I'm the type of traveler who, when they get to a new country or city, likes to do absolutely everything possible. Every UNESCO site, every famous attraction, every hike, every not-so-famous attraction... everything. I travel with the mindset that I might not get the time or the chance to come back so I want to do as much as I can so I feel like I've really seen a place.
How do I figure out exactly what there is to do, though? How do I turn all my research into a practical way to travel? How do the late nights of travel-planning and dreaming turn into an itinerary?
I'm sharing it all here! These steps are the way I plan every single trip and how I keep track of all the places I want to visit off my bucket list while I visit every country and territory in the world.
But don't forget, you can plan down to the most minute detail and things can still pop up. Be flexible to changes in plans and new suggestions you discover along the way. Go in with a plan AND an open mind.
First of all, you've got to do research. The first part of any good trip is figuring out what you want to do on your trip so it's time to dig into some great sources to find out.
I find my ideas here:
- Blogs - This is my favourite way to research since I'm reading a personal itinerary from someone who's actually been there (like me!). The easiest way is to search "[destination name] blog" in Google.
- Rexby - Rexby is an awesome tool where travel creators can compile interactive maps of all the places they have visited in specific countries to share their personal photos, recommendations and locations with their followers.
- GetYourGuide - GetYourGuide is a great platform where you find and book experiences and guided tours all around the world, no matter what you're interested in.
- Guidebooks - Go old school! Lonely Planet guidebooks are still some of the best out there and can be a great travel companion, especially if you don't have WiFi or need something to read on the plane.
- Instagram - The classic way of finding travel inspiration is to scroll through the endless content on Instagram.
- Google - Simply type "best things to do in [destination]" into Google! There are so many awesome articles that will come up.
- UNESCO - I like to check the UNESCO World Heritage Site list because I like to visit as many of them as I can while I travel.
- Screensavers - This one is a bit random, but I often find some of my best inspiration from the Microsoft screensavers on my laptop's lock screen.
As I find things in these sources that I'm interested in visiting, I pin them in my Google Maps. This gives me the ability to cluster items together so I can plan my route and see how many days I might need in each place.
For example, here is what my Australia Google Maps looked like before my first backpacking trip there in 2019:
Heading to Australia? Every single spot (and more) that I mention in all my blog posts about Australia (including its three external territories) can be found in my Ultimate Australia Map!
This is a digital map featuring hundreds of my favourite:
- restaurants and cafés
- campgrounds and accommodations
- shops
- photo spots
- museums and galleries
- beaches and lakes
- places to see animals
- bridges and viewpoints
- hikes
- snorkeling spots
- AND SO MUCH MORE!
Each pin includes the exact location (plus the ability to open it directly in Google Maps), lots of photos for inspiration, detailed information to help you visit the spot plus a link to my relevant blog post to read lots more about it.
Depending on where you're heading and for how long, this will look different depending on the type of trip. Things to consider might include:
Transport
Driving? Need a rental car or have you got your own? If you're crossing a border, are you insured for international travel?
Taking a train? Make sure you select the right train station; many cities have more than one, especially in Europe. Always be sure to book a seat and take a look at different schedules to find the best arrival and departure times and different prices.
Flying? Make sure you select the right airport; big cities might have more than one. Direct flights are usually more expensive than those with layovers but you might find a direct flight worth it, depending on how far away you're heading. I usually check Google Flights to find the cheapest dates and times with the best connections.
Visa
If you're traveling internationally, check if you need a visa to enter the country before you go. Depending on which passport you hold, some countries may let you in visa-free, others grant visas on arrival and others require you to apply for a visa in advance.
→ I use Passport Compare to see which visa is required to enter each country based on my passport.
Vaccinations
No matter where you're headed around the world, it's always a good idea to check in with your local travel clinic approximately six weeks in advance of your trip in case you need topping up. Always bring your previous vaccine records.
At your appointment, they'll probably discuss your general health, where you're going, what activities you're planning on doing and how long you're going for.
Insurance
If you can't afford insurance, you can't afford to travel! There are two normal types of insurance:
- Travel Insurance - trip cancellations, baggage loss, flight delays, flight accidents and other travel-related incidents
- Medical Insurance - global medical coverage, emergency response and other medical-related incidents
→ Purchase travel insurance with World Nomads.
Accommodation
You're going to need a place to stay while you're traveling. If you're only going to one place, you can book something for the duration of your trip. If you're heading to multiple places, make sure you've got the right dates for each booking and account for enough travel time between them.
A huge part of traveling - and a crucially important one - is packing to make sure you have everything you'll be needing while abroad. Having the right gear with you is crucial to ensuring you have the best possible experience while on the go.
When I was preparing for my backpacking trip to Australia in 2019, I wrote a comprehensive packing list. It's probably a little bit out of date but it's definitely a good place to start.
→ Check out my backpacking packing list!
For shorter trips, I prefer to only travel with hand luggage, typically one carry-on item (a suitcase or backpack) and one personal item (a purse or handbag). I like traveling this way because:
- no checked bag fees
- less stuff to carry around while traveling
- the guarantee that all my stuff will arrive with me since it's with me in the cabin
Make sure to select a bag that fits international sizing standards, can easily be picked up and placed in the overhead bins and is comfortable for you to wear or carry. Since most airlines have size and weight restrictions, wear what you can to save space and weight: tie your sweater around your waist, drape your jacket over your arm, keep your hat on your head...
Let your friends and family know where you are going, the dates you intend to be away for and what route you are planning on following. Mark someone as "ICE" in your phone contacts as it stands for "In Case of Emergency" and first responders can look it up in the event something goes wrong.
Many flight bookings, visa applications and country arrival cards will ask for an emergency contact; make sure this person knows!
Depending on how long you're gone for, you might want to ask a neighbour if they can check your mail for you and water your plants.
If you wish, some countries offer a register for their citizens who are traveling abroad. For example, the Government of Canada offers a Canadians Abroad Register so that in the event of an emergency, they are aware of where their citizens may be and can assist.
Any time you are traveling, let your bank know. Making them aware that your credit card will be used by you for transactions in other parts of the world may prevent your finances from being frozen to safeguard your security!
It can also be useful to get advice on how to best access your money. You want to avoid high ATM cash withdrawal fees as well as international exchange rates. When paying abroad, always make sure to pay in local currency so that you don't incur extra exchange fees beyond those already set on your credit card.
When you're ready to head out, you might want to turn off the electricity and water so that your home is ready for you to leave it behind.
It's a great idea to purchase an eSim for your phone so that you can connect to the local network as soon as you arrive in the country without needing to put a physical local Sim in your phone.
→ Load an international eSim on your phone.
There are some other travel apps I love and recommend which you can download so you’re ready to jump in:
- Been - my favourite app for keeping track of all the countries I have been to.
- Trail Wallet - a great app for keeping track of expenses while abroad where you can set trip dates, the various currencies you need to use, categories of purchases and even a daily budget.
- Spotify - download a bunch of your favourite tunes so you can listen to music even on airplane mode while you're traveling.
- Lightroom - my favourite app for editing all my photos for both Instagram and my blog.
- Google Maps - this way you can access all those places you pinned while you were researching so you know where you're going.
Document your incredible memories and amazing experiences. Of course there is Instagram but maybe this is the time you want to start a travel blog to keep track of all your adventures?
Having a blog has been an incredibly rewarding creative outlet where I get to share the beautiful photos I take, the words I feel and write and the thoughts I have. This space is mine and I love being able to make it just the way I like it - from the design to the layout and the content to the colours.
GET READY TO TRAVEL!
— Book tours and experiences - with GetYourGuide
— Get all the gear you need for your trip - with Amazon (North America)
— Get all the gear you need for your trip - with Amazon (Europe)
— Find a place to stay - with Booking.com
— Choose a hostel to stay at - with Hostelworld
— Purchase global travel insurance - with World Nomads
— Load an international eSim on your phone - with AirAlo
— Start your own travel blog - with Hostinger
— Join the GetYourGuide Travel Creator Community - with GetYourGuide
Discover more from Jana Meerman
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Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
