Organizing a trip is not an easy process. But once you get into the groove and realize that everything needs a way and no effort, you won’t want someone else to organize it for you. Together with Manolis, we have organized more than 13 trips. Through our experience and our long search, we list below 8 steps that will help you in organizing a trip.
Step #1: Search for airline tickets
Where have you dreamed of going? Where does your heart want to go to? Start searching for plane tickets today! Visit skyscanner site and do your first search. This search machine is a treasure, as it combines all the possible flights to your destination, depending on the filters you have entered. If you find a price that covers you, book it immediately, because it is more likely that they will price up rather than go down. If you still find them too expensive, broaden your search for another period. If the results are discouraging, maybe you should change your destination. We have done it many times!
Step #2: Destination country covid restrictions
Something very important to pay attention to when organizing a trip is the covid restrictions of the country you will be traveling to. Most countries have no restrictions, but you never know what kind of restrictive measures each imposes on tourists. You certainly don’t want to be surprised, do you? For the trip to the Seychelles, for example, we had to download an app to our mobile phone. There, we had to upload all our travel documents and pay 10€ to get the visa. Those of us who were not fully vaccinated had to upload the negative result of a rapid test. Since no one will tell you the restrictions that each country has, it is good to do a search on the internet after you book your flights. GOOGLE will help you at this point. It is good to be informed by the official pages of the state and to hope that their pages are also translated into English. In Italy there was no English translation, so we were forced to translate an entire site by ourselves, to get a clue on what we should do!
Step #3: Visa, Passport, Identity
In countries of the European Union, you simply travel with your identity card and you definitely know it. But what about your long trips? There, you will definitely need your passport and it must not expire in the last 6 months from the date you will visit the country you are interested in. That’s why you should immediately check your passport expiration date. The negative news is that, in total, for a passport renewal you will pay around 100 € (deposit and photos). The positive news, however, is that it is issued in 7 days and from 2023 and on it has a duration of 10 years instead of the 5. Now, as far as the Visa is concerned, in most countries the visa is issued at the airport upon your arrival and has a small cost, while in others it is free as long as you stay in the country for a certain period of time. In some other countries you pay it in advance on an online site or through an application that you have to download. To find out about the countries that do not require a visa, click here.
Step #4: Vaccination requirements
Before embarking on your magical journey to remote corners of the planet, it is advisable to check whether the countries you plan to visit require specific vaccinations. Each country has its own rules and prerequisites that must be met to enter its territory. Therefore, it is crucial to monitor updates and guidelines from the embassies and official websites of the countries you intend to visit before booking your airline tickets. This way, you will ensure a comfortable and worry-free travel experience, without any unwelcome surprises.
Step #5: Travel insurance
Travel insurance is very important and you should never skip it when planning your trip. You are human and you will find yourself in a foreign country. You never know what might come up, so it’s good to be prepared. For European Union countries, you are covered by the European Health Insurance Card, which you can easily issue for FREE! It enables you to have health care during your trip in one of the 27 countries of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, under the same conditions and at the same cost as the insured of the respective country. But for trips involving other continents, you will have to apply to one of the many private companies that exist online. They provide travel insurance for the duration of your trip, while covering a case of illness from covid-19.
Εxtra tip: Ask for offers, compare and then find the company that covers you the most.
Step #6: Accommodation-Food-Entertainment
Now that you’ve sorted out most of the important things, it’s time to tackle the most enjoyable part of organizing your trip: Where to stay, where to dine and where to have fun. Let’s start with the accommodation. The more central, the more convenient. Many times we had chosen cheaper accommodation outside the city center and we had regretted it because the transport was not frequent and often non-existent. Trust me, you’ll be walking so much on your trip that even a little extra will take quite a toll on you. Our two favorite apps for finding accommodation are Βooking and Αgoda. To find what suits you best, you have to spend hours, sometimes even days, by always using the filters.
For food and entertainment, you will ask for the inexhaustible knowledge of Google, combined with the travel forums, where you will really find valuable information. Of course, you will find the best places for food, coffee or drink by walking around or asking the locals. Indeed, we’ve been to incredible bars and restaurants simply because we just asked the owner of the house we rented, just like the speakeasy bar in fairytale Florence.
Extra tip: Save everything you find on your mobile maps. Also download the maps of your destination country. When you get there, you will already have a guide ready on your mobile.
Step #7: Activities-Tours
From our experience, every destination has something special: Hot air balloon ride, river boating, swimming with dolphins, snorkeling in a tectonic fault, hiking trails, tours of museums or archaeological sites and much more. To find the activities that you can do in your destination, you can search on the platforms we trust and choose, such as Get Your Guide and Viator. Compare prices and find the one or those that suits you the most.
Extra tip: Do not pay for some of the activities for when you arrive in your destination. Up close, you will definitely find better prices for the activities or excursions that interest you.
Step #8: Equip yourself with a positive attitude
I am well aware that organizing a trip will tire you a little at first. A lot of information and many fronts open. Composure! Start by following the steps in order, equip yourself with a positive attitude and experience your trip in advance, through its organization. Live the joy of organizing a trip and enjoy the freedom of your choices on your trip! You will often read about a positive mood. It is one of my values and I believe that without it nothing can be achieved, no matter how hard one tries. Have fun my friend!
Read also: 4 ways to reduce your travel expenses
