5 Tips For Planning A Trip From Afar
Now that many people find themselves at home and with extra time on their hands due to coronavirus, what better time to start planning your next vacation and take advantage of great deals when this is all over? For example, I found a fare this morning on a major carrier from Denver to Rome leaving October 8 and returning October 24 for $462 round trip! That is nearly unheard of!
Three decades ago it was difficult to plan a vacation without the support of a travel agent. It was difficult to access a basic assortment of hotel options, tours, cruise details, train schedules, and skip-the-line museum entry through our limited home-based technology. Fortunately for many of us the information age has opened wide the doors of independent travel planning at the touch of a screen. The following 5 tips may help you with the process so that you can focus your energy on the memories you are sure to make!
- Make a Google My Map of your journey and plan for the logistics at each location. In the details of your map locations, save your web links, travel information, and notes about each one. Don’t forget to note when businesses, museums, and houses of worship close as some are always closed on a specific day of the week.
If you need to purchase entry tickets that allow you to skip the line, note those details here as well. You can even make the map accessible offline if that’s helpful. - Do your research when booking flights.
Not all airlines appear on the major travel sites like Expedia. Southwest Airlines is a prime example. Be sure to clear browser cookies when searching or you may not find the lowest rates on sites you have previously visited. Also, if you are using air miles, you will need to follow the provider’s directions for their redemption. Reward miles generally have additional restrictions on times and dates of travel. - Consider booking a condo or home and take advantage of a kitchen and washing machine. Whether you are traveling alone or with your family and/or friends, there are many advantages to staying in a residence and forgoing the typical hotel room. We have stayed in condos in both Florence and Rome, Italy and were so appreciative of the access to a sink, refrigerator, and washing machine. The advantages? Washing your clothes every few days and decreasing the amount of clothing you need to pack has been revolutionary for trips to Europe with only a backpack and carryon bag! The ability to store fruit, coffee creamer, cheese, wine, and ice-cream in our kitchen means that we can eat breakfast in the condo and take a snack or two along or the day’s adventures. Sure, we don’t have daily maid service, but the benefits of a condo have outweighed the drawbacks each and every time.
- Research available tours and book before you leave home. There are often early booking discounts from tour companies so take advantage of the savings whenever you can. Research ratings and reviews of tours through sites like Expedia and Trip Advisor and pose questions on discussion boards if you don’t see the feedback you are looking for.
Most cruise companies now have personal dashboards that allow passengers to research and book their shore excursions prior to sailing. Be sure to look at the length of the tour in hours and note the level of physical activity required to participate in the tour. Some tours require several hours of round trip transportation and only offer a few hours in the actual tour location. If you do your homework and book before you go, you can make informed decisions about tour parameters without the complications of jet lag or trying to orient yourself in a foreign city. - Seek advice from family and friends and through social media.
Wondering what to see and do in a vacation destination? Pose the question on social media. You might be surprised at how many people will share their thoughts on what to do and what to avoid.
We have also considered the perspectives of friends and acquaintances many times and have not been sorry. Co-workers and family members are usually willing to share their favorites from their own travels. Perhaps yours will too!
We wish you well on your next adventure!
Happy walking!
Comments are Closed