5 Things to Consider before your Trip
In a world where social media fills our spare time, it’s easy to become captivated by the vast number of travel influencers and aesthetic snaps and videos of people travelling the world. From luxurious white sandy beaches to bustling cities filled with culture, it’s easy for everyone to become inspired to take a trip of-a-lifetime. So, you’ve decided you would like to take a trip and explore some places away from wherever you call home. However, before rushing to booking.com, it is important to consider a few things:
1. Time
Firstly, how much time do you have? Thinking about when you have the time available to take a trip is crucially the initial step in deciding how long your trip will be and therefore where you may be able to go.
If you only have a handful of weekends here and there, taking a few city breaks throughout the year could be the best and most affordable way for you to explore new places. Taking the Eurostar on Friday evening after work for a break in either Paris, Amsterdam, or Brussels presents the most sustainable way of taking some time away from the UK. However, trains at these times can be extremely expensive so this may depend on your budget! Alternatively, budget airlines make shorter breaks more accessible for 2–3-night visits. For example, return flights to destinations such as Germany, Croatia, Norway, Denmark, and Albania can cost as little as £25 return in May 2024. However, where possible it’s important to be cautious of the emissions associated with frequent short city breaks.
As opposed multiple short breaks, you may have the opportunity to take time off in a bigger block of time – either 20 days of annual leave or longer periods during a career break. More time and more time within one block naturally mean more places can be explored! This is where things can get more fun and creative. The first thing to consider here is: (1) whether you would like to see lots of places across this period or (2) become more deeply emersed within cultures under longer stays. If you answer yes to the first question, you will need to choose a region where transportation between sites is accessible. This may be through car rentals and road-tripping across the USA or taking advantage of the excellent train network across countries such as Switzerland. On the other hand, if you would prefer to become more emersed within a local culture, choosing a place you have had your eye on for a while and basing yourself there for an extended period can also be a great way of getting a true feel!
If you are fortunate enough to find yourself with more than a few weeks off from work, taking a mixed approach of the two options above can be an excellent framework for your trip. Within these time periods, you can plan your unique trip to best suit your goals – what are you most excited about doing and where can you achieve this? You may wish to spend a month one country alone such as Thailand, France, Italy, or Vietnam. Moving between places may also present opportunities to dip in an out of different countries and cultures.
2. Budget
Understanding your budget is crucial before booking your trip. There are two extremes and lots of ‘in-between’ budget options and approaches for travelling. Some people may find themselves with the funds to embark on a more luxurious trip – maybe you find an excellent package deal and that more suits your needs after a busy time at work. However, for most people, finding the most affordable and best value-for-money options may better suit your budget. From my experience, staying with a luxury resort presents more of an escape from life, rather than the rich experiences you would gain from staying within locally owned properties.
When it comes to the nitty-gritty of planning your trip, be sure to slightly overestimate expenses when putting together your travel plan as this can add a buffer for those unexpected expenses. Using software such as Excel to visualise the budget can make your trip feel organised. This can also give you and indication of how much of each currency you will need per week.
3. Adventure Type
Not everybody’s travel ideals will be the same. Are you excited to kick back by the pool with a book, or are you desperate to look around museums and other cultural hotspots? Maybe you’re someone who wants to get up and out to seize the day, or take it slow – as, well, you’re on holiday! Understanding what type of trip you’re after is critical for ensuring you find the right destination, accommodation, and environment for you. If you prefer the outdoors and more adventurous activities such as hiking, canoeing, rock climbing, cycling etc. you will likely enjoy a more rural destination. Alternatively, somewhere rich in cultural history such as Rome, Tokyo, Vienna, or Athens may suit someone who would rather visit museums, ruins, and temples. sIf you’re travelling with other people, considering how their ideals will fit into yours is particularly important for ensuring a harmonious trip. This leads me onto my next point…
4. Company (or not)
If you’re desperate for your first solo adventure, travelling alone may be the best approach for you. There are both benefits and drawbacks to travelling alone. Firstly, you would have the opportunity to run on your own scheduled – however fast or slow that may be. During your travels, you will make less compromises on what to do (or not to do), where to eat, or how long to stay in each place. This means you can develop most as an independent individual – learning more about who you are and what exactly you like to do.
Traveling with company, however, does not rule out these things. It is important to understand compatibility with an individual or group of people before you make travel plans – this will make your journey a lot easier down the line! If you are fortunate enough to be in a position where yourself and your partner or close friend are free for travel at the same time as you, this might be a great opportunity to take a joint trip! Not only can it be excellent to have someone alongside you during both the highs and the lows during your travel adventure, but it can also reap financial savings due to the benefits often offered when two travel together such as two single hostel beds vs. one double bed in a local homestay. However, if you are looking forward to a week of lying in the sunshine and relaxing, be sure your travel companions are not desperate for an adventure holiday or early trips exploring local culture.
5. Transport
Deciding on where you wish to travel may answer this question for you. However, you may decide to prioritise what type of transportation you would like to use to get around on your travels which may then in-turn help you decide. If you are excited about using public transport to get a truer sense of locale or to save money, you should consider an area with efficient public transport routes. For example, cities in Switzerland and Japan to name a few offers excellent world-rebound train networks. In contrast, rural areas or many parts of the US present a more limited transport network meaning driving is often the only way of getting around. If you are more excited about a road-trip, choosing somewhere such as Vietnam which can be extremely busy on the roads may not be the most sensible choose. Whereas, somewhere such as California is much more accessible via car. If you don’t have a driver’s license or one which can be used in your destination of choice, be sure to figure out a travel plan that works for you.