The Ultimate Trip Planner: How to Plan a Trip Anywhere in the World (Step-by-Step Guide)

Planning a trip can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re travelling internationally or visiting a destination for the first time. Whether you’re dreaming of Europe, exploring Asia, or relaxing in the tropical South Pacific, this step-by-step guide will help you plan your trip with confidence and ease.

💡 Tip: Check out our helpful articles for specific destinations, our tips for first-time visitors and ready-made itineraries. Don’t forget to listen to our podcast episodes which are packed with expert advice.

How to Plan a Trip (Step-by-Step Guide)

Step 1: Decide Where You Want to Go

You need to start your trip planning by narrowing down where you want to travel. Consider the following:

• Your travel style:
  • What gets you excited and keeps your interest? Is it city breaks, historical sites, cultural experiences, being immersed in nature, trying adventurous activities, relaxing on beaches, or food-focused trips?
  • Don’t choose a destination just because everyone else goes there – if it’s not for you, then you won’t enjoy your trip. 

• Budget and time:
  • What can you afford to spend and how long can you go for? Setting realistic budgets and achievable time scales early on in the planning process can save hours of wasted planning time.
  • Research daily budgets for your preferred destinations as you’ll be able to rule out some places due to cost. 

• Weather and seasonality:
  • Once you’ve narrowed down your chosen destination/s, check the best times to visit them.
  • Avoid monsoon seasons, extreme heat, or peak tourism months if possible.

• Visa and vaccine requirements:
  • Do you need a visa? Visas can be costly to arrange so if you don’t want the hassle, choose visa free destinations.
  • Vaccinations will eat into your travel budget and, if you require a course of vaccines, you’ll need adequate time to get them before departure. 

💡 Tip: Need inspiration for where to go? Browse travel websites by experts on the destination, search Pinterest, Instagram, join Facebook groups like our Global Travel Planning group or listen to travel podcasts such as the Global Travel Planning Podcast. You’ll find all the inspiration you’ll ever need on our site, including curated country guides.

Step 2: Choose the Best Time to Travel

Timing matters. You want good weather for your trip, but not huge crowds or inflated prices. Note that the high season is not the same everywhere – different locations have different peak seasons.  

• High season: You’ll get the best weather for your location, but it’s often the most expensive and busiest time to visit.
• Shoulder season: Often the best balance of good weather and fewer crowds.
• Low season: Fewer tourists and cheaper, but possibly poor weather or attraction closures.

💡 Tip: Once you have chosen your destination, don’t forget to research local festivals, religious holidays, and national events. Whilst these can enhance your trip, they can also complicate it with domestic crowds, overcrowded transport and high prices. 

Read – Month by month guide to the best places to visit when

Step 3: Plan Your Itinerary

When you have chosen a destination and your preferred dates, it’s time to plan the structure of your trip.

• Decide how many places to include: Are you going to stay in one place or travel around? Whilst it’s understandable to want to see and do everything you can, over-scheduling can lead to burnout and stress. Don’t try to do too much in one trip.
• Plan your route: Use Google Maps to help organise logistics. Add extra time onto journeys to factor in terrain, traffic or delays. 
• Allow time to settle in and explore: Give yourself time at the start of your trip to adjust to your new destination and culture before you start exploring. 

Need ideas? Browse our destination itineraries for inspiration and realistic travel pacing.

Read – How to Plan the Perfect Travel Itinerary for Any Destination

Step 4: Book Flights or Long-Distance Transport

Flights may be the most expensive outlay of your trip so shop around and book early for the best deals. 

• Use search engines like Skyscanner or Google Flights to compare fares, flight times and routes. Before booking with a third party, check the airfare against booking directly with the carrier. 
• Consider flying from, and arriving into, nearby airports. Using regional airports rather than major hubs is often cheaper – just don’t forget to factor in transfer costs. 
• Be mindful of layovers, baggage limits, additional baggage fees and unsociable travel times which may mean an overnight stay before or after your flight. All of these will add to the cost of your low-fare flight.
• For overland travel, check options like trains, buses, or ferries which can be cheaper than domestic flights, especially if you use a local travel pass. 

Step 5: Book Accommodation

Start booking accommodation as early as possible, especially if you’re travelling in peak season.

• Decide whether you want to stay in hotels, resorts, budget-friendly hostels, Airbnbs, guesthouses, or homestays. 
• Read and cross-check reviews. This is the most reliable way to get a realistic review of your accommodation. 
• Stay centrally located or close to public transportation. If you plan to do lots of sightseeing, staying central saves time and money. 

Consider extra details such as free cancellation or whether breakfast is included. 

Step 6: Buy Travel Insurance

You should purchase travel insurance as soon as you start spending money on a trip.

Travel insurance is not just for medical or legal cover whilst travelling; it also protects you if you have to cancel or change your travel plans.

• Always read the small print of your travel policy so you know exactly what you are covered for and what is exempt.
• Make sure your policy covers trip cancellation, curtailment, travel delays, legal and medical bills including repatriation. 
• Always declare to the insurance company any past or ongoing medical diagnosis, treatment or investigations, no matter how trivial. 

Step 6: Plan Your Local Transport

Consider how you will get around once you arrive at your destination.

• Public transport: Using local trains, buses and metro systems are often the cheapest option and will help you feel like a local. Research tourist passes or local travel cards which can save money. Download relevant local travel apps in advance of your visit. 
• Car hire: Useful in rural areas or for road trips, car hire must be booked in advance if you want to secure a car you are familiar with. Don’t forget to pack relevant paperwork and identification for the car hire company and make sure you research local driving rules and regulations. 
• Private transfers or taxis: Great for airport arrivals, especially if you arrive late at night
• Apps: Download Google Maps, Uber, Bolt, or local equivalents

Step 7: Book Key Attractions and Tours

You don’t need to book everything in advance; in fact, having some free time allows you flexibility in your schedule to visit places you’ll hear about from other travellers (or to have a rest!). 

However, you’ll need to book ahead for the most popular attractions. Similarly, if you have a ‘must-do’ attraction or event, we recommend pre-booking to avoid disappointment. 

• Book early for things like the Eiffel Tower, the Vatican, Machu Picchu or for theatre shows. 
• Consider taking guided tours to gain a deeper understanding of the location or purchase skip-the-line tickets to save time. 
• Book experiences that align with your interests (e.g. cooking classes, walking tours). Don’t suffer from FOMO (fear of missing out)! Do what you want to do, not what you think you should do. 

Explore more: Our destination guides include handpicked tours and experiences we’ve tried and loved.

Step 8: Prepare for Travel

Make sure you prepare for your trip well in advance. Packing can be left till the last minute but other travel preparations cannot. Don’t forget these essentials:

• Passport validity: Make sure it’s valid for at least 6 months after your trip
• Visas and entry requirements
• Vaccinations or health requirements (including bringing enough of your usual medications)
• Money: Bring a mix of cards and some local currency. Make sure you inform your bank of your travel plans so they’ll expect foreign spending. If you’re using pre-loaded travel cards, don’t forget to load them before you travel. 
• Packing list: Check the weather and local customs. Don’t overpack, try to travel light if you can. 

Step 9: Stay Organised

Planning a trip means dealing with lots of information, paperwork and emails. Staying organised avoids mistakes and can save time and stress.

• Create a travel folder (physical or digital) with all confirmations, copies of relevant documents and booking references.
• Use tools like Google Docs, TripIt, or Excel to keep your itinerary and bookings together. These are especially useful for checking travel times. 
• Share itinerary plans with your travel companion or family back home. It’s essential someone knows where you are and where you’re staying especially if you’re a solo traveller. 
• Download offline maps, travel guides, and translation apps
• Learn a few words of the local dialect. We’ve found it’s always appreciated and helps to make local connections. 

Final Thoughts: Embrace the Adventure

Detailed, organised planning can greatly enhance a trip but even the best planned trip can encounter surprises. Embrace the unknown, stay flexible, and enjoy the journey!