Intro

Do you love to travel? Whether international or domestic, far off lands or local road trips. But when thinking about planning a trip do you get a sense of being overwhelmed and not knowing where to start? Do all these questions circle your brain before even opening your web browser: How do we get there? Where do we stay? What should we do? How do we stay safe and get the best bang for our buck?

Recently my family and I were planning a trip for my Mom’s 70th birthday. When discussing plans and arrangements; my Dad pretty much shut down (I mean this in a loving way) while I was able to get a trip outline together in about 30 seconds and I realized travel and the planning of the trip isn’t a comfort zone for everyone. My comfort comes from the fact that I have been an event planner for the last 15-years as well as have traveled to 28 countries and 47 states.

This scenario with my Dad made me realize there are several kinds of people out there:

1. The non-travelers: they are content where they are and don’t have the desire.

2. The impulsive travelers: they don’t need many plans, that’s the fun of it.

3. The curious but cautious travelers: I couldn’t think of a good title for this 3rd subset of people, but the group of individuals who are open to traveling but they like order, planning, and sometimes don’t know how to organize all the details.

When planning a trip or even if you are open to a lack of a concrete plan, there are still several things one needs to keep in mind. 

For those professional planners out there, check out my posts on Travel Benefits of a AAA Membership and Succeeding in a Career in the Travel Industry.

Conclusion

When traveling, it is about the experience and seeing something new. Whether you are a planner or a fly by the seat of your pants sort of person, it is a good idea to at the very least have a shell of an idea of what you want from your trip. The most important thing is to have fun, but know what type of planner and traveler you are to have a flawless trip.

Quote

“The world is a book, and those do not travel read only a page.” St. Augustine

Next on the Blog…

Trips can be expensive, especially if traveling with multiple people. Not only is it important to plan an upcoming trip effectively, it is also a smart idea to project further out on trips you would like to take in the coming months and years. Check out Kiss Expedition’s post on Creating a Vision of What You Want for Your Trips. For an in-depth travel tip guide to make your trip a breeze, check out A Free Soul Abroad’s post.