TRAVEL PLANNING INFRASTRUCTURE

Do-it-yourself travel planning centers upon three preliminary steps:

1) Brainstorming Your Dream Vacation

2) Travel Itinerary Template

3) Travel route

BRAINSTORMING YOUR DREAM VACATION

Since this is your dream vacation, you already know your destination – Hawaii, Mexico, Italy etc. You should already know what it is about this destination that appeals to you.

If you do not have a particular destination in mind, here is a way to find one . Return here later and continue on.

Explore your dream and join with it through your travel planning. Connect with your inner feelings and emotions. You may even need to re-read a book from years earlier or review a movie to accomplish this.

Be realistic about your expectations however. Make sure you identify any preconceived notions about what you expect so that you are not disappointed later.

Next, set boundaries for your trip. Doing so forces you to identify and address specific details and options when you plan. Be as specific as possible because you will often refer back to this information as you design and refine your plans.

Are you traveling with other individuals? Remember that others are spending their time and money on a dream vacation - a trip that is meaningful to them in some way.

Have each of your companions repeat the same exercises above and then compare notes. List the activities that are most important to each of you – look for similarities and differences. This vacation must satisfy everyone.

Now proceed to Dream Vacation Brainstorming


THE TRAVEL ITINERARY

You and your traveling companions identified the specific appeal of your destination and your interests. Now you, as a group, will make the above details tangible through a travel itinerary. Develop your itinerary by collecting the necessary information and distilling it down.

To help you get started, think about the cities and sights you will visit; the activities you will enjoy; the souvenirs you will buy; the foods and wines you will enjoy.

The more activities you set for yourself, the more you will require a travel itinerary. You may feel overwhelmed without one.

Now develop your Travel Itinerary


THE TRAVEL ROUTE

Determining your travel route is probably the most underrated facet of planning a vacation, yet it is one of the most important. Perhaps this is because many people do not realize the significance of outlining the travel route.

There are efficiencies to be gained by identifying the most effective travel route between cities. This minimizes transit time; determines the most strategic cities for spending the night; and helps establish possible modes of transportation between these cities.

Why would you want to do this?

Because to less time you spend in transit, the more time you have available to enjoy your vacation.

Develop your Travel Route


To recap, your travel planning activities focused on clarifying your vacation activities. You started with a nebulous vacation concept and you gave it substance. You defined your vacation parameters and then developed a detailed travel itinerary and travel route.

Your upcoming travel planning activities will focus on refining the above three components and then building upon them.

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