Okay, so you want to start exploring – amazing! But now what? How do you know where to start? At a time where folks are drifting away from travel agents, let’s take a look at how to plan a trip on your own.

Travel Planning Tips and Tricks

Deciding Where and When to Travel

There are several factors to consider when planning your destination and timing. Let’s take a look at some of my key considerations.

1. Is there a specific event happening at that place/time?
   • Sometimes you’ll plan trips for an event, like going to Valencia for Las Fallas. Other times, it may be a reason to reconsider visiting at a particular time of year. Look into festivals, major sporting events, and other events at your destination for the time you’re looking to travel.
2. How do you feel about crowds?
   • If you’re someone that does not do well with crowds, try planning your travel for the off-season of your destination.
3. What is the weather going to be like in that location, at that time of year?
   • The weather lately can often be unpredictable. That being said, it’s also a major factor in destination planning. Ask yourself: “Is it the rainy season in Tanzania? Will the weather be unbearably hot in Italy in June? Are these things I’m willing to tolerate?” Make sure to look at past weather trends for the area you’re considering.
4. Is it a popular time for travel?
   • Traveling around the holidays or during school breaks (at home or the destination) often means increased costs. Sometimes this is unavoidable, but is always something to consider.

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Where should I stay?

Where to stay when traveling is typically determined by location and one’s preferences. Some things that I like to factor into my decision on where to stay are outlined below.

1. Is public transit reliable, or is the destination otherwise walkable?
   • It’s often cheaper to stay outside of a city center, however, you need to factor in how you’ll get from place to place. I prefer to pay a little bit more to stay a reasonable distance from public transit (if that option is available). Other things to consider are whether there are things such as food, stores, etc. near where you plan to stay that are a walkable distance.
2. Do I want a low-key or luxury place to stay? Is my budget limited?
   • Most destinations have a full range of accommodation types. For budget trips, I’ve stayed in hostels. I’ve also splurged on a night in a nice hotel here or there if I know I’ll need some added comforts.
3. Do I want to meet new people?
   • If you’re looking to socialize, most hostels (especially in Europe) are a great place to meet people. Whether you stay in a dorm-style room or a private one, look into whether the hostel hosts events for guests. In college, I met a lot of people just by hanging out in the hostel lobby!
4. What do others have to say about the place?
   • My biggest advice is to thoroughly read reviews across more than one platform once you’ve narrowed down some options on where to stay. Steer clear of any with few reviews, especially if they all seem perfect. People will always have something to say, so decide what matters most to you and filter the reviews to look what others have commented about those things.

Sites for Hostel and Hotel Booking

While booking your accommodation directly is generally best, the following are sites I’ve used to research (and sometimes book).

• Hostelworld: I’ve used this extensively on trips throughout Europe, and even for a booking in Boston. You can apply a number of filters, from the room style (mixed-dorm, female-only, private, ensuite, etc.) to whether the location has Wi-fi or other amenities.
• Expedia: This well-known travel site offers the option to book with them for a lower rate; just keep in mind that any changes need to go through the 3rd party and hotels cannot always honor your choices if you don’t book directly. Either way, this is a great place to check for reviews and details such as location and amenities. I personally like to use the map feature to determine where a hotel is in comparison to sites I’d like to see, and the reviews to narrow down hotel options in that area.
• Hotels.com: Another 3rd-party site, this is also where I’ll go to read reviews on places I’m considering to stay. If booking through this site, rewards are universal for both Hotels.com and Expedia.
• Booking.com: Yet another 3rd-party site for reviewing and booking hotels. Again, keep in mind that the logistics of actually booking through a site such as this means you can’t always go through the hotel itself for changes to your booking.

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Should I Take a Tour or Plan my Own Activities?

Some people have a hard preference of taking tours and using group travel or doing everything on their own. As I’ve visited more places, a lot of my trips tend to include a combination of both.

Why should I take a tour?

Logistics

One of the main reasons I book tours or group travel is that the logistics of my plans are complex. A prime example of this was my visit to Machu Picchu. Entry times book up months in advance, and getting to the historical site involves multiple modes of travel. Having a tour operator meant that I only had to worry about arriving on time to the meeting point. If anything disrupted the trip, I was also covered by my tour operator to either rebook or refund.

Safety

As a female traveler, I gravitate more toward tours in areas that aren’t as safe for women/female-presenting individuals. This is especially true when traveling solo, as I often do. Traveling with a reputable tour gives some peace of mind in these areas. For example, on my trip to Morocco, our group of women had a male guide and added security personnel in the souks.

Orientation

If the place that I’m visiting is new to me, I like to start my trip with a walking tour. This helps orient me to the area, while learning more about the sites I’m visiting later. An added bonus is that, often, guides are happy to give recommendations off the beaten path. This has been a great way to find places to eat and coffee shops, etc. that aren’t as “touristy.”

Best Resources for Tours and Group Travel

Tours

Specific destinations often have their own local tour suppliers. When looking for tours on a broader scale, I like to use the resources below.

• Airbnb Experience: The first place I like to check for tours (especially walking tours) is Airbnb Experience. The platform allows locals to advertise their tours, giving a personal connection to the place you’re visiting. One of my favorite tours was booked in Porto through this platform.
• GetYourGuide: If I can’t find a tour for my destination through Airbnb Experience, my next stop is GetYourGuide. One of the perks of this site is that you can often find tours that are book now/pay later and fully refundable up until a particular date. This allows for flexibility should you decide on other activities, while holding your spot.
• Expedia: As mentioned in the accommodation section, Expedia is a 3rd-party resource for book travel-related items. One thing you can book on this site is tours.
  • Pro tip: Really look into reviews. A lot of companies offer similar tours, and some are newly added with no reviews at all. I try to avoid these due to likelihood of it either being a scam or not yet tested operationally.

Group Travel

• Education First: This company is a parent company of those outlined below. It originated as a way to help students travel and has since expanded.
  • EF Ultimate Break: For travelers 18-35. I’ve now taken 3 trips with this group.
    • Pros: local guides; adventure-focused; payment plans; option to include flights; great for solo travelers to make friends
      • Added pro: My first trip with EF UB was when I broke my ankle; the director handled it like a pro! I continue to book with them because of this.
    • Cons: Some itineraries have rather large groups; I much preferred the smaller groups I traveled with
  • EF Go Ahead: For a more open age range.
    • Pros: No age limitations (aside from solo minors)
    • Cons: Itineraries to the same places as EF Ultimate Break can vary greatly in activity choices; often higher prices than EF UB
  • EF Adventures: A newer branch I haven’t yet traveled with, these itineraries are activity-focused (hiking, cycling, etc.)
    • Pros: Great for those who like an active trip
    • Cons: More expensive than other branches, from what I’ve seen.
• Local tour companies:
  • Each destination typically has its own tour companies. Depending where you go, you can find and book them online. I haven’t yet done more than a day-tour with a local company, but it’s a great way to support the economy of your destination!

Resources for Travel Activity Planning

• Social Media: Now often used as a search tool, I usually start my activity planning by looking up my destination on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook. I’ll note things that look interesting to me to later research on other platforms.
• Travel Bloggers: I know, I know. I’m a blogger plugging bloggers. The reality is, when I use search engines to find out more about activities I’m interested in, blogs can be very helpful with the realities of those destinations. I often get advice on who to book through, expected costs, and other logistics by reading bloggers’ experiences.
• Travel Forums: In a similar vein to social media, travel forums exist all over the internet. They can be as broad as Reddit threads, or as specific as cruise line forums. I like to join groups on Facebook, for example, for a cruise line that I’m new to. People will often ask the same questions I’m looking for information on, and I can get first-hand feedback from folks that have taken those cruises. I also am part of a few different general traveling groups on Facebook, such as Girls Who Travel, where users from around the world come together to share tips and tricks on a number of destinations.

Travel Planning Made Simple

All in all, travel planning is what you make of it. Everyone has their own style and preferences, and there’s something out there for all. Use the resources available to you – whether you book with a tour to plan it all for you, or deep dive social media forums, I wish you a pleasant planning and happy travels! For more advice from adapting to new cultures to handling medical emergencies while traveling, check out more of my blog! You can also join Travel Stories with Sara on Facebook and Instagram.