{"id":39638,"date":"2020-03-09T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-03-09T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thehealthymaven.com\/?p=39638"},"modified":"2020-03-09T21:16:54","modified_gmt":"2020-03-10T01:16:54","slug":"how-to-plan-for-a-big-vacation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thehealthymaven.com\/how-to-plan-for-a-big-vacation\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Plan for A Big Vacation"},"content":{"rendered":"

I’ve been thrilled at how excited you guys have been about my posts lately. There’s been lots of organization tips, which as always makes my Virgo heart soar. So thanks to popular demand I am back with another post, this time about how to plan for a big vacation.<\/p>\n

Now I know vacation planning isn’t everyone’s style. Some people prefer the impulsivity of “just winging it”. That just isn’t my style. I actually enjoy planning vacations – it’s part of the fun! And over the years I’ve learned a thing or two about how to plan for a big vacation efficiently. From snagging flight deals, to picking accommodations, it’s time to get your Google Sheets ready because I’m taking you on a trip!<\/p>\n

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Where to Begin<\/strong><\/h2>\n

First thing’s first, you have to decide where you want to go. C and I are big road trippers so many of the big trips you’ve seen on here have been of that variety. However we have taken several trips abroad that have required an equal amount of planning. But the planning begins before you’ve even decided where you want to go. I’m a sucker for a deal so if we’re not packing up the car and instead planning for a long-haul flight, it’s time to get your flight tracker set-up!<\/p>\n

1. Set up a Google Flight Tracker<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are several different flight tracker options (Hopper, KAYAK, etc…) however Google Flight Tracker<\/a> seems to be my favorite. You can set up a destination and a flexible date schedule to track the cheapest flight options. For example, C and I are heading to New Zealand this month. Last summer I set-up a Google Flight Tracker for March 2020 to track the cheapest direct flights from SF to NZ. Once it landed in a range we were comfortable with, we booked! Note: There are sites like Scott’s Cheap Flights<\/a> that offer last-minute travel deals. For a weekend escape I’m all about it but for a big trip (2 weeks+) I simply cannot book a trip that last minute. Cue anxiety!<\/p>\n

2. GET POINTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you do not have a travel rewards credit card, I cannot recommend one enough! We love our Amex Platinum<\/a> but Chase Sapphire<\/a> is also a great option. Not only do they offer awesome benefits (like lounge access), but you also get great points value for your travel spending. Amex<\/a> for example offers 5x the points on all airline flights. These points add-up and can mean free flights, hotels and other great benefits. If you’re a frequent traveler or are passionate about travelling, it’s time to sign-up if you haven’t already.<\/p>\n

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Time to Plan<\/strong><\/h2>\n

3. Set Up a Google Trip Sheet<\/strong><\/p>\n

I like using a google sheet to plan my trip. I find this easiest cause I can share it with C. Excel works too. Here are the categories that I create for the trip:<\/p>\n

-Dates
\n-Flight #s
\n-Accommodations
\n-Activities
\n-Booking #s
\n-Misc info
\n-Cost (I like tracking trip spending + if something was booked on rewards points)<\/p>\n

4. Research<\/strong><\/p>\n

First thing to research: visas, legal info, medical info etc… New Zealand for example requires you to apply for a visa to enter the country. Theirs is an easy process (you just download an app and fill out the info) but others are more involved. Before you begin your trip research make sure you’re up to date on info about entering the country\/countries.<\/p>\n

Next up: Ask your friends\/family for recommendations and begin compiling a list. If something comes up frequently across many recommendations, it’s probably something you want to do. I also like to cross-reference recommendations with blog suggestions. Note: I try to avoid using recommendations from travel sites or big news websites. Oftentimes they’re writing for SEO and have never actually been to the destination. Not to say they’re all wrong, but I prefer a first-hand account from a blog or someone who has clearly been to the destination and has more specific feedback.<\/p>\n

I then compile a list of all the places I want to visit in a google doc, usually broken down by accommodations, activities and restaurants.<\/p>\n

5. Decide Accommodations<\/strong><\/p>\n

Before booking any activities, it’s important to decide where you are going to stay. There are pros and cons to staying in different types of accommodations (Airbnb, hotels, camping etc…). When we road trip, we typically have Bodhi and that generally rules out a lot of hotels. Not always, though oftentimes we have better luck in Airbnbs<\/a> or if it makes sense, camping. When we’re travelling internationally, we personally find hotels to offer a better deal. When it comes to staying in Airbnbs you need to look at the cleaning and service fees as oftentimes they are so high it’s not worth staying there just for one night (unless you have a dog!). Other times, hotels are so limited in an area that Airbnbs are a better option. Here are a few tips for finding the best deal:<\/p>\n