How to Plan a Family Trip to Netherlands

Wondering how to plan a trip, and not sure where to outset? Y'all're non solitary!

For experienced travelers, booking flights and throwing together an itinerary is 2d nature. Merely I recall the first time I planned a trip all on my own, I was kiiiiind of a nervous wreck.

Sure, I was excited every bit hell for my first independent travel feel. But I had ZERO clue how to efficiently create an itinerary, search for flights, discover places to stay, or figure out transportation. Needless to say, I second-guessed myself at every turn.

But, not anymore! All these years later, and I'k something of a trip-planning pro (…I did take a brief stint as a travel agent back in 2016, after all!)

I receive dozens and dozens of emails and messages from soonhoped-for travelers, and I thought information technology would helpful to create a detailed guide for anxious first timers (or even experienced travelers who happen to love checklists and helpful tidbits – I similar them too).

I crammed as much knowledge and as many resource every bit possible into this "How to Plan a Trip" guide. I hope yous'll detect it helpful, but equally always, drop any questions in the comments section and I'll practise my best to respond them!

(Short on time? You can find a condensed list of my favorite travel resource here.)

i. Choice a Destination

Researching and choosing a travel destination is by far one of the most exciting parts of planning a trip.

At this point in time, the whole globe is your oyster. You can get anywhere, and do anything!

Then again, the globe is a pretty damn big places, and then information technology's good to have a strategy for narrowing down your options.

Here are some methods for picking a travel destination:

Seek inspiration. One of my favorite resources for finding travel inspiration is The Travel Book by Lone Planet. It features cursory overviews of EVERY Single Land in the earth forth with some seriously stunning photos. I've wasted abroad many hours flipping through this volume! I as well like browsing Pinterest and Reddit for travel photos and itineraries. And of course I follow many travel bloggers on Instagram and Bloglovin'!
Choose the destination that'southward cheapest to fly to. Open to going anywhere in the globe? Save yourself some serious money past merely booking the least expensive flight you tin can find! Sign upwardly for a service like Scott's Cheap Flights, which sends you airfare deals from your local airports. You can also use the Explore tool on Kayak to shop around for cheap flights to anywhere.
Build a bucket list. Sometimes when I'm browsing online and stumble across a new destination or interesting attraction, I'll jot it down in the notes department of my iPhone. I keep a "local" bucket list (filled with all sorts of destinations well-nigh where I live in California) equally well as a global saucepan list. Information technology can exist easy to forget what originally defenseless your centre about a city or country, then having some notes handy when it comes time to book a trip can help with your determination.

Pssst – I ain all 3 of these coffee table books, and they're amazing for finding travel inspiration!

2. Decide How Long Your Trip Should Be

Four days? A week? Ii weeks? A month?

At that place'southward no correct or wrong answers when information technology comes to the length or your trip, merely typically this decision volition come downwardly to a few factors:

Holiday time. How much of it exercise you have? How much of it exercise you want to spend on this trip?
Travel time to the destination. In full general, the farther away you're traveling, the longer your trip should be. If your destination is only a three-hour flying away, you lot can definitely spend just a few days there and get your coin's worth. If yous're spending 20 hours on a plane, even so, you'll probable want a full calendar week (better however, two) at the minimum in guild for the travel fourth dimension to be worth it.
Fourth dimension needed to enjoy the destination. Countries come up in all sizes, and the fourth dimension needed to "properly" explore Red china vs. Republic of costa rica (for example) would be drastically different. It'due south true that you lot'll likely never come across everything a country has to offering, no matter how much time y'all have. Just if you're visiting a large destination, or one that really fascinates yous on a deep level, information technology'due south smart to upkeep more time.
Monetary budget. Generally speaking, the longer your trip, the more y'all'll spend. Which brings usa to…

3. Ready Your Budget

Some people may prefer to ready their upkeep earlier in the process; for example, even earlier deciding on the destination or length of trip. And this probably makes sense if you lot're on a very strict or limited budget.

For instance, if you know that you absolutely cannot spend more than $1,000 full, then it's smart to make that decision starting time, and and then expect for destinations that fit into your budget (either considering they accept a low cost of living, or because they're cheap to fly to).

Simply personally, I tend to already have a dream destination in mind, and sobuild my upkeep effectually the airfare and average destination costs.

For example, if I've picked Mexico (which is a short flight away, as well as a relatively cheap destination) I will fix a much lower budget than if I had picked Frg, which costs more money to wing to, on top of beingness a more expensive land.

Again, if you know that yous have a limited upkeep, information technology makes sense to rule out unaffordable destinations correct off the bat. Simply if you have a bit of wiggle room, it makes sense to exist flexible in your budgeting based on the location.

But how do you actually set your travel upkeep?

Essentially, you just effigy out how much you're able to comfortably spend, and and so force your expenses to fit into that budget. Easy, right?

It can be helpful to think in terms of dollars per day; for instance, if you have $two,000 available to spend (not including flight costs) and want to travel for x days, you lot know that you can spend $200 per day on accommodations + food + activities, etc.

Having this estimate handy tin can help you brand decisions virtually hotels and activities after in the planning process.

4. Start Researching Flights & Dates

Super important rule: flights should ALWAYS exist the first affair you book.

Why?

Airline prices and availability are much more volatile than hotel or activity prices and availability.

If yous a volume a flying, and then notice that the hotel room yous liked is no longer bachelor, at that place'due south still a adept risk yous tin can discover someplace to stay that volition meet your needs and fall within your budget.

But what if you lot already booked your hotels, only to detect that the flight you were looking at has doubled in price? Or is no longer available at all? Or is significantly cheaper the day before or after y'all had planned to start your trip?

You lot'll also need to know your inflow and difference schedule in order to build your itinerary.

For example, factors such as whether your flying arrives in the morning or evening may determine how much time y'all spend in your arrival city before moving on to the next destination.

Here are some variables to consider while researching dates and flight routes:

When tin can y'all comfortably take time away from piece of work or school?
What season do yous want to travel in? What will the conditions exist like in your destination at that fourth dimension?
Exercise you want to travel during loftier season (typically the all-time weather, but well-nigh expensive prices) or low season (fewer tourists and lower costs, merely may have poor weather or other inconveniences)?

I personally like using Kayak to search for flights, but I always book directly with the airline. Why? If something happens (similar a filibuster, cancellation, or missed flight) third party vendors will exist less equipped to assist you than the actual airline.

Once you've locked downwardly your dates and identified a flying y'all're happy with, I still recommend creating a crude itinerary before actually booking your flights. Which brings united states of america to…

5. Create Your Itinerary

At this stage, I like to brand a listing of all potential cities, sights, and activities inside my destination that interest me. A Give-and-take certificate or the notes section on your telephone is a adept place to make this listing. I've fifty-fifty used PowerPoint if I want to include images in my notes.

…this listing is unremarkably Manner too long.

If y'all have a week to explore a country, you're not going to fit visits to 5 different cities in. You lot're just not! Narrow down your list to the ii cities that interest you lot the nigh.

If your trip is longer, calibration upwards the number of destinations appropriately; for instance, in two weeks y'all could reasonably visit 4 (or possibly five) cities.

Some personal rules of pollex:

ii days per metropolis at an absolute minimum
For major cities (like Paris), double that number
three days is my sweet spot for about mid-sized cities
Avoid single-dark stays…even for small-scale towns. It'southward only likewise much of a hassle with checking in and out of hotels; no time to really relax!

Factors to help y'all narrow down your listing and choose which cities to visit:

Travel accessibility and fourth dimension between cities (if i city is a 9-hr motorcoach ride away, and some other city is a i-hour shuttle ride, I'd almost e'er pick the second city)
Things to do in each city; what interests you the most?
Accommodation availability in each city

And here'south something near guide books probably won't tell you: in that location is no such affair as a must-see city or attraction.

Seriously! Information technology'south all relative.

If your dream is to bicycle effectually the French countryside exploring minor villages and tasting local wines, and the idea of walking through city streets and touring fine art museums sounds like hell, why would you spend any of your precious fourth dimension in Paris during your week in France?

I know, information technology sounds like a sin to skip a city as great every bit Paris…but honestly, I believe it's worse to skip those destinations that set up your imagination on fire and fill yous with excitement, in favor of someone else'southward "must come across."

I don't believe in skipping touristic sights just for the sake of going off the browbeaten path (truthfully, pop sights are usually pop for a skillful reason) but if they truly don't speak to yous, follow your eye.

…Deplorable, that was a bit of tangent! Only here's where I'chiliad going with that: I know it's hard fitting everything you lot want to see into your itinerary. For me, information technology'southward usually more than than difficult – it's impossible!

My advice: Take the fact that you lot can't see it all, choose the places that excite you or interest you the most, and trust that you'll have such an astonishing fourth dimension visiting those places, that you won't even retrieve about the places you had to cutting.

Information technology's the truth, I promise.

half-dozen. Start Booking!

One time you've settled on an itinerary you lot're happy with, information technology's time to lock it all into place by finally booking your flights, accommodations, activities, and any other transportation.

Book Your Flights

Boom! Done.

This is e'er a super exciting moment for me, because no thing what happens adjacent…there'due south no turning back now, you're going on your trip!

Volume Your Accommodation

Later on securing flights, accommodation is e'er the side by side matter I book.

Where to Stay in San Miguel de Allende — My amazing Airbnb in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico!

More oft than non, I finish upwards booking a identify to stay via Airbnb. I find that you lot tin can get some really astonishing value from Airbnb, for the same cost or lower than what y'all'd find at a hotel. A lot of the homes I've rented have astonishing views or amenities, and are usually in great locations.

(Psst – get $40 off your commencement Airbnb stay!)

When I'thou non staying in an Airbnb, I like to search for hotel rooms on Booking.com.

Non only is it a useful search engine for finding bachelor rooms, you can besides view photos, read user reviews, and see ratings of features similar location, cleanliness, and overall value.

Unlike with flights (which I adopt to book direct with the airlines), I'm happy to book hotels through third party vendors like Booking. You can sometimes find meliorate deals than what you'll see on the hotel website, such equally free breakfast or flexible booking.

That said, I always recommend shopping effectually to see where you can find the lowest price!

When I'm traveling on a budget, HostelWorld is my go-to source for finding dorm rooms, or fifty-fifty private rooms in hostels.

If you lot've never stayed in a hostel before, my communication is this: don't knock information technology 'til you've tried it! They can exist great for traveling cheaply and meeting likeminded travelers.

Whichever service I'm using to book my adaptation, these are a few things I ever look for:

Location, location, location. No matter how stunning or unique a hotel is, information technology's hard to pass up accommodation that's perfectly located. You can save so much time and stress past picking someplace that's walking distance to the urban center center, major sights, good food and nightlife, etc.
Character/charm. Why book a cookie cutter room when there are so many quirky hostels, boutique hotels, family-owned guesthouses, or beautifully decorated Airbnbs to choose from?
Views. Not a must-have, but I take 'em where I tin can go 'em!

Plan/Volume Other Transportation

How volition you travel betwixt the diverse cities you're visiting? How about any 24-hour interval trips or excursions?

Booking transportation may not be something you need to practice in advance, but it is something you should definitely enquiry and plan for.

If you lot're renting a car, I highly recommend reserving in advance.
If you're traveling past railroad train, it may depend on the destination whether or not you need to book in advance. Look up train schedules to meet how frequently they depart for your destination, and browse forums like Reddit or TripAdvisor to run across what other travelers say nearly booking in advance vs. after you've arrived.
If you're traveling past omnibus, y'all nigh likely don't demand to book before you arrive…but again, it doesn't injure to double bank check.

Program/Book Activities

This part is e'er a lot of fun!

Much like you did while selecting which cities to visit, I recommend compiling a big main listing of all the possible activities and sights you lot're interested in: walking tours, mean solar day trips, museums, architectural or celebrated sites, food tours, bar crawls, hikes, snorkeling, etc.

Tulum Travel Guide — Swimming in a cenote…definitely a worthwhile activity!

Here's where I similar to search for things to do and see while traveling:

Travel blogs (like this one 😉 )
Pinterest
TripAdvisor
Crude Guides (I dearest their "Things Not to Miss" sections)
Solitary Planet
WikiTravel
Reddit

Once you lot have a expert idea of your possible options, go back to your list and narrow down your choices to your personal "must practice's." When deciding which activities to cut, consider factors like length of time, cost, location, and – most importantly – how much each allure or activity interests you.

Here's another tip: yous don't need a minute-by-minute itinerary for every single twenty-four hour period of your trip.

Everyone has different travel styles; some prefer to exit their plans wide open and brand decisions on the fly, while others like to program and pre-book as much as possible.

Either way, I recommend leaving some amount of jerk room in your daily itineraries.

My personal preference is to one) make a list of all the activities, attractions, and restaurants I definitely want to effort, and then 2) loosely "assign" them to various days. This tactic allows me to ensure that I tin fit everything I want into my schedule, while nevertheless keeping it flexible.

Remember: travel should exist fun! Don't force yourself into anything just because information technology was originally on your itinerary; if y'all're not feeling it anymore once yous're in the destination, or you think y'all'd rather experience information technology on another mean solar day, information technology's no biggie!

7. Make a Detailed Arrival Plan

Arriving for the first time in a foreign country always leaves me with butterflies in my stomach…and not merely the good kind of collywobbles.

What if I get lost? What if I go scammed? What if, what if…

These are all perfectly normal thoughts, simply making a detailed arrival programme tin help alleviate some of these anxieties.

Plan for factors such as:

What'southward the best style to go to your hotel/hostel/Airbnb? How much should it cost? How should you deal with taxi drivers who try to overcharge you lot? (Tip: refuse to accept a ride unless they plough the meter on)
Where/how will you lot acquire the local currency? (An airport ATM is usually a good option)

I as well similar to screenshot the name and address of my hotel (in the local language if possible) equally well as my booking confirmations. That way if there'south an upshot with connecting to WiFi, I notwithstanding have everything I need to get checked into my room, which is the most important thing on Day One.

eight. Plan for These Not-Very-Fun-But-Super-Important Steps

Visas – Do you need a visa to visit your destination? For Americans visiting near countries, the answer will commonly exist no. Just it's always smart to double bank check visa requirements, besides as passport validity requirements (annotation: most countries will require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your return date).

Vaccines – On the CDC website, there is a department where travelers tin input their destination and find recommended vaccinations, as well as wellness risks.

Travel Insurance – You should never travel without proper travel insurance! We would all like to assume the worst volition never happen to us while traveling abroad…but the truth is, none of us can plan for these things.

If you're seriously injured or become ill away, having insurance can make a world of divergence to ensuring you get the intendance you need. Especially when it comes to major illnesses and emergencies! Earth Nomads is a favorite amidst experienced travelers; you can pop your travel details into the tool beneath to encounter a pricing estimate:

Tell Your Credit Card Companies Your Travel Plans– Typically, if your bank sees a sudden influx of charges on your credit carte du jour coming from a foreign land, what are they going to do…? Flag the charges equally potentially fraudulent and freeze your card, peradventure?

This would be considered great service nearly of the time, but could become a nightmare situation for someone traveling abroad. E'er let your bank know well-nigh your travel plans; almost all banks permit yous to input this information online nowadays. If not, just give them a call.

9. Have the Time of Your Life!

Planning a trip definitely takes work, only it's ane of those things that gets easier and far less stress-inducing the more than you do information technology. And hey, the effort definitely pays off – you're going to have a blast!

Enjoy your trip – eat all the food, come across all the sights, soak in all the culture, and take all the photos. Happy travels!

Pin It!

Are you in the procedure of planning a trip to somewhere amazing? What questions do you notwithstanding accept about how to programme a trip? I tin can do my best to answer them in the comments!

Note: This post contains several affiliate links. If you make a buy using one of these links, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. My affiliate income helps offset the cost of running this blog, and allows me to keep this site free of ads and sponsored posts. So, thank you!!

huntreen1969.blogspot.com

Source: https://thewanderingblonde.com/2019/01/02/how-to-plan-a-trip/