A complete guide for beginners on how to plan a trip!
Planning a vacation to a new place can be a big task, however, it is easier than you think! It definitely takes time to research and determine what you want to do, but don’t be discouraged or overwhelmed. The world is filled with beautiful places waiting to be discovered – let’s tackle them one at a time! Today, I am walking you through my trip planning process in 10 simple steps so you know how to plan an international trip of your dreams.
I remember the first time I planned a trip and it was quite daunting. I had no idea what I was getting into, how to find the best flights, or even how to decide if a restaurant looked good. Practice is truly the best way to get more comfortable so you have to go for it and trust your gut instincts when planning a trip abroad.
This site participates in affiliate programs. That means, when you click any of these links to make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at NO additional cost to you. Thank you SO much to anyone who uses these links and supports my blog in this way. I appreciate you more than you know. ☺️
Planning a trip? Be sure to use these helpful services!
- 🏰 Book the perfect accommodations with VRBO and Booking.com
- ⛵️Create memorable experiences with activities on Viator.
- 🚗 Easily secure a rental car or airport transfer.
- 🌀Protect your travel purchases with insurance via World Nomads.
- 🍼 Rent baby gear for your next vacay.
1. Research Phase – Pick Where You Want to Travel & Your Budget
First, you have to do the research to learn how to plan a trip. If you have a destination in mind, great! If not, search pinterest, instagram, youtube, and travel magazines until you decide. This is always a fun part of the trip planning process!
Once I pick a destination or region, I learn as much as possible to find my bearings. Personally, I like to read Conde Nast Travel magazine and search through their website. Of course, I also check to see if my favorite bloggers have been there – The Blonde Abroad, Jetset Christina, Renee Roaming, and Our Travel Passport.
I check literally everywhere to learn as much as I can. Here are my top travel inspo resources:
- Watch YouTube Videos and Netflix on places, hotels, restaurants, etc.
- Follow a destination’s hashtag on Instagram (for example, #sifnos) and their official tourism account (for example, @myswitzerland).
- Read travel magazines and their accompanying website – Conde Nast, Travel + Leisure, Afar, Southern Living, etc.
- Read Blogs – google your destination and see what comes up. Learn about the author though to make sure you identify/trust their opinions. Find local food bloggers and ask them! I did this for Geneva and Zurich – typed in “Geneva food blog” on Instagram and a cute girl that I identified with came up – I sent her a DM asking for her top few places to eat. We actually went to their recommendations and had the best experiences.
- TripAdvisor Reviews
You will also want to start considering your budget for this trip. If you have a smaller budget, Bora Bora might be out of the question with the costly flight to get there and high end resorts. Maybe a trip to Turks and Caicos could be similar, but more cost effective.
The research phase continues throughout the entire planning process for me.
2. Organize Preliminary Information + Make Some Decisions!
Now that you have some great information, let’s make it easy to access. I like to use Google Maps to create my own map where I can plug in hotel options, restaurants, attractions, etc. It helps to understand where things are located to determine where it may be best to stay and what is actually doable for my trip. You can also do a version of this on Trip Advisor.
How to Create a Google Map:
- Go to Google Maps
- Menu in top left corner, click your places
- At the bottom, click create map
- Start creating!
3. Plan & Build Itinerary Outline
Next on my how to plan an international trip checklist, I pull up Google Docs or a spreadsheet and start writing down my rough draft itinerary by day. Which city or island will I be at on each day and any major things we want to do while there. I keep this round pretty high level.
You will want to determine how many days you need for the full trip and in each location. This will depend on many factors like your vacation days allowance and budget. I recommend not jumping from place to place too much. It can be exhausting. Aim to spend at minimum 3 nights in each place you plan to visit.
4. Book Your Flights and Hotel Accommodations
Now it’s time to book the two major pieces of your trip abroad – flights and hotels! Check availability for flights and at your top hotel choices and see how it fits together. I use Google Flights to see what is available and the best way to get there.
Leisurely tip: Sometimes you need to fly into a major city, then book the smaller leg separately for the best price. For instance, I flew United into Zurich for a trip to Greece, but booked the Zurich to Athens leg separately on Aegean Air.
TIPS TO SAVE MONEY ON FLIGHTS & HOTELS
- Check your credit card points and see if you can use anything. I have the Capital One Venture card which allows me to book points via Capital One Travel or redeem points towards travel purchases after a trip.
- Scott’s Cheap Flights – sign up for alerts and they will e-mail you flight deals. I use the free version and it’s helpful!
- Peruse sites like booking.com for all of the best deals on hotels.
5. Purchase Travel Insurance
Once you secure flights and hotels, go ahead and purchase trip insurance to protect yourself from any mishaps while traveling overseas. We never did this until the pandemic, but it feels necessary now especially for a big trip like a honeymoon. We have used World Nomads for our past couple trips and it has been super easy to get a quote and a reasonable price point. Make sure to read through and understand your coverage.
We usually do this after we’ve booked the big expenses like flights and hotels.
6. Buy Tickets for Activities and Book Dining Reservations
I research throughout the entire planning process, always learning more. As you are researching, save profiles or posts to Instagram Saves or a Pinterest Board.
Create an idea of things you would like to experience in this destination. Think about anything you must do or restaurants you have to try! You may need reservations for these and it’s best to book early. If you are in a busy, foodie city like Charleston, you definitely need reservations in advance.
Keep in mind, you will not be able to see everything in every city. Pick your non-negotiables and know you can always go back again one day.
7. Fill in Your Itinerary
Now it is time to fine tune your itinerary. Add in anything you have made reservations for or plan to see and do. Don’t over schedule – make sure there is lots of free time and it’s a loose itinerary. I continue with the Google Doc or spreadsheet that I have already created and also add everything to the Trip It app for easy access on my phone.
After a trip, I return to the Google Doc and fill in what we actually did for reference! We don’t always stick to the itinerary, but it’s great to have somewhat of a plan.
Leisurely tip: Keep your itinerary to a minimum and don’t over plan!
8. Check the Weather + Purchase Anything You Might Need
Now it is time to plan what you will need to pack. What is the weather typically like when you will be visiting? You can find historical data on weather.com and of course get the 10-day forecast closer to your travels.
Think about outfits and purchase anything you may need overseas. I like to visually pack starting with a packing list by day and activity using a spreadsheet.
9. Print out any Documents
In the current travel climate, I find myself having to carry around lots of documents on my international holidays. Be sure to print anything you may need – itinerary, visas, covid test results, vax cards, trip insurance, etc. I throw it all in a folder and it fits easily in my bookbag.
Essential Documents
- passport
- visas
- vaccination reports
- travel insurance
- itinerary
- travel credit card
- cash
- flight tickets
- hotel confirmations
- driver’s license
10. Start Packing Your Suitcase
Dust off that suitcase!
I only travel in carry-on – my duffel bag and one personal item which is always my college North Face bookbag – filled with a few things I never leave home without. It is much easier when you have multiple connections or will be on small planes. Here is an example of how I lay it out so that I can pack light and see where I can rewear outfits.
Monday, March 14 – Patagonia, Chile
- Weather – 60s high / 40s low
- Daytime – Hiking in Torres Del Paine: fleece lined leggings, thermal top, second top, sports bra, wool socks, hiking boots, puffer jacket, hat, gloves
- Evening – Dinner at the lodge: Jeans, sweater, hiking boots, wool socks, puffer jacket
Packing Essentials
- clothing
- appropriate shoes
- toiletries in TSA approved sizes
- adapters
- medication
- chargers
- travel documents
- credit cards, cash
- identification
- makeup
- eyeglasses and sunglasses
- SPF
Leisurely tip: I often take laundry detergent and wash things like leggings in my hotel sink if I won’t have access to laundry services.
Other Things to Do Before an International Trip
There are many other things you need to be thinking about as you make travel plans to go abroad.
Get a Passport and Check Your Expiration Date
If you don’t have a passport already, you will need to get one in order to travel internationally. Visit the passport office website to see instructions for US Citizens. It typically takes 6 weeks to receive a passport, so you will want to do this well in advance to ensure there are no delays.
If you do have a passport, check the expiration date and your country’s requirements. Many countries require 6 months to one year of validity on your passport to enter the country. Plan to renew your passport well in advance.
Check for Visa and Entry Requirements
You want to check the country’s website to check if there are vaccines required. Make a plan to get those taken care of in enough time. If you are going on Safari you may need certain vaccinations.
Also check to see if a visa is required. Many countries require you to apply for a visa ahead of time and pay in advance. Others let you apply at the airport. You can usually use google to determine this information. When we traveled to Egypt, we needed to apply for our visa online ahead of the trip.
Get a Travel Credit Card
I like to recommend a travel credit card that does not have foreign transaction fees when visiting another country. The last thing you need is to be hit with more fees while paying for things abroad. I use the Capital One Venture card. It has a low annual fee (free your first year!) and also has perks like paying for your Global Entry application and reward points! My husband uses the Chase Sapphire Card and loves that one too!
You will earn points on purchases that you can use toward your next trip!
Research the Local Customs
Think about where you are going. Many countries have very different customs and cultures. If you are traveling to a place like Egypt, you will need to plan your wardrobe in a modest fashion and may need a headscarf.
Also check for any big events that might be going on. I visited Dubai during Ramadan and there were so many customs I needed to learn about and what is respectful for a tourist.
Backup Your Passport
When traveling internationally, I always save a picture of my passport on my phone incase anything happens. It’s also smart to make sure your emergency contact back home has a copy of your passport as well.
Ground Transportation
Think about how you will get around during your trip abroad. Do you need a rental car or can your rely on taxi/Uber in the destination. I typically do not get a rental car, because driving/parking in another country can be a challenge, but sometimes it’s necessary. You will need to apply for an international driver’s license if so. You can learn how to here or simply head to your local AAA branch.
Get Local Currency
We like to have a little bit of the local currency if we can before arriving on an overseas trip. You can get this at your local bank of any currency exchange. If not, you can usually have your hotel exchange cash for you once you arrive. I like to have it on arrival in case we need it for a taxi driver, etc.
Leisurely tip: bring back some of the local currency so you have it for your next trip! It’s also a cool souvenir to have.
Language
It is always helpful to learn a few basic phrases before your travel somewhere you don’t know the language. At minimum, know how to say hello, goodbye, where is the restroom?, do you speak english,? and thank you! You can google this or use an app like Duolingo or Babbel.
And that is it! You are ready for take off! Enjoy your next vacation and please let me know if you have any questions at all about how to plan an international trip for your next adventure!
Planning a trip? Be sure to use these helpful services.
🏰 Perfect Accommodations
Whether you prefer a hotel or vacation rental for your next trip, you can find the perfect home base with these trusted providers.
⛵️Build Your Itinerary
Fill in your itinerary by making plans for the perfect tours and activities. Book in advance to secure the best tour guides and experiences for your holiday.
🌀Plan for the Unexpected
Things happen. Make sure you are protected with trip insurance. We use World Nomads and they make it super easy to get the right coverage whether a honeymoon, hiking trip, or quick getaway.
Leave a Reply