We all know that by this time, most of us are already sick and tired of seeing the same four walls day in and day out. A lot of us are dreaming of the time when we can hit the beaches in Miami again or those resorts in Utah with those awesome garden room designs. For now, we can only hope and pray for that day to finally come.
In the meantime, while waiting, why don’t you make the most of this time to make that dream one step closer to reality by preparing for it as early as now? Here are a few trip-planning tips to help you set-up one of the most memorable vacations in your life post-lockdown:
7 Tips to Planning the Perfect Post-Lockdown Trip
1. Choose your destination.
You might think this is the easiest part of all but there’s more to picking a destination than meets the eye. There are a lot of considerations such as distance, culture, the activities offered, what you plan to get out of the trip, and other concerns. Once you already know what you want, it’s easy to narrow down your choices.
2. List down the activities you plan to do.
Now that you already have an idea where to go and what the place has to offer, start listing down the activities you plan to do. Come up with a schedule for your trip. Do your best to make your schedule as fun as possible without compromising the time of relaxation and rest. While you want to experience everything the place has to offer, you also would want to enjoy some downtime and experience the quiet life there.
For instance, you’ve been living in the city your whole life and plan to take a trip to the beaches of Thailand or the Philippines. Go around and see what exotic beauty those places have but make sure to also enjoy some R&R on the beach with the sound of the waves and the wind gently blowing in your face.
3. Make a vision board.
Creating a vision board helps bring a person a step closer to the realization of their dreams, whether it be life goals or something as trivial as a vacation. If you’re the old school type and want to paste magazine cutouts and travel brochures on your vision board, have at it. If you’re the type that prefers to do things digitally, online platforms such as Pinterest allows you to make digital vision boards. The bottom line is there’s something about seeing your dreams in pictures that compels you to do something about it.
4. Set a budget for it.
The budget is the most important element at this point. You may have the destination pinned down, the activities scheduled, and the vision board made but if you don’t draw the budget, chances are your dreams will just remain dreams.
Identify how much money you need to set for your airfare or gas, hotel, food, souvenirs, meals, activities, and other trip-related expenses. If you see that one item is beyond your financial capabilities, make the necessary adjustments. Whatever you do, do your best to stick to your budget.
5. If you’re planning a trip abroad, learn some of the local language and culture.
If you plan to go to a different country, do a bit of research. Know the culture and some of the local language. It helps you connect more with the locals. In most cases, locals are known to show more favor for foreigners who know how to relate with them or are at least doing their best.
6. Look for the best possible deals you can get.
Let’s say you have already set a budget for your trip. This shouldn’t stop you from still looking for the best possible deals you can get. Keep in mind that the more money you save from certain items on your list, the more you have to allocate to other aspects of the trip. If you can get great discounts on your airfare and cheaper tourist packages, the money you saved could be directed to better hotel accommodations or meal allowances.
7. Start saving up for the trip.
This trip would not take off if you do not work hard and save for it. If you can pay for everything in cash, do so. Doing that saves you from the headaches of payments and credit card interests. If you need to take on a few extra hours at work or get a part-time job, then go ahead. Find ways to motivate yourself to make this dream a reality.
Planning for vacations can be stressful but if you know how to do it right, the less stressed you are. Go ahead. Plan one for you and your family. With everything that’s going on right now, you deserve this reward for staying home.
