6 Simple Steps to Creating the Perfect Travel Itinerary
When we travel, we want to experience the new country or the new state as much as we can. But we have limited time and resources to do so, especially if we visit only a few days. Nevertheless, we can make the most of our visit by creating the perfect travel itinerary.
What are the Benefits of Having a Travel Itinerary?
There are different reasons why you should consider creating an itinerary before your trip.
1. An itinerary can ensure you have the time to visit all places of interest: Before your trip, you’ve likely researched all the places you want to see. When you have an itinerary, you can organize your schedule to ensure you visit all those key attractions. You can also group nearby locations, making it easier to visit them in one go, saving you time. This way, you’ll maximize your sightseeing without rushing to see the next attraction.
2. An itinerary can help you determine your budget for the trip: When you have an itinerary, you can properly budget for the trip since you already know how much you’ll be spending on transportation, food, and activities expenses. If there are entrance fees to attractions you want to visit, you can factor in these costs so there will be fewer out-of-budget expenses. You’ll be more likely to take better control of your finances during your trip.
3. An itinerary can help you prioritize key experiences: There are activities that you might miss, especially if your time is limited. When you have an itinerary, you can prioritize which of these experiences, activities, or tourist destinations to explore, making sure you don’t miss any of the must-do experiences. Less essential experiences can be slotted during your planned downtime or time for rest—if you still have the energy and you’re not yet snoring on the way back to your accommodation!
4. A travel itinerary reduces decision fatigue: When traveling, you’ll need to make several decisions. Where to eat, where to go next, where to call for a taxi… The decisions you must make can sometimes make the travel experience stressful, defeating the purpose of a relaxing vacation. However, by creating an itinerary, you avoid the daily stress of thinking about what to do next, freeing up mental space and letting you fully enjoy your vacation. Plus, an itinerary will give you something to look forward to the next day.
5. An itinerary can help ensure your safety: When you create your itinerary before your trip, you research the places you want to see, which also allows you to learn about the safety of each location, especially important if you’re a solo traveler. An itinerary can also give your friends and family back home peace of mind since they know where you are at a given time.
Now that we know the advantages of having a travel itinerary, how do we create one? Follow the steps below.
1. Define Your Travel Goals
Are you visiting a new country or city for business or pleasure? Clearly defining your travel goal can make it easier for you to plan your itinerary. If you’re traveling for business, it doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t also mix it with pleasure! There’s a widely accepted term for it now: business + pleasure = “bleisure.”
According to CEO Magazine, mixing business and pleasure improves staff loyalty and retention, as such, more and more companies are encouraging their employees to take additional leave days during business trips. So, if you’re traveling for “bleisure,” plan the first part of your trip around business commitments, then reserve the remaining days for pleasure, especially if your family or friends are traveling to join you.
2. Research Your Destination
Now that you have defined your travel goals and know how many days you can spend how you want, the next step is to research your destination, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the area or unsure about tourist attractions.
If you’re traveling for pleasure and all the logistics of your trip rest on your shoulders, choose the accommodation near to either the airport or the city’s center or close to the sights you plan to visit. This will save you time and help cut down on transportation costs.
3. Prioritize Must-See Attractions
A country or a city might be popular with tourists because of certain attractions. Even if you’re not particularly interested in the popular spots or they aren’t the primary reason for your visit, still make the time to visit these places. They are “must-sees” for a reason. If they fail to meet your expectations, at least you get to experience them firsthand and not because of travel reviews you’ve read.
4. Time Management: Make the Most of Your Days
If you plan to visit amusement parks, dedicate your entire itinerary for that day to the park itself. Don’t schedule lunch at a famous restaurant because chances are you won’t be able to make it—instead, lunch in one of the dining options inside the park. An amusement park is a one-day activity since you must consider the time you will spend queuing.
Tip: Queue Times is a handy website you can visit to check the waiting times for rides in the biggest theme parks in the world. It even offers crowd forecasts for up to five months in advance, helping you to plan your visit more effectively.
5. Consider Your Transportation Options
Are you planning to visit an attraction in the boondocks? Make sure you have transportation not just going but also coming back. You might consider renting a car and hiring a driver for the day or opt to visit attractions that are in the city center or along public transportation routes. After all, you wouldn’t want to spend your vacation stranded somewhere!
6. Plan for Downtime and Flexibility
When you create the perfect travel itinerary for your trip, make sure to also plan for downtime and allot some wiggle room. No matter how much you prepare for it, there will still be situations beyond your control. For example, you planned to visit this attraction, but there’s been an emergency during your visit, and it’s temporarily closed. Consider including in your itinerary an alternative destination that you can go to instead if this happens. This way, you won’t feel derailed if your plans change.
Fine-Tuning your Travel Itinerary
Once you’re done with your itinerary, keep in mind that it’s not set in stone. You can still tweak it, especially if circumstances change. Consider fine-tuning it before your trip, especially if there are new places of interest that are now open for guests.
