Planning a holiday can have you feeling a sense of wonder, some trepidation and sometimes even a few nerves. But once you’re at your destination soaking in the sights and sounds of a brand-new location, your worries will melt away, and you can understand that the planning was all worth it.
With a carefully thought-out itinerary, you can stay organised and make the most of your time spent away. This helpful article will share some of our carefully selected top itinerary planning hacks to try on your next holiday.
1. Store an easily accessible itinerary file
As you write up your holiday itinerary, you may be using word processing software to jot down notes, mixed up with email confirmations, screenshots and social media posts. Once you’re preparing to set off and you’ve done as much planning as you desire, use a Word to PDF converter to easily transform your itinerary into an accessible PDF format. This will make sure your formatting stays the same no matter which device or software you use to access your itinerary, and you’ll be able to access all your ticket scans, accommodation details and travel information on-the-go, in one centralised place.
Once you’ve downloaded your itinerary PDF, you can quickly email or even text it to anyone else in your travelling party, and continue to access it when you’re offline or without data. It’s also wise to print out a physical copy of your itinerary to use for reference while you’re enjoying yourself on holiday, planning your movements from one destination to the next, or when asked by border security to prove the intentions of your visit.
Use navigation apps
Depending on the nature of your holiday, navigation apps can serve a variety of different purposes to make life easier when you’re in an unfamiliar location or environment. Suppose you’re going to rent a car, which is worthwhile at some locations where the public transit options may be sporadic, unsafe or otherwise non-existent. In that case, use Google or Apple Maps to plan your driving tips in advance. You can note the travel distance and duration between destinations, whilst benefiting from predicted expenses such as tolls or delays due to roadworks, or traffic. If you’re going to be driving in remote locations, it helps to know where the nearest petrol stations along the way are too.
If you’re city-hopping in a densely populated area such as Europe or between North American states, public transport network apps can keep you updated on signal closures and diversions, and even alert you to how busy a particular route or line is, offering alternative travel times or routes. On the other hand, if you plan to be out exploring remote areas, hiking apps can alert you to weather conditions and walking trail closures.
Use these technological advancements to your advantage so you can record this information into your itinerary in advance, and don’t have to spend your holiday figuring out how to get from one place to the next.
Read travel blogs for inspiration
If there’s a country you have your heart set on, you may wish to check out travel blogs that cover that particular destination. These articles can give you a great overview of the top sights to see, as well as other local hidden gems that you might not have discovered. Chances are, if it’s worth seeing, a blogger has written about it, so it’s worth spending some time browsing various travel blogs to help you plan the best places to add to your itinerary.
Alternatively, travel blogs can be a great place to look for inspiration if you’re not sure where to take your suitcase next. Come to think of it – you’ve got access to a huge travel blog right here at your fingertips!
Create a spreadsheet to organise your activities
If you’re having trouble deciding where to visit in a particular country, especially if you’re only there for a few days with limited time to explore, it could be useful to create a colour-coded spreadsheet that lists all the places on your radar. You can colour code it with “definites, maybes and conditionals” (such as ‘if it’s raining’ or ‘only open on weekends)’. Then, when you’re on your holiday, you have the options laid out in your itinerary, and it can make those difficult decisions about where to visit a little easier.
Remember, when planning your itinerary, don’t schedule every minute of your time. Having one which looks more like a military operation than a light-hearted organisational tool can leave you feeling stressed and overwhelmed at trying to fit everything in. This way, you have the options, but the freedom to adjust your plans to your mood and environment.
Book flights directly from the airline
Flight aggregator websites might be useful and save a bit of time, although they often take a commission from the flight booking, meaning that they’re not always the cheapest method to obtain your tickets. While this isn’t necessarily a planning tip, it could save you some money that you can then channel into packing more activities and experiences into your itinerary.
Instead of using a flight booking website, instead check directly with the different airlines that service your route and try to book directly. Not only will you likely save some cash, you’ll also be better positioned to deal with any difficulties, such as a cancelled flight or lost luggage, if your paper trail is with the airline itself. It’s good to keep an eye out for airline sales too. If you’re not too fussed about the destination of your holiday, let them be the decider!
Update your budget as plans come together
If you’re saving money for your holiday, you should have a general idea of how much you’ve got to spend on flights, accommodation and experiences. This needs to be factored into your itinerary planning, as your money will only go so far. This will help you narrow down your accommodation and travel options, how many places you can visit, and what you can do before the money runs out.
Spreadsheets can allow you to work out your higher costs in advance, such as travelling on an escorted tour or heading to a special restaurant on your last night. Decide which is most important to you – such as paying a premium for luxury or central accommodation, paying more to fly during peak seasons for the best weather, or spending your days doing cultural activities. As you make these bookings, update your itinerary to keep track of your budget and ensure you don’t get caught short.
Top itinerary planning hacks: make your next holiday your best
This helpful article has shared our top itinerary hacks as you prepare for your next holiday. Use these to level up your planning game and ensure you maximise your time on holiday. An itinerary is a great way to stay on track of your bookings, keep your important files and information centrally stored, and compose ideas of activities and experiences you want to try.
Lastly, an itinerary is a great reference point if you want to document your travels after you return from your holiday. Aside from your photos, you can refer back to your itinerary to jolt your memory of what you did on certain days. Follow our tips, and you can create the best itinerary that helps you have the best holiday yet!