LET'S PLAN A TRIP!
7 EASY STEPS TO PLANNING A TRIP
Well, it’s only fitting that we start right at the beginning, you can’t have a great adventure without planning it to some extent. I will tell you how I plan a trip, starting with budgeting to where I get flights, how I book hotels/hostels and where I get the best selection of activities.
Heads Up!
Some of the links you’ll find on this site are affiliate links, which means that if you book a flight, a stay or even that quirky travel gadget through them, I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It’s like buying me a virtual iced capp (thanks!), and it helps keep this blog running so I can continue to share all the travel inspiration and tips with you.
Safe travels and happy exploring!
Budget
Money, money, money, you won’t get far without it. Like most people out there, I fund my trips with my salary. I set up automatic transfers to a high-interest savings account and I have credit cards that earn Aeroplan points (Air Canada) and also MR points (AMEX). I take purchasing a ticket with points or with cash into account when deciding on how to pay for my airfare. Using the TPG Calculator helps me decide which option is better.
If you live in Canada, especially if you don’t live in the hub cities (Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver) you know how expensive it is to fly anywhere which means the majority of your budget will go to airfare.
Flights
Now that we have some money, it’s time to look at flights. I use quite a combination of apps and websites to pick where and when I am going. I mostly use Skyscanner and Google Flights for their “explore everywhere” feature. Let this feature be your bestie. Usually, I know which dates I am flying, so I pick my departure airport and explore everywhere during those dates. Sometimes I don’t get the best results so alternatively I select the month I can fly.
The most important rule here is to purchase your ticket directly from the airline, in most cases, I’ve found it costs a few more dollars than 3rd party vendors but it is worth the peace of mind. Trust me when I say, you do not need the headache that follows should a disruption in your travel plans occur.
Where To Stay?
The options are endless when it comes to accommodations, it all comes down to your travel style. Are you a backpacker? Do you prefer luxury hotels? Are you somewhere in the middle like I am? In my experience, different websites/apps work better in different regions of the world. In some areas, Expedia is the better option, in some, Agoda is best and in others, it’s Booking.com.
Overall, I tend to use Booking.com the most. I make sure to book a room that has free cancellation preferably if it is Book Now and Pay Later. The reason I do this is that sometimes a place I booked lowers their rate so I rebook and save some dollars or a place that was fully booked has an opening, which allows me to cancel and rebook with no hassle.
Take a look at the endless options of accommodations available to you here
Local Transportation
If there is one thing I’m going to tell you, it’s to make sure you arrive at your destination when the sun is out, especially if you’re travelling solo as a woman amd most especially if you’re black. I do not play about my safety when I am travelling, I will try avoid situtations that can put me in a tricky predicament. If there are no other flight options I can take, I will either spend the night time in the airport (taking into consideration the airport itself) and leave when the sun comes out or I will book transportation directly with my accommodation.
Say I arrive during the daytime, my shuttle would be waiting for me because I would have booked a shuttle to my hotel in advance. Most times haggling with taxi drivers after a long travel day is not worth it, you might save some pennies, you might get scammed, you never know. I choose peace of mind over everything.
Shuttle services can be found on various sites regionally, try to use companies with good reputations. I read through reviews thoroughly, mostly the bad ones so I see what the most common issue other passengers have had. If it’s an issue I don’t want to potentially have, then I pick another company.
I am not usually one to rent a car when I travel. I drive and all when I am home but I am just not a fan. I am a certified passenger princess. The few times I have and cases where I will rent a car, it is because it’s more convenient financially, geographically or both.
Activities
Now we get to the part where we plan to have fun. There is something for everyone no matter your speed, from the thrill seekers to the leisure travellers. I find activities on Viator, AirBnB Experiences or the tourism website of the country. I get a lot of activity suggestions from TikTok and Instagram.
Once I’m on the ground, I hear about other activities from other travellers or the locals in the area. Trust your instincts when it comes to word-of-mouth activities, sometimes they will rip you off because you’re a foreigner and they think that you don’t know any better. When I plan a trip, I don’t book all my activities, I just book the ones I know I really want to do especially if you have to book them in advance. The rest of my days are spent winging it.
Check out the wide range of activities you can get up to at your destination here
Safety
As I mentioned earlier, despite what my parents think, I don’t play about my safety when I am travelling. I am fully aware of what’s happening around me and depending on my destination, my alertness is either a little relaxed or very heightened. We all want to make it back home safe and sound. Trust your instincts – your gut feeling is never wrong. If something feels off, then it probably is.
I do a few things like keeping a personal alarm attached to my day bag, I always have a SIM card or eSIM that has data. I keep a photocopy of my passport with the contact details of the nearest Canadian Embassy/Consulate and I try to memorise local emergency numbers. I keep a door lock and an alarm door stopper so I am secure when I am in my room. If my room has a safe, I am most definitely using it.
There are a few more things I do but I’ll cover that in length in another article.
Have Fun!
Be yourself and have fun.
I have learnt that you are never alone when you’re travelling solo, there’ll be many other travellers with you.
Safe Travels & Happy Exploring!
