Travel is one of life’s greatest joys. Whether you’re heading out on a solo venture or using your escape as a chance to connect with loved ones, there’s something truly magical about the experience. However, travelling can also be expensive – especially if you’re working your way through an ultimate adventure bucket list.
As a result, you may not get to hop on a plane as often as you’d like.
This means that you need to view your travel time as a precious commodity – i.e., you must spend it wisely. As a result, you may benefit from putting together a travel itinerary before your next trip.
There are many benefits to this approach. Not only will it help you better manage your time, but it will also give you an indication of how much money you need to save up before you embark, and gives you the chance to book early and save cash on big attractions.
With that in mind, here are some top tips to put together the perfect trip itinerary.
Match your itinerary to your current routine. Travelling gives you a break from your usual schedule, but your body clock will still function based on your usual routine (i.e., you may find that you wake up at the time you’d usually set your alarm, despite promising yourself a lie-in). As a result, you should plan your day around this kind of experience – meaning you get up early if you’re a morning person, or allow yourself to sleep in if you want to stay out at night.
Put together a list of bars and restaurants. You’ll likely already have an idea of which tourist attractions and hotspots you’d like to visit on your trip, from historic buildings to beaches and spas. However, you should also make sure you know which restaurants, bars and cafes you’d like to visit. This will give you the chance to sample delicious local cuisine, and reduces the amount of time you’ll waste trying to find somewhere to eat/drink. For example, if you’re a big sports fan and heading to New York, you could search for sports bars midtown and find the right fit.
Give yourself ‘rest’ days. In order to really enjoy yourself when you travel, you must ensure that you don’t tire yourself out completely. Otherwise, you will feel as though you’re simply running on auto-pilot as opposed to actually enjoying yourself. One way in which you can combat this is by scheduling ‘rest days’ (or hours) in between the more exhausting activities. For example, if you spend one day on a long walking tour or hike, spend the next sitting by the pool, or watch a live show/performance. This way, you’re staying active without burning out.
Be flexible. While having an itinerary can help you stay on track and work your way through your bucket list, you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. For example, if you want to spend longer than anticipated at a certain attraction, don’t cut your time short to jet off somewhere else. You should also be spontaneous from time to time!