How To Plan A Travel Itinerary Like A PRO Every Time!
If you’re getting ready for your first trip and wondering how to plan a travel itinerary, I’ve got you covered.
I am a full-time traveler and travel blogger, so I’m always either planning a trip or traveling.
I want to make the most of my time traveling, and I wholeheartedly believe planning an itinerary is crucial. It is the foundation for a smooth journey filled with unforgettable moments.
Whether you’re embarking on your first trip or you want to make sure your next vacation is perfectly organized, this is the guide for you.
Let’s begin with a step-by-step guide on how to prepare itinerary for travel!
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. I hope you find the information here helpful!
What Is A Travel Itinerary?
A travel itinerary is a plan that gives you an outline of your trip from start to finish. It includes all the necessary information, such as places you want to visit, transportation, accommodation, and activities.
It helps you stay organized, saves time and money while traveling, and ensures you don’t miss out on any must-see attractions.
While you can be spontaneous and just wing it, having a general idea of what you want to do on your trip is essential.
You don’t need to have every minute of your trip planned out.
I certainly don’t, as I like to keep things flexible, allowing things to change along the way.
However, planning a travel itinerary brings structure to your travels, prevents you from missing out on key attractions, and saves you from unnecessary expenses and stress.
Plan A Travel Itinerary Step-By-Step
I’ve been traveling for years, and these are the steps I always follow when deciding where to go and creating a travel itinerary.
Step 1: Decide On Your Budget And Trip Lenght
The first step in planning the itinerary is understanding how much time and money you have for this trip.
If you only have a week available, it’s probably not the best time to explore Thailand, but 7 days in Poland is the perfect time to see the main attractions in the country.
Your travel budget for backpacking Europe for 3 months won’t be the same as the budget for backpacking Cambodia or a weekend in Paris (although the last two could be similar when you see how expensive Europe is getting lately).
If you want to travel for several weeks on a tight budget, you should probably avoid the most expensive European countries, like Norway and the UK.
Your money will last much longer if you add some Eastern European countries to your itinerary.
Step 2: Pick A Destination
Once you’ve figured out your time and budget, it is time to decide on the destination.
There are many ways to go around choosing where to travel.
- What countries are on your bucket list, and you can visit them this time?
- Did you see a beautiful place on an Instagram reel, and you’re determined to make it there?
- What season is it, and are there any events you don’t want to miss?
Summer in Europe is the most popular time to visit, but it is also the most expensive.
Are you willing to splurge on 2 weeks in the South of France, or you rather stay on a budget and spend your summer vacation backpacking the Baltic countries?
If you’re looking for the best solo female travel destinations, you might want to check into safety and ease of travel in the country too.
Step 3: Check Flights
Depending on your budget, you might want to start with this step.
When I travel in Europe, this is usually the first step in my travel planning routine. Cheap flights within Europe are the main reason I got to visit nearly every European country!
If you’re traveling from Europe to Asia, the flight price will be your biggest expense.
However, flights within Europe can often be cheaper than a shuttle from the airport to the city center.
How To Find Cheap Flights
There are several ways I go about finding cheap flights.
If I have no idea where I want to go, I’ll start by checking Skyscanner.
I’ll set the destination to anywhere and see the cheapest options. I like it because it not only shows me the country, but I can also see the prices of flying into specific cities within the country.
Sometimes this technique works, but sometimes they don’t show any prices for days I’m interested.
If I have an idea of where I’d like to go, and I know most destinations I can fly to from where I live, I’ll check the specific route with Google Flights.
I love the Google flights calendar feature as I can adapt my travel dates for the cheapest fares – that is how I found my flight to Asia for a 660€ return ticket!
Finally, when I lived in Strasbourg I was close to 3 airports, each offering different routes!
Instead of checking each airport one by one, I’d use Kiwi.com and set it to show me flights departing from Strasbourg +250km around.
It’s not time for booking flights yet, so let’s research the destination you picked.
Step 4: Browse And Bookmark Places You Want To See
Now that you know where you want to go, it is time to get inspiration for your trip.
What are the places you want to see and the experiences you don’t want to miss?
When I decide on a destination, I start by Googling itinerary posts. I usually look through the whole first page of Google because different travel bloggers recommend different things.
Most people recommend the same must-visit destinations, but there are hidden gems only adventurous travelers who like exploring have visited – those are my favorites.
There are also some bloggers I like that I check individually to see if they visited the destination I want to go to.
YouTube is also a great source of information if you’re a visual person. But sometimes I like to be surprised and not know exactly what the place looks like before visiting.
You can also browse posts you saved on Instagram. Travel creators are the best at finding Instagrammable places to visit around the world!
Finally, I’ll check the Happycow App to see what are the best vegan restaurants in the city.
I won’t lie, trying delicious food is one of the reasons I travel!
Step 5: Check Accommodation Prices
Now that you bookmarked the places you want to visit, it is time to check accommodation prices to see if you can afford to travel there.
I’ll be the first to admit that I gave up on many trips when I realized the accommodation prices were way out of my budget.
Dublin, I’m looking at you! The flights are so cheap, but the accommodation is so expensive!
Staying in hostels is always a good idea if you want to save money. Generally, hostel dorms are more affordable than staying in hotels or private accommodation.
Check if a hostel has age restrictions, even though most European hostels don’t enforce age limits if you’re not underage.
Sometimes, I stay in hostels even when private rooms are cheaper, as it is a great way to join activities and meet people as a solo traveler.
Is there a place where you really want to stay?
If it’s a bucket list trip, like Cyclades island hopping, maybe you want to stay in one of those aesthetic cliffside villas. They are cheaper in the shoulder season than in July and August!
Write down the prices and add them up – that’s your accommodation budget. How much money do you have left?
Step 6: Think Of The Route And How To Get Around
People often forget to think about how to get around your destination. Figuring out transportation is a crucial part of making a trip itinerary.
If you’re only spending 2 days in Zagreb on a weekend trip, you’ll be fine.
But if you want to backpack Spain, you must figure out the best route and how you’ll get from place to place!
Do you want to get a rental car or use public transport?
Buses are very cheap and reliable in Portugal, so I traveled around Portugal without a car.
However, I rented a car in Corfu after doing some maths and realizing that it is cheaper to rent a car for two people than to take buses and taxis.
I check bus and train prices on this website for Europe travel and this website for Asia.
Bus and train prices tend to change closer to the travel date, so don’t just check a date 3 months in advance and expect that’s the price you’ll pay.
Instead, check the price for tomorrow or the day after tomorrow to see what are the actual “last minute” prices.
Step 7: Write Down Your Itinerary
It’s time to write down your itinerary. You can do it on your computer, Google Sheets, or in a notebook.
I’m a pen-and-paper kid of a girl, so I take out my notebook and list the days I have and places I want to visit each day.
This allows me to visually see how many days I have for each city, travel times, and whether it is worth including a place that is out of the way or if I should save it for another trip.
I don’t joke about writing things down. I’ll do it for a month-long backpacking trip and a weekend trip in France.
I’ll write down the date and the city for each day of my trip.
Next, I’ll write down the average cost of accommodation per day and transportation costs.
Add up all the necessary expenses, and you have your basic travel budget! That’s the minimum amount of money you’ll spend on this trip.
Can you afford it?
Step 8: Book That Flight!
Now that you know if you can afford to travel and visit all the places on your itinerary, it is time to book that flight!
Sure, you can book the flight first and save money to travel later, but I like to know approximately how much the trip will cost before committing to travel.
I don’t budget for food when I make a travel itinerary, but I have a general idea of how expensive Europe is depending on where you go.
I can always stay on budget if I get groceries instead of eating out, so that doesn’t affect my decision much.
Step 9: Think Of Daily Itinerary
Now that your flight is booked it is official! You’re going to travel!
With your general vacation itinerary sorted out, it is time to think of the activities you want to do each day.
You should have an idea of how many things you want to do in a day and how to organize them.
This is where you take out your Google Maps app and check the places you bookmarked.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Which places are close to each other?
- Which bookmarks are activities, and which are just a landmark?
- How much time do you need at each location?
- Are there restaurants you want to try that are only open for lunch or dinner?
Naturally, you should plan to visit places nearby at the same time, so you’re not running from one side of the city to another.
Weather can be unpredictable, so have some backup plans too!
When I was backpacking Lisbon, it rained cats and dogs on a day I wanted to visit Belem. It was an unenjoyable experience, so I opted for the cinema and a vegan restaurant instead.
Step 10: Book Accommodation, Transport, And Local Activities
Finally, it’s time to book your accommodation, transport on the days you know you need it, and local activities.
If you’re traveling in high season, book your accommodation as soon as possible. The best places often sell out quickly.
In the low season, you can be more flexible with booking the accommodation.
I found that booking a week or two before the trip worked perfectly for visiting the Cyclades in September, which is shoulder season for Greek islands.
An exception to this is if you’re planning the itinerary for a big backpacking trip. Both times I went backpacking Southeast Asia, I only booked my first several nights and figured it out from there.
You should also book popular activities. Especially if you only have a day or two at that location and you can’t afford to miss it.
For example, boat tours are very popular in the summer, so book yours in advance to ensure you get the best option!
What To Do After Creating A Trip Itinerary?
Now that you know how to prepare a travel itinerary, you can think of other aspects of your trip!
Travel Tips for Planning A Trip
- Check passports, travel visas, and vaccination requirements. Make sure you have all the necessary documents before traveling!
- Figure out how to get from the airport to the city, do you need to book a transfer?
- Research local customs and traditions to ensure a respectful and enjoyable experience.
- Learn basic phrases in the local language. I usually only learn how to say thank you and hello.
- Get travel insurance to protect yourself from unexpected events.
- Create a budget and start saving money if you don’t already have enough.
- Think what you’d want to pack, and buy things you’re missing.
Summary: How To Plan a Travel Itinerary
I love traveling, so I spend a lot of time researching all the best things to do in each city and making travel itineraries.
You can follow this guide whether you’re traveling alone or with friends!
Making a travel itinerary ensures you visit all places on your travel wishlist, save money, and minimize stress during the trip. Also, don’t forget to research transportation options, accommodations, and local activities.
Things don’t always go according to plan, so keep your itinerary flexible. Have backup activities, and remember to have fun!
If this is your first solo trip, check out more tips on how to plan your first solo female trip here!
