Discover the Joy of Travel with Wanderlust with Katie

Making travel plans can be daunting for even the most seasoned travelers. With so many choices and booking platforms, it can be overwhelming and confusing. I am going to break down some of the basic principles to consider when starting the process of planning a vacation.

The first question you need to ask yourself is who is traveling? Do you want to go on a solo vacation, testing your independence and branching out into the unknown on your own, or do you want to bring your family along? Or maybe you’re trying to plan a friend trip in a group setting, and you want to make sure everyone has a say on the trip. Either way, once you can figure out who is going, you now have a base for planning a successful trip.

The next question you need to consider is what type of vacation are you looking for? This great big world offers so many wonderful places that it is imperative to decide if you’re looking for relaxation in the sun on a sandy beach, sipping your beverages of choice, or if you’re looking for a vacation that’s full of adventure. Or maybe you want a historical sightseeing tour of all the great destinations and want to jump from one European city to the next. Or maybe you are a food and wine lover and want to tour the great wine locations of the world, like France, Italy, Argentina, or South Africa. Or do you want the ease of taking a cruise, where you can sleep in the same bed throughout the trip and see several different cities and countries on one trip?

Next, what are your must-haves? Is there a specific monument or phenomenon you must see, like the Colosseum in Rome or the Northern Lights in Iceland? Do you want spa services to be available, or maybe you want to travel as eco-friendly as possible?

And finally, and maybe most importantly, what is your budget? The worst thing someone can do is overspend on a vacation they are not able to afford and then regret the trip upon return when they have overextended their finances. This is the time to have an honest conversation with yourself or your travel partner to ensure everyone is on the same page when it comes to money.

After considering these first steps, it’s time to start planning! Whether you choose to go it yourself in the planning phase or if you work with a travel agent, be sure to ask questions, set limits, and research research research! If you still don’t know where to start, you can reach out to me at wanderlustwithkatie@gmail.com, and I will be more than happy to assist you in your travel plans!