Planning Adventures
Well dear Rambler's, when this post goes live, I'll be on a plane to my next adventure. It's been a while since I went on my last one to the Amazon Jungle of Peru, and I must say I am rather excited for this new one. For safety purposes, I won't be telling you where I'm going just yet however, I will tell you that it's Definitely something to write home about (Love you mum, don't worry I'll be safe! xo)
On more than a few occasions, people have asked me how I go about planning my trips, how I choose where to go, what to see, etc. So I thought this week the perfect opportunity to share that with you in case you've been entertaining planning your very own vacation.
Step 1: Stop telling yourself it's impossible and allow yourself to dream a little.
You'll never go anywhere if you don't allow yourself to believe you can make it happen. There are of course, always limitations such as money, health, etc, but to those limitations there are also always some way to accommodate them. Perhaps it means taking a few years to save up by putting aside $20 a month, more when you can, sometimes it means making sure that where you're going is a resort or somewhere that can easily accommodate health restrictions, sometimes it means picking a place closer to home, or getting super creative with a staycation. I mean, whose to say you can't go on vacation by telling everyone you're going on an adventure, turning off your phone, and decorating your house like Hawaii for the weekend? My mother and her friends sometimes split on a local hotel room just to get away from it all and have the illusion of being somewhere else. Where there is a will, there is a way!
For those of you who can commit to saving up and who are willing to go a little further from home...
Step 2: List your favourite places. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Where have you dreamed of going since you were a kid? Perhaps you've dreamed of surfing in Australia, or you would love to go kayaking by the glaciers in Alaska, perhaps you'd love to see the monkeys on the beaches of Costa Rica, maybe you've always wanted to see the rolling hills of Scotland, write your list. Having a difficult time choosing places? Ask yourself some questions to narrow things down. Would you prefer somewhere hot, or cold? Somewhere touristy, or somewhere off the beaten path? Old ruins? Jungles? Beaches? Hobbit landscapes from your favourite books/movies? All-inclusive resort in Hawaii? Maybe you want to see as many different places but don't want to miss out on laying back and relaxing, in which case you might consider a cruise? The possibilities are endless, but everyone has preferences when they stop to think about them long enough!
Step 3: Put those wonderful places in order of preference.
What are your top three places? Which of those three places would you love to go the most? Guess what?! You've just chosen the destination for your next adventure!!! Let yourself get excited, you have the power to make this happen.
Step 4: Start saving up.
It may take a while to save up, but you'll never get there if you don't start! Commit yourself to this. Set up a piggy bank or a bank account, and start putting money aside. Personally, I recommend a Tax Free Savings Account with automatic withdrawal. Have the money taken from your account right when you get paid and you won't even notice it's gone. It's okay to start low if you can't afford much, it's still Something towards your dream. You can always up the amount later or make additional contributions.
Step 5: Keep yourself motivated!
It can be easy to forget what you're working towards or why you're putting that money aside, so do some research while you wait for your money to build. Borrow or buy some books from your local library or store and flip through them if you like. Personally, I usually like to do an online search such as 'Best places to see in ___. ', 'Top ten things to do in____.' Have fun with it! Search everything and anything, it's even worth finding out 'Best foods to try in ___.' Once you've done that, make yourself a list of all of the things you want to see and do when you go on your trip.
Step 6: Map it out!
If you're like me, you're very much a visual person. This step is all about seeing your trip and how it will work. Print a map of the place you are going, and locate all of the things you want to do. Measure out how long it will take to get from place to place, and take note of what activities are closets to the others. Knowing where everything is will allow you to be more efficient with your itinerary because the last thing you want to do is waste time driving four hours in one direction only to have to drive back five hours in the direction you have just come from.
Step 7: Time to pick and choose!
What activities are worth keeping in your itinerary? Which ones are too far from the cluster of other activities on your map, and which ones are non-negotiable? Now is the time to have fun narrowing things down while being a little more realistic. How will you get to each place, will you be driving? Taking the train? Flying? Make sure there are ways to get around. I have a few non-negotiable destinations on my upcoming adventure that are too far from train stations for me to get to, so I am hiring a driver. Some of your activities might also be within walking distance from one another, so it's definitely worth looking into that. Google maps has an excellent directions feature that allows you to switch from walking, to driving, even to public transportation, and also provides the time and distance for each.
Step 8: Flights and Lodging!
Time to book your flights (unless you are driving or renting a car, in which case now is the time to call around for that). Flight tickets are best purchased for days in the middle of the week, as ticket sales often go up for the weekends or holidays. Make sure to shop around to see what days will be cheapest if cost is a concern for you. If you're like me, you often prefer the cheaper= better frame of mind. Tickets are also said to be cheaper when purchased on a Tuesday, so be sure to compare prices on different days prior to purchase. Some other things you might want to consider are flight lengths, as well as amenities. Personally, I keep an eye out for that wifi availability icon, keeps me a little more sane during lengthy travels.
Where lodging is concerned, now is also a good time to consider what kind of places you want to lay your head at night. These are choices you can make on the go if you're a more go with the flow kind of person, but there is always a risk of places being booked up so be sure to keep that in mind, especially if you're traveling during a busy tourist season. Also worth considering is how many different types of lodgings are available to you depending on how much or how little you are looking to spend. Take this time to look around and explore options, there are so many! Hotels, hostels, Air BnB, bed and breakfasts, couch surfing, camp grounds, etc. One more, you'll find the possibilities are endless. I once more suggest consulting a map to locate lodging close to the activities you which to partake in.
Well folks, that's it for me this week, I hope you have a blast dreaming about possibilities that you Can make a reality. If you have any questions, I invite you to post them in the comments below, or email me at thebrastreetrambler@gmail.com.
Cheers!
The Bra Street Rambler
On more than a few occasions, people have asked me how I go about planning my trips, how I choose where to go, what to see, etc. So I thought this week the perfect opportunity to share that with you in case you've been entertaining planning your very own vacation.
Step 1: Stop telling yourself it's impossible and allow yourself to dream a little.
You'll never go anywhere if you don't allow yourself to believe you can make it happen. There are of course, always limitations such as money, health, etc, but to those limitations there are also always some way to accommodate them. Perhaps it means taking a few years to save up by putting aside $20 a month, more when you can, sometimes it means making sure that where you're going is a resort or somewhere that can easily accommodate health restrictions, sometimes it means picking a place closer to home, or getting super creative with a staycation. I mean, whose to say you can't go on vacation by telling everyone you're going on an adventure, turning off your phone, and decorating your house like Hawaii for the weekend? My mother and her friends sometimes split on a local hotel room just to get away from it all and have the illusion of being somewhere else. Where there is a will, there is a way!
For those of you who can commit to saving up and who are willing to go a little further from home...
Step 2: List your favourite places. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Where have you dreamed of going since you were a kid? Perhaps you've dreamed of surfing in Australia, or you would love to go kayaking by the glaciers in Alaska, perhaps you'd love to see the monkeys on the beaches of Costa Rica, maybe you've always wanted to see the rolling hills of Scotland, write your list. Having a difficult time choosing places? Ask yourself some questions to narrow things down. Would you prefer somewhere hot, or cold? Somewhere touristy, or somewhere off the beaten path? Old ruins? Jungles? Beaches? Hobbit landscapes from your favourite books/movies? All-inclusive resort in Hawaii? Maybe you want to see as many different places but don't want to miss out on laying back and relaxing, in which case you might consider a cruise? The possibilities are endless, but everyone has preferences when they stop to think about them long enough!
Step 3: Put those wonderful places in order of preference.
What are your top three places? Which of those three places would you love to go the most? Guess what?! You've just chosen the destination for your next adventure!!! Let yourself get excited, you have the power to make this happen.
Step 4: Start saving up.
It may take a while to save up, but you'll never get there if you don't start! Commit yourself to this. Set up a piggy bank or a bank account, and start putting money aside. Personally, I recommend a Tax Free Savings Account with automatic withdrawal. Have the money taken from your account right when you get paid and you won't even notice it's gone. It's okay to start low if you can't afford much, it's still Something towards your dream. You can always up the amount later or make additional contributions.
Step 5: Keep yourself motivated!
It can be easy to forget what you're working towards or why you're putting that money aside, so do some research while you wait for your money to build. Borrow or buy some books from your local library or store and flip through them if you like. Personally, I usually like to do an online search such as 'Best places to see in ___. ', 'Top ten things to do in____.' Have fun with it! Search everything and anything, it's even worth finding out 'Best foods to try in ___.' Once you've done that, make yourself a list of all of the things you want to see and do when you go on your trip.
Step 6: Map it out!
If you're like me, you're very much a visual person. This step is all about seeing your trip and how it will work. Print a map of the place you are going, and locate all of the things you want to do. Measure out how long it will take to get from place to place, and take note of what activities are closets to the others. Knowing where everything is will allow you to be more efficient with your itinerary because the last thing you want to do is waste time driving four hours in one direction only to have to drive back five hours in the direction you have just come from.
Step 7: Time to pick and choose!
What activities are worth keeping in your itinerary? Which ones are too far from the cluster of other activities on your map, and which ones are non-negotiable? Now is the time to have fun narrowing things down while being a little more realistic. How will you get to each place, will you be driving? Taking the train? Flying? Make sure there are ways to get around. I have a few non-negotiable destinations on my upcoming adventure that are too far from train stations for me to get to, so I am hiring a driver. Some of your activities might also be within walking distance from one another, so it's definitely worth looking into that. Google maps has an excellent directions feature that allows you to switch from walking, to driving, even to public transportation, and also provides the time and distance for each.
Step 8: Flights and Lodging!
Time to book your flights (unless you are driving or renting a car, in which case now is the time to call around for that). Flight tickets are best purchased for days in the middle of the week, as ticket sales often go up for the weekends or holidays. Make sure to shop around to see what days will be cheapest if cost is a concern for you. If you're like me, you often prefer the cheaper= better frame of mind. Tickets are also said to be cheaper when purchased on a Tuesday, so be sure to compare prices on different days prior to purchase. Some other things you might want to consider are flight lengths, as well as amenities. Personally, I keep an eye out for that wifi availability icon, keeps me a little more sane during lengthy travels.
Where lodging is concerned, now is also a good time to consider what kind of places you want to lay your head at night. These are choices you can make on the go if you're a more go with the flow kind of person, but there is always a risk of places being booked up so be sure to keep that in mind, especially if you're traveling during a busy tourist season. Also worth considering is how many different types of lodgings are available to you depending on how much or how little you are looking to spend. Take this time to look around and explore options, there are so many! Hotels, hostels, Air BnB, bed and breakfasts, couch surfing, camp grounds, etc. One more, you'll find the possibilities are endless. I once more suggest consulting a map to locate lodging close to the activities you which to partake in.
Well folks, that's it for me this week, I hope you have a blast dreaming about possibilities that you Can make a reality. If you have any questions, I invite you to post them in the comments below, or email me at thebrastreetrambler@gmail.com.
Cheers!
The Bra Street Rambler
Great post! I'm going back to Japan in just over a week and I use Google My Maps to map everything out. I like doing that because I can visually see all the places I'm interested in seeing and then planning my days around them.
ReplyDeleteIf there are a cluster of "points of interest" in certain areas I can then make that a full day excursion. I also like sharing those details on my blog so having the ability to embed My Maps on my site is also pretty great.
Have a good trip!