How to organize a trip before you travel?

Careful travel preparation is essential. Some advance planning and a proper check on what you need before you depart may just save you unnecessary time and stress.

For many of us summertime = vacation time. Some people will spend their days off at the local pool. Some may choose to sightsee in their own town. Many will leave behind the comforts of home for the open road. Regardless of the destination or mode of transportation, it is important to be organized for travel.

Follow these organizing tips to keep your vacation a stress-free, time and money saving event:

1. Plan ahead. Create a general itinerary before you travel. Grab pen and paper and jot down your travel times, hotel check-in/check-out times, and a list of activities/places you’d like to visit. This will help you make sure you have allowed enough time to get to your destination, and whether or not you’ve scheduled too many activities for one day.

* Stop by your local ‘AAA’ office for a Triptik and other travel-related services to help map out your route if driving.

2. Create a checklist to help you pack. Keep it on the computer so you don’t have to write it over every time you leave home. Use it as a template and update it before each trip to include anything new such as medications, toiletries, accessories, etc.

Keep all information related to your trip in one place. Create a folder for papers such as reservations, confirmations, and tickets. When you look for the information you need before or during your trip, you’ll have it all at your fingertips.

Keep a toiletry bag packed with small sized travel sized-containers all year round. By doing so, you’re always ready for a long trip or an overnight stay. Take a quick inventory of its contents before you leave home—you might have run out of toothpaste on your last trip.

*If your favorite products don’t come in sample sizes, purchase small, travel sized containers and fill them with your favorite shampoo and creams. Label them clearly so you don’t accidentally condition your hair with a facial moisturizer...

Place items you’ll need immediately at the top of your suitcase. Items such as comfortable shoes, pajamas, and toiletries are more easily accessible if they’re closer to top. When you’re tired from a long journey, the last thing you want to be doing is rummaging through your suitcase.

Use suitcase organizers to separate outfits or types of clothing. Products such as Pack-It Cubes or Ziploc bags do the job well. Hefty makes One-Zip 2.5 gallon bags (found in many supermarkets) that are large enough to organize clothes and later can be used to keep laundry or wet bathing suits away from the rest of your belongings.

*Wearing your bulkiest pair of shoes while traveling will give you more space in your suitcase.

Organize your wardrobe around one basic color such as black, navy, or brown to prevent over packing. You’ll be able to mix and match easily and you won’t need to bring a ton of different shoes. Also, when packing--think about your vacation activities. Will they include hiking? Days at the beach? Having dinner with relatives? Think ahead and pack items you may need for those activities such as band-aids for hiking, aloe vera for sunburns, and the scarf Aunt Shirley gave you for your birthday if you’ll be seeing her.

At the end follow these guidelines and try to find the answers for them. When you answer them all you are ready for your trip.

• What type of activities practice? (risks, necessary skill level, where to practice etc.)
• Choose the destination
• Search for general info (try search in this forum for answers)
• Search for videos
• Search for maps
• Search for weather conditions
• Search for destination guides
• Search for tips, advices and news about your destination
• Trip planning
• How to find cheap flights
• How to buy the right insurance
• What to pack: Accessories, gear, digital cameras, etc..
• Compare the offers of various travel companies
• Buy your travel packages

To help you, I will answer you some questions that will help you organize your trip.

How to find cheap flights?

There are thousand of flight companies, so it’s very difficult to search for airfares in different websites.

For US:

• Start with Kayak, Farechase, Sidestep, Farecast.
• Search Southwest and Jet Blue.
• Check the old-schoolers: Travelocity, Orbitz, Expedia.
• For good measure (and to be sure) check Cheaptickets, Hotwire, Priceline, Mobissimo, and Trabber.

International:

If you’re looking for International, check out skyscanner.net, momondo.com, and trabber.com (non US). I haven’t tried them myself but I hear they’re good.

How to buy the right insurance?

This should form a necessary part of your travel preparation and is a significant issue to consider when making preparations to visit abroad, country. Be definite that you have adequate travel and holiday insurance cover excellent medical facilities, but specialized medical care (in any country) could result in financial difficulties for uninsured travelers

1)      Check out any risks associated with your destination

2) Check what vaccinations you need at least 6 weeks before you go

3) Get the right travel insurance - for example make sure it covers you for the all the activities you want to do including any dangerous sports

4) Make sure your travel insurance policy is up to date, valid for the entire trip and covers everyone who is traveling

5) Complete the contact details at the back of your passport for your next-of-kin or someone who can be contacted in an emergency.

6) Make sure you have enough money for your trip

7) Find a good guide book and get to know your destination

8) Look after your possessions and important documents

9) Make a note of your travel insurance's 24-hour Emergency Medical Assistance Service telephone number and keep it with you at all times.

10) Learn the basics in the language of the country you're visiting - even if it's just learning a few words it will earn you respect, help you get involved with the local way of life, and may help you in a tricky situation

 And that’s it! Have a nice trip.