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Trip Planner | Travel Itinerary Planner | Plan a Trip

Are you looking for an itinerary planner to plan your next trip? We know creating a customized travel itinerary manually is an overwhelming task. You have to put a lot of time into selecting destinations, booking hotels, flights, and comparing prices. On top of that calculating budgets & booking hotels and flights is another challenge that makes itinerary planning tough.

But what if all of this is done within a few minutes for you? Yes with TripHobo trip planner you can do this smartly. We have observed that many travelers end up spending more time in researching information than enjoying the actual trip. Not only first-time travelers but also experienced travelers struggle in creating perfect travel plans.

Even though it is a tedious task to create a customized itinerary, everyone agrees on the importance of itinerary for an enjoyable holiday. So Triphobo came up with this easy to use automatic itinerary planner.

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Do you want to create your travel itinerary quickly & easily? Are you ready to use this tool now? TripHobo's trip planner plays a major role to ease the itinerary creation process and helps you overcome the pain in the trip planning .  Follow these 4 simple steps to plan a trip & let us know your experience.

1) Choose Your Destination & Dates when you want to travel

Visual algorithmic trip planner lets you choose destinations you want to travel to. You have the freedom to choose the real dates from the calendar. After selecting travel dates, planner runs algorithms to optimize a trip. It starts suggesting activities, sightseeing spots, tours and transport options with the details. For every attraction, it suggests open/close timings, time to spend, and nearby restaurants.

You can drag & drop activities and complete your itinerary within a matter of minutes. You can book yourself a nice vacation once you are sure of all the details, making you plan your trip very easily.

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If you have a lot of travel ideas but confused about where to start? Don't worry. Thousands of other people have visited the same destination before and created itineraries with us. Choose from a pool of more than 1 million user-generated itineraries around the globe. You can view other travelers’ itineraries for any location and duration to inspire yourself and then customize them to suit your own preferences.

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TripHobo always tries to offer the best from the travel industry to our valued planners. It has formed alliances with Expedia , Skyscanner, Zomato and Booking.com. Its ratings and reviews come courtesy of TripAdvisor whereas Google (as well as other partners) powers its location data.

TripHobo aims to cater to travelers at every stage of the travel planning process. It provides one platform to create personalized itineraries and hassle-free bookings .

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There are few things included in the Triphobo planner algorithm & app which builds itinerary within minutes.

• A free virtual map-based trip planner with a smart algorithm
• International trip planner with about 1,50,000 popular destinations
• The largest repository of user-generated itineraries
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• Provides local transit options like metro, rail, bus, and car
• Calculates an estimated budget
• Provides options to save, print and share itinerary
• Strategic Partnerships with leading travel companies

TripHobo: Around the Web

• Trip of Your Own
• Traveling made easier with TripHobo
• Making The Southeast Asian Travel Connection
• Ex-HCL employee’s led ‘TripHobo’ is on a mission to become a global brand – a goto place for travel planning!
• Interview: Praveen Kumar, Founder & CEO of TripHobo
• TripHobo inks partnership with Zomato
• How a trip planning startup can succeed
• Karthik Ramachandram Co-Founder COO, TripHobo - Phocuswright Conference

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Great and genuinely wonderful website that makes a proper vacation plan simple, like it should. All reviews are 5 stars. The only suggestion I have to enhance this fantastic website is to include a mobile application. Even paying for a version without ads wouldn't bother me.

Every traveller should use this!

So much easier & more helpful than a travel agency, given lots of fantastic ideas, and was extremely helpful for planning the trip. Would strongly advise my family and friends to use this!

Great tool for trip planning. Impportantly it's free and automatically tailors travel plans to your preferences and is completely customisable. The integration with skyscanner and booking.com, and other OTA like priceline and expedia makes it very easy to plan the whole trip along with the bookings in one place.

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Epcot 1-Day Itinerary: The Perfect Touring Plan for 2024!

This post may contain affiliate links, view our disclosure policy .

Are you looking for the   perfect Epcot 1-day itinerary to outsmart the crowds and get the most out of your Walt Disney World vacation?

Need a summary of rope drop tips, and ideas on how to plan your day at Epcot to maximize efficiency and decrease time spent standing in lines?

My 1-day Epcot touring plan highlights all of these topics and offers a step-by-step plan for an ideal day at Epcot!

For an absolutely perfect one day at Epcot, utilize these practical tips while taking time to enjoy the Disney ambiance that makes Epcot one of our favorite Disney parks!

Important Notice:  This one-day Epcot itinerary has been updated many times over the past several years to reflect the ongoing changes at the park. It represents the permanent suspension of the Disney FastPass system and Disney Magical Express, as well as the additions of the Disney Genie, Disney Genie+, and Lightning Lane services. And last, please note that Epcot is currently under a huge transformation that is expected to last into 2024. The area of World Celebration (formerly called Future World) behind Spaceship Earth is being completely transformed into Dreamers Point. It will include a wishing tree in an enchanted forest, natural environments, global design elements, interactive features, and gardens. Though construction won’t limit your ride experience, expect barricades and construction walls located throughout the front half of the park.

Table of Contents

Epcot Touring Plan: Important Considerations

You can’t just wing it when it comes to planning a Walt Disney World vacation.

You can try to go without a plan, but you’ll probably end up being disappointed, especially if it’s your first visit.

Our Epcot itinerary makes it easy for you to get the most out of your experience by outlining the order in which you should visit the rides and attractions.

It is the perfect strategy for those visiting Epcot for one day.

If you are visiting the park for a longer period, you may still take advantage of this plan, however.

When customizing your Epcot touring plan, stick to the general idea of having a solid rope drop strategy and overall touring plan that compliments the layout of the rides and shows within the park.

This will maximize efficiency and decrease the amount of time spent standing in lines.

My Quick Thoughts on Disney Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane

Disney Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane (ILL) passes are Disney’s new ‘skip the regular’ line options that can be purchased in addition to your regular theme park entry.

Though it seems confusing at first, they’re quite easy to use if you do your  research ahead of time .

When you only have one day at Epcot, I recommend that you purchase both Disney Genie+ and an Individual Lightning Lane pass for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (if your funds allow).

I also  100% recommend  purchasing Disney Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane (ILL) passes when visiting the parks during the peak seasons of Christmas, Thanksgiving, Spring Break, and 3-day weekend holidays such as President’s Day and Memorial Day –  unless, of course, you don’t mind standing in line for 2 hours!

For guests who want to get on as many rides as possible, Disney Genie+ and Individual Lighting Lane purchases tend to be well worth the added cost to avoid spending hours waiting in line.

With that said, let’s take a look at the first important steps required to plan a successful day at Epcot!

Epcot Itinerary: Initial Steps

• Check Epcot reservation availability.
• Purchase your theme park tickets.
• Make Epcot theme park reservations.
• Know Epcot’s park hours for the day of your visit.
• Consult an Epcot crowd calendar.
• Review the Epcot map.
• Make a list of ‘must-do’ rides and experiences in World Showcase.

1. Check Theme Park Reservation Availability

Along with purchasing a theme park ticket, you need to make a theme park reservation for each day you’d like to visit any of the Walt Disney World theme parks.

This includes needing to make a reservation to visit Epcot.

It’s important that you start by checking  Disney’s theme park availability calendar  to see if the date(s) you plan to visit have availability before purchasing your ticket, Annual Pass, or vacation package – as park reservations do run out during peak seasons.

2. Purchase Theme Park Tickets

After ensuring reservation availability, purchase your Epcot tickets.

In my opinion, the easiest way to purchase a ticket to Epcot (or any of the Disney World theme parks) is to buy them directly from a Disney Travel Agent or from the Disney World website.

Others choose to buy them from an authorized ticket seller or discounted ticket site.

Be sure to stick with reputable third-party sellers, however, and verify that there are no hidden usage rules that apply.

Check  here  to read about the three different types of theme park tickets available:  1 Park Per Day, Park Hopper Option, and Park Hopper Plus Option.

3. Make Theme Park Reservations

Then, due to the limited availability of theme park reservations, make your reservation immediately after purchasing your admission ticket to guarantee your spot.

Theme park reservations can be made  online  on the Disney World website, or via the My Disney Experience mobile app.

4. Review Epcot Hours

Epcot hours vary by day, by month, and by season.

It is very important to check the Epcot hours for the day that you plan on visiting so that you can plan your experience accordingly.

As you’ll find, the entire park (including World Showcase) now opens at the same time, whereas in the past, the two sections of the park opened at different times.

The Epcot park hour calendar shows early entry hours and park hours, as well as the times of events, fireworks, and nighttime entertainment.

You’ll also want to check this calendar for temporary ride closure information.

Additional planning tip:  Early theme park entry is a benefit for registered Guests staying at Disney Resort hotels and other  select hotels .

It involves getting to enter Magic Kingdom and riding select rides 30 minutes before the park’s scheduled opening time.

5. Consult the Epcot Crowd Calendar

It’s safe to assume that Epcot is always going to be busy, but there are times such as Christmas, Spring Break, mid-summer, and other school holidays when the crowds can be overwhelming.

Bigger crowds mean longer attraction lines, and consequently experiencing fewer attractions – unless, of course, you’ve carefully planned your Epcot 1-day itinerary and plan to take advantage of Disney’s paid ‘skip-the-regular-line’ options.

Our 1-day Epcot itinerary assumes moderate to high crowds at the park when lines are long.

This exact plan was utilized when crowds were rated 9/10 according to Touring Plans .

To accomplish this itinerary in a single day, some (less popular) attractions are skipped. 

No matter when you visit, however, this 1-Day Epcot itinerary is optimized and ordered so that walking and your waits in line are minimized .

Additional planning tip:  If you are planning on visiting several Disney Parks during your  Orlando itinerary , we highly recommend adding in non-parks days. 

Disney World non-park days  offset the busyness of the crowds and help keep you fully energized!

6. Review the Epcot Map

Epcot is huge –  305 acres to be exact  – which is almost three times the size of the Magic Kingdom.

This makes Epcot the second largest park at Disney World behind Animal Kingdom.

Due to its enormous size, I never recommend visiting without having a general idea about the layout of the park.

Epcot theme park is organized into the following four neighborhoods:

• World Showcase
• World Celebration
• World Nature
• World Discovery 

They are laid out as follows:

Each neighborhood is home to a mixture of themed rides, attractions, cuisine, and unique character sightings.

They are all accessible via a standard Epcot park ticket.

(In other words,1 Epcot park ticket gets you into all 4 neighborhoods.)

When planning your Epcot touring plan, be sure to know what ‘must-do’ rides are in which land, as the overall goal is to do as many rides as possible in each land before moving on to the next one.

This decreases the time of time you will waste zig-zagging within the park.

It also cuts down on the amount of walking you will do throughout the course of the day.

Additional planning tip: In addition to this itinerary, don’t forget to consult helpful know before you go  Disney tips  to avoid preventable touring mistakes.

And last, double-check your  Disney packing list  to be sure that you have not left behind the top 9 most forgotten items to have with you in the park.

7. Make a List of Your ‘Must-do’ Rides

Epcot is a combination of rides, shows, character-meet-n-greets, dining experiences, and the World Showcase.

It would be absolutely impossible to do  everything  in one day at Epcot.

For this reason, talk with your family or whoever you’re visiting with and make a list of your ‘must-do’ rides and attractions, and be sure to allow time for them in your Magic Kingdom itinerary.

The most popular rides include Guardians of the Galaxy, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Frozen Ever After, Test Track, and Soarin’.

Eating and drinking around World Showcase and the nighttime fireworks shows are other attractions most people typically don’t want to miss.

Epcot 1-Day Itinerary

Before you arrive at Epcot, be sure to download the official Walt Disney World app on the  App Store  or the  Google Play Store .

The app, which has always been helpful, is now essential .

You’ll use it to view the park map, look at wait times, order quick-service food, and make dining reservations, as well as access all  Disney Genie digital services  and virtual line queues.

In addition, you must use your Smartphone to obtain a virtual boarding group number if you’re looking to experience Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

Keep in mind that the first boarding group times are released at 7 AM each day, and not again until 1 PM, so do act quickly.

The app will notify you when it’s your turn to ride, and you have 1 hour to join the physical line.

Additional planning tip: For the 7 AM release time, you don’t need to be in the park to secure a boarding reservation, but you do need a Park Pass Reservation for that day.

For the 1 PM release time, you will need to have checked into Epcot for the day prior to being able to obtain a boarding group number.

Epcot Arrival

If you are arriving at Epcot by car, Epcot has its own on-site parking lot.

Simply follow the signs to the Epcot parking area and parking attendants will direct you to the next available spot.

Catch a parking lot tram to Epcot’s entrance if want to cut down on the walking.

If you are a guest staying at a Disney World resort, parking is free. Other visitors should expect to pay a $25/daily fee for parking.

Guests staying at any Disney theme park resort can arrive right at the entrance by complimentary bus. Though the buses run continuously, expect delays at peak times and plan accordingly!

Guests staying at the Yacht or Beach Club, the Swan, Dolphin, or the Boardwalk resorts can arrive at Epcot by boat.

In addition, you can travel to Epcot by monorail from the Ticket and Transportation Center, or from Magic Kingdom.

Finally, Disney Skyliner connects Epcot to the following Disney Resort Hotels: Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, and Disney’s Riviera Resort.

Epcot Park Entry

We recommend getting to the park turnstiles 45-60 minutes prior to the scheduled park opening, especially on projected busy days.

This act has long been known as ‘rope drop’.

Rope drop involves getting to Epcot before it begins operating for the day so that you can be among the first guests to enter and enjoy the attractions.

It essentially means getting to your first ride with NO WAIT and having 1 hour to ride rides with the shortest lines of the day.

The following tips will help you make the most of rope drop at Epcot:

• Epcot generally allows guests through the turnstiles 30 minutes prior to the official opening.
• Once you’re inside Epcot, you’ll be held at Spaceship Earth if you enter through the front entrance. If you’re entering from the International Gateway entrance you’ll be held in the World Showcase.
• There will be a rope manned by cast members at each of these entrances preventing guests from entering further into the park.
• Immediately at park opening, cast members remove the ropes (hence the name “rope drop”) allowing you to walk briskly, but not run, to whatever land/attraction you desire.
• If you truly want to ride without a wait, be as close to the front of any waiting ‘rope drop’ crowd as you can. After rope drop, instant waits of up to 60 minutes for popular attractions will form.

Epcot Touring Plan: Morning

The following Epcot 1-Day itinerary assumes a 9 AM park opening without the early entry benefit for onsite guests.

Adjust the times accordingly if you’re visiting when there’s a different park opening time.

Also, keep in mind that Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind can currently only be ridden with either a virtual line reservation or the purchase of an individual lightning lane pass – there is no standby line available.

Because of this some, details of your 1-day Epcot itinerary are subject to change based on the availability of virtual queue times for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

Likewise, we do not factor in Disney Genie+ reservations in this itinerary, as not everyone uses Genie+, and for those who do, every ride choice and return time is different making it impossible to create a universal touring plan.

( If this is your first time visiting Epcot, I recommend visiting this Virtual Queue FAQ page to determine how to use Disney’s virtual queues. )

Suggested times

6:50 AM: Log into the My Disney Experience app and navigate to the Virtual Queues page.

Next, press “Join Boarding Group” in My Queues. Select ‘Epcot’ then ‘Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind’, then ‘Confirm Your Party’.

Be ready to click ‘Join’ at exactly 7 AM and wait for a confirmation of a boarding group number and an estimated time when you’ll be able to ride.

7:00 AM : First try to get a virtual queue time for Guardians of the Galaxy (they can be gone in as early as 4 seconds!). If unavailable, consider purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane pass for Guardians that also becomes available at 7 AM.

8:15 AM: Park arrival.

9:00 AM: Official Park Opening. Go to the left and head straight for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure (or Test Track if you have older kids who want to skip Remy’s.)

Morning Epcot Rides and Attractions

Upon your arrival at the park, your goal is to ride as many headliner attractions as possible, especially if you haven’t purchased Disney Genie+.

For that reason, our recommendation is to head straight to World Showcase to ride Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Frozen Ever After.

As mentioned, if you are visiting Epcot with older children who don’t mind skipping these rides or saving them for later, I suggest riding Test Track first .

1. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

2. Frozen Ever After

3. Test Track

4. Mission Space

Afterward, cross over to World Nature and ride Soarin’ and Living with the Land.

Save the rest of World Nature for later in the evening when there will be no lines.

5. Soarin’

6. Living with the Land

Next, cross back to World Celebration and ride Spaceship Earth and Journey Into Imagination with Figment.

7. Spaceship Earth

8. Journey Into Imagination with Figment

Next, you will start your journey around the World Showcase in a clockwise direction.

The distance around World Showcase is roughly 1.25 miles, so do plan accordingly.

Epcot Touring Plan: Afternoon

Spend the afternoon of your Epcot 1-day itinerary making your way around Epcot’s World Showcase .

This is a magical area to explore at your own pace while taking in all of the sights, sounds, and flavors of different countries.

Most people choose to ‘eat and drink’ their way around the countries stopping frequently to enjoy the ambiance of the various culinary offerings.

We enjoyed cocktails in Morocco, caramels at Karamell-Kuche in Germany, funnel cakes in American Adventure, and a full Italian meal at Via Napoli.

Upon stopping for various photo ops and pop-up entertainment offerings, be sure to savor each and every moment enjoying this unique experience.

Additional planning tip:   Snacking your way around the park instead of indulging in fancy meals is one of our top tips for visiting  Disney World on a budget !

Afternoon Epcot Rides and Attractions

Here is an example of an afternoon itinerary for Epcot.

The majority of the afternoon is spent in World Showcase while revisiting the rides left in the front of the park during the evening hours.

2. United Kingdom

3. France (home of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Palace du Cinema that features the 18-minute Impressions de France Film and Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along.)

6. The American Adventure (A 29-minute audio animatronics stage show featuring key moments in American history; located in a large air-conditioned theater.)

10. Norway (Home of the hugely popular ride; Frozen Ever After .)

11. Mexico (Ride the Grand Fiesta Tour boat ride located inside.)

In conclusion, finish off the evening with the following:

12. Return to any of the headliner rides that you may have missed due to long lines in the day, i.e. Remy, Soarin’, Frozen Ever After.

13. Turtle Talk with Crush (15-minute animated show)

14. The Seas With Nemo and Friends Attraction

15. Watch Harmonious

Epcot’s Harmonious

Having debuted on October 1st, 2021, Harmonious is the name of the new nighttime spectacular being held at Epcot.

Similar to the previous IlumiNations: Reflections of Earth show, Harmonious is held outdoors on the water of World Showcase Lagoon.

With state-of-the-art technology, Harmonious features large-scale floats, LED panels, fountains, lights, fireworks, and lasers.

Inspired by beloved movies like Moana, Aladdin, Coco, Mulan, and The Lion King, the show was created by more than 240 artists from around the world. 

You absolutely won’t want to miss this show in your Epcot touring plan!

Dining in Epcot

We could write an entire article dedicated to dining in Epcot, after all, food makes up a huge majority of the Epcot experience.

There are only a few table service, quick service, and snack stops located throughout the first 3 neighborhoods of the park.

The majority of the noteworthy dining experiences are located within World Showcase, however, as each pavilion is home to both ethnic restaurants and several unique dining options.

Along with the long-standing best restaurants in Epcot, its newest additions include La Crêperie de Paris in the France pavilion of World Showcase and Space 220 found in World Discovery.

Space 220 is a highly-anticipated space-themed restaurant that simulates traveling 220 miles above Earth to a space station.

After checking in, visitors are given boarding passes for a space elevator (known as Stellarvators), that takes you to the Centauri Space Station to dine among the stars.

Additional planning tip: A confirmed table-service dining reservation is required for day guests (those not staying overnight) and is highly recommended for guests staying overnight at a Disney Resort hotel.

Epcot dining reservations can be made 60 days in advance via the My Disney Experience app or via the Disney website. You can also call (407) WDW-DINE.

*Click here for our exclusive FREE Family Vacation Packing List and BONUS Disney Day Bag Packing List to complement your Disney vacation!

Epcot 1-Day Itinerary: Conclusion

In conclusion, this Epcot 1-day itinerary was the perfect combination of rides, attractions, and shows.

We left feeling like we did it all!

We were not zig-zagging throughout the park, and we never had to stand in line for more than 60 minutes (on a day when every ride had a 60-120-minute wait in the afternoon).

Every parent knows their kids’ limits, as well as knows what touring plan is going to work for their family.

In our opinion, this is the perfect Epcot touring plan…we hope you think so too!

What strategies will you use in your Epcot 1-day itinerary? What are you most looking forward to when spending a day at Epcot? Happy travels! Jen

If you liked reading our  Epcot Itinerary , continue planning your Walt Disney World vacation with us!

Disney World Touring Plans:

• 1-Day Magic Kingdom Itinerary: The Perfect Touring Plan for 2024
• 1-Day At Animal Kingdom Itinerary: The Perfect Touring Plan for 2024
• 1-Day Hollywood Studios Itinerary: The Perfect Touring Plan for 2024

Disney World Ride & FastPass+ Tips:

• Disney World Magic Kingdom Wait Times (Longest and Shortest Lines)
• Top 5 Rides for Toddlers at Magic Kingdom

Disney World Planning Tips:

• The 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Our First Disney Vacation
• Disney Packing List: 9 Things You Can’t Forget
• 7 Things to Do on a Disney World Non-Park Day
• Best Off-Site Hotel Near Disney World, Orlando
• Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue: Our Complete Guide

Disney World Cost:

• Disney World Cost Calculator: How Much Will It Cost?
• How to Save Money At Disney World: 15 Ways We Saved Big

*Before leaving, be sure to check our Travel Resources Page to find exclusive travel discounts and to book hotels, rental cars, and guided tours.*

Jen Brommer is a family travel expert. She has been featured as an authority on several notable travel websites and is a member of the Family Travel Association (FTA), Midwest Travel Network, and TravMedia global media network.

A prominent content creator and influencer on Instagram, Jen has over 150K unique monthly blog readers from countries all over the world. She has spent the last 16 years planning fun, and hassle-free family vacations for her family of 5.

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Great tips – I’ve been a lot (I used to live in the area), but never early enough to experience the rope drop. I like that you got so much big stuff out of the way early, and now I want to go back – I’ve never done Soarin’ or Frozen.

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We visited Epcot last year and only spent one day there. I wish we would have spent 2 days! I severely underestimated this park…. And I want terribly slow! Lol this is a great 1 day itinerary, I wish I had it on our last visit to stay on track.

Thanks! Yes, you’re right…2 days is ideal for most of the parks. This 1-day itinerary worked for us when traveling with less time.

Very cool place, so many things to do and see. Not the funnest rides, but very interesting and different nonetheless.

Test Track, Soarin, and Mission Space were our favorite rides! And yes, so much to see and do there!

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Creating a trip has never been easier! Tripety is a travel planning platform that makes your trips convenient and hassle-free. Simply enter your travel details and places to visit into our  itinerary planner  to get a clear overview of your journey. Organize each day, use checklists to ensure nothing is forgotten, and keep essential documents all in one place. Also, you can manage and track your spending during your travel. Check out the itinerary maker to see how simple it is!

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Is the process of planning your favorite part of the trip? Are you a detailed-oriented person who wants to use the  best business travel planner  or organize your family vacation tour? Then Tripety, an online trip management platform, is perfect for you! Dream, organize, share, manage your business and personal trips within our easy-to-use,  intuitive travel itinerary manager as your planner . It will keep all the needed information in one place and track everything, as it’s a flight tracker, road trip planner both in one.

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Planning a trip or vacation shouldn’t be tiresome and complicated. Easy to use, an intuitive and neat Travel Planning Platform that we created is for travelers like YOU! Tripety helps you compile, organize, and share your travel arrangements. Keep an eye on your travel budget while on vacation or business trip. We are trying to make your world a bit more colorful and a lot more relaxed. Tripety, add travel to your life!

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16 Easy Steps for Planning Your Next Trip

I remember when I started planning my first trip around the world. I had no idea what I was doing.

When I decided to quit my job and travel the world , I walked into a bookstore and bought Lonely Planet’s Southeast Asia on Shoestring . Buying that guidebook was my first step toward long-term travel. It made the trip seem more real, more tangible. It made it all seem possible.

While helpful, the book didn’t exactly prepare me for planning a trip around the world. Back then, there weren’t really travel blogs, sharing economy websites, and apps like there are today. I was excited and determined — but I was lost. I had to figure it out as I went, hoping I didn’t miss anything important.

Trip planning can be a daunting task. Where do you begin? What’s step one? What’s step two? What’s step three?

It’s easy to get overwhelmed, especially when you haven’t done something like this before — and especially considering just how much information there is out there these days. Blogs, social media, and guidebooks have never been more plentiful. There’s a firehose of information out there that can sometimes make the task of planning a trip even more challenging and overwhelming.

After a decade of traveling the world , I’ve planned countless trips and vacations for myself, friends, family, and even group tours. In the beginning, it was trial by fire and I learned a lot of lessons the hard way . However, that helped me develop an efficient checklist that ensures I don’t miss anything important during the trip planning process.

After all, I don’t want to get to my next destination and then realize I forgot something. And neither do you!

There is a lot of information on this website ( and even more information packed into my book ), but one question that comes up frequently is, “Matt, how do I put this all together? How do I plan a trip?”

In a continuing effort to help you get out the door and into the world, I’ve created this step-by-step guide on how to plan a trip. It works for any kind of trip — no matter how long you’re going for! Just follow this checklist and you’ll be off in no time!

Table of Contents

Step 1: Decide Where You Want To Go

Step 2: decide the length of your trip, step 3: research your costs, step 4: start saving money, step 5: get a travels rewards credit card, step 6: switch to no-fee atm cards, step 7: stay focused and inspired, step 8: check for last-minute deals, step 9: book your flight, step 10: book your accommodation, step 11: plan your activities, step 12: sell your stuff, step 13: automate your bills, step 14: pack, step 15: buy travel insurance, step 16: enjoy your trip.

If you want to jump ahead, simply click on any of the links above.  

It’s a lot easier to mentally get behind “I am going to Paris in the summer” than “I’m going to Europe” or “I’m going somewhere.” Not only will your trip become more concrete for you and easier to commit to, but it will make planning easier as well…because you know what to work towards. Get specific with your plans. Get detailed. The more focused and concrete your goal, the easier it will be to actually reach it.

Resources for picking your travel destination:

• 200+ In-Depth Destination Guides
• 10 Destinations Under $50 Per Day
• The 10 Best Places to Visit as a Budget Traveler
• The 20 Best Tropical Islands in the World

How much does it cost to travel? That depends!

Without knowing how long you’re going away for, I can’t answer that question. And it’s a question you need to answer so you can start planning!

In order to figure out how much you need to save you’ll need to know how long your trip will be.

Are you going away for a week? A month? A year?

The length of your trip is a huge factor in determining how much money you need. Spend some time mulling that over until you have your answer.

For example, after you say “I’m going to Paris this summer,” add “for X days.” That way you can start to narrow down just how much money you’re going to need to save. “I am going to Paris for 10 days” is a trip that you can plan for. It’s an attainable goal.  

So you know where you’re going and how long you’ll be there, but to really nail down how much money you need, your next task is to research the costs in your destination at the style of travel you want.

Do you want to backpack, or would you rather stay in luxury hotels?

How much are hostels, hotels, restaurants, and attractions?

Knowing will allow you to estimate how much money you’ll need for your trip. Here is how to research costs:

• Buy a guidebook.
• Check out my travel guide section .
• Google prices for specific things you want to do, such as scuba diving, bungy jumping, winery tours, etc. ( Get Your Guide is a good place to start for that)

You don’t need to do more than that. There’s so much information on the web that if you go down the rabbit hole of overplanning, you’ll get lost and confused by the firehose of information. Stick to those three things and you’ll be set!

In our example, if you are going to Paris for 10 days and need at least $75 USD a day (not including your flight), you know you need to save $750 USD (though round up to $800-900 USD since it’s good to have extra) for your trip.

If you were to travel around the world for a year, you’d need $50 USD a day .

Here are some other insightful posts that will help you better estimate your costs:

• 5 Ways to Make Your Money Last When You Travel
• How to Know the Travel Info You Find is Legit
• How I Research My Solo Travel Destinations

People bleed a lot of money every day through small purchases: a coffee here, a snack there. All of that adds up. In order to make changes to your spending habits, you first need to understand them. Making a list will do just that. It will also put your financial needs into a better perspective.

For example, if you need $2,000 USD for the trip you’re taking in eight months, that means you only have to save $8.33 USD per day. Couldn’t you find a way to save $8 USD per day? Heck, your daily coffee is most of that!

If you’re struggling to save money, here are 23 ways to cut your expenses and save money for travel . This will help you get started and on the road to saving money in no time!  

These days, most cards have welcome offers of up to 100,000 points when you meet their minimum spending requirement. That’s enough miles for a free flight almost anywhere in the world!

If you want a free flight, sign up for the cards that help with that. If you want free hotel rooms, get a hotel card. Either way, sign up for a travel credit card and start earning points today. As long as you can pay off your monthly balance, you’ll get free travel credit.

You don’t need to sign up for very many cards either; pick one or two and focus on those. Do this the moment you decide you want to travel. Don’t wait — waiting equals lost miles, which means less free travel.

Collecting points and miles is what all the experts do to cut their costs and travel longer. It’s what has kept my costs down and me on the road for so many years. While the best cards are only available in the US, there are still plenty of options for Canadians as well as folks from Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

For more information on travel credit cards and using points and miles, check out these posts:

• Points and Miles 101: A Beginner’s Guide
• How to Pick the Best Travel Credit Card
• The Best Travel Credit Cards
• How to Earn Points by Paying Your Rent
• The Ultimate Guide to Points and Miles
• How to Use Points and Miles in Canada

Once you’re abroad, you’re going to need money. While many countries accept credit cards, in the majority of countries cash is still king. That means you’ll need to use ATMs to withdraw the local currency.

And that also means you’re going to get dinged by ATM fees.

If you’re just away for a week or two, paying a few dollars in ATM fees isn’t the end of the world. But if you’re away for a longer period, those fees add up and chew into your travel budget — a budget you’ve worked hard to grow. Don’t give banks any of your hard-earned money.

How? By using a no-fee ATM card.

I use Charles Schwab , but there are lots of other banks (don’t forget to check your local banks) that don’t charge ATM fees. Additionally, you can join a bank in the Global ATM Alliance .

By using a no-fee ATM card you can avoid those pesky ATM fees, leaving you more money for what it was intended for: travel.

Here’s exactly how you can avoid ATM fees while traveling .  

While you get closer to your goal, make sure that you keep feeding your desire to travel. Travel planning can be exhausting and overwhelming — especially if you don’t have support from your friends and family (and especially if your trip is still months away). It can often get discouraging and feel out of reach at times.

Luckily, there are tons of ways to stay focused and keep your spirits high thanks to the amazing community we have on this website. Here are some inspiring travel stories to help keep you inspired to travel:

• Why It’s Never the Perfect Time to Travel
• 13 Travel Books That Will Give You Serious Wanderlust
• How to Change the “I’m Too Poor to Travel” Mindset and Say Yes to Travel
• 8 Ways to Stay Motivated to Travel

Additionally, be sure to join our online travel community The Nomadic Network . Not only will you find support (and tons of tips) online, but we also host regular in-person and virtual events all around the world. These are a great way to get inspired, meet other awesome travelers in your area, and get travel advice.  

Okay, you’re inspired, prepared, and on your way to saving money for your trip. But before you go buy that flight or book that hotel, check for deals you might have missed. You may dream of Paris but maybe there are great deals to Berlin right now. Or maybe you can get a seven-day cruise for 70% off, a package deal to Hawaii for the price of your flight to Paris, or 50% off sailing trips around Greece.

These days, there is always a deal to be found — especially if you’re flexible with your dates and/or destinations. Some deal websites worth checking out are:

• Going (Formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights)
• The Flight Deal
• Holiday Pirates

Fortunately, there are still many ways to avoid being the person on the flight who paid the most for their ticket. My two favorite sites for finding cheap airfare are:

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is the best website for searching multiple destinations at the same time.
• Google Flights – Like Skyscanner, Google Flights is great for open searches to multiple destinations.

For the best deals, book your flight about two-three months in advance. Here are two articles on how to score a cheap flight:

• How to Find Cheap Flights
• Booking Flights: Everything You Need to Know

For trips longer than two weeks (or if you are going to be traveling long-term) just book your first few days. That will ensure you have a place to go on arrival. Once there, you can get insider advice from your hotel/hostel staff as well as other travelers. You can then use that info to plan your next steps.

While you can book more than your first few nights, you might end up wanting to change your plans once you land. I prefer having flexibility, which is why I always just book my first few nights and go from there.

Here are my go-to sites when it comes to finding the best deals on accommodation:

• Hostelworld – Hostelworld has the largest selection of hostels and is my go-to site for finding affordable hostels.
• Agoda – Agoda has the best results if you’re heading to Asia (though they sometimes have good US deals too).
• Booking.com – Booking.com is the best overall platform for finding budget hotels and guesthouses.

If you’re on a tight budget or you want to connect with more locals during your travels, consider joining platforms like Couchsurfing or BeWelcome . These communities allow travelers to stay with locals for free as a sort of cultural exchange.

Long-term travelers can also try housesitting or WWOOFing as well as they both offer free accommodation (in exchange for pet sitting or farm work respectively).  

Search online for discounts as well. While some countries offer cheaper prices in person, others give discounts to those who book early/online. Research which is which for your itinerary so you can save money.

For shorter trips, you can also book your activities in advance to ensure you get tickets. For longer trips, book as you go.

Additionally, before you leave home, have a rough idea of what activities are priorities for you. That way, if you run out of time or money, you can focus on your top activities so you don’t miss out. Also, make sure to double-check that there are no holidays or other obstacles that will prevent you from certain activities as well.  

If you are going on a long-term trip (six months or more), consider selling your stuff in order to earn extra money for your trip. Start doing this about 60 days before you leave. Some sites to use are:

• Gumtree – An online classified site with a focus in the UK and Australia.
• Amazon – The biggest online store in the world.
• Craigslist – Online global classifieds that have both local and global reach.
• eBay – Another global online classified site.
• Facebook Marketplace – Great for finding people near you (so you don’t need to ship your items).

If you aren’t going to be gone that long, skip this step. If you are going away long-term but want to keep your stuff, move it to a friend’s house or keep it in storage. A good storage company in the US is Public Storage . It’s one of the most affordable options out there.  

Get rid of your mail, go paperless, and set up online bill payment for your recurring bills to ensure you won’t miss any while overseas. If you are still going to get paper mail, use a service like Earth Class Mail , which will collect and scan your mail for you. (If you are going on a two-week trip, you don’t really need to worry about this, so you can skip this step, too.)

If you have the option (and don’t want to pay for a mail service), you can also have all your mail sent to a friend or family member.

Additionally, you’ll want to make sure you cancel any phone plans you have or switch your plan to one that is more travel-friendly. T-Mobile is great for travelers going on trips under 3 months. For any trips longer than that, you’ll want to cancel your plan and just buy SIM cards abroad as that will be much cheaper.  

I travel with a 45L REI bag and then a smaller day bag.

Unless you’re heading to multiple climates and need bulky winter gear, you don’t need a massive 70L bag stuffed to the top. Here’s my suggested packing list to help you take just the right amount of stuff and avoid overpacking ( here’s a list for female travelers as well ).

While what you pack will depend on where you are going, remember that you don’t need to pack everything you own. You can buy things you need on the road. You can do laundry overseas. At the end of the day, you have to carry everything you bring. So bring less!

There are a few extra items you might want to pack beyond your everyday clothes, though. Some things I like to bring with me are:

• First aid kit
• LifeStraw bottle with built-in filter
• Packing cubes (to stay organized)
• Travel lock (for hostel lockers)
• Travel adapter
• Quick-dry towel

Additionally, make sure you bring any prescriptions with you so you have enough for the duration of your trip. If that’s not feasible, bring a doctor’s note and prescription with you so you can fill it abroad.  

While a lot of people think, “I’m healthy, I don’t need travel insurance . I won’t get sick,” travel insurance is much more than just medical protection. It covers you when your camera breaks, your flight is canceled, a family member dies and you have to come home, or if something gets stolen.

Yes, it’s an added expense. But it’s always better to be safe than sorry. I never leave home without it because I’ve seen first-hand just what can happen on the road.

I never thought I would pop my eardrum while I was scuba diving in Thailand or break my camera in Italy .

I didn’t know I would get knifed in Colombia .

My friend never thought he would break his leg hiking.

Another friend didn’t expect her father would die and she would have to fly back home.

Unfortunately, bad things can happen when you’re traveling. True, these events are few and far between. But they can cost tens of thousands of dollars to handle on your own. If you’re not prepared to pay out of pocket, buy travel insurance.

To help you figure out the best plan for you and your trip, here’s my ultimate guide to picking a good insurance company . It will show you how to pick a good plan that covers you for when you get sick, your flights get canceled, if you get injured, something gets stolen, or your trip is delayed.

Here’s a breakdown of my recommended travel insurance companies so you can see what company offers the best plans for your needs and budget:

• SafetyWing – Super affordable plans for budget travelers.
• Insure My Trip – Best for senior travelers.
• Medjet – Provides additional evacuation coverage to ensure you get home should an emergency occur.
• Insured Nomads – In-depth emergency and non-emergency coverage for long-term travelers and digital nomads.

For more information on travel insurance, you can check out these posts:

• What Does Travel Insurance Actually Cover?
• Is Travel Insurance Worth It?
• Do You Need Medical Evacuation Insurance?

Additionally, make sure you know your rights as an airline passenger. For example, delayed flights to/from Europe often mean you’re entitled to compensation (beyond anything insurance-related).

Learn how to ensure you are compensated if your travels are delayed or your flight is canceled .  

If you’re feeling nervous, don’t worry — that’s perfectly normal. You’re about to embark on an amazing adventure — and that’s a huge change. Feeling anxious or nervous or unsure is something every traveler experiences. But you’ve made it this far. Trust your planning, follow your instincts, and you’ll have the trip of a lifetime. I guarantee it.

By using this post as a guideline for your trip planning, you can better organize and prepare for your trip. You’ll check all the boxes, not miss anything, and have plenty of money for your vacation. It can be as simple as booking a flight and packing or as complex as rearranging your entire life to go backpack the world forever.

But, no matter how long your trip may be, this list will help you stay organized and motivated as you plan your trip and step out into the world.

P.S.  – Yes, I did leave out visas and vaccinations, because needing those isn’t as universal as the other stuff on this list, but don’t forget to check if you need those, too!  

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner . It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld . If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• SafetyWing (best for everyone)
• Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Ready to Book Your Trip? Check out my resource page 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’t go wrong using them on your trip.

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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Travel Planning – How to Plan a Perfect Trip

Are you about to plan a trip? This can seem like a challenging and overwhelming task.

Maybe you don’t know where to start, or maybe you wonder how proper travel planning can make the most of your trip.

Whatever the case may be, planning a trip doesn’t have to be difficult at all !

Traveling has been an important part of my life for as long as I can remember. From planning short weekend getaways to trips to remote destinations that lasted many months.

I love travel planning and the anticipation of going somewhere new.

In this article I want to help you with your travel planning. No matter where you are going, who with, or for how long, this guide will share the tips I use when I plan a trip.

How to Plan a Trip

1. choose your destination.

Logically, this is the first part of travel planning. It all starts here.

If you haven’t decided on the exact destination(s) of your next trip, let’s plan this out first.

Ask yourself: what kind of trip do I want to go on? Do I want to go to a sunny destination? Discover new cultures? Backpack? Stay in luxury hotels? Travel on a budget? Learn a new skill? How long do I want to travel?

Take a look at your finances and decide how much money you want to spend on this trip. Once you know your budget and how many days you have, research the average cost per day in your favorite destinations.

When you’ve got all of that clear, it will be a lot easier to choose your destination.

• Bucket List Destinations for a Once in a Lifetime Trip
• The Best Caribbean Islands to Visit & Why
• The Most Beautiful Cities in the USA

2. Find the Best Flights and Dates

When we’re planning a trip, we want to find the best deals, right?

You’ve probably heard hundreds of different tips and tricks, but the ones that really work are: traveling off-season, being flexible with your dates, and doing a lot of research.

I’ve found the best and cheapest flights on Skyscanner.com . You can search for multiple destinations at the same time or set your destination to everywhere (this might come in handy if you haven’t made up your mind yet), you’ll then get an overview of all the cheap flights around the world.

If you do know your destination but your dates are flexible, select “whole month” and then “cheapest month” to check the best time to travel.

Of course most of the time when you plan a trip you both know your destination and your exact dates. Then as well Skyscanner is my go-to website because it compares prices for almost all airlines anywhere in the world.

I go into much more detail about finding flights in this article: How to Find the Cheapest and Best Flights .

Traveling by Bus, Train, or Car Instead?

If you’re going on a road trip with your own car, please check your car before leaving. The last thing you want is to end up with car trouble during your trip!

And if you decide to plan a trip by train or bus, make sure you book your tickets early. Depending on where you are going, I’ve seen train and bus tickets for longer distances book out weeks or even months in advance.

It might also be worth signing up for the newsletter of the train or bus company you plan to use, as they will often email special discounts.

3. Choose Suitable Accommodation

So you’ve chosen your destination and you’ve found a good flight or other modes of transport. What’s next? Booking a place to stay.

Whether you’re planning to go on a short or a long trip, you’ll need to choose suitable accommodation, at least for the first few nights.

A few questions to ask yourself here:

• Do you prefer to stay in a hotel or would you rather have your own kitchen and more space?
• Are you on a limited budget or are you looking for some luxury for this trip?
• Is a good location the most important or is a unique or beautiful property more important for this trip?

Once you know what type of accommodation you’d like to book it’s time to search the web again.

These are my go-to websites whenever I’m looking for accommodation:

• Booking.com . This is the first place I look for hotels, anywhere in the world. And these days they also offer apartments and houses for rent, plus a number of hostels and smaller guesthouses.
• Hotels.com . Although Booking.com is my go-to website, I often use Hotels.com to compare their options. Sometimes they have a good deal or offer a few different hotels.
• Airbnb and VRBO . If you know you want to rent an apartment, house, or just a room, then these websites are the best option. And if you are looking for a unique place to stay, a treehouse or a stay on a boat for example, these websites can offer some great options.
• Hostelworld . If you are traveling on a budget or just like the social aspect of hostels, Hostelworld is the best website to find a hostel anywhere in the world.
• Pros & Cons of Staying in a Hostel
• Important Things to Look For When Booking a Hotel
• Cool Hotels in Amsterdam
• Where to Stay in Valencia, Spain
• The Best Hotels in St Maarten, Caribbean

4. Find Out How to Get to Your Accommodation

Some airports offer great public transport, others do not.

And even if they do, public transport might not take you anywhere close to the place you are staying.

After a flight, while lugging around your bag or suitcase, the last thing you want is having to figure out how to get to your destination.

So, don’t forget to make this part of your travel planning!

Find out how exactly you will get to your accommodation.

Check Google Maps first. In most places Google Maps will show you the different ways you can travel from the airport.

Second, ask your hotel/hostel/Airbnb what modes of transport they recommend and if they perhaps offer any transportation themselves.

It’s a small thing, but knowing how to get to your accommodation will make the start of your trip a lot more stress-free.

Tip: if you plan to rent a car, book it online long before you arrive. Prices often go up close to the travel date and if you wait too long there might not be any cars available anymore.

5. Explore Your Transportation Options

How will you get around during your trip?

It’s nice to know what your options are before you arrive.

You could research the following things:

• Is there good public transportation? If so, what’s the best option, and how does it work?
• Is it possible to walk most places or rent a bicycle? More and more cities have bike share systems these days.
• Would it be better to rent a car and can you do so online?
• Can you easily find a taxi or Uber? Some countries have a local version of it – for example, when traveling to Spain , Cabify and Blablacar are popular options.

Google Maps is a good tool to figure out what’s available at your chosen destination. And a simple Google search for ‘how to get around in [your destination]’ will also generally answer all your questions.

If you’re traveling in Asia, 12go.asia is the best website to find out how to get around and book bus, train, and ferry tickets, plus some flights.

Also Read: Tips for Driving Abroad for the First Time

6. Plan Your Activities

Now that you’ve planned the logistics of your trip, it’s time for some fun!

But where do you start? What are the best things to do?

If you want to plan and book tours and activities, I’d recommend you to use the following websites, they’re all really useful:

• Get Your Guide . This is generally the first website I check for activities in any place I visit because of their wide offer.
• Viator . I find Viator slightly better in the USA so if I travel in the US I check Viator before Get Your Guide. But, Viator also offers activities all over the world.
• Klook . Klook is expanding quickly. I used them a lot for activities in Asia, and they would still be my first choice there. But these days they also offer activities in many other parts of the world so it might be worth having a look no matter where you travel to. And in some places they offer nice hotel deals as well.

7. Find Places to Eat & Drink

Unless you’ve booked an all-inclusive stay you’ll have to find places to eat.

And if you’re anything like me, trying local food, local restaurants and popular cafés is one of the things that makes traveling great.

To find out about local favorites I love asking my Airbnb host or the hotel staff for their tips.

But reviews on Google Maps are also very helpful. And before I travel I often read other blogs about the best places to eat, hidden gems, and, a personal favorite when I travel to cities, nice rooftop bars with views of the city.

• The Best Rooftop Bars in San Diego, California
• The Best Rooftop Bars in Medellin, Colombia
• Paella Restaurants in Valencia for an Authentic Paella Experience
• Where to Eat in Vilnius, Lithuania
• The Best Cafes to Work From in Amsterdam

8. Get Travel Insurance

This is definitely one of the least fun aspects of travel planning, but please don’t skip it.

Of course we’re gonna assume nothing will go wrong, but it does happen. I’ve lost my luggage, had my laptop stolen and even ended up in an Indonesian hospital with dengue fever .

Believe me, when anything like that happens you’ll be happy you have travel insurance!

I’ve written a separate article about what to look for in travel insurance , because it depends on how you travel, where you are going to and even where you are coming from.

9. Find Out if You Need a Visa & Check Travel Advice

Do you need a visa to travel to your destination?

Depending on your passport, there are many countries that will allow you to visit without a visa. But, not all.

If you aren’t sure whether or not you need a visa, check it directly with the embassy in your home country . And do so long before you travel , because if you do need to apply for a visa it might take time.

An embarrassing personal story about that: a few weeks ago I traveled to Canada . I don’t know why, but I just assumed I could fly there on a European passport without a visa. It wasn’t until I was checking in for my flight online, 24 hours before the flight, that I found out I did need a visa! Thankfully Canada’s visa process is very quick, but that was stressful!

Apart from checking if you need a visa, I’d also recommend you visit your government’s website for more information about the country you are visiting. This would be information on security, local laws, natural disasters, mandatory and recommended vaccinations, and how to find help once you’re abroad.

Keep in mind that if your government gives out negative travel advice, your travel insurance might not cover you.

• Things to Know Before Traveling to Europe as an American
• Things to Know Before Traveling to New Zealand
• 12 Things to Know Before Traveling to Colombia
• Important Travel Tips for Mexico

10. Make Sure Your Passport Is Valid

Sometimes we’ve been so busy planning our trip and focusing on other things, that we totally forget to check our passports. If you’re traveling abroad, do double-check if your passport is still valid!

And, more annoyingly, some countries want your passport to be valid for at least another six months. If your passport isn’t then make sure this won’t cause issues when entering the country you are visiting.

11. Decide What to Pack

This can be a challenge in itself, don’t we all know it?

Luckily, there are lots of useful packing lists for different destinations online. Although I hardly ever stick to everything these packing lists suggest, they are a great help. Simply Googling ”what to pack for [your destination or type of trip]” should give you plenty of good results.

Tip: whether you travel with a suitcase or a backpack, use travel cubes ! I’ve only recently started using them and they’ve made it SO MUCH easier to organize things and to keep them organized during the trip.

And remember: don’t pack too much! You always need less than you think.

Also Read: Essential Things to Pack for a Trip to Europe

12. Enjoy and Leave Some Room to Get Lost

As much as I believe planning a trip is important, a big part of the fun is leaving some room to get lost.

If you plan every minute of your trip you risk trying to fit in too much and will end up stressed and annoyed when things don’t go according to plan.

Relax, take in your surroundings, enjoy spontaneous encounters, and dive into the unknown!

Travel Planning – Conclusions

Travel planning doesn’t have to be difficult, boring, or challenging – in fact, it’s all about the joy of anticipation.

I hope this guide helped you find ease in planning your perfect trip. And wherever your next trip is taking you, have a great time!

• 5 Practical Tips to Make Travel Planning Easier
• Things to Do Before Traveling – Checklist of Things to Do Before Any Trip
• Tips for Traveling Alone – Planning a Solo Trip
• How to Stay Safe While Traveling
• How to Meet People While Traveling
• How to Take Good Travel Photos
• The Benefits of Traveling With Family

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This article about travel planning contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links, at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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How to Plan a Trip Like a Pro: The Only Trip Planning Resource You’ll Ever Need

last Updated: December 8, 2022 travel tips

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Wondering how to plan a trip without all the headaches? Yeah, travel planning can be quite the doozy.

It’s time-consuming, overwhelming, and downright confusing; there’s flights to book, currencies to convert, time to take off, and activities to plan. And that’s not even considering all the getting around once you actually arrive!

Don’t let the stresses of travel planning get in the way of heading to your dream destination. I get it, though, I really do, there’s a lot to do. Planning a trip can seem like a daunting task. But I’m here to help with my travel planning tips! 

Luckily, I’ve planned dozens (and dozens) of trips, from quick weekend jaunts to Napa Valley and Lassen Volcanic National Park , to faraway exotic destinations like Bali and Morocco (with ridiculously detailed itineraries).

After lots of trial and error (and making tons of mistakes on my part) I’ve figured out a way to ease the travel planning process. I’ve narrowed it down to an easy 18 steps on how to plan a trip, so you, too, can take the trip of your dreams. Whether it’s a 5-day beach break or a culturally diverse 2-week trip to Thailand , follow my advice below and you’ll be off before you know it.

I’m kinda known for my crazy-detailed itineraries, and get lots of people asking me for help on others. I haven’t been everywhere, so wanted to provide this trip planning resource so you can plan epic trips of your own!

This is my exact trip planning method – it’s kinda ingrained in me now, but after getting it all down on paper, I realized I actually prefer doing things in a set step-by-step basis! Perfect for you because you can copy how I plan my trips!

So if you’re looking for a STEP-BY-STEP guide (made for busy professionals like you), continue reading, because this trip itinerary planner is juuuust the thing you’re looking for. Don’t blame me if you plan too many vacations. :p

→ Read Next: How to Travel More (with a full time 9-5 job)

How to Plan a Trip: Actionable steps to planning a trip of your dreams

Step 1: inspiration + fun/general research.

Before we get started on the specifics of how to plan a trip, start with some travel inspo! And sometimes, just getting inspired is half the fun of actually booking the trip (at least it is for me). 

I like to use Pinterest , Instagram , good old fashioned travel mags (at the dentist/doctor or when strolling through my favorite store Target), and of course, travel blogs.  I constantly find myself swooning over photos I see, and sometimes even book a trip based off of one photo alone, like that time I begged my sister to head off to Chefchaoen with me (I’m a highly visual person if you haven’t noticed). 

Since my mind goes into overload during the inspiration phase, I make sure to organize what I find right away as efficiently as humanly possible.

Enter, Google Maps. As soon as I find a spot I wanna visit (whether it be as specific as a restaurant in a little town or a country as a whole), I type it into Google Maps and hit Save → Want to Go. This way, all my finds are kept neatly in one place, and already plotted on a map to see general locations. You should see my Google Maps – it’s covered in those little green pin markers.

A few posts for some inspiration right over here:

• My Life-Long Bucket List
• Most Beautiful Places in California
• 25 Perfect Week-Long USA Itineraries
• Where I went in 2013 , 2014 , 2015 , 2016 , 2017 , and 2018
• 35+ Winter Weekend Getaways in the USA (snowy and warm)
• My Travel Bucket List: USA Edition
• 14 Adventurous Places to Travel 
• The Best Beaches Around the World
• The Ultimate South East Asia Bucket List

Specific Bucket-list worthy experiences:

• Meeting the Dragons in Komodo
• Bobsledding in Park City, Utah
• Sailing the Greek Islands
• Staying in an Overwater Bungalow
• Beach bumming Hawaii

Once you’ve narrowed down your list to a few places you wanna go, figure out how much time you’ll need and the best time of year to visit. Make this quick – no need to do intense research just yet. We’re still in the beginning phases of how to plan your trip. They’ll be time later for lots and lots of googling, reading, and finalizing.

Jot it down on paper in 3 columns: Places I Want to See, Time Needed, and Best Time of Year to Visit (based off of weather). I quickly google “best time to go to ____”. Example here:

Step 2: Decide on your Destination and Trip Length

How much time are you allocating to this trip? Are you able to use a bunch of PTO and make it an epic adventure? When can you travel? Before you even begin to plan your trip, you’ve gotta know where you’re going and for how long!

Be as specific as possible. Instead of saying “I want to go to Europe”, specify the exact country, and then cities within. “I’m headed to Barcelona and Valencia!” sounds much more real, and you’ve got a much more specific goal to work towards. 

Think about the type of trip you want – are you a “see-as-much-as-possible” and “cross-it-off-the-list” type of traveler, or do you want to take a few days to really get to know a place inside and out? I’m more of the first type (hey, yolo, right?), but I’m starting to appreciate spending ample time in destinations I really love.

What kind of weather do you want? Are you looking for a frozen, ice-filled fantasy or longing for a few days basking in the sun ? How do cultural and foodie experiences sound? Are you looking to stay close-ish to home or are you prepared to travel far? All questions you gotta ask yourself when choosing a destination.

TIPS FOR SHORTER TRIPS (up to 7 days)

If you know you’ll only have a few days, don’t pick a place that’ll take you 2 days to get to. We want to maximize the amount of time you’ll actually have in your destination.

And Psst – don’t think there’s much around you? Think again. There’s likely loads within a few hours.

• For example, from NYC, you can get to London in just under 7 hours, the Caribbean/Central America in 3/4 hours (depending on where), Iceland in just 5 ½, and the other side of the country in 6.
• From San Francisco, you can get to Japan in 10 hours, Mexico City in 4 ½, and Hawaii in 5.  Cliche, I know, but the world really is your oyster.

Only have a few days? Check out these sample itineraries I’ve created to see exactly how much I’m able to fit in in just a few days!

Coming from the States:

• Long Weekend Trips from San Francisco
• Long Weekend Trips from New York City
• 5 Days in Maui / 3 Days in Kauai
• 3 Days in Mexico City 
• 3 Days in Las Vegas
• 3 Days in Washington DC
• 3 Days in Portland, Oregon

Coming from Europe:

• 3 Days in Vienna
• 3 Days in Barcelona
• 2 Days in Venice
• 3 Days in Santorini
• 2 Days in Athens

Coming from Asia:

• 3 Days in Ubud
• 3 Days in Tokyo
• 3 Days in Taipei
• 2 Days in Bangkok
• 3 Days in Singapore
• 3 Days in Hong Kong

TIPS FOR LONGER TRIPS (1 week+)

Longer trips are undeniably much harder to plan, since there’s a bunch of logistics involved in getting from place to place. You probably won’t be staying in the same exact spot for all 7+ days. But as long as you start your research early and follow my itinerary planning advice below, you’ll be a step above everyone else blindly crafting their schedules. P

ractice really does make perfect, so the first long, multi-destination trip you plan will be the hardest. Expect a few hiccups, but just go along with it; that’s just part of traveling!

If you’ve got a longer amount of time, check out these bucket-list worthy destinations for inspiration (and plus, I already planned out the bulk of these itineraries = less leg work/heavy research for you):

• 2 Weeks in Thailand
• 10 Days in Japan
• California Coast Road Trip
• 10 Days in Norway
• 2 Weeks in Croatia (+Bosnia)
• 10 days in Panama
• 2 Weeks in Spain and Portugal
• 10 days in Bali + Komodo National Park
• A Week in Iceland
• 10 days in Greece

And right after I decide on a destination, I always research to see if a visa is involved. Some you can get upon arrival at the airport, while others you need to apply and wait for.

Don’t book a ticket without knowing the visa situation, as airlines don’t check for proper documentation before you book your flight (and it’s possible you’ll get turned away at the airport and need to go back home just as soon as you arrive into the country which requires a visa – not fun!).

Step 3: Choose your Approximate Travel Dates

If you’ve done your due diligence and filled out your own travel planning worksheet above, you already know the best time to visit your dream destination. However, when considering the best time to travel, there’s quite a few factors to think about. 

No one wants to get to their destination after planning for months only to realize they forgot to look into the weather patterns. Will it be rainy season? Hurricane season? Ridiculously over-the-top blazing hot (sweating profusely is no fun for anyone). I’ve had friends visit Bora Bora (a wildly-expensive once-in-a-lifetime trip) in the rainy season and I crossed my fingers for sun for them.

I always like to visit a destination in either the high season or shoulder season, for the best chance of perfect or near-perfect weather. I’m someone who despises rain with a passion (some may like it, but just think about if your activities will be dampered because of some precipitation). This is extra important to me, and I’d rather pay a bit more money for higher possibilities of sun and no rain/clouds.

Of course, you cannot predict the weather months from now, but I always look at the expected weather trends in my intended travel month and stay away from the rainy/hurricane season.

For the best combo of pleasant weather and minimal crowds, it’s wise to travel in the shoulder season (weeks/months outside of high season). This will of course change from destination to destination, but in general, late April-early June and September-October is shoulder season in many parts of both Europe and the USA.

Think about when kids are back in school – if you visit when school is in attendance, you’ll have less families traveling and therefore fewer overall people.

Note that high season typically sees higher costs (but hey, it’s high season for a reason!). If you can visit when kids are back in school, you’ll have higher chances of finding a good deal. Visiting during a holiday? If you can plan your travels bypassing Christmas and New Years, you’ll automatically save a whole bunch, as this is the most expensive time to travel to most places.

Attending a Specific Event

Is there a specific festival/event/animal migration you want to attend/witness? For example, Oktoberfest in Germany, whale watching in Monterey, safari in Africa, and Burning Man in Nevada. Full Moon Party in Thailand and the Day of the Dead in Mexico are two other examples.

You’ll need to obviously plan your trip around these dates/months. Do note that it’ll most likely be one of the most costliest times to visit, so plan to book flights and accommodations way in advance.

No need to plan exact dates just yet, just know the general timeframe of when you want to go. For example, this could be 1) early June 2021, 2) between Thanksgiving and Christmas, 3) birthday month, etc.

Step 4: Decide on your Travel Partners

Are you planning on traveling solo or with friends/family/significant other? 

Traveling with Friends/Family/Children?

Traveling with other people can be a bit more difficult to plan (you’ve got other people’s interests and budgets to cater to), but the memories will be even sweeter when you can reminisce about your fantastic trip together in a few months.

Planning a trip with family? You’ll likely be deciding on your destination together. Remember – it’s all a compromise. If I want a few days of running around a major city, we always make sure to head to smaller towns/spend a day or two relaxing on the beach for my husband later on in the trip. Everyone should be part of the decision-making process.

When I’m traveling with friends, I like to have my desired destination in mind as well as approximate dates. Don’t go to your friend and say “wanna travel next year?”. It’s way too open-ended, especially if you have a general idea of where you wanna go. I just started planning a trip for Spring Break, so asked my friend if she wants to accompany me on a trip to Jordan in late March. See, much more specific.

Always know the type of accommodation you both prefer, if this will be a budget/mid-range/luxury trip, and how the other person feels about spending some time solo (if one person wants to do something but the other really doesn’t want to). Your bestest of friends may make the worst travel buddies – be upfront about as much as possible and you’ll have the greatest chance of a smooth trip.

Traveling Solo?

Never traveled solo before? Don’t fret – I just started traveling solo a few years ago and fell in love with the whole concept ! It’s all so freeing! You can pick and choose all your activities, have cupcakes for breakfast (guilty!), and take as many photos as you want (64597 or 0)! Things do end up being a bit more expensive because you’ve got no one to split the bill with, so I typically stay in hostels and eat tons of street food to help with costs. 

When traveling solo for the first time, I recommend heading to a country that speaks your language, has an easy currency conversion, and is known for being safe and with a good tourist infrastructure. I loved traveling solo in Iceland , London, and Croatia solo, and would highly recommend these countries for first-time solo travelers! 

→  All my female solo travel tips over here (useful for you men as well, but it’s catered towards women, just FYI). 🙂

Step 5: Research Trip Costs

Before you can you do research on trip costs, you’ve gotta know where you’re going (obviously, because places all cost a different amount of money), how long you plan to travel for (more days = more money, usually), and when you aim to go (high season vs. low season can be wildly different in terms of financials). 

See, this is why you need to figure out how long you’re planning to travel for before you do your research on trip costs. Every night at a hotel, plus food and activities per day, will add up quickly. 

But it’s true – a vacation is only as expensive as you make it. Don’t expect baller champagne on a beer budget. That being said, you still can have a hell-of-a-time without spending a fortune.

Everyone told us that Japan would be over-the-top expensive, and we found it pretty in line with other trips we’ve taken. Must have been those inexpensive AirBnBs we found and eating cheap street food everyday.

If you’re traveling solo you won’t have many opportunities to cut these costs down (hostels are great for solo travelers), but if you’ve got a travel partner and are planning on sharing accommodation, you can automatically save 50% on hotels, car rentals, some activities, etc. 

Make a rough outline of how much you think the trip will cost, approximations of course. Be sure to note flight, hotel, meals, activities, transportation, and any possible extras. The more research you do, the fewer surprises you’ll have later on.

In addition, when thinking about your budget, think about areas in which you could save some money, and what hotels/activities/experiences you feel comfortable splurging on. Would you rather stay at that posh 5 star resort for 2 nights or take a helicopter ride in Maui ? Do you prefer a fancy spa treatment or a night out at the opera? It’s wise to pick and choose a few things you know you can’t live without, and try and cut corners in other areas. 

For example, we sometimes stay at airport hotels if we’re arriving late into our destination, which saves us money as they are typically less expensive than hotels in downtown. The next morning we check into the more expensive hotel, but have already saved a bunch of money by spending a night at the less expensive hotel, without impacting our travel plans at all!

Make sure to think about transportation costs too, as these can vary greatly depending on where you’re going. I’m not talking about transportation to your first destination, but how you’ll actually get around once you’re there. You can get anywhere in NYC for $2.75 (which I miss greatly), but if you wanna take day trips outta the city it’s a whole other ball game.

Think about if you’ll be traveling to different cities/places during your trip – be sure to account for a car rental, trains, buses, public transit, Uber, taxis, domestic flights, etc.

*** Always overestimate the cost of travel. There are lots of unexpected and unforeseen costs involved (unfortunately).  It’s always best to over over prepared, especially when it comes to finances!!! And if you don’t use all the money you save, you can always allocate the funds to your next trip. Boom!

And once you’ve figured all this out, you can set a rough budget for yourself. I say rough, because things are gonna change. Travel can be wildly unpredictable (especially if you haven’t done enough research).

Step 6: SAVE, SAVE, SAVE!

Time to get saving, my soon-to-be world-traveling friends. Because, well, hate to break it to ya, but you need a large chunk of change to pay for all your fun. You don’t need to save up enough cash for your entire trip all at once, but make sure you have a plan as to how you’ll do so before your trip arrives.

As you’re booking flights, hotels, activities, and as other trip-related expenses come up, you’ll want to have a sufficient amount of money to cover these things straight away.

NEVER go into credit card debt to travel. Just please don’t. Wait an extra few months/year to travel if you need to. The world ain’t going anywhere, but the credit card companies will charge you a hell of a beast of interest, that’s for sure.  

To make your finances black and white, write down all the things you spend money on each month (rent/mortgage, car payment/insurance, groceries, gym memberships, etc). Then look at your credit card and write down all the miscellaneous stuff. You may be surprised to see that you’ve spent ~300/month on coffees or ~$80/month on that pilates membership you haven’t used since February.

See if you can split the cost of Amazon Prime/Spotify/Netflix with a friend/family member, as even saving an extra $40 per month can get you a few nights in some places.

Think about ways you can slightly alter your everyday life to save for your trip. Every time you forgo that expensive morning latte or night out at the club/bar, you’re a few dollars closer to your dream trip.

Your friends don’t understand? Get new friends. Haha – but really, explain to them that a night out can cost as much as entry to the Vatican or a few days bumming around in Belize.

Get rid of those weekly/monthly subscription boxes, make your morning coffee at home, and save dinners out for special occasions. There are a billion ways to save money, you just gotta be creative sometimes.

And if you’re lucky, you’ll already have some extra cash lying around to plan your trip- but just remember, never take money out of your emergency fund to go off traveling. Set up a different bank account, with the sole purpose being money saved for travel.

Step 7: Apply for a no-fee ATM card

And since we’re talking cash, now’s the time to apply for a no-fee ATM card.

If you want to avoid those pesky ATM fees every time you take out cash while away, simply look into a no-fee debit/ATM card, such as one through Charles Schwab (which I have and love). You can use the card at any ATM in the world, and Schwab will reimburse you all the ATM fees at the end of the month. Pretty neat, right?

It’s by far the best debit card for traveling Americans. We transfer some money into our Schwab account before a trip, and use that as our spending money (do note that it takes a few days for money to transfer between banks, so do this a few days before jetting off).

More info on Charles Schwab here.

ATM fees quickly add up, with many banks charging around $5 or so per transaction. When traveling, I don’t like to keep a whole lotta cash on me at hand, so rely on local ATMs to take out small amounts when need be. Why shell out money when you don’t have to, right?

Step 8: Apply for a travel rewards credit card

Not all credit cards are created equal. I repeat. Not all credit cards are created equal. If you plan on traveling quite a bit (or even just once), it’s wise to look into a travel rewards credit card for the bonus miles and perks that come along with it.

There are many to choose from, including more general travel cards as well as airline/hotel/brand specific. 

We currently use and love the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, which not only gives us $300 a year statement credit for travel, but grants us access into Priority Pass airport lounges worldwide, provides free auto insurance when renting cars, lost luggage reimbursement, and even a concierge service, (and oh so much more).

Don’t let the $450 annual fee scare you; it’s actually only $150 once you spend $300 on travel. Chase typically has great promotions, so be on the lookout for ones providing ~50k+ bonus miles (good for a roundtrip flight to almost anywhere in the world). There’s also the Chase Sapphire, which still comes with heaps of benefits, but you don’t get lounge access and other perks.

In addition, we also use an airline specific credit card, the Delta American Express, since my husband’s airline of choice is Delta. Whenever we book Delta flights using this card, we get extra bonus miles, which we can put to use for future free flights. I wouldn’t recommend only traveling with AMEX though, as many places around the world only take VISA/Mastercard. Hence our need for both.

Other recommended cards include Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card, The Platinum Card® from American Express, and the Chase Ink Business Preferred Card. 

When looking for a travel credit card to apply for, check to make sure it has no international ATM withdrawal fees, no currency conversion fees, and reward points for travel (airlines/hotels/cars/etc).

And just FYI, Travelers Checks are kiiiinda a thing of the past, so be sure to have a credit card ok for international use.

Step 9: Book Flights

Booking flights is one of the most nerve-wracking parts of the travel planning process for me. And why? Because not only do flight prices fluctuate daily, but once you book, you only have 24 hours to cancel (as long as you’re booking from the USA). I find it incredibly intimidating, especially because I’m always trying to get the best possible price. And all those options! So confusing!

I rely on Skyscanner and Google Flights when looking for the cheapest possible flights, and sometimes also look on Kiwi . I tend to sway towards Skyscanner the most because it allows you to search an entire month (or time of year) to find the absolute cheapest flight available.

If I ever purchase a flight through a third-party, I make sure to call the airline and confirm my reservation number. 

However, 99.99% of the time I book directly through the airlines themselves. Once you find a good deal on Skyscanner or Google Flights, go directly to the airline website to book the flight. And don’t forget to input any airline numbers you are a partner of to rack up those skymiles for later use!

→ Psst – check out Skyscanner and set up price alerts to snag the best deal.

However, always be sure to check low-cost airlines, as they are not always included in third-party sites.  A good list can be found here . Southwest and Frontier Air are good options in the USA.  More tips on getting the best price on airfare here . 

Don’t be that person who paid the most on a flight → be flexible, use miles if you can, and sign up for email notifications (I like to use Skyscanner and Google Flights for this). If you’re a bit more flexible with your destination, make sure to sign up for Scott’s Cheap Flights and The Flight Deal, as you’ll receive insane flight deals. The more flexibility you have, the better your chances of scoring a great price. Be willing to fly midweek and off-hours, at the least, if you can.

Search for low airfares and hit BUY when you feel comfortable (don’t wait as flight prices can drastically change within hours)! Here are some additional tips on finding cheap airfare ! I’m a serial advanced planner when it comes to expensive, long-haul flights, but some of my friends score good deals by waiting until a month or two before. It all depends on your comfort level. 

Before booking, you’ll want to have a general idea of your travel route, as this may impact your flights. Will you be flying into one city and out of another? Are you booking a round trip ticket? 

An important note on Passports : Traveling internationally? Can’t leave the country without a valid passport, am I right?! Many countries require at least 6 remaining months on passports before you leave or in order to even enter the country.

If you need to order a new passport, you can check out this passport guide for help, and if you’re traveling within 6-8 weeks (amount of time it usually takes to process passports), you’ll need to get an expedited passport which you’ll receive in approximately 3 weeks for an extra $60. Well worth the money if you find yourself in a pinch and desperately need that passport ASAP.

Step 10: Book Hotels/Accommodations

I like to book hotels relatively early on in my planning process. Why? If you’re traveling during high season (which happens to be me more often than not), there’s a chance your desired hotels could be all booked up! We tend to book hotels that we can cancel, just in case our travel itinerary changes or we find accommodation that suits us better. Most of the time refundable rooms cost a bit more, so just something to keep in mind.

When searching for rooms, I typically do a quick check on HotelsCombined , since they find the best price by checking dozens of booking sites.

→ Search for the best hotel prices on HotelsCombined 

When booking accommodation, think about how far the hotel/apartment is from the city center and the activities you want to do. Sometimes, booking a hotel that’s way cheaper will end up costing more than a slightly-more-expensive hotel if you need to shell out extra dough to get yourself places.

Think about how much time you’ll be spending in the hotel. If you’re planning to be out and about all day, why book a fancy room when all you’ll be doing is sleeping and showering there?

We book over-the-top resorts/hotels when we know for a fact that we’ll be able to enjoy all the amenities. Like that time in Bali we stayed at a resort with our own private pool, lush jungle views, and multiple infinity pools. But we were planning on spending an entire day taking advantage of the hotel so it made sense. In Tokyo when we’re out stuffing our faces all day? Not so much. 

A few additional places we look for accommodation:

Hotel Tonight : My go-to for last minute deals.  Think road-tripping and spontaneous weekend trips.  We once paid $23 for a (really nice) hotel in Reno, Nevada.  You can now check and book up to seven days in advance. Top tip: download the app in advance in case you’re stuck without wifi for a bit.  Use my promo code JKLEINER for a free $25 towards your first booking.

AirBnB : In some cases, we find ourselves wanting a more local experience, so we look to AirBnB for an apartment or condo. With AirBnB, you can rent out private rooms, entire apartments, and even full houses! We’ve had some fantastic experiences and wonderful hosts, and saved a ton of money!  Save an additional $40 off your first stay here !

My number 1 tip: heavily research where you are staying – read all the reviews and make sure the property owner is readily available to contact. Always check the cancellation policy. 

→ New to AirBnB? We’re giving you a coupon of $40 off your first stay of $75 or more !

Expedia : So great for package deals, as you can literally saves 100’s by purchasing flight and hotel together.  Plus, with their rewards program, you can store your points for even greater savings down the line.

Step 11: Get Vaccinated/Medications if Needed

It’s always wise to schedule a travel appointment with your doctor so you can decide what’s best when it comes to vaccinations and precautionary medications with trained medical staff. In addition, I always check the CDC website for recommendations on the such.

Some are more standard vaccines you can get with your primary care doctor, but others (like Yellow Fever for our upcoming trip to Africa), you’ll need to arrange for in advance.

It’s wise to know which vaccines you’ll need early-ish on in the travel planning process, as some need to be specifically ordered and other vaccinations you’ll need multiple, specifically timed spaced-out appointments. Some vaccines are only recommended if you’re visiting particular parts of a country, so don’t feel like you need to get them all if you aren’t even visiting the infected areas.

In addition, research if you need to show proof of vaccines upon arrival into a particular country (they may not let you in without the proper documentation). Ack! 

It’s also a wise time to talk to your doctor about any medications (like Malaria pills we took in Thailand and Bali) you may want to bring along.

Step 12: Decide on WiFi/cell service

Some like to be away from it all and go wifi-free, while others will feel more safe and secure knowing they can use their phones. It all comes down to personal preference. I rely on my phone way too much to go completely data-free, so always make sure I have a set plan in place before leaving on any international trip.

Personal Wifi Hotspot

Although you will most likely have wifi at your accommodation, it’s a good idea to bring along a pocket-sized personal WiFi hotspot , to keep you connected during your time abroad. WiFi hotspots are a cost effective option to ensure you can use GPS apps like Google Maps, check your emails, and catch up with friends and family while away.

With this portable device , you’ll have WiFi wherever you go (even if your phone doesn’t have service), unlimited internet (on up to five devices at a time!!!), and it’s fast and reliable. At less than $9 a day, this device can’t really be beat.

Note that some cell phone plans allow for international use, but many of these are costly. I accidentally turned on my phone service for LESS THAN 2 MINUTES once and got charged $150 by my phone carrier! I desperately wished I had a personal WiFi hotspot with me then!

Find more information and plan options here . HIGHLY RECOMMENDED especially when you don’t speak the native language of the country you’re visiting. A true life saver.

Other Options

Other options include bringing along an unlocked phone so you can use local SIM cards, and looking for plans which include international data.

If you’re thinking about doing a bunch of international travel over the next few years, it may be worth switching to T-Mobile if the service is decent in your home area. My husband and I currently use T-Mobile, and get access to free data in over 210 countries (excluding the one country I was charged an obscene amount of money in – but that was my fault).

Some teched-out cities even have free wifi throughout the city – need to check beforehand (don’t count on this as it’s a relatively new thing, and I wouldn’t rely on the free wifi in case an emergency occurs).

Psst: I always bring a portable battery charger to recharge throughout the day since I rely on my phone heavily for directions!

Step 13: Research + Map Out Activities/Restaurants

Ohhhh, this is where it gets really fun in my eyes. Activities are the bulk of your trip, and probably the main reason you’re visiting the area (besides the food, of course).

Here’s how I like to do it:

1. First, I do some research on things to do in the area (this includes food tours, beaches, museums, popular attractions, hikes, etc), day trips which peak my interest, and anything else I find exciting on Get Your Guide , Viator , and AirBnB Experiences (use this promo code for $15 off your first AirBnB experience). 

I’m a BIG FAN of Get Your Guide and Viator when it comes to perusing activities and signing up for tours (they have SO many options). I’ve been using both of these sites for years, and can honestly say 99% of the time the tours are downright AWESOME and a good bang for your buck. I like to plan in advance (sometimes too far in advance), and being able to book specific activities (with the ability to cancel if need be) is something I love about Get Your Guide and Viator.

I recently started using AirBnB Experiences , as they offer some more local-type experiences, such as cooking classes in chef’s homes (I learned how to make macarons in Paris this way!), photography sessions, and more niche city walks.

I also like to use travel blogs from those writers I trust (not all travel bloggers have the same credibility unfortunately, so if something sounds odd/wacky, I do further research/cross reference facts). In order to do this, I usually google  destination + “blog”, and pick them out one by one in the search results. You tend to get additional tips and insights you normally wouldn’t have on other large-party sites.  

Depending on the destination, I’ll peruse Lonely Planet for even more must-do’s. I used to rely on TripAdvisor, but after I learned that many reviews are fake/bought, I stopped using them entirely. 

2. Plot each “attraction/museum/beach/restaurant” on a map → I’ve been using Google Maps lately and love it! If you prefer to use paper maps, get a large one so you can easily see all the spots! But why waste paper and money?

3. Look at the map, and take note as to where these activities fall. I then separate the activities into different areas. This helps figure out which attractions you should see together on a particular day. You don’t wanna be running back and forth across the city/town/destination out of stupidity silliness. Group attractions together that are in the same proximity/close distance.

4. Think about how much time each activity will take. Some attractions will only take a few minutes, while others you may want to devote entire hours. Don’t aim to see a whole bunch of super-intensive things in the same day; try and space them out if you can.

5. Star your top “things to do” in each location. These are the things you’ll aim to see on your trip, while the others will be extra bonuses. Because, lets face it, if you only have 3 days in Paris, you probably won’t have time to see all 235232 museums.

At the end of this process, you should have a handful of main activities you wanna check out, as well as a bunch more less time-intensive ones, listed out by location/proximity to each other. 

Depending on the type of traveler you are, you may want to book a few guided tours of the city/area you’re visiting. When I travel (especially on my solo jaunts), I tend to book a few guided tours and day trips. I always meet a few chatty people and end up hanging with them the entire day!

It’s also nice to have someone guide me around for a bit (solo travel gets exhausting). Guided day trips are great if you don’t wanna worry about getting lost on public transport and/or don’t wanna rent a car.

Inspiration for Things to Do/Tours/Day Trips

• Get Your Guide 
• Viator  
• Airbnb experiences
• Travel Blogs (like mine !)

If there’s a particular + popular restaurant/dining experience your longing after, it’s wise to make a reservation in advance. When we went to Mexico City , we had to book our table a few months ahead of time, and there still wasn’t much availability! 

Step 14: Plan Your Day-to-Day Itinerary

Don’t overplan , but definitely keep track of the tours you booked and other sites on your wishlist. I tend to make exceptionally long Google Docs (for easy access without wifi), and roughly plan out my days. This makes sure I don’t forget what’s going on each day; especially helpful if your trip consists of a few different towns/cities/etc.

I always put the date, day of week, and location in the left column, then details about my day in the right.

Some tours are only offered on certain days, so you may need to play around with your day-to-day itinerary until it works out. 

The example below (a random few days during my two weeks in Croatia ) is not as crazily detailed as my normal ones, but you get the picture:

Once the itinerary is all set, I then go ahead and book all tours and skip-the-line tickets for popular attractions (imagine not booking a ticket in advance for Frida Khalo’s House in Mexico City, the Louvre in Paris, or the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona). Don’t waste your time waiting in line. Spend 3 minutes booking your tickets now and you’ll be thanking yourself later on during your trip.

Step 15: Book a Car Rental (if need be)

Heading off on a road trip (one of my favorite types of trips)? Don’t forget to book a car rental for the duration of your stay! 

In order to save some money, think about if you’ll actually need the car for your entire trip. Are you staying put in your first destination for a few days? Can you get around on foot or inexpensive public transport? Will you really need a car then? Book the car rental for the night before/morning of your first real road trip day.

→ Search for the cheapest car rentals over here !

And if you’re primarily visiting one city and doing a few day trips, can you move all your day trips to the beginning/end of your trip to only book the car for 3 days, instead of say 7? It’s silly to pay for an extra day if the car will just sit there all day.

But always check how much a weekly car will cost – sometimes there are deals, and a rental may end up being cheaper in total if you book for longer (crazy, huh?)! It’s wise to think about parking fees and such before getting too excited though.

Additional Reading: Tips and Tricks for your Next Roadtrip

Step 16: Buy travel insurance

Confession time:  I was always that girl who never really understood the value of travel insurance.  Honestly, I thought it was a complete waste of money. After checking out the highly recommended Safety Wing , I finally came to the realization that it really is worth the (small) extra cost, and it’s just plain stupid to travel without. 

Safety Wing is not just for medical insurance, but also helps when luggage is lost, you need to cancel a trip, or when your gear is stolen or damaged when traveling. 

Even better, you can purchase at home or overseas (while already traveling) & make claims online from anywhere in the world. There’s really no excuse, especially since the insurance only costs a few dollars a day. You’ll be kicking yourself mid-trip if something goes wrong and you’ve got to pay tons out of pocket.

They say if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel.  Now I won’t travel without it. Get a FREE quote . Planning a trip abroad? Just get the insurance. No excuses.

Step 17: Before you go action items

Thought you were done? So close, just a few more things to do when planning a trip! These last-minute items can literally be done in the few days leading up to your trip. Some only take a minute, but are oh-so-important.

• Tell your credit card companies you’re traveling (you don’t want any cards to get denied because of suspected fraud/theft)
• Arrange for pets to be watched and plants to be watered.
• Get familiar with currency rates. They obviously vary from country to country, and can sometimes be as easy as moving the decimal point a few spots, or as confusing as dividing everything by 7.3. Download a currency converter for your phone for easy conversions on the road (I like Currency XE).
• Learn a few important words/phrases in the local language. I find Duolingo quite fun!
• Do some research on safety, common scams, and any areas to avoid in the destinations you’re visiting. It’s also wise to check out any cultural norms/basic manners in your destination.
• Let friends and family know you’re traveling. Be safe – someone at home should always know exactly where you are, especially if you’re traveling solo.
• Transfer money into Schwab account: remember, this takes a few days, so be sure to transfer as much cash as you think you’ll need for the beginning of your trip. I like to make it easy and just do one bulk transfer before we leave. Remember, using Schwab saves you all those precious ATM fees!

• Buy necessary items: Depending on where you’re going, you may need to pack something specific. Traveling internationally? You’ll most likely need a plug adaptor ( this one works in all countries ) and possibly a converter for voltage. You’ll probably wanna pack a wide-brimmed hat and reef-safe sunscreen for warm-weather destinations. A sarong to cover up with for visiting temples in Asia. 
• Credit cards you are bringing
• Travel insurance documents
• Rough itinerary
• Flight/Hotel/Activity reservations 

I also like to print out a copy (or 2) of my passport and keep in a separate place. If I’m keeping my passport in my purse with me, I also put a copy in my suitcase/husband’s carryon just in case.

A REALLY IMPORTANT EXTRA TIP: Figure out how you’ll get to your accommodation/into the city from the airport before you take off. The last thing you wanna do when you’re completely drained from sitting on the plane for 10 hours (with potential jet lag) is to figure out how to get to your first stop.

Be kind to yourself and at least write it down (on your handy-dandy Google Doc) beforehand. Consider the time you’re arriving, as public transport may not work all hours of the night.

Step 18: Start Packing!

Phew – so close! I suggest starting to take things out a few days before your trip so you don’t forget anything important. Make sure you’ve got your passport, additional form of ID, copies of credit cards and other documents, and your itinerary. You’ll also want to check the plug/socket type and make sure you have one/a few which fit.

A few of my top packing tips:

• Know your airline’s baggage fee policy. Don’t wanna show up at the airport expecting to get 2 huge suitcases for free and end up having to pay $$$ for them. A great list can be found here , but it’s always wise to triple check on the actual airline website.
• Pack light. Most people take way more than they actually need. Think about the activities you planned earlier, and pack according to that. Put everything on your bed and take out half of the clothing you think you need (yes, half). Not only will this reduce potential fees at the airport, but it’ll make it easier to get around with less baggage.
• Keep all your absolute essentials and one change of clothes in a carry-on. Lost baggage happens; don’t let it ruin your trip. Always keep medications and expensive electronics on your body, as well as a toothbrush!
• Come prepared. We always take along something for motion sickness, altitude sickness, stomach bugs (anti-diarrheal), and other general over-the-counter meds including fever-reducers, pain reliever (Tylenol or motrin), an antihistamine, and antibiotic ointment. Throw a bunch of band aids in your bag as well. You just never know what’ll happen and if you’ll have access to these quickly and easily on the road.
• Use packing cubes. I don’t know how I managed to travel before packing cubes came into my life. They are oh so helpful for organization and to keep my bag from exploding. And if you haven’t ordered packing cubes in time, you can always use large plastic bags. Better yet, roll your clothes into packing cubes and you’ll be golden.

Step 19: And you’re off!

You did it! You planned your trip! Now go enjoy the fruits of your labor and have the time of your life! Just remember to stay safe and take lots of photos! Be sure to read how to stay entertained on long flights before you leave so you’re first 3, 7, or 10 hours of travel isn’t a complete bore!

Hope this ridiculously detailed guide on how to plan a trip helped! Where are you hoping to travel soon?! Now, go help a friend plan a trip, pronto!

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June 15, 2020 at 5:27 am

This is so so so helpful! I am a hyper planner as well so this is pretty much exactly what I do. Love this!

June 16, 2020 at 9:15 pm

Yassss! Planners unite! Everyone thinks I'm crazy, but then I go ahead and plan the best trips!

August 5, 2020 at 12:33 pm

Planners unite! Everyone thinks I’m crazy!

September 22, 2020 at 5:24 am

Hi jess, Amazing post! You share some useful blog every time. I appreciate your planning and Your planning always working for me. Thank you for sharing your travel plan.

January 24, 2021 at 4:18 am

An informative read Jess. You’ll have to visit Tenerife one day and do a review of the island.

March 21, 2021 at 9:55 am

I plan to travel to Croatia in 2022. Yes it is more than a year upfront. I like your blogs a lot and will definitely use them. Any suggestions for traveling the Croatian coastline. Want to fly to Rome and travel per train to Venice and from there with a bus/train to a destination in Croatia where I can rent a car. Preferably Poreč then Pula and all along the coast to Rijeka to Zadar, Split and all the way to Dubrovnik.

December 29, 2023 at 6:34 pm

Hi Jessica! Thank you so much for this article – it was very informative! My husband and I are planning on taking a trip to Japan in Spring of 2025. Do you speak Japanese? If not, did you find it difficult navigating the county? I am trying to figure out if I should book a tour group, or if we would be okay just going by ourselves. 🙂 Thanks so much for your help!

December 29, 2023 at 6:36 pm

Sorry! This comment was supposed to be on your Japan article! I don’t know how to fix it. LOL.

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Simply use one of our travel search engines to scan for prices gathered from hundreds of travel sites. KAYAK’s search results pages have loads of filter options to help you find deals, discover exactly what you’re looking for and make booking seamless. Plus, there’s no extra fee from KAYAK.

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Road Trips: How to Plan an Accessible Getaway

By Syren Nagakyrie

Planning an accessible road trip is getting a little easier for people with disabilities. There are more resources created by and for the disability community, and the tourism industry is starting to recognize the value of accessible travel. As a disabled, chronically ill, neurodivergent person, I take road trips every year and have learned some tips and tricks along the way.

Renting a vehicle

Most major car companies offer adaptive driving devices for their vehicles at no additional cost. Enterprise , for example, offers hand controls, left foot accelerators, pedal extenders and spinner knobs to facilitate steering. Budget can provide hand controls, spinner knobs, a panoramic mirror, swivel seats and transfer boards. Be prepared to request adaptive devices at least three business days in advance.

For a wheelchair-accessible van with a ramp or a lift, rent from a mobility company like BraunAbility , one of the largest builders of wheelchair-accessible vans in the country, with rentals at many locations. MobilityWorks , an accessible-vehicle and adaptive-equipment dealer, has rental locations in 34 states. AccessibleGO , which offers a one-stop shop for adapted rental cars and wheelchair-accessible vans, has agreements with 100 wheelchair van rental locations nationwide; request a quote on their website. For accessibleGO’s rental cars, you can request hand controls and a spinner knob at checkout.

Route planning

You can use Google Maps, Waze and MapQuest for initial accessibility research using photos and street view. Google Maps provides directions for some wheelchair-accessible pedestrian and transit routes.

Sites such as Roadtrippers and Furkot can plot an entire itinerary. While these websites are not disability specific, they are invaluable tools. (Roadtrippers does have a wheelchair-accessible check box in the search function.) You can filter by types of destinations such as national parks or museums, and search for hotels and campgrounds. Furkot allows you to input how long you want to drive each day, whether you want to travel on Interstate highways or take more scenic roads. The app will determine the best route and length of time between stops, and suggest where to stay overnight.

Finding lodging

While hotels and other accommodations are required to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act, many hotels do not meet all accessibility needs. Most of the booking sites list hotels with accessible rooms for those with mobility, hearing and vision needs, but this information is not always verified. Do additional research on review sites and look for photos. Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton and Fairmont hotels offer allergy-friendly and scent-free rooms in some locations. Call the hotel to verify accessibility and to make sure a specific room is reserved for you.

Vacation rentals are typically not required to be A.D.A. compliant, but some do provide accessibility information. Airbnb recently rolled out an adapted category with accessibility search features and homes that have been scanned for accessibility. Review photos and contact the host for more information. Some hosts will make accommodations, such as changing the cleaning supplies or shifting furniture, but document your request using the in-app messaging system so that customer service can help if you run into issues.

Wheel the World is an accessible travel agency offering bookings at over 3,000 verified accessible hotels in the United States. The hotels have been reviewed in person by trained assessors; only those that meet the criteria are listed. Sign up as a disabled traveler or a companion and complete a personal profile that includes options for a variety of disabilities and accessibility needs. The site will provide listings that match your profile with partial, adequate and outstanding match options.

Food and medication

There are a variety of options to keep food or medication cold while traveling. Electric coolers can plug into your vehicle’s 12-volt outlet, but pay attention to the type of cooling mechanism — the less expensive versions are usually thermoelectric and will cool only to about 30 degrees below ambient temperature (if it is 70 degrees in the car, it will cool to 40 degrees). Compressor coolers are more expensive but maintain normal refrigerated temperatures.

Many hotels provide mini-refrigerators. When you know you will be stopping somewhere with a fridge almost every night, layer large ice packs and supplies in a cooler, then top them with another insulating layer like a cooling bag. This keeps everything cold for a couple of days at a time.

It’s also a good idea to travel with a single-burner cooktop — electric to use inside, or propane to use at rest areas and campgrounds — and a camp mess kit so that you can safely cook meals.

Some of the best apps to find food, restaurants and grocery stores that accommodate dietary needs are Fig for allergy-specific options, Happy Cow for vegan-friendly options and Find Me Gluten Free for celiac-safe spots. Add your favorite options to the route-planning app so that you know where to stop.

Finding activities

In addition to the apps mentioned in the route-planning section, state and local tourism organizations are good sources for accessible destinations.

National parks and monuments, which are required to meet federal accessibility guidelines, typically have visitor centers and recreation sites with accessible features. Each park website has information, as well as programs and services within the park. While accessibility varies, you can usually find information on wheelchair-accessible trails and campsites, tactile and audio features, assistive listening devices, and American Sign Language interpreters.

At state parks, accessibility features may not be consistent, but you can usually find some information on each park’s website.

Apps like AllTrails list wheelchair-friendly trails across the country, but the information may not be verified, so contact the park or land manager for verification. Among the parks with notable accessible trails are Redwood National and State Parks, North Cascades National Park, Badlands National Park, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park .

Syren Nagakyrie, the founder of the nonprofit Disabled Hikers and the author of “The Disabled Hiker’s Guide to Western Washington and Oregon” and “The Disabled Hiker’s Guide to Northern California,” among other guidebooks, leads group hikes and conducts assessments throughout the United States.

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland:  The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas:  Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .

You can still find affordable flights to Europe this summer

Airfare prices to amsterdam, brussels, prague and reykjavik are way down from last year.

Christina Saull and her husband have waited five years to take a 10-day cruise through the Norwegian fjords. The first time they planned the trip, it was postponed for a medical emergency. The second time, there was a family wedding. Now, finally, they were getting ready to go in July.

Only they needed plane tickets.

“It’s interesting to see how expensive fares have been and how they’ve fluctuated,” said Saull, a public relations executive who lives in Alexandria, Va.

The couple watched prices go from as little as $900 round trip to as much as $2,500 for flights from Washington to Edinburgh, Scotland, and back from Copenhagen . They finally settled on premium economy seats for $2,000 each on Delta Air Lines and its partner Air France.

“I don’t think it’s unreasonable for summer Europe travel,” Saull said of what they paid.

Not unreasonable is a good way to describe transatlantic air travel this summer. Even with strong travel demand, tickets are cheaper on average than they were last year.

“Airfare to Europe is less expensive than last year by 10 percent,” said Hayley Berg, the lead economist at flight-booking app Hopper . The average round trip ticket before any extra fees costs $882, according to the data.

The highest fares are in June, July and August, Berg added. Traveling in shoulder months — for example, September and October — could save travelers as much as 30 percent.

Schedule data from aviation analytics firm Cirium Diio shows airlines will offer 8 percent more seats on U.S.-Europe routes from May through September than last year.

Philadelphia is gaining new nonstops to Copenhagen, Naples , and Nice, France, on American Airlines. Phoenix gets its first nonstop to Paris on Air France. Washington, a new flight to Zurich on Swiss International Air Lines. And many other routes additional flights or options on larger planes.

“In the transatlantic, we are looking forward to another strong summer,” said Glen Hauenstein, president of Delta Air Lines, referring to bookings earlier in April. He added the airline sees “healthy demand” for seats to Europe.

Paris has flight deals, but hotels are pricey

The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics are a bump in the finely tuned machine that is summer air travel to Europe. The Games run from July 26 through Aug. 11, and the French capital is expected to host some 15 million visitors during the event and the following Paralympic Games. Last summer, the city saw more than 6.2 million visitors in July and August.

“Paris will be like an Olympic village in July and August,” said Christine Ourmières-Widener, CEO of the French airline French Bee . All those visitors still need a way to get to the city. French Bee , which caters to leisure travelers like those going to the Games, has added flights from Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco to meet the demand.

Flight deals to Paris can still be found. Booking website Expedia recommends travelers buy tickets at least 21 days before their trip and, for international travel, look at departing on a Monday to find the best airfares.

Finding an affordable hotel in Paris during the Games is another matter. Expedia said it has seen a “massive surge” in searches for accommodations there this summer and recommends travelers look at nearby cities for more reasonably priced options.

Consider Nice, Prague and Reykjavik

Finn Vigeland, a transit planner who lives in Washington, was “quite surprised” last month when he found a good deal on flights to Nice, France, in July.

Prices on American Airlines’ new nonstop to Nice from Philadelphia were only $700 to $800 round trip, he said. That was affordable enough to make a trip to France with friends possible, and he booked the flight (with points, not cash).

Average fares to Nice from the United States are down a quarter to $907 compared to last summer, Hopper’s data shows. The city also has the distinction of being one of the few European destinations with lower airfares this summer than in 2019, 11 percent lower to be exact. That drop is, in part, thanks to a plethora of new flights on American, Delta, and United.

Amsterdam, Brussels, Prague , and Reykjavik , Iceland, are other European cities where ticket prices from the United States are down more than 20 percent from last year, according to Hopper.

Airfares are not down double-digits in all markets though. Fares to cities like Berlin and Glasgow, Scotland, are on par with last year.

Traveler after traveler said they felt like they could find reasonably priced plane tickets for trips between the United States and Europe this summer. Those who said they could not often lacked flexibility to adjust their trips to when and where fares are the cheapest.

“I felt like this was doable. It made sense,” Alexander Giess said of his plan to take his 10-year-old daughter on a three-week trip to France this summer.

After a lengthy search, in March the marketing executive paid about $1,000 each for two round-trip tickets to Nice from San Francisco on his preferred airline, Delta.

Where to go

Our favorite destinations: These 12 destinations are at the top of our wish list for where to go this year, without crowds. In 2023, we explored an Alaskan bear paradise, Brooklyn’s famous pizzerias and a hidden gem in Italy, among other highlights .

Travel like a local: Residents share their favorite places in our top city guides: New Orleans , Rome , Tokyo and Mexico City .

National parks: This comprehensive guide has details on all 63 U.S. national parks. For a deep dive into five of the most well-known, you can listen to the Field Trip podcast . Then explore tips from locals for visiting Yosemite , Glacier and Everglades .

Tales from the road: Dolly Parton has opened a new resort at her theme park complex in Tennessee, while “Fixer Upper” stars Chip and Joanna Gaines have a new hotel in Waco . Road-trippers may be just as excited to see the cartoon beaver at Buc-ee’s , and bargain-hunters should consider a stop at the Unclaimed Baggage store in Scottsboro, Ala.

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House Republicans release aid bills for Israel and Ukraine, eyeing weekend House votes

WASHINGTON — Facing a divided party and pressure to act, House Speaker Mike Johnson rolled out three bills Wednesday to provide assistance to Israel , Ukraine and Taiwan , with the hope of holding final votes on Saturday.

The bills represent a major test of Johnson’s ability to navigate a thicket of political and global challenges with a wafer-thin majority. And it comes as Johnson, R-La., faces a serious threat to his gavel from Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene , R-Ga., and Thomas Massie , R-Ky.

Johnson's biggest challenge is Ukraine funding , an issue that has bitterly divided the GOP. He has been squeezed by conservative security hawks who want to help Ukraine fend off Russia’s aggression and by an empowered isolationist wing that is feeding off former President Donald Trump’s criticism of NATO and prior Ukraine aid measures.

Multiple Republicans say they oppose any funding for Ukraine, meaning that a significant share of Democrats will be required to carry that measure over the finish line. Many of the provisions in the bills resemble the package passed by the Senate in one bundle, which Johnson rejected and refused to put to a House vote.

In a message to members before releasing the legislation, Johnson said there would be "three bills that will fund America’s national security interests and allies in Israel, the Indo-Pacific, and Ukraine, including a loan structure for aid , and enhanced strategy and accountability."

He said Republican leadership will come forward with an amendment process "alongside a fourth bill that includes the REPO Act ," which is aimed at seizing Russian assets to benefit Ukraine; the House-passed bill to ban TikTok in the U.S. unless it divests from its China-based owner; as well as "sanctions and other measures to confront Russia, China, and Iran."

“We expect the vote on final passage on these bills to be on Saturday evening,” Johnson said in a text message obtained by NBC News.

He said there will also be a "border security bill that includes the core components of H.R.2" — a conservative, House-passed immigration bill — moving under a separate process. That measure serves as a sweetener for reticent conservatives who are unhappy that the aid bills don't include domestic immigration provisions.

Swift conservative pushback

Multiple House conservatives pushed back immediately on social media Wednesday after Johnson's message went out, complaining that the border measures weren't directly tied to Ukraine funding.

"The Republican Speaker of the House is seeking a rule to pass almost $100 billion in foreign aid — while unquestionably, dangerous criminals, terrorists, & fentanyl pour across our border. The border 'vote' in this package is a watered-down dangerous cover vote. I will oppose," Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, wrote on X .

Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., the most recent chair of the hard-right Freedom Caucus, said: "Anything less than tying Ukraine aid to real border security fails to live up to @SpeakerJohnson's own words just several weeks ago. Our constituents demand — and deserve — more from us."

Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, earlier called aid to Ukraine unnecessary, saying: “I’m not giving them a nickel today, tomorrow or next week."

“Putin is not going into Poland. I don’t care what you say. Besides, anyway, it doesn’t really matter because ... when Donald Trump wins, Putin’s leavin’. Putin’s leavin’ Ukraine,” Nehls said ahead of the bill’s release, without explaining his logic.

House Democrats have repeatedly called on Johnson to bring up a Senate-passed foreign aid package instead, calling it the best — if not only — path to getting a bill on Biden's desk. They have posted a "discharge petition" with 195 signatories to end-run Johnson and force a vote on that bill. It needs 218 votes to come up, meaning it will need the backing of some Republicans in addition to Democrats.

At a Wednesday meeting with Democrats, House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., told members that they need to use their “personal relationships” with Republicans to garner support for the discharge petition, according to two people familiar with her comments.

Treasury Secretary Yellen dials up pressure

At a bilateral meeting later Wednesday with Ukraine Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen plans to dial up the pressure on House Republicans to act.

“The failure of House Republicans to act to support Ukraine in this pivotal moment of the war for so long has been inexcusable—and detrimental to our national security,” Yellen will say, according to a Treasury source. “Every moment of delay by House Republicans strengthens Putin and emboldens America’s adversaries around the world who are closely watching to see if we, the United States, maintains its resolve to support a democratic Ukraine as it fends off an autocratic Russia.”

Meanwhile, Greene has not said when she might force a vote on her "motion to vacate" the speaker's chair, which would take a simple majority to remove Johnson from his job. Her effort gained a cosponsor in Massie on Tuesday, who predicted Johnson would be voted out.

It's not clear the votes are there to oust Johnson. Many conservatives, including some who voted to remove former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, have not joined the effort to oust Johnson. Some Democrats have also said they'll vote to protect Johnson from a motion to depose him.

But Massie said that would only hurt his standing with the GOP in the long term.

“Then he goes further in the hole with Republicans. He becomes toxic to the conference. For every Democrat who comes to his aid he’ll lose 2 to 3 more Republicans,” Massie said. “He doesn’t have much shelf life after that.”

Johnson struck a defiant tone Tuesday when asked about the threat to his gavel, calling it “absurd” while saying he’s “not concerned” about the motion and will continue to do his job.

Sahil Kapur is a senior national political reporter for NBC News.

Rebecca is a producer and off-air reporter covering Congress for NBC News, managing coverage of the House.

• WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces a New Action to Defend U.S. Workers and Industry from China’s Targeting of the Maritime, Logistics, and Shipbuilding Sectors for Dominance

Ambassador Katherine Tai to Travel to New York

• Testimony of Ambassador Katherine Tai Before the Senate Finance Committee Hearing on the President’s 2024 Trade Policy Agenda
• USTR Initiates Section 301 Investigation of China’s Targeting of the Maritime, Logistics, and Shipbuilding Sectors for Dominance
• Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Department of Commerce, Small Business Administration, and UK Government Convene the 8th United States-United Kingdom Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprise Dialogue in Belfast
• United States Requests Second Ever USMCA Rapid Response Labor Mechanism Dispute Settlement Panel
• Testimony of Ambassador Katherine Tai Before the House Ways and Means Committee Hearing on the President’s 2024 Trade Policy Agenda
• Readout of April 2-12 Negotiating Round Under the U.S.-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership
• FACT SHEET: In Third Year, Ambassador Katherine Tai Delivers on Biden-Harris Administration’s Worker-Centered Trade Policy
• Remarks by Ambassador Katherine Tai at the 2024 NCTO Annual Meeting
• FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Secures Access to Foreign Markets for American Agriculture
• FACT SHEET: The USMCA Rapid Response Mechanism Delivers for Workers
• United States Announces Successful Resolution of Rapid Response Labor Mechanism Matter at Draxton Facility
• United States Announces Successful Resolution of Rapid Response Labor Mechanism Matter at Teklas Automotive Facility
• USTR and the European Commission Host Principals’ Meeting of the U.S.-EU Tripartite Trade and Labor Dialogue with Union and Business Leaders
• U.S-EU Joint Statement of the Trade and Technology Council
• USTR Releases Summaries from U.S. – Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership Negotiations
• USTR Releases Summaries from U.S.-Taiwan 21st Century Trade Initiative Negotiations
• USTR Announces Designation of Juan Millán as Acting Chief Transparency Officer
• United States Seeks Mexico's Review of Alleged Denial of Workers’ Rights at Industrias Peñoles Minera Tizapa
• What They Are Saying: Ambassador Katherine Tai Visits North Carolina
• USTR Issues Communication to WTO Members on Climate and Trade
• United States Seeks Mexico's Review of Alleged Denial of Workers’ Rights at Servicios Industriales González, S.A. de C.V.
• Ambassador Katherine Tai to Travel to Belgium
• Statement from Ambassador Katherine Tai Celebrating Arab American Heritage Month
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WASHINGTON – United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai will travel to New York City, New York on Friday, April 19, 2024. 

While in New York, Ambassador Tai will deliver keynote remarks at the Committee on 100's Annual Conference and Gala. This event is open press. More information about the event can be found here .  

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U.s. secretary of commerce gina raimondo to travel to kenya to highlight important bilateral commercial relationship, burgeoning digital opportunities to advance u.s. and kenyan societies and economies, office of public affairs.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo will travel to Nairobi, Kenya from April 23 to April 25.  Secretary Raimondo will lead a delegation of private sector companies from the President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa (PAC-DBIA). She will highlight the U.S.-Kenya bilateral commercial and investment relationship and flourishing digital space in Kenya, and throughout Africa, that is helping to shape the world for the better and create exciting opportunities for partnerships with the United States. While in Nairobi, Secretary Raimondo will meet with Kenyan government officials, as well as trade and digital ministers from across Africa. She will also engage with U.S. and Kenyan private sector representatives and speak with women and youth leaders in science, technology and creative industries. The Secretary’s visit builds on the Department of Commerce-wide Africa strategy announced by Deputy Secretary Graves last fall at the AGOA forum in South Africa and underscores the enormous potential that comes with technological advances to support our societies and economies to address global challenges.