words Alexa Wang
After two years of lockdowns, media fearmongering, and rigid international travel restrictions, the COVID pandemic has finally been declared over, and people are able to go out and explore the world again. However, because of the amount of time that people have been stuck at home, many have forgotten how to properly prepare for a vacation.
If your first vacation since COVID began is coming up, then it will no doubt be an unforgettable trip. Without proper preparation though, it’ll be unforgettable for the wrong reasons.
Here is a step-by-step travel checklist to ensure you have a fantastic, memorable trip.
Arrange Transportation
One of the first things that you need to think about if you plan on going away on vacation is transportation: How are you going to get around after you arrive? Most people’s transport planning only extends to getting from their house to the airport. After arrival, a lot of people have no plans in place. More often than not, this leads to them taking extortionately priced taxis. Taxi drivers tend to hang around outside airports so that they can pick up naïve foreigners and overcharge them. If you need a taxi from Wien to Bratislava, it is possible to book your transport online, in advance. Alternatively, you could hire a car. It’s only a good idea to hire a car if you will be staying in a rural area, though. If you are going to be in a city, then private hire taxis are best.
Advance Bookings
Transportation isn’t the only thing that you need to book in advance, you also need to book your accommodation, flights, and even activities in advance, too. Booking all of these things early can help you to save money and guarantee a place. A lot of people leave bookings until the last minute, which leads to them being turned away due to a lack of availability. Most airlines offer discount flight prices to people who book them early. Hotels do not tend to, though.
Creating Itinerary
Once you have booked everything, you can go ahead and create a travel itinerary. A travel itinerary will help you to plan your trip more effectively. A lot of travel experts say that such itineraries are unnecessary and can actually complicate things, but others disagree. Creating an itinerary is arguably the best thing you can do to ensure things go to plan if you have not travelled in a while. An itinerary will prevent you from having to think up activities every day. Rather than frantically scrolling through local activities and tourist destinations on your phone each morning, you can bring up your itinerary, and then head out the door confidently.
Packing Luggage
Packing luggage is a big problem for a lot of people. Most people’s luggage preparation only begins the day before they are due to travel. However, leaving packing that late can complicate things. It can lead to you forgetting to include important items, and also make you feel like you’re under a lot of pressure. Most travel experts agree that it’s best to start packing a few weeks before your trip. If you have to take anything out of your bag and use it in the interim between packing and travelling, then you can replace it once you’re done with it. Female travelers, for example, need to take the necessary precautions to ensure their safety and well-being while on the go. Consider the travel essentials for women as you’ll need to be prepared for any potential challenges or emergencies that may arise. A travel checklist ensures you don’t overlook anything essential for a stress-free journey.
Preparing Companions
You don’t just need to think about preparing yourself, you also need to think about preparing the people that you are travelling with. If they are disorganised, then it doesn’t matter how meticulously you have prepared and planned everything, they will find a way to ruin things for you. It is very easy to supervise your loved one’s planning and packing if you live with them, however, if they live elsewhere, it can be a challenge. The best way to get them to prepare is to nag them, phone them, and even check in on them. And if you’re bringing your furry companions along, you have to be sure to opt for staying at one of affordable pets stay free hotels.
Buying Camera
Finally, if you want to create unforgettable memories, then you need a camera. Without a camera, you won’t be able to capture all of the special moments that you make on your trip. It is true that you can use your mobile device to take pictures, but unfortunately, a lot of people’s phones have bad cameras. Buying a camera specifically for travelling will ensure that you are able to take high-quality pictures. Make sure to get your camera insured, too. Insuring your camera will ensure that if it gets damaged, you can get financial compensation.
If you are going away, preparation is crucial. A lack of preparation could ruin your trip. If you follow this post’s guidance and advice, then you will be able to ensure that your trip is enjoyable and meticulously planned. The more planned it is, the less likely things will be to go awry.
