Free Itinerary Template

Apr 15

Every traveller has a different process when it comes to planning their itinerary ranging from not planning any part of the trip to planning every second. To decide which planning process is best for you, think about what amount of spontaneity you will be comfortable with.

Personally, I like to plan my accommodation and bigger transportation (planes and long train/bus trips) in advance for a two reasons.

When travelling on a budget you can save lots of money booking the bigger costs in advance.
I like to know that when I arrive, I have a place to stay. I have arrived in a city before to find out a massive event was taking place. If I didn’t booked in advance, it would have been hard for me to find somewhere in the city that was also in my budget.

I do not generally book my activities (unless it is something I really want to do and has a good chance of selling out) or the smaller transportation that way I do have the freedom to spend my time in that city as I wish.

It takes time to find the amount of pre-planning that suits your travel style. My first big trip, I planned out every day. By the end we had done so many amazing things but we were also exhausted and did not feel like we really got to immerse ourselves in each city.

Safety

There is another reason that planning the accommodation and transportation in advanced may be beneficial; safety. I feel more secure knowing that someone else knows where I am supposed to be and can check in to make sure I have got to my new location safely. Plus, although my mom supports my travels, she likes to know where I am and how to get a hold of me. ,

So, every time I go on a trip, I send her an itinerary. I then agree to check in with her at least once at each new stop. Airports, hostels, libraries, cafes, and restaurants are all great spots to use the wifi to send off a quick “I’ve arrived in ____. xoxo”.