49 Things You Need to Do to Plan Your Best Trip (Free Travel Research & Planning Checklist)
- Updated: 04/06/2024
- Janice
Before you jet off on your next adventure, ensure you have all your travel research and planning in order. To help, use this ultimate travel research checklist to guide you through the necessary steps for more enjoyable planning and a stress-minimized trip.
I love to travel, though I do not necessarily enjoy all the tedious steps required to get out the door and start having fun. So, I rely heavily on checklists like this planning list, a packing list, and a prep and close-the-house list to streamline my departure. Leaning on these saves me time and money and helps to avoid unexpected situations, making for worry-free trips. I hope they can do the same for you.
So, whether you are a seasoned traveler or a first-time adventurer, I have designed this travel research and planning guide to cover the things you must cross off your to-do list before leaving for a trip.
From the fun stuff like flights, accommodation, and local attractions—to the necessary details, especially for more complicated international travel, like getting visas, knowing about local customs, and purchasing travel insurance, use this list to explore the world confident you have things covered.
Table Of Contents
Download Your Free Travel Planning Checklist Here
Prefer not to print? Jump to my explanation of the 14 stages of trip planning with 49 separate things you should do below. Otherwise, click the image beneath to access and print my free Travel Planning Checklist.
The Importance of Travel Research
Before setting off on any adventure, it is crucial to do your research. Travel research helps you gather information about your destination, allowing you to make informed decisions and avoid unnecessary stress. By taking the time to research and plan, you can uncover hidden gems, know about local events, find the best deals, and arrange your itinerary to maximize your trip enjoyment.
Plus, conducting research helps travelers be more thoughtful and respectful visitors by being aware of local customs.
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Learn how to further simplify your trip research, planning, and organization for every stage of your trip in “5 Proven Ways to Simplify and Organize Your Travel Research.”
When to Start Planning a Trip
When is the ideal time to start planning a trip? Whenever you decide to go! Though—several months, or at least six months in advance, is generally best. However, some destinations, like high-demand national parks with limited visitor and lodging capacity, may require planning up to 12 months or more in advance.
Plus, it depends who is traveling. Solo or couple travelers can more easily plan last-minute trips as they tend to have more schedule flexibility (i.e., not following family school break schedules) and can choose from more affordable double or single-room lodging options, which tend to be more abundant.
Because families usually require more of everything, from plane tickets to more spacious lodging and even bigger rental cars, planning further in advance becomes more necessary, especially as it allows them to secure the best of these resources at the best pricing. If you are a family traveler or part of a big multi-generational group, you will want to begin planning further in advance—six months to a year is ideal.
14 Stages of Trip Planning & 49 Tips
How you follow these 14 stages of travel planning depends on how long you have before you depart for your trip and your comfort level with leaving things to the last minute.
Because I do not enjoy the feeling of big to-dos being undone or last-minute scrambles, I aim to complete all 14 stages of travel planning anywhere from one to several months in advance. Alternatively, you may feel more comfortable playing your timeframes looser.
Step 1: Decide on Your Destination (7 Questions)
Step 2: International Travel: Understand Visa & Vaccination Requirements & Travel Restrictions/Warnings (4 Tips)
Step 3: On Budgeting, Know What You Can Spend (Budget Template)
Step 4: Set a High-Level Itinerary(Get Shortcuts)
Step 5: Getting There, Find the Best Deals on Airfare (3 Resources)
Step 6: Getting Around, Rental Cars & Local Transportation Options (6 Tips)
Step 7: Choose Where to Stay (Shortcuts & Resources)
Step 8: Decide, Save & Book the Things You Want to Do (4 Tips)
Step 9: Focus on Food, Reserve Restaurants & Learn About Local Dishes (2 Recommendations)
Step 10: Create, Update & Finalize a Detailed Trip Itinerary (Resources)
Step 11: Plan for Emergencies & Unexpected Situations (3 Tips)
Step 12: Packing & Prepping Your Home Before Your Trip (Resources)
Step 13: Make Your Finances Accessible on Domestic & International Trips (13 Tips)
Step 14: Stay Connected While You Travel (Resources)
Step 1: Decide on Your Destination (7 Questions)
You may have several destinations in mind for an upcoming trip—or none at all. To get assistance narrowing down your options, consider your travel wants, needs, and limitations by answering the seven questions below to help you figure this out.
How long do you have to travel?
Your work and school schedules or family obligations may dictate the duration of your travel. Or perhaps budget constraints cap the number of your away-from-home vacation days.
So, before you choose where to go, know how long you can spend there. If your holiday break is limited, you will want to minimize the time or expense of transportation, guiding you to pick closer destinations or places with direct flights.
What do you want to do?
Do you want a warm week lounging on the beach within reach of an easy and affordable nonstop flight? Or are you looking for a city trip with cultural activities? Perhaps the pull of nature is strong, and you want a hiking adventure? Or a bit of all of the above? Know what experiences you or your group would like to have during your time away and pick a place that meets it best.
Why to go?
This question is linked to the one above but digs deeper. Confirm your potential destination offers the right breadth and depth of activities and cultural or culinary highlights. Are there enough things to do and experience to last your trip and meet your wants and needs? Determine whether these options will make for an ideal visit.
How to get there?
Explore how to get to your potential destination. Does getting there require a multi-day drive? Or a flight with a long layover? Gain a high-level idea of the time and cost involved with the “getting there” part of travel and confirm your time off can easily accommodate long transit times if required. Then, further dive into this step by learning your best options for getting around once you arrive, here.
When is the best time to go?
To avoid destinations during their rainy seasons and less ideal temperature times, look up historical weather averages for your potential vacation spot before you commit. Use a helpful site like SunHeron to look at month-by-month temperatures and rainfall for nearly any destination. Doing this will give you a better chance of having the weather be a helper for a great experience instead of a hindrance
What do you want to pay?
It is never fun to start digging into a trip to an incredible place only to realize a few steps in that you cannot afford it. This exact situation happened to us. Several summers ago, we did not plan far enough in advance for a family summer trip to pricey Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Limited availability and expensive lodging options forced us to backtrack and find a more budget-friendly alternative destination—surprisingly, Vail, Colorado.
So, before committing to a spot, set your budget, then do quick hit searches on the costs of available transportation, lodging, activities, and dining to confirm they fit what you can afford.
Is it safe?
Ensuring your health and safety during your trip should be a top priority, especially when visiting an international destination and you are unfamiliar with the customs and language. Before you go, look up travel warnings, read recent traveler accounts on blogs or social media channels, and even message the account owners with your safety questions. Then, check the local news sites. Gathering information about recent on-the-ground experiences will help you decide if this destination is right for you.
Step 2: International Travel: Understand Visa & Vaccination Requirements & Travel Restrictions/Warnings (4 Tips)
This step is for international travel. Before buying your plane tickets, understand entry requirements related to passports and visas, if applicable.
Ensure you have an up-to-date passport & learn about visa requirements.
For international travel, always ensure your passport will not expire soon and it will be valid for your dates of entry. A good rule of thumb is your passport should be valid for six months after entry. However, sometimes it is less. Confirm exact entry requirements by researching this with the official government customs and tourism organization for the country you plan to visit.
A quick online search should get you the answers you need. For US travelers, check and confirm destination requirements on the helpful “Learn About Your Destination” page of the US State Department website.
If your passport is expired or set to expire within a validity window, like six months, take immediate steps to renew it. In the US, obtaining a new one can take weeks, if not several months. Get all the details you need about obtaining and renewing US Passports here.
Review travel advisories, security alerts, vaccination & other health requirements.
For US citizens planning to travel abroad, search for your destination on the US State Department website, look for travel advisories, security alerts, and detailed information about health matters, including links to vaccination requirements. Or go directly to the US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Destinations page for extensive health recommendations.
Additionally, maintain your safety by booking lodging in busier and well-known areas and following the tips I recommend here to prepare for unexpected emergencies.
If traveling to Europe, know about EITAS, a coming-soon travel permit requirement.
Also, if you plan to travel to Europe, learn about the new electronic travel authorization (ETIAS) for visiting Europe. This coming-soon authorization is not a visa. It is a travel permit. As non-EU Schengen members, US travelers must eventually apply for this new travel authorization before entering Europe.
US travelers, enroll in STEP.
For US travelers for an extra measure of security and safety, consider enrolling your trip with the US State Department as part of their Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP. Doing this will share your travel status with the US government which will allow you to receive important safety information about your destination country and help the US Embassy contact you in an emergency. Enroll here.
Step 3: On Budgeting, Know What You Can Spend
Does your budget determine where you can go? Or does your destination determine your budget?
An essential part of your travel planning is being realistic about what you can afford. There are few better ways to ruin the effect of a top-notch vacation than to return home after it, realizing you overspent, and then having to contend with the pain of outsize credit card debt and the regret that comes with it. Instead, book a trip to a place that meets you where your money is. Memorable travel experiences do not have to cost a fortune.
Use a budget calculator like the one I provide for free with signups to my monthly Discovery travel newsletter, shown above. Or create your own budget that includes the major expense items like transportation, lodging, activities, meals, and incidentals that cover anything from souvenirs to travel insurance to pet sitting.
Step 4: Set a High-Level Itinerary (Get Shortcuts)
Once you decide on your destination, determine if you will stay in one place or move around and make multiple stops. Will your path of travel be circular—where you end up in the original place you began so that you are flying into and out of the same airport? Or will it be linear? A linear path means you will fly to one destination and return home from another—requiring plane tickets commonly referred to in the travel industry as open jaw tickets.
Your budget and available vacation time may dictate staying in one place. Or it will allow you to include several different stops in one trip. Get shortcuts to quickly determine a high-level itinerary for any destination in this article.
Step 5: Getting There, Find the Best Deals on Airfare (3 Resources)
Flights and related on-the-ground transportation costs can often be the most significant expenses of any trip. To find the best airfare deals, compare prices across multiple airlines. Consider flexible travel dates to take advantage of cheaper fares and rates. Additionally, look to redeem frequent flier miles or sign up for travel credit cards that give you miles bonuses.
Maximize your savings by learning to find the best fare deals using Google Flights Explore and Google Flights price tracker. Or read this overview of how to track down the best airfare deals.
Step 6: Getting Around, Rental Cars & Local Transportation Options (6 Tips)
Familiarize yourself with these six transportation tips for taxis, public transit, rental cars, and safe walking routes applicable to any new destination.
Plan for how to get around.
Knowing in advance how you plan to get around your vacation spot will impact where you decide to book your lodging. If you plan to rent a car and drive, you will want vacation accommodation that provides easy vehicle access—and ideally nearby and free parking. Or, if you plan to rely on ride shares and public transportation, you may want to ensure close lodging proximity to taxi stands or train or bus stops.
Familiarize yourself with local transportation options.
Before you arrive at your destination, familiarize yourself with the local transportation. Research different options, such as public buses, trains, ride shares, and taxis, to determine the most convenient and cost-effective ways to get around. These alternatives can be very different in international destinations.
For example, the most recommended rideshare in Malta, which we visited for a spring break trip, was Bolt, followed by a few others I was unfamiliar with, like eCabs and Ryde.
If you learn about these things in advance, you can pre-download the apps, set up an account, and link payment methods before you arrive. Additionally, consider purchasing local transportation cards or passes, as these often offer discounted rates for multiple journeys.
Get rental car tips & gather resources.
If you plan to rent a car, review these 15 rental car tips which will save you money, reduce potential hassles, and explain how to get complimentary upgrades. Then, understand whether you need to buy rental car insurance—something that even the most experienced travelers get confused by—with this thorough overview.
When traveling internationally, research to find out if you need an international driving permit for your destination. If you do, get this permit in advance, as sometimes the paperwork may take a few weeks. Check to see if you need an international driving permit via this helpful article.
Learn the (local) rules of the road.
For any international travelers, you will want to familiarize yourself with the local driving rules in the country you plan to drive in advance. Doing so can help you avoid unintentional penalties and minimize the chance of on-the-road incidents.
US travelers can understand driver safety abroad by referencing this State Department page. This page provides helpful country links and outlines local driving rules—from default speed limits to signaling requirements to where to park.
Consider pre-booking an airport pickup.
Especially for international trips, if you do not feel confident about your understanding of local transportation options, make things easy for yourself upon arrival. Consider requesting your lodging to arrange a pickup for you. This reserved ride will likely be more expensive, though it will give you peace of mind that you will not get things “wrong” when you arrive.
Then, when at your destination, ask for assistance from your accommodation manager or concierge to help better explain your on-the-ground transportation options.
After an international overnight flight, our family sometimes pre-books airport taxis, as we did on a visit to Rome. When exhausted and running on empty from a long and likely sleepless flight, it is a relief to know our in-town transportation is reliably taken care of.
Know safe walking routes.
If you plan to explore a new destination on foot, familiarize yourself with safe walking paths. Research this ahead of time. Or ask once at your accommodation. The front desk staff and management, who generally live locally, are a valuable resource for sharing the best routes, areas, and times for moving around safely.
Step 7: Choose Where to Stay (Shortcuts & Resources)
Pinpointing the right location for lodging is never easy. To figure it out fast—my first stop is to use the “Where to stay” button on Google Hotels, which will show neighborhood-by-neighborhood descriptions and ratings for all major destinations, allowing you to quickly zero in on the right neighborhood for you to stay in. See where to find it in the quick clip below.
Alternatively, run an AI or online search on “best places to stay in [your destination]” and review the results. Or, reference up-to-date travel guidebooks, which generally provide a helpful point of view on the best areas to stay.
Additionally, since I find great lodging in top locations has an outsize positive impact on our travel experiences, I put a lot of effort into finding the best places to stay. Get tips on how to do this for your lodging searches in this article.
Step 8: Decide, Save & Book the Things You Want to Do (4 Tips)
Now that you have the framework of your trip set, it is time for the most fun part—figuring out things you want to do once you get there.
Search for things to do online.
If your best trip experience includes seeing top attractions and activities, you will want to research the top things to do in a destination that best fits your interests. Run AI searches or look online for “things to do in [your destination].”
Travel blogs, social media, and sites like Pinterest or Reddit are helpful for this. Or read a guidebook or visit Google Travel, searching your destination to get an idea about the top attractions and get recommendations for more things to see or do.
To determine what you want to do most, read reviews from fellow travelers to understand what to expect. Then, consider purchasing tickets or making reservations for the most popular attractions to avoid long queues and secure your spot.
Save your favorites.
My preferred way to keep track of things I want to do in a destination is to save them to a custom list in Google Maps. Doing this gives me quick access to my favorites on my mobile phone via my Google Maps app while traveling. I share why and how to create similar custom lists in this article.
Check out the guided activity and tour options.
Another good way to round out your research for what to do in any area is by checking out tour booking sites like Viator, Get Your Guide or Airbnb Experiences. Use them to look at the top-rated experiences for your destination. You might discover a cooking class, photo tour, guided hike, history walk, and so much more—activities that could be one of the more memorable parts of your vacation.
Ask for recommendations.
Before your trip, ask your friends, family, and acquaintances for suggestions for what to do in your planned destination if they have already been there. Then, when your trip is here, and you finally and excitingly arrive—connect and chat with your lodging managers, taxi drivers, tour guides, servers, and any other locals you can befriend to ask for their recommendations.
By doing this, we have learned about many things we would have missed if we did not connect with locals, like off-the-radar restaurants, event-related parades, holiday processionals, or the best spots to catch sunsets. While traveling, we value these local recommendations so highly that we often will reshape our entire plan for how we spend a day to accommodate them.
Step 9: Focus on Food - Reserve Restaurants & Learn About Local Dishes (2 Recommendations)
Does your culinary experience matter to you on vacation? I have a food blogger and cookbook author friend who makes researching places to eat and reserving restaurants her immediate third activity after booking airfare and lodging for any trip. So, if incorporating an epicurean experience into your travel is important, include the two steps below in your pre-trip planning.
Make restaurant reservations.
Search online to get a list of top eateries in your destination. Reference Google Maps, articles, blog posts, or run AI inquiries. Or ask other travelers who have been to the area recently, as they are always happy to share their favorites. Prioritize the places you want to eat and make reservations. If you cannot do this in advance online, do not sweat it. Do it in person when you arrive. Or ask your lodging for dining recommendations and assistance with booking reservations.
Learn about the food before you go.
Although international trips provide ample opportunities for new food experiences, you do not have to go far from home to indulge in regional food specialties while on vacation. For example, on a fall getaway to Door County, Wisconsin, near our hometown of Chicago, we were sure to order cheese curds, a Badger State specialty, paired with local brews.
Before your trip, search online for “best food to eat in [your destination]” to see what tops the list. On a spring trip to Rome, it was Jerusalem artichokes. When in Malta, it was a rabbit dish and many other unfamiliar foods.
Eating at different places and trying new dishes, drinks, and snacks can be one of the most memorable aspects of your travel. To get a head start, take a global tour from these food guide and cookbook recommendations.
Step 10: Create, Update & Finalize a Detailed Trip Itinerary (Resources)
Now that you have your transportation, lodging, activities, and possibly even your dining planned or loosely set, it is time to put it all down to paper. Use an online app like TripIt to keep track of your bookings and day-to-day plans. Or go semi-old school like I do and put it in an Excel document. Since I have yet to find an app that functions exactly how I want, I created my own itinerary framework that includes all the elements I prefer.
I share this free framework downloadable in four file types in this article. In it, I also link to more places to find free or affordable trip itinerary templates.
Then, for safety purposes, share your itinerary with family and friends so they know where you will be when you are away from home.
Step 11: Plan for Emergencies & Unexpected Situations (3 Tips)
Follow these three recommendations to help you avoid or quickly recover from emergencies and unexpected situations while traveling.
Conduct practical safety prep.
Before each trip, familiarize yourself with local emergency service numbers and healthcare facilities in your planned destination. When traveling internationally—particularly to an area at risk for conflict, know where to find your local embassy or consulate. Additionally, ensure your family and friends know where you are going and how to reach you. If you created a detailed itinerary share it with them. Then, continue to check in throughout the trip.
Buy travel insurance.
It is an extra expense every traveler would love to skip. However, given the cost of your vacation and what is at risk—your trip budget, your health, and your property—the cost of travel insurance should be considered an essential and non-negotiable expense, especially for international trips. Read about why to get travel insurance and where to find it in this article.
My preferred resource for buying travel insurance is InsureMyTrip.com, an online travel insurance agent and search engine that I use to shop policies from different insurers, buying from the ones with the highest user ratings.
Know what to do in case of theft.
Do you have a plan for what to do in case your wallet, phone, computer, or passport is taken or goes missing? Do you know how to protect your sensitive data? Or how to quickly replace credit cards or a phone? Or get a replacement passport so you can get home?
If not, familiarize yourself with these steps in case your phone goes missing, or read this account of a traveler who had to navigate getting her phone stolen out of her hand in Cartagena, Colombia.
Then, make front-and-back print and digital copies of all IDs, passports, credit cards, and travel insurance policies, keeping copies easily accessible in case of emergency, theft, or loss. Share copies of all items with a trusted friend or family member who can quickly send them back to you if needed.
Step 12: Packing & Prepping Your Home Before Your Trip (Resources)
Taking care to pack efficiently will make your trip a more comfortable one. Before you go, research weather conditions at your destination and plan accordingly. Make a checklist of essential items, such as toiletries, medication, electronics, and travel adapters. Pack versatile clothing items that can be mixed and matched for different occasions and temperatures. And remember a travel first aid kit with essential medical supplies.
Because I bring many repeat items every time we travel, I spent a year carefully crafting, updating, and tweaking a universal and printable packing list to reuse for every trip. Using this helps me avoid “recreating the (packing) wheel” every time I leave home, which helps save time and minimizes prep.
Access, download, and print this universal packing list, which includes a comprehensive medical kit, here.
Additionally, since I am a fan of checklists and streamlining tasks, I created a second checklist to close the house and prep for packing—that includes to-do items like buying trip-specific gear or picking up medical prescriptions in advance to avoid last-minute scrambles. Check out the list here.
If you are new to traveling and packing, get 25 of my best packing tips that I follow for every trip.
Step 13: Make Your Finances Accessible on Domestic & International Trips (13 Tips)
Before you go on any trip, be sure to have a plan for how to pay for all expenses, access your cash, and use your credit cards.
On domestic trips: two tips on spending and cash.
If your getaway is domestic, this step should be relatively easy, as how you spend will be similar to what you do at home. However, there are two things you may want to consider before you leave. Getting extra cash from a local no-fee ATM and ensuring you have up-to-date logins with mobile pay apps like Zelle or Venmo.
Even in this age of high connectivity, it is still relatively easy to encounter a market vendor, fair, or pop-up snack shop that does not accept credit cards. So, you will want a cash supply handy. Doing this will help you avoid unnecessary and out-of-the-way stops at high-fee and out-of-network ATMs. Sometimes, vendors will also accept mobile payments from apps like Venmo or Zelle.
For example, during a recent domestic trip to New Orleans, our family enjoyed listening to musicians who accepted tips via Venmo, allowing us to scan their QR code and drop some cash—in appreciation of their talent and time. So, before you leave for your trip, if you use these apps, ensure you are actively logged in and can access your accounts.
On international trips: 11 tips for spending, credit cards, cash, and safety.
Prearranging and maintaining comprehensive and secure financial access requires a few more steps when traveling internationally. Here is a list of 10 things you will want to plan for:
1. Determine which credit card(s) you plan to use. Ideally, choose the one(s) that offers the lowest, or zero, foreign transaction fees.
2. If you use a mobile hands-free payment like Apple Pay, ensure your default credit card linked to your mobile payment account is the card with the lowest foreign transaction fees.
3. For travelers who do not already use a hands-free payment method like Apple Pay, consider setting it up, as it is a convenient wallet-free way to pay when traveling. Keeping your wallet tucked away may also make you less of a target for potential pickpockets who tend to mark international travelers.
4. If you plan to use a credit card while traveling internationally, process your transactions in the local currency. At the point-of-sale, avoid converting the transaction to your home currency since this often translates into a less advantageous exchange rate.
5. Know the currency exchange rate between your home and destination country before you leave home—this will help you better manage your spending and budget. Download a currency converter app like XE, to easily translate local prices to your home currency.
6. Plan to take out the local country currency from an ATM when you arrive. Some travelers prefer to pre-buy foreign currency at their local hometown bank before they leave for their trip. However, we are always comfortable doing this at the airport upon arrival.
Know which local ATMs offer the lowest fees for international visitors for cash withdrawals and which charge the highest—and should be avoided. Visit traveler forums and social media groups, or read guidebooks to learn this information.
7. Bring back up cash in your own currency, which you can exchange in an emergency. Include small bills if you can. You can often use these in a pinch for tips and when you run short on small denominations of local cash. However, local currency—depending on the country—is generally preferred.
8. Remove all unnecessary credit, identity, membership, and banking cards from your wallet that you do not plan to use while traveling and store them safely at home. Doing this is preventative in case of wallet loss or theft. Keeping so many cards at home means you will have fewer to cancel or replace.
9. Make copies of both sides of your banking and credit cards. Keep print or digital copies accessible. For a backup—share them with a friend or family member who will be staying home and can send them to you in the event of loss or theft.
10. Have a plan for keeping your wallet and valuables safe while on your trip. Assume on an international trip, you may be a target for pickpockets. Make it difficult for would-be thieves by using secure carrying bags and backpacks with zippered pockets.
Practice never leaving your personal items unattended or on the back of chairs. If you need to set a bag down, wrap a strap securely around a leg or arm. Also, ensure all openings are fully zipped and face inward toward your body. Depending on your destination, consider sewing hidden interior pockets to pants or using money belts under clothes to keep cash and IDs secure.
Another helpful step you can take includes being aware of your surroundings and avoiding being distracted in public by your phone while traveling. It is relatively easy for a cyclist or motorcycle rider to whip by and grab an unlocked phone from unsuspecting hands.
11. Finally, before you go, move ample cash into your checking or ATM-linked account to fund your trip and to fully process automatic bill withdrawals to eliminate the possibility of overdrafts or other unpleasant financial surprises that could happen while you are away. If you do not have auto bill payments set up, pre-pay all upcoming bills before you leave.
Note: Many credit cards and banks no longer require you to alert them when you plan to leave the country as they track trip-related purchases like plane tickets, taxis, and hotel bookings.
However, check with your banking and credit card companies before you go to understand their travel recommendations and to avoid possible suspicious-activity freezes on your accounts.
Step 14: Stay Connected While You Travel (Resources)
This step is easy for domestic journeys, as depending on your data plan, you can ideally use your mobile phone to text and call to stay in touch like you would at home. However, constant connectivity gets more complicated for international trips. When traveling abroad, you want to determine how you plan to use your mobile phone.
Will you stay off-network and use it only when connected to Wi-Fi? Or pay a daily network international roaming fee—up to a pricey $10 per day with networks like Verizon? Or, instead, buy a data plan from a local network using e-sim technology?
Does this feel complicated? Even to me, a regular international traveler, and others—it does also. Based on your budget and connectivity needs, you will want to figure out which way of staying connected is right for you. To decide, price out international plans from your mobile carrier and then learn more about going the eSIM route with info in this helpful article.
Once you know how you plan to stay in touch, download apps you anticipate you may need to use. When traveling internationally, this may include downloading What’sApp, a global messaging app and voice-over-IP service heavily used outside of the United States. When abroad, I frequently use this app to communicate with lodging contacts and tour guides and to confirm reservations.
Additionally, be sure to have all lodging or tour booking apps downloaded and updated on your phone. You will want to access the messaging functionality within apps like Airbnb, Booking.com, or other hotel apps, which you may need to use to send and receive communications.
Takeaways
Hands-down, thorough travel research is the key to a stress-free adventure. By taking time to gather destination information so you can make informed planning decisions, you can ensure a smooth and memory-making journey.
From researching your destination and finding the best deals to understanding local customs and preparing essential travel documents, each step plays a vital role in creating your best travel experience.
So, before you embark on your next adventure, check off the items on this ultimate travel research checklist. With research and planning complete, you can explore the world with confidence and peace of mind. The more you know, the better prepared you will be for any unexpected challenges or opportunities that come your way. Happy travels!
Related Reading
If you are searching for more travel planning assistance to help you save time and money and to stay organized, check out the related articles below.
- Google for Travel: Plan Better with These 8 Tools
- Why You Will Love Google Maps for Trip Planning
- Travel Better: How to Best Use Google Flights Explore
- How to Save Time & Money with Google Flights Price Tracker
- 5 Proven Ways to Simplify and Organize Your Travel Research
- Rental Car Insurance: When You Need It & When You Don’t
- Pack Faster & Better with This Universal Printable Packing List
- 25 Expert Packing Tips to Help You Travel Better
- Pre-Trip: A Practical Checklist to Close the House & Pack
Additional Trip Planning Resources
To further help you with travel planning, I share my go-to resources for every trip below.
Google Flights. My first research stop for affordable flights for every trip. Learn why here.
Google Hotels. Use its “Where to stay” button to discover the best neighborhoods to base your visit.
Booking.com. For hotel and rental bookings, I appreciate its flexible cancellation, candid user reviews, discounts, loyalty program, and easy-to-use interface.
Viator, Get Your Guide, & Airbnb Experiences. Quickly find and book highly-rated tours and activities on these sites.
Google Travel Things to Do & Google Maps. Find more things to do in your destination on Google Travel, then record where you want to visit on a custom Google Maps list.
AllTrails. Love to hike? Me too. I religiously use AllTrails to discover hiking and biking trails and download its offline maps to manage my hikes.
Guide Along. 5-star self-guided audio tours that are GPS-compatible for US road trips and national parks. We loved the Glacier National Park tour.
Insure My Trip. I never travel internationally without trip insurance. Learn why here. My preferred place to shop and compare policies is InsureMyTrip.com.
Plus, check out the 15 travel apps I use on trips, my preferred guidebooks, and my free customizable travel itinerary template, downloadable in four file formats.
About the author: Janice Moskoff is a travel writer and blogger who loves hiking, exploring the world, and reading. She writes to inspire travel-loving families, adult friends, and couples on her blog, Gather and Go Travel. Check out her bio, learn how she became a blogger, and discover how to work with her. Sign up for her monthly Discovery Newsletter to get her latest travel recommendations and how-to’s.
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Welcome to Gather and Go Travel, a blog inspiring families, adult friends, and couples to explore US and international destinations and to get outdoors. I am Janice, an experienced traveler to over 50 countries and a travel writer, book lover, and blogger. Learn more about me, read our story, and how to work with me.
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3 Responses
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