8 Simple steps to help you plan your next trip

You've spent days, weeks, even months imagining your dream vacation. You probably also have a destination in mind. But how do you make sure every moment is enjoyable, without overdoing it? a travel itinerary can seem a bit daunting at first. But with a little planning, you can customize your perfect trip and say goodbye to vacation stress.

Follow these 8 simple steps and make your next trip unforgettable (for all the right reasons).

1. Start by looking at areas that interest you.

Believe it or not, your vacation starts long before you board the plane. Most people become interested to travel by watching movies or reading books about your dreamy destinations or adventure filled places. It's a great way to find inspiration, find out what areas you are interested in and let your imagination run wild.

If you still don't know which places you would like to visit, looking up areas of interest or popular travel destinations is a great place to start. You'll be able to search by destination, see the top attractions, tours, and activities you can't afford to miss. Do you dream of a trip to the tropics? Christmas skiing in the Rockies?

2. Start by making a list of where you want to go.

If your wish list is a little too long, start prioritizing. My advice is to put similar places with each other. It would be great to take a cruise on the Chicago River and sail around Boston, but you might be able to do both on the same trip.  Kuddos to you if you do!  My point is, writing your dream destinations down makes it become a goal and planning your trip even further pushes it to a reality.  Start small with a short weekend getaway and go from there and you'll be a pro trip planner in no time!

3. Find the perfect balance

A really impressive trip will show you different aspects of your destination. Try not to just pick major cities to visit. Mix it up and make time to visit small towns and rural attractions. Some of our best memories of trips occurred when my husband and I would just pick a town within 200 miles from home and would take a weekend trip.  You will not be disappointed, most small towns are hidden gems, filled with history, quaint shops, and beauty, all without the big city prices!

4. Count the days (and nights)

Now it's time to decide how long to spend at your desired destination. If you are on a long weekend, one to two attractions in the area are perfect. Extend up to a week and you can add an extra stops. As a rule of thumb, you should book three nights in big destinations and two nights in smaller places. An overnight layover can be stressful, so it should be avoided unless you're okay with a whirlwind visit.

5. Don't overbook attractions/sightseeing during your trip.

I know how the excitement of seeing new places and experiencing new adventures can be, however, my advise is not to overbook the amount of stops or attractions you sign up for.  This can leave you feeling even more exhausted after your vacation, than when you started, which kinda of makes the trip not as memorable.  So try to limit the number of bookings for sightseeing tours or guides during your trip.  I have found trips most enjoyable when I did not even plan my activities during the trip, being spontaneous takes the pressure off schedules and lets you enjoy the moment.

6. Plot your route

Get the map and make sure you plan the most efficient route. You don't want to waste time double-crossing yourself. To minimize travel time, consider flying to and from different locations - this will normally give you an extra day. If your trip covers long distances, consider the fastest way to travel.

7. Best time to travel

Timing is everything when planning a trip.  You wouldn't want to go to a tropical region during monsoon season.  Do your homework to learn what is the best time of the year to visit your desired destination.  Although for those of us who enjoy less crowds, going during a destinations off season or close to it, may not be a bad idea. If keeping costs down on your next adventure is important, this may be an option, as hotel stays and attraction costs are typically cheaper during the off seasons.

Another thing to keep in mind if you plan to travel to small towns is store hours.  We have found in most small towns or even some bigger cities, most business are closed on Sunday, Monday and even occasionally Tuesdays, which can put a damper on a trip real quick if the whole town is closed for a few days.

8. Make the time

One important thing to remember is, we all want to live our best life, for the majority of us, this does not mean working our lives away, so get out there! plan your next adventure!, work will still be there when you get back.  Put some flexibility in your day to day grind. Think about how and where you like to travel and build your own itinerary accordingly. Do you find that you often do things out of the blue? Give yourself some free time to see where your travels take you, you can book tours spontaneously when inspiration strikes. 

Happy and safe travel friends!!  To make your planning your trip easier I like to use Booking.com, click the link to get started on your next adventure!!!   https://www.booking.com/index.html?aid=7955230