books so you don’t want to be bothered with figuring out food, drinks or even entertainment. The kind of trip you want will dictate the kind of location, activities or even accommodation you choose. So be really specific about what your want the trip to be all about. This doesn’t need to be hard or complicated. Just jot down words to describe your trip as if you were describing it to a friend or a co-worker. Simple words convey a lot and help describe needs and requirements.

#2 Narrow down on a country, region or even city

Once you have decided on what kind of trip you want to take, you need to decide on where you want to go. Remember most international destinations need some pre-planning for good deals on airline tickets. Of course, if your dates are flexible and you know what kind of trip you are looking for, you might get lucky and score cheap last minute tickets. If air travel is not possible or required, look for regions or cities that are closer to home – perhaps a few hours away or even accessible via train. For example, train travel in india is quite magical and a great way to get from one city to another. However it does require some pre-planning to get a confirmed, reserved ticket. Similarly train travel in Europe is a fantastic way to get around from city to city and even from one country to another. During busy summer travel season, you almost have to pre-book your Euro rail tickets for the dates you want.

#3 Have realistic budget expectations

Some travelers might argue that budget is the first thing that you need to figure out to plan any holiday or trip. Once you have decided where to go and more importantly when to go, do some preliminary research and figure out approximately how much it is going to cost. Most places have a peak busy tourist season and prices are always inflated because of higher demand. Remember room and board, meals and transportation are the big ones. But smaller expenses like water, snacks, trinkets, tips, tolls can all add up very quickly. Take into account all the expense you expect to incur when planning your vacation. Research cost of living as compared to where you are coming from and have rough estimates on what things are going to cost.

When you are actually on the trip, use a simple expense tracking app to track actuals to compare. This article from US News lists the best travel budget apps to download for your next vacation.

#4 Plan appropriately

Create a rough schedule before you book anything. Not so you can eschew spontaneity and be held to a rigid plan, but so you can be sure that the things you really want to do don’t conflict with each other or are closed or fully booked. Track activities and plans either with a simple planner or even use a google spreadsheet so you can share with others (if you are traveling in a group). Research public holidays ahead of time so that you can plan the days accordingly. For example, planning a cross-country or long distance road trip on Christmas is not a great idea because all restaurants are mostly closed. Be prepared to survive on day old gas station food. Decide first what the important things are, check for conflicts, then book your hotels and excursions.

Plan out days but don’t over plan every aspect of your trip. Leave some room for spontaneity, adventure and fun.

Remember, you also need to plan out any pre-requisites before your trip. Are you traveling somewhere that requires a visa? Is your passport updated and valid for at least 6 months before an international trip? Do you need proof on updated vaccinations prior to travel?

#5 Disconnect from reality

Give yourself permission to slow down leading up to your trip by taking a few days for packing and for wrapping things up at work. Yes that means you cannot leave laundry and packing to the last minute or wait to figure out a game plan for your plants hours before you leave the house. Similarly, building in time to wind down at the end of your trip by lounging by the pool or treating yourself to a special dinner instead of running around sightseeing also helps avoid coming home exhausted.

Disconnect from reality during your trip. If possible, ditch social media and the needs to share every minute of your vacation real time to your friends and family. The Facebook updates or Instagram stories can wait. Focus on being present and enjoying your time off so that you make the most of your time away.Travel is an incredibly rewarding experience any way you look at it. Whether you have fun or not, travel teaches us so much. We learn about a part of the world, people, culture and community even if we are traveling to a neighboring city. Even if you can only afford a staycation in and around your home town, make your time away count. Don’t let any of your worries get in the way. Try not to reflect or think too much about how it’s been so far or give the vacation a grade before it’s really over. While the length of your vacation may vary, experts believe true relaxation can’t be rushed.

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