There are two types of travellers in the world. The first are the ones that need no preparation at all and just throw everything into a bag and leave. Of course, not everyone can enjoy their holiday that way, and some of us certainly need to plan things a little more thoroughly to get the best out of the trip. In fact, if you lean further towards the latter than the former, then you are definitely in the right place. Just keep reading to find out all the things you need to tick off your to-do list before your trip begins. 

 

Choose your location   

The number one thing that you need to do when planning a trip is to pick the location or locations you will be visiting. In fact, if you can decide on this, you can begin all the other planning you will need to do to ensure the trip goes smoothly as possible. 

Of course, some folks will already have a very clear idea of where they want to go and what they want out of a holiday, which makes this task easy. Although, if you are unsure of what destination to pick, there are a few things that can help. The first is to decide whether you will stay in your own country or go abroad. A decision that can be influenced by the amount of time you have, your budget, and even a desire to soak up some sun.

Abroad is a broad term, however. Therefore knowing that you don’t want to stay in the UK isn’t the same as having a firm destination sorted in your mind. Happily, there are services online such as Easy Jet that how all the places they fly to from a single destination. Alternatively, you could use a finder like the one Skyscanner has, which shows how far you can go on a specific budget. Something that allows you to find the most exotic destination that is still within your budget. 

 

Raise the funds 

Speaking of budgets, another critical task that you need to sort before your next travel adventure is to work out where the funds are coming from. It’s not that you necessarily need all of the money to pay for the entire thing right now. After all, many travel operators allow you to pay a deposit and then make monthly instalments to settle the balance. It’s just that you need to know you can cover the costs.

In fact, it can actually work very well to book your next trip with a deposit. The reason being that it can motivate you to make those payments every month and so secure your next adventure. Something that can so quickly end up going by the wayside if you don’t have anything set in stone. 

Unfortunately, even deposits for holidays can be expensive, especially if they are big ones like all-inclusive in a far-flung location or 2 weeks in Disneyland. However, that doesn’t mean that you have to miss out on the advantages of booking in the way. 

In fact, there are a range of financial situations out there that can help in this instance, including getting secured loan. A loan that is secured against an asset that you currently own, such as your home or a vehicle. Something you can find out more by reading these secured loan FAQs to see if it will be a suitable choice for you. One that may help you raise funds for your next trip, even if you don’t have the best credit score. 

 

Plan your activities

Once you have worked out how you will pay for your holiday, it is always wise to carefully consider what you will do when you get there. Of course, if you aim is to relax, you may be happy to do nothing more than spend your days around the pool with a cocktail in your hand. 

However, for the more adventurous at heart, sampling the local cuisine, seeing the sites, and experiencing the culture will be essential. Happily, there are many fantastic travel resources online that can help you with these decisions. With many people choosing to use sites like Tripadvisor, Google, and even Atlas Obscura to work out what they want to see and do during their holiday. 

Remember too that if you go with a travel agency on a package tour, it’s likely they will offer excursions and activities as well. Trips that will all be arranged for you too. A benefit that means you don’t have to provide transport to and from your accommodation. Although it is worth mentioning that such trips do tend to be on the more expensive side of things. Something that means you may be able to keep costs low by arranging such things yourself either online or once you have arrived. 

 

Consider your wardrobe 

Another important task that you must not forget to do before your next trip is to consider what clothes you will pack for the duration. After all, you will want to be as comfortable as possible and also look you best for any Insta shots that you happen to take while exploring exotic locales. 

With that in mind, it is always best to select your clothing items based on the climate that you can expect at your destination. In fact, natural fibres such as cotton or merino wool make the best choices for warmer weather. This is because they allow the skin to breathe and can be washed and dried quickly if necessary. 

Merino wool is also a good choice for colder weather when using it as a layering option. Although, for sub-zero temperatures and snowy holidays speciality clothing such as ski pants, down jackets, and hats and gloves are recommended. 

 

Make sure you have the right documentation 

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, before your next trip, you must make sure that you have the correct documentation. In fact, with Brexit imminent, you need to be sure you have the right insurances even while travelling in Europe. 

The reason for this is that the E111 card that guarantees emergency medical care will no longer be valid. An issue that means you could find yourself on the wrong end of a hefty bill if you do get taken ill on your next travel adventure. If you haven’t appropriately planned for this eventuality!