How do I book a trip?
Where to start when booking a trip is the hardest part. The second hardest part is actually following through with it. The idea of a trip is amazing and gets you pumped up. You imagine yourself with a drink in your hand on the beach or walking down the streets of New York City or getting coffee in Seattle or reading a book in London and then you start looking to book things and you get overwhelmed and those visions don’t seem worth it anymore. Stop doing that! Below is a checklist to use when booking a trip so you don’t get overwhelmed and to make sure you have enough time to plan for everything!
4 months out- where do you want to go?
The fun part! Where are you imagining yourself right now? Where do you want to go and what dates do you want to go? Do you need to ask dates off work? Ask for those days now so you have made some sort of commitment. How much money do you want to budget for this trip? Start putting aside money now or if you have money saved up already, great. Start eyeing plane ticket prices and hotel prices- that comes next.
3 months out- have you booked airfare and hotel?
Flight prices fluctuate during weekdays and weekends so just keeping an eye on them is helpful for a month or two. But here is where the research begins for hotels. The easiest way to find a hotel or neighborhood you want to stay in when going for the first time is to ask someone that has already been there or someone you know that lives there. People love talking about their experiences and give their recommendations. Tell them your concerns, wants, your vibe and your budget-ish. I love when people reach out to me when visiting New York and ask me these questions. Another way if you do not know anyone there is Google: “best neighborhoods to stay in blah” or “safest neighborhoods to stay when visiting blah.” There are quite a lot of bloggers and travel sites that will give you insights on the neighborhoods and what they all are like. Once the research is done- book hotel and airfare! Now you are locked in to go! WOOHOO!!!
2 months out- what do you want to do when you are there?
Start making a loose itinerary! Do you want to go see a museum, go to a popular restaurant or bar or visit something that is popular or touristy? The best parts of trips are stuff you do not plan and stuff you stumble across but if there are two or three big things you absolutely cannot miss while on this trip, it is best to book far enough in advance so you do not miss out (or you can always go back, lol). For example, I really wanted to go to the Anne Frank House while I was in Amsterdam but they were booked up two months out because I waited until I was there…. Same for popular restaurants. If there is one you do not want to miss, it is always good to make a reservation and/or buy a ticket online in advance.
1 month out- what to pack?
Check the weather! Do you need a new outfit…… probably. One time Matt and I were going to Seattle for the weekend in October and he asked if it was going to be cold and I said no. We both did not bring jackets and when we landed it was snowing. So we made a quick run to Ross….. Nonetheless, check the weather and get an idea of what you need to pack.
1 week out- Get excited!
The hard parts are over! From here you got everything else! Take a lot of pictures, journal your emotions and thoughts while on the trip and trust yourself. CHEERS!
If you ever have any specific questions about booking a domestic trip vs international trip or to a specific location, you can always email me or message me on Instagram! I would be more than happy to help!
