Regardless if you’re taking a road trip with friends, relaxing on a train by the sea, or flying out of the country, it’s important that you are ready in every way for this exciting vacation. Besides having fun to your heart’s content, remember that the preparation for vacation is just as important as the vacation itself.
Preparation for Vacation
These are the six best ways to prepare for a trip:
1. Establish a budget and stick to it
When on vacation, you may be prone to overspending. Sometimes, there are public transportation methods you need to take, or you give in to the temptation to buy one more appetizer at the restaurant. Despite these impulse purchases, you must be firm with your budget and make choices that accommodate to it. If ever faced with a situation where you must spend money unexpectedly, make sure to always ask the price of it first or determine whether or not it’s necessary to purchase this expense!
2. Research your future destination
There are multiple options that can give you all the information you need about a destination: travel blogs, advice columns, magazines, guidebooks and even social media. Gathering information and developing awareness of what to expect is the stepping stone to creating a perfect itinerary. The research will also let you know how far you’re actually traveling. This can be incredibly necessary if your car is leased because of mileage restrictions. If you’re visiting a different country, take some time to research their customs and traditions. Despite being a tourist, you are a visitor to that country and should respect their ways of life. Familiarize yourself with basic phrases in the language, too!
3. Plan the itinerary ahead of time
Now that you’ve established a budget and researched the destination, you can create the best itinerary possible! Itineraries provide structure to the vacation, maximize time, and prioritizes the main things you want to see and do. Also, an itinerary can help you manage how you want to spend money and determine what is a necessity to pack. Furthermore, with a prepared itinerary, you can buy event tickets or make reservations for lodging ahead of time. At the end of the day, don’t be afraid to be spontaneous either with your adventures – it’s completely acceptable to be flexible with your schedule.
4. Invest in traveler’s insurance
Traveler’s insurance is always worth the investment. Because you have traveler’s insurance, you have a safety net that compensates for any monetary expenses, damages, or injuries that may have occurred during your trip. Unexpected situations happen all the time, like a flight cancellation with a refundable ticket, losing luggage, or even a natural disaster.
5. Make copies of all personal and travel documents
Losing your ID whenever you travel is a pain. Therefore, combat this possibility by making copies of your ID, passport, and any other travel documents. Having multiple copies of your personal information and travel documents is imperative – especially if you are frequenting foreign countries. Without proper identification or paperwork, you will have to undergo a long process to get new ones and may even stay in a country long since there is no evidence of your identification to allow you to return home. While paper copies can suffice, you should also upload your personal and travel documents to an encrypted service that stores data, such as DropBox. This can be a lifesaver because you will have both the physical and electronic copies to support you if necessary!
6. Pack Minimally
The last thing you want to worry about is keeping track of every single thing you brought in a carry-on. While it feels comforting to be over-prepared, you truly don’t need anything but the basic essentials: appropriate clothes and shoes for the weather and culture, toiletries, and electronics and their chargers. The less you have to worry about, the more fun you get to experience!