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Planning a trip can be stressful.<\/p>\n Where do you start?<\/a> <\/p>\n What\u2019s step one? What\u2019s step two? Will everything work out OK? Is there a best route to take? How figure out what to do? What do you book first? <\/p>\n There\u2019s a lot to think about, especially if you\u2019re going for a really long trip. <\/p>\n Taking time off and traveling around the world is a big life change, and it\u2019s easy to feel overwhelmed. Multi-month trips don\u2019t just happen. There\u2019s a lot of planning that is needed to make your dream a reality.<\/p>\n And that endless list to do can feel overwhelming sometimes.<\/p>\n So how do you manage to stop feeling overwhelmed?<\/p>\n It\u2019s not as hard as you think \u2014 and I\u2019ve developed a unique four-step process to help (patent pending):<\/p>\n First, buy your plane ticket to where you want to go first. (Not sure where you want to start? Simple. Start where the airfare is the cheapest<\/a>.) All you need is the first flight. <\/p>\n Second, turn off the computer and stop visiting 93,754,302,948,320 websites about travel (except for mine \u2014 you should always read mine!). You\u2019ll suffer from information overload if you don\u2019t.<\/p>\n Third, go out with your friends and celebrate the start date of your trip.<\/p>\n Fourth, smile.<\/p>\n There \u2013 that\u2019s it. You bought your plane ticket. You\u2019re going. There\u2019s no turning back. There\u2019s no need to worry anymore. All other planning is secondary.<\/p>\n I once heard at an industry event that people will look at up to 20 websites over the course of 40 hours as they plan a two week vacation. That\u2019s insane. You don\u2019t need to do that much research. <\/p>\n No wonder I get so many emails from people saying \u201cMatt, I feel like I\u2019m in over my head.\u201d<\/p>\n Information is power, but in our information-overload society, too much information leave us conflicted and powerless.<\/p>\n I understand you might be feeling a lot of anxiety planning your trip<\/a> since you want to make sure everything goes right. I remember what it was like when I was planning my first trip. I had every guidebook under the sun in my room. I created spreadsheets. I researched everything. I had multiple itineraries drawn up. I had lists upon lists. I was constantly worried about having \u201cthe perfect trip.\u201d <\/p>\n I\u2019ve been there but I can tell you from years of experience that the more you plan your trip, the more anxiety you will face. You\u2019re going to overwhelm yourself with so much information that you\u2019re going to do nothing but stress over it.<\/p>\n Planning gives you a sense of ownership over your trip. There\u2019s joy in that. It\u2019s one of the best parts about travel. <\/p>\n But overplanning<\/em> will lead to stress and I can tell you that, once you hit the road, all your plans will change anyway.<\/p>\n Someone will tell you about a new destination and you\u2019ll race off there instead of going to Amsterdam<\/a>.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll wander the streets and into unexpected restaurants.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll meet a group of people who will convince you to stay on that tropical island with them just a little longer.<\/p>\n All you should have when you leave is a general idea of what direction you want to go and plan your first few stops. After that, just let the wind take you.<\/p>\n (This rule applies even if you are just are taking a short trip. Come up with a few things you want to see each day and then just let the rest of the day fill itself in. Go with the flow<\/a>!)<\/p>\n In 2006, my first itinerary through Europe<\/a> was supposed to look like this:<\/p>\n Oslo \u2013> Prague \u2013> Milan \u2013> Florence \u2013> Rome \u2013> Naples \u2013> Corfu \u2013> Metorea \u2013> Athens \u2013> Greek Islands \u2013> Athens<\/p>\n But it ended up like this:<\/p>\n Oslo \u2013> Prague \u2013> Milan \u2013> Florence \u2013> Rome \u2013> Venice \u2013> Vienna \u2013> Amsterdam \u2013> Costa del Sol -> Barcelona -> Amsterdam \u2013> Athens<\/p>\n Almost nothing worked out as I had planned. It worked out better<\/em>. Cooler, more interesting things and people pulled me in a different direction. <\/p>\n A recent trip to Southeast Asia<\/a> was completely changed when a friend said \u201cWant to come meet me in Chiang Mai?\u201d <\/p>\n Instead of flying to Bangkok<\/a>, I ended up in Chiang Mai<\/a> and then onward to Laos<\/a>!<\/p>\n I have rarely ever kept my original plans. I don\u2019t know many travelers who have.<\/p>\n After you\u2019ve booked your flight, come up with a list of everything you need to do before you go (it won\u2019t be as long as you think):<\/p>\n That\u2019s the bulk of it \u2014 and most of this stuff can be done a few months before you go.<\/p>\n Go down your list.<\/p>\n Check.<\/p>\n Check.<\/p>\n Check.<\/p>\n Buy a book or two to pick up some general knowledge on how to travel<\/a> and prepare for your trip<\/a>. <\/p>\n Read a guidebook and get a good idea about where you\u2019re going. <\/p>\n Develop a general plan and then fill in the details along the way.<\/p>\n Relax.<\/p>\n Breathe.<\/p>\n Everything will work itself out.<\/p>\n And, when it does, you\u2019ll wonder why you stressed so much in the beginning. Book Your Flight<\/strong> Book Your Accommodation<\/strong> Don\u2019t Forget Travel Insurance<\/strong> Want to Travel for Free?<\/strong> Ready to Book Your Trip?<\/strong>
Last Updated:<\/strong> 7\/17\/2023 | July 17th, 2023<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\nBook Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks<\/h4>\n
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner<\/a>. It\u2019s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned. <\/p>\n
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld<\/a>. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com<\/a> as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels. <\/p>\n
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It\u2019s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I\u2019ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:<\/p>\n
Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation \u2014 all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites<\/a> to get started and see the latest best deals.<\/p>\n
Check out my resource page<\/a> for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can\u2019t go wrong using them on your trip.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n