Want to vacation like a Savvy Sojourner? Planning a vacation can be quite daunting in the beginning. Following these 5 simple steps will allow you take the stress out of trip planning and allow you to enjoy your vacation to the fullest!
Step 1: Start Your Trip Planning Early
This is probably the most important piece of trip planning advice I can give. I am not exaggerating when I say that I start planning vacations at least 1 year in advance. So start dreaming of where you want to go, and then pencil these trips onto your 5 year (or longer) plan.
Find Accommodations & Make Reservations
Due to the growing popularity of RV travel, many RV parks and campgrounds fill up 9 months to a year in advance. This trend is also common with hotels and short term vacation rentals in popular tourist areas and especially in and around National Parks. If you are planning on camping in a National Park, you may find that spots are first-come-first-serve. However, there are some parks and some campgrounds that allow reservations. Visit your park’s website to see if/when reservations open. Once you decide on your destination, start looking for accommodations and take the time to read guest reviews. Reviews are an extremely valuable resource for making sure your stay is all you want it to be!
For more tips about choosing RV Parks, click here!
National Park Reservations
In our post-COVID world, National Parks are seeing a dramatic increase in the number of visitors during peak seasons. This means that many parks have implemented timed entry passes to the park and lottery systems for popular hiking trails. Check the park’s website often to see if these passes need to be purchased in advance. Also, keep updated on any other COVID related restrictions or guidelines before your trip and plan accordingly. You can find information about any National Park by visiting www.nps.gov.
Step 2: Set a Budget For Your Trip…And Stick To It!
I know. Making a budget is like eating vegetables. You hate to do it, but you know it’s good for you. Sticking to a budget allows you to take longer trips and sets you up financially for future trips. Another bit of advice: have the entire amount for your trip in your savings account before you leave! It makes for less stress once you get home!
FUEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, and FOOD
The 3 biggest areas of spending that need to be in your budget are fuel, accommodations, and food. I always make sure to add additional money to each of these areas, because it is always easy to overspend on these items! One benefit of planning ahead is that many RV parks, hotels, and short term rentals allow for you to pay a portion or all of your reservation at the time of booking. This makes your setting your accommodation budget much easier! Budgeting for fuel and food takes more work on your part.
For a step-by-step guide on setting a fuel and food budget, click here!
Step 3: Do Your Research!
Two statements fill me with dread while on vacation: “I’m bored” and “there is nothing to do.” How do you avoid these dreaded statements? Do your RESEARCH! Experience has taught me to always have a list of 5-10 activities and a few restaurants (depending on your length of stay) for each area we visit. The last thing I want to do is spend time on vacation trying to find something to do!
Finding Resources
A successful trip starts with successful research. Successful research starts with finding resources that cater to your areas of interest. Areas of interest could include State or National Parks, hiking trails, shopping malls or souvenir shops, historical sites, just to name a few. But how do you find all of these activities and things to do? Here are a few of my favorite resources:
- Savvy Sojourner: Why start from scratch when I have already done the work for you? Look through each of the places I have been and my favorite activities for inspiration for your own trip!
- Pinterest: Most of my research starts with a simple search on Pinterest. With some practice, you will be able to find reputable resources for a variety of destinations. Some of my favorite “off the beaten path” activities were the result of a Pinterest search!
Click here for a full list of my favorite trip planning resources!
National Park Regulations & Restrictions
Make sure to spend some time researching any travel restrictions or regulations for your destination ahead of time. This could include restrictions related to COVID or regulations for the amount of visitors allowed per day to certain areas. Many popular National Parks have started requiring visitors to purchase a timed entry pass or even day passes before your visit. Also, many popular hiking trails within National Parks now require hikers to secure a ticket through a lottery system. Be sure to visit your park’s website well in advance to learn about any restrictions or regulations so you can plan accordingly!
Step 4: Get Your Trip Organized
Now that you have done all of your research, it is time to organize the fruits of your labor! During your vacation you want to have your accommodation details, budget, and research at your fingertips. This is where all of your hard work and trip planning really starts paying off!
Categories:
I like to organize my trips into the following categories. You can use a binder, notebook, or journal to keep your information organized. I personally love using a traveler’s’ notebook for all of my trips.
- Accommodations:
- List each RV Park, hotel, or short term rental for each leg of your trip.
- Make sure to include addresses, contact information, and special instructions for each location.
- Also note if the reservation has been paid in full or if a balance is due when you arrive.
- Budget:
- Write down your budget and keep a log of your expenses.
- This will help you stick to your budget and let you know what areas you need to add to for your next trip!
- List of Activities For Each Location:
- Staying 1-3 days: I suggest at least 1 activity for each day and 1 restaurant option.
- Staying a week or longer: I suggest having 5-10 activities listed for each location and 2-3 restaurant options.
- Daily Travel Plan:
- List each day of your trip and the plan for that day.
- Consider limiting “Travel Days” to around 6 hours to make sure that they can still be enjoyable!
Step 5: Build the Hype!
Now that your trip is planned, it’s time to bring everyone else onboard! There is no doubt in my mind that as a result of your hours of research you are completely giddy about everything you are going to see and do on this trip. Now is the time to get everyone else excited with you! While this is listed as the last step, it is something that you can be doing throughout the planning process. Each time I find an interesting activity or an amazing picture I make sure to mention it to my family. Show them Instagram pictures. Watch YouTube videos. Do whatever it takes to build up the hype.
NOTE: Building hype be especially necessary on long travel days to keep everyone motivated and excited about the destination ahead!
There you have it! Trip planning in 5 simple steps. Trust me, putting the work in on the front end allows for you to be stress-free during your vacation. Setting yourself up for success is rule number one in becoming a Savvy Sojourner.
Need ideas for vacation destinations? Click Here!
Happy Sojourning!
Meghan
