How to Plan and Design a Trip From Start to Finish

Planning a trip from start to finish is a big job. But it’s also a job that can give you a great deal of pleasure. In fact the anticipation of a trip reportedly gives you as much pleasure as the trip itself.

So where do you start and what is involved in planning and designing a trip from start to finish?

The simple answer is:

1. Choose a destination.
2. Decide how much time you have for the trip.
3. Book transportation.
4. Research what’s offered where you’re going – hotels, restaurants, activities…
5. Design a trip based on what appeals in #4.
6. Pack and go.

The long version is more complex.

Choosing a destination

I’m never short on ideas of where to go but where do I come up with those ideas in the first place? I keep a stack of travel catalogs, brochures and magazines in a handy spot where if I have a few minutes I can have a quick look. I am initially inspired by pictures – superb photography sparks my imagination and I go from there. I also read the travel section of newspapers – online and paper versions. There are hundreds of travel blogs that are a great source of  ideas too.

Some of my favourite websites and travel catalogs come from these companies.

• Wilderness Travel
• Mountain Travel Sobek
• Freewheeling Adventures
• Randonnee Tours
• KE Adventure Travel
• Intrepid Travel
• Gap Adventures

How Much Time Do You Have?

Only you know the answer to how much time you have for a trip. But where you go to make the most of your time does figure in the destination choice. If you live in North America and you only have a week is it really worth going to Europe? Probably not – from the expense and adjusting to the time zone perspective. If  you’re traveling to another continent I would generally recommend a trip that is a minimum of 10 days in length.

Book Transportation

Transportation is a major cost in your travel budget. When I need to book a flight I begin by checking out flights on either the Expedia or Kayak websites. They don’t usually cover the small airlines or charters but they do give me a starting point – and often that is just figuring out what airline is even a possibility to my destination. I rarely book on these sites – preferring to book on the actual airline’s site. That’s because when I’ve had problems Expedia wouldn’t help at all. (I can’t comment on how good or bad Kayak is.) The exception I make to booking with Expedia is when I find a great price where more than one carrier is used. For example if I was flying to Quito, Ecuador from Toronto the best deal might be flying to Miami on Air Canada and then on American Airlines to Quito. Chances are you could then check your luggage through to Quito when you check in at the Toronto airport. If you had to pick up luggage in Miami and then check in again with American Airlines, it would be stressful – from the time perspective and if your luggage was lost on the first leg. Collecting frequent flyer points and actually putting them to use often requires booking close to a year in advance. I’ll try to book tickets the minute they come open so knowing dates in advance is crucial to taking advantage of free seats. The best day of the week to buy cheap tickets is on Wednesdays just after midnight. Also check out Seat Guru which is an incredible guide for airplane seating – an important element on a long haul flight. If you need to book a train or a ferry and buy the tickets ahead of time for anywhere in the world then be sure to visit The Man in Seat 61.

Research Your Destination and Design Your Trip

This is the fun part. I pull out the catalogs and check their itineraries. I pull out my selection of guidebooks – even the out of dates ones. I go online and check out travel forums and websites. Then I make a list of cities or places that I must see and are really high on my priority list.

Some websites for trip planning that I find helpful are the following.

• Lonely Planet’s Thorn Tree Travel Forum
• Fodor’s Travel Forum
• Trip Advisor though I by no means trust all their information or reviews.
• Traveldudes - a website that provides travel information by fellow travelers and a great resource – if your chosen destination is covered.
• Journeywoman – a particularly useful travel resource for women with zillions of travel tips

An overlooked resource is the tourism office of every country, state, province, city and town that you’re thinking of visiting. Usually they will send brochures and maps! Some tourism offices even help with online bookings.

I take a different tact with hotels.

My idea of a great place to stay is a place with personality – an inn, boutique hotel or interesting B&B. In North America I am inclined to visit the websites of the Select Registry, Historic Hotels of America or Leading Hotels of the World. Lots of what is offered is out of my price range but it’s free to look. Elsewhere I’ll check the travel brochures and see where they stay – because they usually pick interesting spots too. If you’re a baby boomer then check out Donna Hull’s My Itchy Travel Feet website for reviews and ideas of where to stay.

Hotels are the not the only way to go by any means. You can choose self catered apartments, exchange houses or house sit. I have had excellent luck with Housecarers – though often pet-sitting responsibilities are part of the deal. Have a look at these ideas.

B&B’s

• Bed and Breakfast,
• Bed and Breakfast Inns Online
• I Love Inns
• BnBFinder
• Pamela Lanier’s Bed and Breakfast Inns

House Rentals

• Rentalo
• Vacation Rentals By Owner

Home Exchange

• International Home Exchange
• Home Exchange
• Home Link International

You’re almost finished. Perhaps you need to book an activity or a tour.

• Visit Whats on When for festivals, music and happenings around the world.
• Check in with the place you’re staying in and see what they suggest. Often they’ve got contacts with great local knowledge.
• Expedia can help you book a tour too.
• If it’s a major venue you would like to visit then often you can book tickets online – saving money and time in lineups.
• Also Google city passes for any city you might visit and see what you get. There can be some amazing savings.

Pack and Go

Packing is an important part of your trip. Pack lightly and use a check list so you forget nothing. The One Bag website is an incredible resource for all things related to packing – what to pack, how to pack, what to pack it in and resources. The whole process of planning and designing a trip can take weeks of your time but I think it’s a whole lot of fun. And if you want a free guide to over 21 destinations then please download one of hikebiketravel’s inspiring guides - which has almost everything you need to know to book your own trip.

What are your go to resources when you’re booking a trip??? Leave a comment…please.

Leigh McAdam

HikeBikeTravel

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