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Recipe of joy

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How to plan a do-it-yourself trip

How to plan a do-it-yourself trip (in a few steps)

1 - Traveling from my perspective


2 - Guidebook for Planning a Trip and Crafting Travel ​Itineraries

1 - Traveling from my perspective

After selecting my travel destination and ​checking the official websites for updates and ​recommendations, I'm ready to make my travel ​plans a reality.

I'm excited to start organizing everything ​myself and let my creativity flow to create a ​personalized itinerary in a new place without ​being confined to standard tourist packages.

Beautiful Thai Boat with Suitcase

Some countries are not ideal for self-guided visits, making DIY trips ​more challenging.

In this situation, I check specialized platforms and reach out to ​local tour operators directly to immerse myself more authentically ​in the local culture and get better prices.

When I went on a safari in Uganda, I relied on the website ​www.safaribookings.com to assess tour operators. I considered the ​number of reviews, ratings, and years of experience to decide who ​to contact.

In this article, I talk about my DIY travel planning, savoring the ​endless slowness before departure because it's when the ​excitement of pleasure becomes a pleasure in itself.

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2 - Guidebook for Planning a Trip and Crafting Itineraries:

Here are some tips that I hope will help you on your next journey:

Stay updated: check out travel sites, blogs, vlogs; in this digital ​age, it's super easy to access information.

Listen to what others say or the guidance of those who have ​experience, but don't let it sway you too much, knowing that ​everyone perceives the world differently.

Instead, count on a reliable paper travel guide that will journey with ​you to give you all the information you need along the way.

To gauge if a country is welcoming to tourists, check out the travel ​itineraries offered by tour operators. This will give you a general ​idea and help you figure out the best times to visit without feeling ​rushed.

I enjoy dreaming while gazing at the trusty old map ​during the journey stages.

Mark on the map the locations you want to visit ​and the duration of your stay there.

Travel Destinations

HOW ​TO Choos​E where to g​o on you​r next tri​p

Distances and Internal Connections: Having the ​map handy makes it easy to grasp the distances ​between the stages (Google Maps is a valuable tool ​- consider both the kilometers and travel times ​based on typical traffic) and plan the itinerary to ​streamline internal movements and save time.

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When you're planning your trip, it's best not to book ​international flights immediately.

It's better to wait until you've finalized your itinerary. ​This way, you can be more flexible with your travel ​dates and the airports you depart from and return to. ​Personally, I tend to arrive in a country through one ​airport and depart from another.

The Guidelines

Various wildflowers growing in field in countryside

open air

Cartagena | Rosario Island | Caribbean Colombia

holiday by the Sea

Brown Road Going to the Mountain Photography

Long live rural areas!

Long live rural areas!

Make sure you know how to get from ​one stop to another by looking to ​internal flights (you can use search ​platforms like www.kayak.it and use ​the IATA code of the airport), ​potential transfers with rental cars ​(usually available at airports or close ​to city center train stations), trains, or ​ferries. It's essential to confirm there ​are several departures on the same ​day in case your planned route gets ​canceled or if any issues arise.

train vintage

Knowing English is crucial for checking local transportation websites.

Create the travel plan in black and white: use all the available information to outline a travel ​itinerary with dates, stops, internal movements, and most importantly, a realistic cost estimate.

Now is the time to act and begin booking.

Book international flights when you have a clear itinerary ​detailing departure/return dates and the entry and exit airports ​of the country.

You can now book international flights, it's best to book early to ​secure the best prices.

Look at different search platforms like Kayak, Expedia, ​Skyscanner, etc., to see the deals for your selected flight. ​Consider where to make the booking and take note of the extra ​services included in the price, such as baggage check-in or ​cancellation policies.

Online travel agencies like booking.com and kiwi.com provide ​competitive prices, but their customer support might be ​limited.

If the price difference isn't too high, I'd rather book directly on ​the airline's website.

Woman Ready to Travel

Don't forget to check the airline's website to see if they have any special perks, like a city tour for ​long layovers or discounts for stopovers. For instance, Turkish Airways provides free tours of ​Istanbul or accommodation for layovers lasting at least 20 hours.

Booking internal transfers: Arrange your internal flights and car ​rentals in advance to ensure a smooth trip.

You can book trains or ferries on the spot, just make sure to have ​the information about the places where you can purchase tickets, ​even at the last minute.

Hotels typically provide customer support for bookings. They will ​most likely help you with it.

Accomodations:

When looking for a place to stay, start by selecting the area you ​prefer - near attractions if you plan to walk or in peaceful areas if ​you have transportation. Then, pick the right accommodation from ​Google Maps. You can view prices on their official website or on ​online platforms that advertise them.


When you're deciding on the best choice, make sure to focus on ​the cancellation policies and the services included in the price (like ​breakfast).

Don't forget to get travel insurance before you go to avoid any ​concerns about health or cancellations.

Don't Forget

Don't forget to do final checks before traveling to see what ​travel documents you need (passport, ID card, visa), if you ​need an international driving license, specific vaccinations, ​and local customs. This helps you avoid any embarrassing ​situations or showing disrespect to the locals who are hosting ​you in their country.