Whether you realize it or not, vacations are an important part of life. A little time away can be a fantastic remedy for stress and a fun break from your everyday life. However, with the whole world in self-quarantine due to COVID-19, now is not the right time to travel. However, it is a great time to start planning a future vacation.
Though some people are advocates of buying a one-way plane ticket and traveling with no plan, a little organization will ensure that you aren’t left confused and frustrated. Even better, making plans for your future is an enjoyable process. It will help keep your mind occupied and give you something to look forward to in the future.
Select a Flexible Date
Everyone wants to travel for cheap, and this is the primary reason why you should be flexible with the date. Picking your destination first, choosing a date, and then looking up available flights will lead to higher prices. Instead, try doing this process in reverse.
See the prices available for various places around the world and decide on the cheap destinations that you find the most appealing. Then select the dates you like that have cheap fares available. This will help you cut hundreds of dollars.
Furthermore, the post-COVID-19 world will have many restrictions on traveling. Thus, selecting a flexible date will help you make sure that all the planning you do for your future trip doesn’t go to vain.
Choose Several Location Options
Sometimes you know where you want to go, but other times you don’t. Choosing a location might seem like the easiest task on the surface, but it does come with some additional questions.
Start by browsing travel destinations with an open mind. Choose several location options based on your goals and then narrow down to a single destination answering questions such as does your budget suit the place you want to go? Drive or fly? Hotel or other housing options? Make sure you are clear about the answers. The more you know, the better you can plan.
Some possible travel destinations include:
- Milos, Greece: To see the sea
- France: For chocolate and triple-cream cheeses
- Kansas City: To relax and enjoy the outdoors
- Prince Edward Island, Canada: For some comfort food
After figuring out where you want to visit, book your accommodation. There are countless options, including hotels, budget-friendly hostels, and bed and breakfasts. If you are planning a trip to Kansas City, you can book a Hyatt hotel in Kansas City. Keep your accommodation options open and find the best place that meets your needs.
Start an Itinerary
With an itinerary, you will know the main things to see and do, and also where you will be resting your head each night. However, be tentative and realistic when putting together an itinerary because your plans can change, and it probably will (for instance, the weather can deter you from doing an outside activity).
So, keep your itinerary flexible and don’t plan out every minute. You never know when you will stumble across something that is not on your itinerary but captures your attention. Instead, plan out a few day options like a day for group activities, or a day of seeing museums, etc.
So, when the weather is sunny and bright, you can pick the day for group activities. Also, keep a couple of days unplanned. That way, you can do whatever you might have missed, or take some time to relax.
Your itinerary should not be a fixed representation of where you will be, what you will be doing, and how you will get there. Instead, use it as a means of helping you make abstract travel plans concrete.
Look for Deals
Deals, especially last-minute deals, are great options to save money for your trip. You will find hundreds of websites all over the internet where you can score deals on amusement park tickets, hotels, airline tickets, and more.
So before buying a flight ticket or booking your hotel, check for any bargains you might have missed. This will help you have an exact idea about how much you can spend and how much you can save. Additionally, it is also a great morale boost to see that your entire trip comes under budget once you find some deals.
Stay Flexible
Travel will be different after the pandemic. According to a paper from the Imperial College London, the government will have to turn lockdown measures on and off to keep the demands on the healthcare system at a manageable level. This means your opportunity to travel might only last for a short period, either a few weeks or just a couple of days. Furthermore, seats will be limited with the airlines, and the pricing could fluctuate.
Staying flexible about your dates and destinations is a must. But the best thing about staying flexible is it might help you score some amazing deals. For instance, you might be planning to go to London, but there might be great deals to Berlin right now. Or maybe you can get a package deal to Bali for the price of your flight to London.
Get Ready to Enjoy Your Vacation
Life is never a smooth ride, and there will be some things in life that you can’ control like the COVID-19 pandemic. But never lose hope as there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Vacations should be enjoyable and something to fuss over. With a plan in hand, you can enjoy your vacation and make sure to live it up because the fun is just starting.
