Focus on travel PLANS, not travel bans…
Until we’re ready to hit “play” again on travel, we can do some planning while we’ve hit the “pause” button. The travel restrictions due to COVID-19 can be a time to plan out future trips. Putting time, energy and creativity into the process can also be a good use of your time while you’re spending more time at home. Some suggestions for dreaming and planning your future trips into fruition include the following:
- Pinterest. Search it for some dream destinations. Create a Pinterest board of that destination (or several) and start pinning to your board. For example, if your board is “Portugal”, you can “collect” pins on points of interest; The Sintra Palace, wineries, lodging, photo opportunities, beach BnBs, etc. You can let those simmer on the back burner and marinate until you’re ready to read them carefully.
- Booking.com This is a useful tool for finding excursions, lodging, etc. from your Pinterest leads. Receiving computer cookies (ads) helps bring in a continuous stream of relevant information to keep building your itinerary.
- Books. Check out or buy books about your destination. It will enhance your cultural immersion there. It also gives you conversation starters with your tour guides. Contact that destination’s Chamber of Commerce to receive brochures and booklets that you can take on your trip for easy reference.
- Budgets and discounts. Red-eye flights are often less expensive. Driving to a nearby, main airport hub (like Dallas) and departing from there reduces the flight cost by eliminating the connecting flight. You can park at certain hotels for a fee and shuttle to the airport for free. For families, staying one night at a hotel is still much cheaper than paying for everyone’s connecting flights.
- Cash vs Credit Card. Paying for many hotels with cash vs. credit card significantly reduces the fee since the hotels don’t incur credit card fees.
- Transportation. Research safety tips on this. Uber or Taxis can be hired again throughout your stay for the rest of your itinerary needs or hotel transfers. Bonding with your driver/guide will gain you access to entry into certain excursions and other sightseeing perks as local guides appreciate your business.
- Health precautions. Travel Clean Kit (travelclean.com) is a recommended hygiene resource which includes airplane seat cover, face mask, rubber gloves, shoe covers and tray table wipes, all sanitary.
- Blend luxury and budget. You can still enjoy luxurious details while keeping within a budget. For example, stay in budget lodging but dine or enjoy cocktails at a luxurious hotel for a fancy evening.
- Stay Organized. Many trip apps (like Trip It), can store all of your travel info on your phone. However, it’s always a good idea to have a printed copy handy in your carry on purse/bag and also in your stow away or checked suitcase. Travel itinerary booklets can be easily made by printing off all your flight info, excursion tickets, lodging reservations, etc. into a bound, laminated booklet. You can have it printed off in a shrunken version for your purse. When it comes to travel, you can never be too organized!
- Consider a new theme trip. While you’re planning, why not consider a different trip format you’ve never done before? You may have heard of travelers who have done glamping, voluntourism, agriturismo, worldschooling, eco-safari, and many other carpe diem style trips. Read up about them to see yourself in one of those trip styles. Think outside the box.
Taking control of future trip planning will fill the void while “staycationing” and watching travel advisories.
Recommended reading:
The Bucket List 1000 Adventures Big & Small
Epic Journeys National Geographic
Vagabonderie; An Anthology of Life-Changing Trips
The Bucket List Places to Find Peace and Quiet
Read Vagabonderie to learn about so many different types of trip formats. It includes over 35 interviews of travelers including my own stories and recommendations.