No matter what type of travelling we are deciding for, planning is necessary. Not only that you can save some money travelling can be more relaxed and easy. I myself have always been an advocate of the principle: a backpack on shoulders, plane ticket in a pocket and leave. However, the experiences have shown that pre-booked accommodation for the first night would save a lot of nerves after grueling journey and jet-lag. Planning does not mean that you schedule every moment of your trip with daily activities, as the charm of travelling on your own is, that you can easily change the plan. Nevertheless, certain things have to be done in the embrace of the domestic walls, so here are some advice to help you better arrange your planning.
Step One: Finalize where you are going
"Vaaauuuu" is the sigh when you see the image of pyramids of Giza, the Temple of Heaven in Beijing or the famous Niagara Falls. That kind of sigh cans the inspiration for the next adventurous journey. Planning ahead is important, especially because the best time to buy airline tickets is four to six months before departure. On the other hand it can happen that a cheap air ticket can determine the destination for your winter or summer adventure.
Step Two: Money...
…makes the world go round and will certainly be the ruler of your trip. Not to impose too strict dictatorship, it is important to look at the standard of the country you are visiting. The Internet is literally stuffed with information on prices of accommodation, transportation, food and various activities. We can get some idea of how much things cost and adjust the budget. Make yourself comfortable and physically write down your numbers based on your personal travelling style and on the amount of money that you are willing to spend. Certainly take into account:
- Plane tickets and transportation (see next step).
- Accommodation - prices depend on the standard that you want and the country you are traveling to. In Asia it is easy to find accommodation for two or three euros, while something like this is not possible in Europe. You can stay in one of the HI hostels, which are located throughout the world and are also friendly to your wallet.
- Food – if you are self-proclaimed epicurean, budget for lots of restaurants, otherwise the budget for food is lower if you are willing to eat street food.
- Fun activities - tours, shows, activities etc… are an important part of the trip, since it is a magical experience to ride by gondola in Venice or ski on sandy dunes.
- Purchases – thing like souvenirs and special items, although keep in mind that everything you buy at the beginning of your travel it means an extra weight in the backpack.
- Minor incidentals – give yourself a big buffer on this because things you did not plan come up and you cannot quite know how the things are on the road. So a small budget for emergencies is always welcome.
Step Three: Buy plane tickets, tickets for train...
There are a variety of places where you can find, book and purchase airline tickets, some airlines even publish of special offers on their websites. There is no right recipe when to buy tickets, but they are generally cheaper around 6 months before departure. Also it is wise to check out how is the situation if you travel by train or ferry. For example in India it can happen that you must stay in one city longer than planned, because it is hard to get the seat on crowded trains. Some cities (especially European), with slightly more expensive admissions for monuments and museums, offer certain discounts or only a short queue, if you purchase tickets in advance on internet.
Step Four: Organize your life at home
Do you have a dog, cat, hamster or flowers? Do you live alone and a loss of power can cause a disaster in the freezer? In order to keep everything on track, take care for this thing prior to departure. Moreover, it is essential to check the validity of the passport and find out if the countries you are going to visit require a visa. Do not forget to compulsory vaccination and medical insurance.
Step Five: Book accommodation for at least first night in town you’ll be travelling too
Night wandering around the city you’ve just arrived can be extremely exhausting way to meet the neighborhood. Therefore, give yourself to a smooth arrival in foreign city by knowing where you’ll be going when you get off the plane. Some hostels also offer pick-up from the airport straight into the embrace of a warm bed. That is how you can avoid the annoying taxi drivers and even save some money, as you probably will not have a sense of local prices. And they will rip you off.
Have a pleasant journey!
