Proven Tips for Stress-Free Travel Holiday Planning
- T.
- Jul 22, 2024
- 10 min read
Hi & welcome back to the simply productive blog!
I don't know about you, but around this time of year I start getting a little unsettled. Working the '9 to 5' for half a year with no holiday can make you go a little crazy. Right now, I'm in the process of researching places to go for my wedding anniversary next year.
Having something to look forward to helps me keep a focused, happy mindset. We don't live to work - we work to live.
Now let's be real, planning a holiday can be both exciting & overwhelming - with so many options available it can be difficult to know where to start. I am by no means a professional travel planner, but I do genuinely enjoy planning for trips & making itineraries (saying enjoy is downgrading it actually, I love it!) & so I give you my 6 steps to plan your next holiday!
Blog Snapshot:
Deciding Where to go on Your Holiday
When planning a holiday, the first thing I do is decide where I want to go, it leads my whole planning process.
Ask yourself:
Where have you been wanting to go? Create a mini bucket list of places (close & far away). Limit your list to 5 or so places so you don't get overwhelmed.
When will you be able to go there? The time of year & climate of your destination can have a huge impact on your budget, what to pack etc.
TIP - Australia has a dedicated website to travelling smart. You can subscribe to email/SMS updates on the places you intend on visiting: www.smartraveller.gov.au
Read online reviews & blogs from other travellers who have visited your destination recently but be aware that these sources may not be reliable or accurate & may reflect personal biases / preferences.
Research the local laws, customs & etiquette to avoid any misunderstandings - if they speak another language in the place you choose to go it's always a good idea to learn some basic phrases in the local language (Hi, Directions To hotel, Thank You, Please Goodbye etc.).
Plan your itinerary - having at least a rough idea of what you would want to do will help you figure out a broader plan & reduce any potential holiday stress & overpayments.
Create a Travel Budget & Stick to it
Your travel style & preferences will affect how you budget your money.
Decide on total/daily spending limits for your travel expenses. This should include everything from flights, car hire, gas/fuel, accommodation, food, sightseeing etc.
TIP - You could either create a separate bank account or document to track your travel savings & costs or use your standard savings account & use a specific word/words like "Holiday" or "Overseas Trip" when transferring money into it so you can filter your statements by these words & keep track of the travel savings!
Look back at your previous trips to help you estimate what you will spend on different categories such as flights, accommodation, food & gas/fuel.
Use a travel budget planner to hold all the different information & estimates for your trip.
Go to our CONTACT page & send us your email address & the words "Travel Planner" & we will forward you our free planner!
Get a Good Deal on Flights
Keep your plans flexible-ish & book your flights first.
Fly direct if it costs less than taking a connecting flight. You may think you will want a break from flying, but most of the time just getting there as quickly as possible will be a way better & cheaper option & once you are there you can schedule a rest day!
Travel during off peak times to get cheaper flights deals.
Sign up for discount flight/cheap airfare notifications.
TIP - Start your search for flights & accommodation in private browsing mode as some websites use cookies to track how often you visit their pages & have been known to add to the price as they know the flights are' 'in demand'.
Use flight comparison websites to find travel deals; you don't have to purchase the flight from the comparison site, unless it's worth it, but it will help you find where the deals are quickly!
Compare prices of flying into various airports close to your destination (not just the main airport) to find the best deals. This is something I regret not doing for our most recent trip to the UK as, in hindsight, they had A LOT of options to choose from.
Finding the Right Accommodation
Finding the right accommodation is about more than just looking for the cheapest or fanciest option. It's important to:
Use trustworthy booking sites such as Booking.com, TripAdvisor.com & Trivago.com. This is especially important for overseas holidays when you don't know the country, culture, region etc.
Choose the location carefully; don't just book the cheapest place without doing any research - it can mean the difference between booking a hotel that has a broken toilet with unclean sheets that is 1hr away from anything you want to visit, to staying in an area close to your must visit spots, with breakfast included & clean amenities.
Travel during off-peak times where possible - this will save you a good chunk of money, you will avoid large crowds & be able to take in the breathtaking sights without being crammed into a corner because 50,000 people also want to see it all at the same time. And most importantly, you can use those savings for shopping or a fancy dinner at your destination.
Use star ratings on website reviews as a guide only. It's way more beneficial to read recent reviews written by other guests. Read at least 5-10 reviews to get a feel for the place you are looking at staying. Things like recent management changes or recent negative reviews can make a real difference on whether you choose to stay or not.
Check for any hidden extra costs before booking. Things like whether taxes are or aren't included in the advertised price or if there are car parking fees can make a big difference in pricing of your overall stay.
Know your "must haves". If a hotel not having things like a restaurant or an elevator is a deal breaker for you make sure you factor that into your research using the necessary website filters to view exactly what you want.
Book early, book online & get as many deals as you can. Search for places on hotel comparison sites; these may have good deals, or they may simply help you to narrow down your search so you can check on the hotel’s website to see if the prices are cheaper.
TIP - Using cashback websites/apps like Cash Rewards or ShopBack where possible - these types of sites get money for advertising websites & you get a kickback from them when you book through their website/app as a thank you for showing that their advertising is working. I used cashback websites like these when planning my last big holiday and got $509.03 in cashback from them!
What to Pack
Packing is an essential part of your holiday but can cause a lot of stress for some. Here are a few ideas on what I bring with me on my holidays:
Valid Passports & Visas (if travelling overseas) Make sure they are valid for at least six months beyond the date of your return to account for any unforeseen circumstances.
Other Important Documents (originals + copies) - Flight, hotel & entertainment booking confirmations - Travel itinerary covering all important information like reference numbers, contact & time details. AND - Copies of your passports, visas, insurance, tickets, itinerary & any other important documents. I like to hide these copies in the inner lining of our suitcases.
TIP: It's also a good idea to photograph & email these documents to yourself & a trusted person in case you lose them.
Money (very important) - I always have two forms of money when I travel, cash & digital (Currency Card or Bank/Credit Cards). Some banks charge a fortune when you use their card to purchase things overseas & some actually give you a rebate for overseas transactions (up to a certain amount - ING was who I used) which is something I discovered on my recent holiday & you best believe we took FULL advantage of those rebates!
Medications - If you take any medications make sure you bring more than enough for your trip & keep them in their original containers. Depending on the type of medication you may also need a letter from your doctor explaining what they are & why you need them: always check this with your doctor before travelling anywhere.
Health Related Items - It is ALWAYS a good idea to be prepared for the worst-case scenario - if nothing else, it gives you peace of mind. Take a small first aid kit with bandages, paracetamol, ibuprofen, antacids, motion sickness tablets, antiseptic wipes, etc. to cover your basic needs
Electronics & Chargers - In this day & age an internet connection can be your lifeline when travelling so make sure you pack your mobile, camera, laptop & any other devices you need to get where you need to be. Chargers & backup batteries are also helpful - make sure you have the right adapters & converters for the outlets in your destination
Entertainment & Snacks - If you're anything like me, there are times when you get a little 'hangry' or bored. Try to have some snacks & gum packed to avoid hunger & ear pressure issues when flying. Having books, a kindle, magazines, games or music can also help keep you entertained during long flights, drives or waits.
TIP: DOWNLOAD your music, movies, tv shows, e-books to your device (mobile/tablet/laptop) if you can - a lot of places have limited or no internet reception when travelling & having these downloaded ready to use will make your travel times a lot easier!
Lightweight Versatile Clothes - Pack according to the weather & culture of your destination - Find a jacket, hat, belt, sunglasses & shoes that go with multiple outfits. - Make sure you’ve broken in all your shoes before your trip to avoid the headache of blisters. Don't forget the basics: - 1>2 pairs of jeans (to dress up or down) - 1>2 formal outfits - Comfortable walking/hiking shoes - A reusable water bottle - A bag that goes with most outfits - that is pick pocket proof!
You can always buy things when you get to your destination & these may even be cheaper to buy there. For example: if your destination is prone to raining or snowing & your home isn't, rain & snow gear will likely be cheaper in the destination as it is a commonly purchased item.
TIP: I like a water bottle that isn't too big, is easily refillable & can be opened up easily to release the pressure from the bottle when flying. I was unfortunate enough to open my water bottle mid-flight & had water spray all over me due to the pressure that had built up in the bottle - a mistake I won't be making again!
Toiletries & items such as sunscreen, insect repellent, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, deodorant, eye drops, contact lens solutions, or similar.
TIP: When travelling I use bar versions of shampoo / conditioner / face & body wash as they are really convenient, you don't need to worry about liquid limits, they last a long time & you will contribute to reducing single use plastics! I have tried & would recommend the following brands: Viva La Body (face and deodorant bars), Ethique (face bars), The Body Shop (body wash bars) & Downunder Wash Co. (body scrub bars).
Embrace packing cubes - I bought cheap ones for my last holiday from Shein & they helped me keep track of my clothes (you could put all tops in on, all bottoms in another, fancy clothing in one, or one dedicated to dirty clothing that needs washing) but the 'fancy' ones also help with compacting your clothes down allowing you to fit more in your suitcase, I think this is what I will invest in next!
Consider using a soft duffel bag for your carry-on luggage. It’s easier to fit into crowded overhead lockers & if it doesn’t fit, you can usually put it under the seat in front of you.
Gifts & souvenirs - You may want to buy some souvenirs from your destination country to take home & remember your trip, just make sure you plan ahead for this, you could take a soft bag with you to accommodate the extra items you plan on getting.
Final Tips - Things to Remember
Don’t forget to purchase travel insurance - I cannot stress how important this is. It can cover you for unexpected costs such as medical emergencies, lost luggage, or flight cancellations.
Map out your trip (literally) - my last holiday was a road trip around the UK & as I'm from Australia it was really helpful for me to be able to map out my trip to get an idea of distances between places. All I did was get the maps up on my preferred browser - it was extremely helpful to have a digital map that allowed me to save/download map areas to view when offline as we relied solely on free WIFI for our entire 3+week road trip.
Organise for pets to be fed / plants to be watered while you are away
Share your calendar/itinerary with your family & friends so everyone is aware of where you are, for their peace of mind & yours.
Try to roughly plan your meals - things can get very costly on holidays & what people generally spend the most money on is food a& entertainment. If you see a good deal (<< key wording) on a hotel that has breakfast included this could potentially save you money as you only need to pay for 2 x meals a day instead of 3 - or if you aren't a big eater, you could have your breakfast at the hotel late, grab a snack throughout the day & that leaves you with only one big meal to pay for a day.
Make a plan for the gifts you want to buy - don't forget or get carried away with it. Paying for additional luggage is NOT cheap!
Have fun! Enjoy yourself, you may only go on this holiday or to this destination once, take it all in & enjoy yourself. 💜
Thank you so much for supporting my blog, make sure you checkout my related posts for more ideas on being Simply Productive. If you are interested in using a travel planner for your next holiday - go to our CONTACT page & send us a message with the words "Travel Planner" & we will send the planner to your email for free!
Sending productive vibes your way,
T💜
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