How to Plan the Perfect Trip

Each time I travel, I learn how to better plan and prepare to make each trip the perfect experience for me. In this blog I'll share how I plan and prepare for each adventure.

Where to Start:

1. Make a list of places or things you want to do/see in the places you are visiting.

2. Google search the areas for activities and attractions and add items you like to the list.

3. Map it out with google maps to determine the most effective route to get to each activity.

4. Start filling out the chart below with information to make your trip itinerary.

Access the template from this link. Make a copy and save it as your own template:

outline: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xzQfNCAyJwwoJg6MvUH3hraj_Q60hWd3Rf4KTEJmRPI/edit?usp=sharing

Example of a completed itinerary:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ebCMmhoar78hBBpOtUhxn5DvydKdW6JWSozrCOm0d4/edit?usp=sharing

My husband and I enjoy using Google Docs because you can access it from anywhere with wifi, and we can both edit it at the same time.

We highlight boxes to organize information and to alert us of anything important, such as bookings that need to be made (highlight in red), bookings that have been made and printed (highlight in green), call ahead activities (highlight in orange), and 'if time' or 'optional' activities (highlight in blue). The yellow bars help us separate each day, and more rows can be added or deleted for easy display and organization.

Print your itinerary and keep it in a travel folder. In my folder, I always keep my itinerary, flight ticket information, any activity tickets or confirmations, hotel vouchers, and anything else that I booked gets printed immediately and stored in the folder.

I also keep a travel email folder to store all emails I get while booking these things.

I print out a packing list and keep it in my suitcase along with copy of my passport. You can make copies of the ones from the links and add or remove things to fit your needs.

Road Trip Packing List:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1w3Bk9GxUpN7HTpV0GuKfJlnJx2ISCh_Aq2xlnTcHTSk/edit?usp=sharing

General Travel Packing List:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1z3Vorld7QGgVfsrnSj2lAFi_PX0PsDzdiCXLeA_jT20/edit?usp=sharing

Tips

Remind your credit card company or bank of your travel plans.

Trip Advisor often provides a "time to stay" which is super helpful for planning. If it doesn't say, look at reviews and search "hour" and someone usually says how long they spent there.

If you are going places with elevation, always pack warm layers.

Check the weather for your trip with the specific locations. I've been caught off guard too many times by weather, which effected my plans. Be prepared for rainy days, warm and sunny days, and days of icy winds and snow (mostly mountain hiking days!)