5 major things to do before planning a trip

Getting ready for a trip!  

PLAN AHEAD OF TIME! 

When a person is getting ready to leave for either a short trip or a longer trip there are a few things that need to be done.  I know packing is big on the list but there are a few things that need to be put in place before you start to shove your things into a suitcase.  

The first thing is the itinerary.  Yep Plans!  I know many people like to just wing it but a trip is much more enjoyable if there are a few plans made.  Since covid hit many places are taking reservations or having limited trips if you are wanting to do an excursion.  We have found that several places are only doing about half the amount of trips with about half the amount of people.  It would be a horrible trip if you were all excited to go to a boat ride you had done several years ago and you wanted to share with your friends only to show up and find out they are booked for the next month.  

1. DO YOUR RESEARCH! 

Buy your tickets ahead of time.  Many groups are only taking reservations if a person pays ahead of time.  Several times we have found that we had to put our names into a lottery months in advance and still were not picked to be one of the 20 people who could do the activity we had our hopes set on.  If you can try for a couple of days and then plan your trip around that.

2. Be flexible

I know a vacation is suppose to be full of the things you have been dreaming of for a year or more and you should be able to do the things you have been saving for since your last trip but many times things happen and your are unable to do it because the company you were going with could not do it.  This is the best time to think outside the box.  Try a lesser know company or a smaller company.  Many times those are the best trips. 

We have had to do this several times and had the best time.  Many times the smaller companies are more laid back or have only a few people in a group.  This is the best time to get more of a local thrill.  Many times they will stop at a local restaurant that was not on the itinerary and they have the best local cuisine.  We did this when we went to Belize a few years ago.  The trip was only 6 people snorkeling with a stop at a beach afterwards.  He was a very young man and saw that we were still ready for adventure after our snorkel trip and asked if we wanted some food at a local restaurant and then to go to a nature rehabilitation  hospital for animals.  We all agreed and that is when we were able to hold a sloth and a monkey.  

  

  

3. Do not plan the entire trip min by min.  

When working on your itinerary Make sure you have room for driving, weather as well as sleep.  Many times we will schedule a nap in the middle of the day because one of us wants to to stay up to see the Northern Lights or get up early to see the sunrise.  Talk to everyone going and listen to their requests a.  Weeks ahead of time we all sit down and talk about what are the one or two major things we want to do on a trip.  For my husband it is to see the wildlife.  For me it is to take pictures of the wildlife as well as see nature.  We like to stay out and about from dusk til dawn so we tend to find a good napping place in the middle of the day by a lake or river.  

Talk to everyone going before you fill it up.

4. Send your itinerary to everyone going on the trip.

Make sure everyone has a digital copy saved on their phone.  This makes it easier to find your hotel, the rental car or the out of the way trail if everyone has a copy.  If it is downloaded on your phone then the only time you need cell service is when you are calling someone.  You can open up the file to look for the address or a phone number.  We use google drive for everything and save links to all of the various places we are going as well as how much time may be needed to either get their or do the activity.  If you keep all your information in one spot a vacation is more enjoyable.  We will then set an alarm on our watch to remind us we have to leave to get to our next activity or to tell us when dusk is coming and we need to start heading back somewhere.  Use the technology you have to your advantage.  

5.  Check the rules of the area before heading out.

Covid changes a lot of things.  Many places have closed or modified their rules/hours.  We have our favorite places too visit and have been surprised when we get their that the doors have permanently closed or even changed ownership and the hours have changed.  This made us scramble to find a different place to eat or to find something else to do on that day.  Make sure you look into the area before you leave.  This will help you save time as well as money.  

If the place has changed ownership many times this means their prices have changed or even the food or the activity.  

Planning ahead makes it much more enjoyable.  

Gypsy guide app is a must have when traveling.  The gentleman explains many of the sites that you may be visiting during your drive.  He has most of the national parks and major sites on the app to choose from