Many vacations start as an amazing idea but then become a headache to manage. It is often overlooked that planning a tour takes a lot of thought, planning and brainstorming. A lack of knowledge about planning a trip is often evident during vacations.

Travellers can overcome 90% of the difficulties they face when planning their trip with a bit of effort and preparation. These are some useful tips for trip planning that will help you be prepared for any eventuality.

Pick your destination

This all could be due to stunning photos that went viral on social media, the picturesque setting of a movie or the compelling story of a friend who just returned from a trip abroad. External factors are more common than you might think.

Before you choose a destination, here are some things to remember

• It’s impossible to tell a traveller what to do when they want to see the mountains, beaches, or forests. Choosing the right destination based on the season is important to plan a successful trip.
• Find out when is the best time to visit each destination. The ideal time to visit mountains and beaches is usually completely different.
• When choosing a destination, consider the cost factor. Certain places are more appealing to luxury travellers than others. You can get great discounts on flights and hotels if you travel during shoulder season, a few weeks after or before the official ‘busy’ season.
• Before embarking on a journey, it is important to ensure the safety of all travellers (especially solo female travellers).
• Accessibility can also play a role in deciding whether to visit a destination. The most popular destinations usually have many daily flights, trains and an infrastructure that supports the tourist influx.

Determine the length of your trip

It is possible to be bored while still enjoying your destination. There is no set time limit for a destination. It all depends on the purpose of the trip and the tour plans. While some people love to visit new cities daily, others prefer to take it slow and enjoy the subtleties of each place they visit. This is an important aspect of your trip plan that can improve your itinerary and budget.

Before you decide on the length of your trip, here are some things to remember

• The key element of a great trip planner is the ability to accurately estimate how many days it will take to reach a destination. The trip planning with a road trip planner will increase the trip’s duration, while a trip planned using flight tickets may be shorter.
• If the destination is within eight hours of the nearest city, trips can be made on the weekend, provided the night is used for travel.
• A longer trip that includes many more urban attractions will require more time for sightseeing. A trip to a tropical beach resort would require less sightseeing to shorten the trip duration.
• If you have a tour plan that lasts more than 7 days, it is best to leave a day empty. This allows you to be prepared for delays in flight or train travel, traffic jams, and even a change of heart to extend your stay at a specific destination.

1. Book your flights, train or bus tickets and accommodations

Booking tickets for your train, bus, or flight well in advance is a crucial step in planning your trip. 

Consider these things when booking accommodation and transfers.

• If you are certain about your vacation plans, only book non-refundable tickets on flights or trains. If you book well in advance, it is best to book refundable tickets.
• Flight prices can fluctuate quite a bit, so keep an eye on them with Google Flights Tracker.
• If you book tickets for a vacation during peak season, expect a rise in the prices of lodging and flights.
• To earn cash-backs and great rewards, use credit cards that offer frequent flyer points and miles for every rupee you spend on booking flights or hotels.

Plan your day-wise activities.

When touring plans are spontaneously made from a gut feeling and impulse, it always sounds exciting and adventurous. The downside to such trips is that the schedule can sometimes go wrong due to last-minute changes.

Here are some things to remember when planning your day-wise activities

• It all depends on your budget and how much time you have available. This is crucial in planning a perfect trip.
• Transfers between destinations should not be made during the night. You will have enough time to do sightseeing and other activities, as many of these are not possible during the day.
• It is usually better to book water, adventure, and safari rides directly at the destination to get a better deal and a lower price.
• If your vacation goal is to relax and enjoy the holiday, limit the number of activities you plan on doing in the trip planner.
• Some places have restrictions on popular tourist activities such as boating, skiing, and scuba diving. Before you travel to a destination, make sure you check the availability of the activities.

Make sure to pack carefully and make any necessary adjustments.

It is a good idea to plan your trip by packing your things and keeping your destination and any external influences. Travel plans can be affected by weather changes, social-political events, and festive seasons. Travellers should conduct some research to ensure that they don’t have to alter their plans in these situations.

Tips to remember when packing for vacation

• During cold or rainy weather, a sweater, pair of jumpers, and a pair of jeans or a shirt can be very useful.
• Although it may sound unnecessary, sunscreen, lotion and mosquito repellent are vital for preventing skin-related diseases.
• Travellers must research the destination before they go to ensure cultural sensitivity and responsible tourist. It is important to learn about the rules and regulations of your destination so that you don’t cause any disrespect or conflict to the people living there.