Steps for organizing a long trip
Essential to remember
To organize a trip in 7 steps: 1) Choose the destination, 2) Define the budget, 3) Book the flight, 4) Check visa/vaccinations, 5) Book hotels and key activities, 6) Prepare health insurance, 7) Pack your bag. Plan 1 to 3 months before departure.
- In May, the high tourist season begins, tourists start to arrive and it is not yet too hot.
- I stay two weeks in Bali then four days in Dubai, I think the durations are well thought out and will allow me to tour the island and Dubai. I will not rush too much, I prefer to enjoy and stay longer rather than do too many things, because I do not like to skim over places.
- I think my travel budget is suitable for my plan. I will tour Bali backpacker style while enjoying the first days in nice bungalows by the beach.
After choosing the destination, it is important to think about several things.
Making choices for your trip
Making good choices is one of the most difficult things when traveling. Personally, for choosing accommodations for a three-week trip abroad, I base myself on :
- user reviews and the rating system. For example, during my stay in Japan in Tokyo, I chose my hostels using the site hostelworld which, using the search system, gives us the best hostels according to travelers’ reviews. I almost always take the hostel with the best ratings. I did the same to choose my hotels in Bali for my first days by choosing the hotel in a good part of the island on the site holidaycheck.
I just highlighted an important thing, when you arrive in a new city, it is important to see if the place where you will sleep is suitable for your choice. Some neighborhoods are not suitable for families. For example, this is the case of the backpacker district (Kao San Road) in Bangkok where there is a lot of noise in the evening. You also have to pay attention to the distance from the city center.
My experience
My beginner’s mistake: planning too much. On my first trip around the world, I had booked 3 months of hotels in advance. Result: no freedom, tired from running everywhere. Today I book the flights and 2-3 nights upon arrival, the rest is free.
Did you know?
According to Booking, the French spend on average 18 hours planning a trip, including 6 hours choosing the destination and 4 hours comparing hotels. More than the time spent on buying a car.
Now that you know where you are staying, you will have to choose the means of transport to get from one place to another. In Australia, I used the bus, train, plane, and even boat. The choice of transportation is often linked to budgets and comfort.
Advantages
- Safety and tranquility
- Often better rates (early bird)
- Possibility to book paid activities
- Visa and vaccine anticipation
- Well-defined budget
Weak points
- Less flexibility
- Mental overload before departure
- Risk of over-planning
- No adaptation to encounters
- Sometimes high cancellation fees
What I usually do when I am on site is to go to the backpacker district and visit all the travel agencies to find the best price. You can also ask the reception of your hotel who will give you advice to better organize your trip.
I am generally quite spontaneous so I don’t like to plan my trip down to the last detail and I make a program for a few days where I am flexible.
The classic trap to avoid
Do not book all your accommodations in advance for a long trip. Keep at least 50% of the time free to adapt to encounters, weather, and new desires on site.
| Step | Time before departure |
|---|---|
| Destination choice | 3-6 months |
| Flight booking | 2-3 months |
| Visa | 1-2 months |
| Vaccinations | 1 month |
| Hotel reservations | 2-4 weeks |
| Packing | 1 week |
Along the same lines, the article on traveling to Canada provides useful insight. Our feedback on accommodation during also offers good tips, and the guide dedicated to making money with completes the picture well.
And you, at which stage of your trip do you make sure to organize as much as possible?
How long before should you book a trip?
2-3 months in advance for long flights (best price). One month for Europe.
Should everything be booked in advance?
Flight yes, first hotels yes, the rest to be arranged on site to keep flexibility.
What tools to use to organize a trip?
Skyscanner (flights), Booking or Airbnb (hotels), Google Maps (places to see), TripIt (summary)
