Though everyone loves being on vacation, planning a vacation can feel quite overwhelming. To help overcome this hurdle, we’ve identified five common travel planning mistakes and how you can avoid them. Happy planning!
Travel Planning Mistake #1
Only choosing to go to touristy places and/or going to a destination at the wrong time of year.
Travel Planning Solution: Figure out when you want to travel and make a list of destinations that interest you. You may have a few places that are already top of mind that you want to travel to but is there a destination that isn’t on your radar? Are you going to the same place every few years? Ask your friends for recommendations and even hop on to Pinterest to get more ideas of places to go. You also may end up sticking with your original destination pick but shifting the dates of your trip to avoid rainy or high tourist seasons (we love shoulder seasons!).
Travel Planning Mistake #2
Taking your friend’s excitement for a trip as a commitment to joining you on a trip.
Travel Planning Solution: We totally get it – thinking about taking an awesome vacation with your friends is exciting but when reality sets in not everyone can afford to pay for the trip can get the time off of work. Try to get a sense of how serious your friends are from the get-go so you aren’t disappointed further down the line. Also, the earlier you start talking about the trip, the more time people have to save up.
Travel Planning Mistake #3
Not doing your research and overpaying for your flight.
Travel Planning Solution: Some people claim that booking a certain number of months ahead of time on certain days of the week are key to good flight deals. This may have been true a few years ago but the airlines have gotten savvy. This is where flight alerts that aggregate flight pricing data come in handy. Dollar Flight Club is a flight deal alert subscription service whose sole purpose is to help people save money on airfare. On average, people who subscribe save over $500 per international ticket.
Travel Planning Mistake #4
Just showing up to a destination or signing up for a tour without doing your research.
Travel Planning Solution: Before booking the details of your trip, contact hotels
Travel Planning Mistake #5
You’ve done all the hard work to plan an unforgettable vacation that you forget to have fun!
Travel Planning Solution: Don’t let vacation planning stress you out. Once the details of your trip are in place, try to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Not everything is going to happen exactly as you plan it but that’s okay. Some of the most memorable parts of a trip can be when things get a little off course. Plus, if you end up booking a trip with a tour company, you can really just sit back, relax, and enjoy your vacation without having to remember every little detail – just show up ready to have fun!
Wrong time imo is the peak-season. Usually busy, often unpleasantly hot and locals are nervous and angry. Shoulder season is often much nicer and cheaper.
We definitely agree – shoulder seasons tend to be the best times to visit most destinations!
I always pack a suitcase full of fun.