I often have a few trips per year, both in the UK and abroad. I thought I would put together a post on how I plan my trips. Including a trip planner, websites and my apps of choice. Read on for my guide:
Before I start, this post is not an ad, and all opinions are my own. There may be some links included that is an affiliate link, which is marked with a *. This means that at no extra cost to you, I may earn a small amount of commission should you make a purchase through the link.
How I Plan My Trips:
As much as I like trips to have their own flow, and not have a set hour by hour itinerary I do like to have some sort of plan. I use a variety of resources to plan my trips, some paper-based and others more electronic. Knowing a bit about the place you are due to visit really helps, especially if it is your first visit there. This guide is for when I have picked the location I would like to visit, and how I look into what to do, places to visit and where to eat /drink.
Trip Planner:
So, as soon as I know where I am going, out comes my travel/trip planner. My friend bought me this one for Christmas, and I am so glad that I can now use it to plan my future trips for the year. (I have 3 planned so far!)
I believe this one is from Paperchase, although there are many others out there in the market. It has space to plan up to six trips/destinations. Plenty of pages per trip, including pages to put your travel /flight arrangements, accommodation plans, a packing list, places to eat and drink, as well as things to do. It really does make planning a trip so easy and all in one place! Soft brown leather bound, it feels lovely in hand and is small enough to place in your bag. There are also wonderful graphics along each page, with various travel quotes throughout the planner.
A perfect bit of stationary to plan my trips! I use this planner to jot down the various things I have seen on the following websites /apps.
Trip Advisor
I always head to TripAdvisor* to check out everything about a place I am due to visit. The beauty of TripAdvisor is it has a lot of ideas at your fingertips, and you can save things you have found to your own list. My friends and I have a ‘Lisbon’ list for our upcoming summer trip, and we did the same last year for our trip to Madrid.
You might not always get to do everything on your list, but that is always an excuse to return! It is great to have more things to do than too little. There’s no fun in wasting your time trying to find things to do, which shouldn’t happen if you have planned.
*Please note that the link above is an affiliate link. This means that at no extra cost to you, I may earn a small amount of commission should you make a purchase through the linking website.
Social Media:
YouTube:
YouTube is my go-to for watching travel vlogs. Once I know where I am going, I love nothing better than to watch related travel vlogs. Yes, this can at times show you the most popular things to do in that destination, however sometimes you can come across little gems. My favourite types are the ones that actually put in the places in the subtitles, so that you a look them up without having to guess how it is spelt.
Not only does watching travel vlogs provide me with a lot of useful information on where I am visiting, but it always helps me get excited for a trip. I always watch loads of travel vlogs right before heading off on my adventure!
Instagram:
Similarly, to how I use YouTube, I love looking of various Instagram shots of the place I am due to visit. This helps with planning out areas I would like to see in the destination. Again, there can be a downside to this, especially if you come across very popular areas.
Twitter:
Twitter is great for getting tips and tricks of where to see and what to do in various places you are planning to visit. I put this tweet out the other day, and got an amazing response for my upcoming trip to Lisbon. Not only is it a great way to help plan your trip, but it also gets you connecting to other bloggers.
Pinterest:
Pinterest is one of my favourites. I know it is a search engine of sorts, but I am putting it under social media.
The thing I love about
Blogs:
Linking back to twitter and Pinterest, I was lucky enough to be provided with other bloggers travel guides. Again, I love looking through these, as you get the stunning visuals through their photos, but also (hopefully) there honest opinions of what to see and do, and where to eat and drink. Sometimes these guides can be ‘off the beaten track’ so you may get to see some great places that aren’t as well known.
I will always do a google search for blogger’s guides to whichever destination I am planning on visiting.
There are tonnes of more things you can use to plan your trips before booking flights and accommodation. This guide was for the ‘after’ booking time of planning.
So there you have my sort of guide on how I plan my trips. Hope you enjoyed reading!
Do you do similar things to plan your trips? Is there other apps you use? Let me know in the comments below!
Thanks for reading!
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Solid tips for planning. I do a lot of those too and I create an itinerary. One thing I need to get better at is booking restaurants. I always mess up and end up desperate to find something to eat because I haven’t planned in advance x
Thank you! Oh I always have loads of restaurants saved to my list, but can never decide on where to go at the time! I think there is an app where you can book tables…might have to do this for my next trip away!
Thanks for commenting 🙂
Aimsy xoxo
I use TripAdvisor and Instagram too whenever I am searching for places that I want to visit. They are the best!
Great post!
Anna // http://www.stralthy.com
They are great for inspiration aren’t they?! Although I always want to wish the time away so that I can go right now!
Thanks for commenting 🙂
Aimsy xoxo
Pinterest always makes me pine to go to so many places abroad! Love this post lovely xx
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
Oh I know I can spend hours on Pinterest without even realising it! So many places to see!
Thank you for commenting 🙂
Aimsy xoxo
This was such an interesting post to read through! Ever since I started my own blog I find myself using Twitter and reading blog posts for inspiration so frequently. Your planner is so gorgeous! x
https://www.femaleoriginal.com
I know, I almost don’t want to write in it so I don’t ruin it!
Yeah it is one of my go tos to seek out other blogs – helps me planning and helps them with views!
Thank you for commenting 🙂
Aimsy xoxo
Thank you for the tips!! I am hoping to plan a couple trips this year so may have to go find myself a travel planner!:)
Thank you for commenting! Hope you find a lovely planner to do all of your travel planning in!
Aimsy xoxo
These are some great tips! Will definitely keep these in mind for my next trip!
Thank you! Hope you get to go on a few lovely trips!
Aimsy xoxo
I really like Trip Advisor becaus eit gives me all the info I need on certain places!
Love, Amie ❤
The Curvaceous Vegan
Yeah, TripAdvisor has everything, doesn’t it!
Thanks for commenting 🙂
Aimsy xoxo
Thank you for these amazing tips! I’m certainly in the mood to book a trip somewhere now xx
http://www.lilyroserichards.com | @bloglilyrose
Glad you liked them! Have fun planning your next trip!
Aimsy xoxo
Planning for trips is one of my favourite things! The journal from Paperchase looks fantastic, I love things like that, it’s a fab way to get organised and make sure you don’t miss anything important. Pinterest is so inspiring, I’m forever seeing gorgeous travel photos pop up and just wish I was somewhere warm and sunny! Thank you for sharing your tips Aimsy and hope you enjoy your trips this year <3 xx
Bexa | http://www.hellobexa.com
Thanks for commenting! 🙂
I have so much fun planning my trips…fingers crossed I can do all that I’ve planned. The planner is lovely…deffo great for a stationery addict like me!
Keep posted, as I am sure the trips will make it up onto the blog!
Aimsy xoxo
as a fellow obsessive travel planner, these are great tips! I religiously use Pinterest to plan my must-sees, but I’ve never thought about using Youtube! one of my travel goals for 2019 is to keep up a travel journal, so I also really appreciate your tips for that (also super cute journal). thanks for sharing 🙂
Hannah
https://thepinkgeneration.com/
Thanks for commenting 🙂 Oh you must look at youtube for ideas of what to see, do and eat on your trips. Some vlogs are not always that helpful, but still totally pump you up for going!
Pinterest is fab, there are so many pretty images and then useful posts!
Aimsy xoxo
Great post! I love planning my trips, it makes them mycmmorem exciting. My bf usually jokes that I’ll take a clipboard away with my one day!
I think it helps build the excitement for the trip, doesn’t it? Haha, why not take your clipboard!
Thanks for commenting 🙂
Aimsy xoxo
I LOVE Pinterest when I’m trip planning because there is so much knowledge and inspiration all in one place. Plus, you can get info about the location you’re visiting, advice on how to pack and start planning out your trip wardrobe all in one place hahaha what could be better than that?
Britt | http://alternativelyspeaking.ca
Thanks so much for posting this, this is so helpful as I’m currently planning my own trip overseas to America! I’m definitely going to utilise blogs and bloggers, and I love that ill be able to use them for help as well as supporting them at the same time!
I don’t plan A LOT before travelling! I like being surprised and not having too high expectations but it is always nice to have a few inspirations by reading blogposts!! It’s interesting to read everyone’s point of view so thanks for sharing xx
Anaïs | http://anais-n.com
Thanks for commenting 🙂
Yeah, too much planning can ruin a good trip, especially if you plan more than you can realistically do during your trip. I like to get a feel for the place I am visiting (maybe that’s traveller nerves in me?!).
Aimsy xoxo
I love the travel planner! Always a bit of a stationary addict, some really great tips on here! Will definitely be using on my next trip!
https://fifuelsfitness.wordpress.com
Its cute isn’t it?! I love stationary too, but hate writing in them at first as I don’t want to ruin them!
Hope your trip planning goes well!
Aimsy xoxo
I also have a similar research process lol I read a lot of travel blogs on the topic and I usually search them on Pinterest. I also look up maps and locations.
Maps and locations is a great way to get a feel for the place you are visiting isn’t it? I love to use Google street view where you can walk around!
Thanks for commenting 🙂
Aimsy xoxo