Before embarking on a new adventure, some travelers wonder how much planning should they invest in their upcoming trip. This is usually derived from the sense of wanting everything to be perfect. So, some people tend to stress over every single detail; where to go? When to travel? Where to stay? What are the must-dos? Where to eat? All these questions and the ones in between lead to one broader travel FAQ: should you plan everything ahead or not? In other words, to plan or not to plan? And the answer to that is the secret to my successful itinerary planning.

Itinerary Planning: To What Extent Should You Do It?

Yes, I do plan beforehand, but I still like to leave room for spontaneity. Of course, this is my own personal preference, but it has proven to be successful for me and makes me enjoy my trips even more. So, who knows, maybe it would work for you too.

Basic Itinerary Planning

First, I start with planning basics; I pick my travel dates, set a budget, and start booking flight tickets and accommodation. That’s of course after doing some extensive research. Afterwards, I’d normally have a list of things I want to do and places I’d like to visit, and that’s when I have a basic understanding of how my trip is going to look like.

Pro Tip: Keeping a daily planner helps you stay organized! I’ve been using planners since 2016 and I’d have to say, they had not just helped me keep track of my daily tasks and chores, but also keep my trips organized. From my travel planning to-do list that includes booking and comparing deals to jotting down my final itinerary itself, it all goes into my planner. You can check out some really good planners’ recommendations here.

The Fun Side of Itinerary Planning Is NOT Planning It All

Who likes research, budgeting, or organizing things? Not many of us, let’s be honest. At least, that’s not the fun part of it. Believe it or not, but the fun part of itinerary planning is not planning every single detail. Sure, being prepared is essential, but spontaneity guarantees unexpected fun most of the times.

I normally like to leave some room on my trip for things that I will probably find out about during the trip. Be it a concert I didn’t know about, hidden gems I’ll stumble upon while wandering around, or low-key places locals would let me in on. If I hadn’t have done that before, I wouldn’t have been to Fergie and Liam Payne’s concert in Bali, nor have I enjoyed my trip to Paris.

Final Note

So, my advice to you is to plan ahead, but just don’t overdo it. Let’s say you’re going on a 10-day trip to a certain destination; make a list of things you want to do that would take around 7 days or so. And the rest will be filled with super exciting stuff; I guarantee you that.

Also, make sure you leave your first day in the city for exploring. Give yourself some time to get to know the place you’re visiting. Get lost and familiarize yourself with the culture, the streets, and the essence of the destination.

Are you planning your next trip? If you need any help, contact me and I’ll send you my FREE E-book that covers everything about travel planning!

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