Planning the perfect itinerary is the first step to any great adventure. The problem is, too many travelers take planning as a stressful task that takes away time from the actual trip. So what’s the best way to create a trip outline that’s both thorough and simple to follow?
Here’s a quick guide to planning a stress-free itinerary that will work on any trip, to any destination, with any companion.
Why Most People Fail To Plan Their Travels Stress-Free
The problem with travel itinerary planning is that it should be done with joy. You’re about to go on an epic trip, you’re excited, so why are you stressed out before you even arrive? There are two major reasons travelers can’t relax while planning trips:
1. Information Overload
A recent poll revealed that 67% of vacationers “stress out” due to information overload. That’s a lot of people spending too much time with too many choices.
When trip planning becomes more about doing research than planning a trip, you’re setting yourself up for the dreaded brain freeze that makes you never leave the couch.
2. Amateur Planning Techniques
Don’t know where to start? That’s the problem.
Planning like a pro is a learned skill. Most people never had a travel planner to teach them how to plan a trip efficiently, instead they spent hours with no idea of where to go or what to do.
The stress-free itinerary planner: Get your priorities straight by listing your top goals on your travel list, then do focused research to build your best trip possible.
What Makes Planning Your Itinerary So Stressful
I get it, it sounds simple in theory, but here are a few examples of what happens in real life to mess up a good travel plan:
Too Many Choices Paralyze
Do you ever open up Google and type in, “best things to do in ___”? You’re not alone. I did it too. But that will never work. Instead, you will get distracted with Pinterest foodie lists and a ton of activities you’ll never have the time or energy to do.
And there you go, paralysis with no plan.
The “Best of” Trap
Vacation is about “vacationing” from reality. Too many people spend too much time doing “research” and become overwhelmed with activity lists like these.
Your trip should include the best experiences at your best destinations. But that will take time. Be sure to avoid these research oversights by booking the best experiences first.
6x Steps To Plan Your Travel Itinerary Stress-Free
Planning doesn’t have to be the “pre-tour” equivalent of horror movies. Instead, plan out your adventures step-by-step so that you can enjoy planning them.
Step 1. Research: Start With Must-Do Experiences
If you just read the above section about doing trip research, you’re already on your way to creating the best stress-free itineraries out there.
Here are the steps:
- Grab a notebook.
- List your 3-5 top travel goals for this destination.
- Write down must-do activities for each of your goals.
- Use your best planners for organization and block time for each activity.
Stop at nothing. Once you’ve got your top goals and must-dos covered, research other possible experiences later.
Step 2. Timeline: Count Your Days Carefully
How much time do you have? Travelers tend to think they can fit everything in but there’s one thing we all forget: TIME.
Start your timeline planning with this rule: count the number of actual days you will be at your destination.
- Add one buffer day for rest or unexpected findings.
- List your must-do experiences for each goal.
- Fit no more than 2-3 major activities per day.
That’s a solid and stress-free itinerary base to work with.
Step 3. Research 2.0: Go Back To The Start
If the first tip is your foundation, this is your travel checklist. Use this detailed yet still flexible framework to fill in your trip’s missing details:
- Day 1: Research your top priority activities. Use a simple search like: “best of NAME of PLACE”. Book these experiences ASAP.
- Day 2: Research 2-3 special restaurants worth visiting.
- Day 3: Identify what transport options you’ll need and research them.
- Day 4: Look up any backup activities per day.
You’re finished with research. Move on to planning.
Step 4. Planning: Break Down Your Days
Take your no-more-than-2-3-must-do activities per day and plug them into this simple day planner:
- Morning: One major activity
- Afternoon: Second activity OR rest & relaxation
- Evening: Dinner OR neighborhood exploration
Stop. Empty spaces are good.
Step 5. Logistics: Nail Down The Nitty-Gritty
This is the part no one likes, but it’s essential for a great trip. To make things easy on yourself, use this quick guide:
Transportation & Airport Transfers: International or domestic? Do you need to book a rental car, or a taxi? What airports are you flying in and out of? If it’s an international trip, book airport transfers or a ride service in advance.
Hotel Location In Relation To Your Planned Activities: Research the location of your hotel. Are your top three or four activities within walking distance? If not, map out transportation options between them.
Transportation Between Attractions: Will you walk, take a bus, cab, bike, or public transport? Do you need to book tours in advance? Etc.
Pro tip: Do your logistical research and complete tasks the week before your departure date, not on your final packing day.
Step 6. Planning Part 2: Build In Spontaneity
We’ll end with a pro tip I only wish I knew earlier: plan for spontaneous relaxation. Whether you build in this flexibility before leaving, or when you’re on the ground, you should always leave 25% of your itinerary open for new adventures. And to discover where you really need a rest day.
The best memories and best travel moments are usually unplanned, so your stress-free travel planner should plan for that.
3x Planning Mistakes to Avoid
If you just skimmed this article and want a 5-minute recap, here are the three top planning mistakes to avoid for your next stress-free itinerary:
Piling On The Activities
Ever tried to fit 10 days worth of activities into 4 days? Don’t. It will not work.
Better approach: Plan a few fewer activities and do them thoroughly and enjoy fully.
Ignoring Travel Time
Ever left too late from one destination and missed your meal at another? Happens to the best of us. Add “padding time” to your day-to-day trip planning for rest and unexpected situations.
Planning Each Meal
Planning one, two nice meals per day is fun. Making a schedule of breakfast, lunch, and dinner is a bore. Balance with some spontaneous local discoveries and leave some open on your itinerary.
Wrap-Up
Itinerary planning can be stressful when you’re not sure where to start. Here’s how to start, continue, and finish your itinerary planning the simple way:
- Start with your top priorities for this trip and book those in your best travel planner first.
- Do not cram too many things into your trip. Be realistic.
- Research smartly. Do not let yourself get paralyzed with information overload.
- Plan your logistics before your activities.
Bottom line: There is a stress-free way to plan a trip. Don’t waste time not knowing. Research, plan, book and go!
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