Things to remember while planning a trip

Planning a trip can be very stressful no matter how long it is. From a simple weekend get away to an international bucket-list destination, there are a lot of things to think about and plan for. Here are some helpful hints that I have learned that I want to share.

Don’t overbook yourself – It is natural to want to do and see everything when you begin to plan a trip, but don’t do it. Book just enough and do overdo it. A relaxing vacation can quickly become a stressful, overbooked agenda and no one wants to do that, especially while on vacation.

Leave time for leisure – Another reason not to overbook yourself is to leave time for leisure. You are going on a vacation, not a work trip, so leave time to just explore. Half of the fun is finding the places that are not on every travel site and just taking it all in and enjoying yourself. Sometimes just taking a bit of time to get a coffee or a late evening beverage can be just as fun and most of time, even more, and just relax and take it all in.

Use a map – Sometimes you need to use a map to see where places are at in connection with each other. Doing so can give you a better idea of the distance between places and thus, can help you figure out the timing and if you can bundle places together. For example, take a look at a map of Kyoto and start plotting out where all of the biggest tourist spots are and you will quickly realize they are all over the place. It’s takes some planning to get to everything and you should keep this in mind when planning a trip to any town.

Be human – You can’t do everything, simple as that. When I have planned my trips to Japan, I have used blogs and searches to see the top places that people have visited. However, you have to realize, like I have, you cannot do everything (you are human). Use these kinds of resources as reference material and see what you want to see. There are only so many hours in each day, so plan what you can and leave time in between so you can enjoy the sites you do visit.

Book what makes you happy – If you want to find a course on how to make a basket, then do so. Book tours, experiences, etc. that make you happy, not what the random internet blogs and sites say are the best. There are so many sources out there that will tell you what you should see, however, see what you want and makes you happy. It’s your trip, so make it your own.