NoJoMo2020 #24 in Surveys
- Nov. 23, 2020, 6:56 p.m.
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- Public
24 - How do you plan your holidays?
It depends if it’s domestic or international. Domestically it’s very easy and relaxed. I’ll generally fork out more for accommodation and relaxing.
Internationally, I’ll plan a lot. I tend to rough it so I’m outside exploring as much as possible, so I’ll just book a backpackers. I know I should be doing that here too but I like relaxing too and actually feeling like a holiday. It’s weird how the mind works. I have stayed in backpackers here too but not much. Overseas I have to much to see and experience.
Anyway, internationally is usually planned daily in advance, at least for the first few weeks until I get a feel of a place. It involves a lot of research, planning, public transport routes, etc. My last Europe trip, I had NOTHING planned for the final 10-12 days after Paris and it was awesome because it left my options open. But generally the planning is to work out my budget and how much I can spend each day I’m travelling. I’ll decide on a budget, divide it by however many days I’m there, and that’s how much I allow myself to spend each day (including accommodation, travel and food). I don’t want to get stuck overseas with no money. I even take note of the international bank fees to try and avoid them, which is totally possible. I’ll research travel insurance too. When at home, I don’t care, as we have a great healthcare system should something go wrong.
My trip to China last year, I came home with pretty much all the cash I’d taken out, as I couldn’t spend any of it, even though I’d done my research about not being able to use my cards (hence the cash). So that was a waste of foreign exchange fees, which I always exchange at the cheapest place I can find, and never at the airports, but still. Live and learn.
Sleepy-Eyed John ⋅ November 24, 2020
Can you tell me more about planning? I'm hoping to travel internationally for the first time this upcoming year and would love to get some of your insights into how to prepare and even what to do, how to act, etc. No thought on this is too small. :)
KissOfLife! Sleepy-Eyed John ⋅ November 24, 2020
Well I can tell you how I do it, but it depends on what type of person you are with itineraries, whether you're travelling alone or with others, what your budget is etc.
For me, the first thing I do is open up an Excel spreadsheet - each row will be a day of travel, the city you are visiting. Decide where you are going - you will need this information if you are applying for travel insurance. I took a risk and visited two countries that weren't on my travel insurance policy so I just made sure I was careful haha. Also, obviously, check VISA requirements! I've only needed one for China so far. Allow time to apply and get that processed. And passport validity of at least 3-months.
Each column will be your budget for that day - for example, I allowed myself A$150-200 per day roughly - around $40-$50 would go into my hostel accommodation (definitely look at reviews for those and/or hotels too unless you want to get somewhere dodgy lol). Obviously if you are staying hotels/AirB&B, you'll need a much higher budget :)
If I spent under my budget that day, it could be added to a future day (which came in handy in Switzerland where everything is verrry expensive lol, wheras in Portugal, everything was cheap! Italy was 3-4 times the price of Portugal, which was a shock, and where I spent most of my last trip lol.
You can do research on what countries are pricier beforehand but I found cheap-ish places in Italy and Switzerland too). So basically - day, city, travel-mode (bus, train, flight), time to destination, budget.
I got by in all non-English countries on the basic words - good morning/evening, hi, goodbye and thankyou. Knowing the word for 'toilet' is good too, although you should see signs easily. The French definitely appreciate you having a go at their language. Google Translate is your friend! As is Google Maps. Make sure you get a Sim-card upon arrival, and make use of free wifi at Starbucks (a life-saver for me when I got lost).
In London, you have to PAY to use the public bathrooms, so carry small-change, or dine-in somewhere and make sure you use their facilities before you leave (I found was easiest).
It's a learning experience that's different for everyone. You just gotta jump right in :)
Sleepy-Eyed John KissOfLife! ⋅ November 24, 2020
That's fair. Good advice. Thank you. I especially like the tip about Excel. And some idea on budget. Why do you need so much more money than accommodations cost? Like tours and food?
Fair about travel insurance and bathrooms.
KissOfLife! Sleepy-Eyed John ⋅ November 25, 2020
Transport and food but mostly fun stuff/experiences & souvenirs. After all, that's what I'm there for.
Sleepy-Eyed John KissOfLife! ⋅ November 25, 2020
Right. Fair.