17 simple steps for your next trip

17 simple steps for your next trip -

planning I remember when I began to plan my first trip. I had no idea what I was doing.

When I decided to quit my job and traveling the world, I went to a bookstore and bought Lonely Planet Southeast Asia on Shoestring . It made the trip longer seem real, but it does not have me prepare a long trip around the world for planning. Back then there was not really blogs, guides and applications as they are today. I was lost. I found it when I went, just hoping I did not miss anything.

to plan a long trip can be a difficult task. Where do you begin? What's step one? What's step two? What's step three? It's easy to get overwhelmed at the beginning, especially if you do not have something like this done before.

I have countless trips for me (and even some for friends), and over the years planned, I have developed an efficient little checklist that I do not miss important everything ensures (I lists like). I do not want to get to my next destination, and then I notice something forgotten.

There are a lot of information on this website (and even more information packed in my book), but a question that comes up often "Matt, how can I add all of this? Tell me where to start should. "

to get in a continuous effort to the door and into the world, I have created this step-by-step guide to planning a trip, which collapses the process so planning is easier and less overwhelming:

step 1 - Decide where you want to go

define where you want to go a goal to work towards is. A lot of people talk vaguely about traveling. They never say where they are going, only that they are go. Picking a goal is extremely important since there is a specific goal. It is much easier to mentally get behind "I'm going to Paris" as "I am going to Europe." Not only is the trip for you be more specific and easier to commit, but it is also easier to make the planning.

Resources for Your goal picking:

• 0+ in-depth destination guides
• Five objectives under $ 30 in the world
• 19 Amazing Travel Goals tick

step 2 - Decide the length of travel

How much does it cost to the travel expenses? I have no idea, without knowing how long you're going away. You can not figure out how much you need to save if you have not decided on how long you will be in your destination. Once you say "I go to Paris," add

Step 3 "for 10 days." - Research your costs

So you know where you are going and how long "you'll be there, but really to nail down how much money you need, your next task is to make the cost in your destination in the style of travel you want to explore. If you want to backpack, or would you prefer to stay in luxury hotels? How much are hostels, hotels, restaurants and attractions to? know it possible to appreciate you, how much money you will need for your trip. you can start with my guide section or just buy a guide book (which for things like this are really good).

If you go for 10 days after Paris and have to pay $ 75 per day (without your flight) you know that you need to save $ 750 for the trip (although round up to $ 800, because it is good, especially to have)

now that you have a specific goal to work

step 4 .. - start saving money

[1945009start] time savings! Write down all of your current expenses, so you can determine where you spend money and how you can cut back. People bleed every day through small purchases a lot of money: the bottle of water, the dollars for this snack that extra coffee. if you need $ 2,000 USD for the journey you take in eight months, which means you only All that adds up and create this summary, you can let them know where you need to cut and save it.

For example, to save $ 8.33 per day. Could not you save a path $ 8 shall apply per day? Heck, your daily coffee is most of it! Here are three simple tips that produce large profits:

• Coffee - The daily coffee will cost you $ 0 per month ($ 4 per coffee). An additional $ 1,440 per year pays for two months in Southeast Asia! What is more important: your daily cup of Joe or still two months to enjoy the beaches of Thailand to spend or to explore the jungles of Borneo
• learn to cook - I learned while cooking? College (an ability that has helped me ever since), and before I went on my long journey, I cut a week up to two times to eat down. I cooked a big dinner and then enjoyed the leftovers the next day for lunch, thus saving more money. Cook more, eat less, and earlier travel
• Let rid of cable -. In the age of Hulu and free (and legal) TV streaming, there is no reason for you to spend US $ 50 a month for cable TV

You can read this article for more in depth and creative ways to reduce your day to day expenses. 20 ways to cut your costs and save travel

Step 5 - Get a travel rewards credit card

while you work to save money, a trip credit card, so you can earn sign up bonuses redeem miles and points for free flights and hotel stays. Most cards have bonuses of up to 50,000 points, if you meet the minimum spending ($ 1,000 times within a period of three months). That's a lot of miles -. Enough for a free flight almost anywhere in the world

If you want a free flight, use the cards that help. If you want free hotel room, get a hotel card. You do not need to sign up for a lot of cards; choose one or two and focus on those. Do this as soon as you decide you want to go. Do not wait -. Wait lost miles equal, which means less free ride

I do this so I can always go for as cheap as possible. This post will give you more information and a list of the latest offers: http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-tips/picking-a-travel-credit-card/.

Step 6 - Change to no-fee ATM cards

not give banks all your hard earned money. Take for each extra dollar you can use a no-fee ATM card. I use Charles Schwab, but there are many other banks (do not forget to check your local banks), do not charge ATM fees. , focused and stay Inspired

Keep your desired feeding to travel - You can also order a bank in global ATM alliance

combine

to step 7. Here are some inspiring stories:

• Why Tomorrow will be too late
• Why do you have more time than you think
• Why cynic like Bob are wrong about everything [1945012[
• As Michael saved $ 14k around the world to travel to six months
• Why a 50-year-old pair sold

step 8 - Check for load Minute deals

okay, you inspired, prepared and on the way to save money for the trip. But before you go buy that flight or to book this hotel, for hotel check might have missed. You can of Paris dream, but perhaps there are great deals to Berlin now. Maybe you can get from a seven-day cruise for 70%, a package to Hawaii for the price of flights to Paris, or 50% on sailing trips around Greece.

There's a big world, and there are many places that I want to see, so if I B over A at the end of the election, I'm happy! If you are too flexible, make sure you save money for all Find deals

Step 9 -. Book your flight

After you have used your travel credit card and get your sign up bonus, you use your miles to book your flight. It is difficult to use miles these days, due to less availability, so make sure to book early to get your desired flight to ensure.

There are many ways to avoid the person on the flight who paid the most. Other tips that ticket prices even more, read this blog post

to reduce my favorite sites for finding low rates.

• Google Flights
• Momondo
• Matrix ITA Software
• Skyscanner
• Vayama

For the best deals, book your flight about two months in advance.

Step 10 - book accommodation

if you have a fixed schedule, feel free to stay for the duration of the trip to book, but if you are going long-term travel , book the first few days. Once you know the data, you will be in your destination, there is no real reason to find no place to stay. My view is that just waiting to lead you to lose your top picks.

love hotels? You will not save you money, but you can sign up for credit cards and get some hotel availability, also. Marriott has a great rewards card whose sign-up bonus is equal to a free week stay. Starwood AMEX card is wonderful, but the output threshold to receive bonus points higher

The following booking sites offer the best deals on accommodation .:

• Hostelworld
• Agoda (Great for Southeast Asia)
• Hotels.com
• Hotwire

, or contact people to hospitality websites like CouchSurfing or be welcome and ask if they would be willing to host you. They want to do this in advance, so that people have time to their schedule and plan for your visit to reorder. , Plan your activities

Sketch the most important activities that you want to enjoy - In addition, you can also check Holiday sites like Airbnb and Wimdu

Step 11 and how much they cost. Take the last minute adjustments to your savings, so you can make sure to have enough money. This will also help you figure out if you need reservations for tours or desired activities

step. 12 - Buy Stuff

If you go on a long-term travel (six months or more), you sell your stuff, to earn extra money for the trip. Start to do this about 60 days before you leave. Use Sites:

• Gumtree
• Amazon
• Craigslist

If you will not be away so long, skip this step. If you go off long-term, but want to keep your things, move to keep it a friend's house or in storage. A good storage companies in the United States Public Storage, the month starts at $ 50

Step 13 -. Your bills automate

Are you free your emails, go paperless and online bill payment set your recurring bills to make sure you do not miss all abroad. If you still get paper mail go, use a service like Earth Class Mail, which collect your e-mail for you and scan. (If you go on a two week trip, you do not really care, so you skip this step, as well.)

Step 14 - Let your card company you need to travel

matter how long you'll be gone, it's a good idea to know your credit card company that you will be abroad; in this way all the transactions that you make are not marked as fraudulent and your card is less likely to be blocked. There is nothing worse than sitting with your credit card company on the phone, instead of enjoying your vacation

step. 15 - pack

time for the journey to pack! Here is a suggested packing list

step. 16 - Buy Travel Insurance

While many people think ". I'm healthy, I do not need a travel insurance I'm not sick," Travel insurance is much more than just medical protection. It covers you if you break your camera, your flight is canceled, a family member dies and you have to get home, or something stolen.

Travel insurance is something you need on the road. You never know what could happen, and most health plans will not cover abroad. I never thought I'd share my eardrum Pop, while I was or break my camera in Italy diving. My friend never thought he would break his leg hiking; expect another friend surely her father would not die, and they would go home to fly back.

Travel insurance is only a few dollars per day, and only a fool, it is not for sale. Here is my ultimate guide to collect a good insurance. (I use World Nomads for all my trips.)

Step 17 - Enjoy your trip

go on your trip and have fun! Head to the airport to board your plane (do not forget your passport!), And enjoy the fruits of your labor.

By this post as a guideline to use, you can better organize and prepare for the journey (and if you are interested in more information about planning a trip, check out my book for the next steps). Find all the check boxes, do not miss anything, and have a lot of money for your vacation. It may be as simple as a flight and packaging or as complex as rearranging your entire life booking always go the world backpack.

But no matter your duration, this list will help you to stay organized, as you also prepare for step at this level and in the world.

PS Yes, I miss visas and vaccinations, because those on the list and the other stuff is not as universal need, but do not forget to check if you have such need, too!

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