5 REASONS WHY TRAVEL PLANNING IS IMPORTANT
This article about 5 Reasons Why Travel Planning is Important was last updated on February 9, 2023
Travel planning is essential! No matter what anyone says to me, planning is important in travel because it allows you to budget for your trip, think ahead about things to do, book restaurants and activities ahead of your visit so don’t miss out and much more.
Planning for your travels often begins before you decide on your destination and purchase your tickets.
WHY TRAVEL PLANNING IS IMPORTANT
Why is it important to plan your travels?
The simple answer being that travel planning is essential for a stress free vacation, hence your well-being. Worry more before you go so you have less or no worries at all when vacationing. With this in mind, here is a simple, sensible, practical and a comprehensive list which I hope will become a traveller’s resource and help make travel experiences less stressful, contributing to our well-being as travellers.
Looking for more travel resources to help plan your holidays? Here are our best read articles on Travel Resources curated by Timeless Travel Steps:
Travel resources at a Glance
Planning your dream vacation?
Excellent!
Here are all the Resources and Practical Information you need for your self-guided or guided vacation.
1 | Legal entry/Tourist travel Visa
Check Visa requirements with iVisa, a leading independent company in the travel documentation industry.
2 | Flights
I have a few choices. Search Google flights because they offer very competitive prices. You could also try Opodo for cheap airfares. For special experiences, go to On the Beach and Jet2Holidays. My all time favourite has been Qatar Airways for long-haul flights for the comfort and their first-class service. I use British Airways as well. For all other global deals >> kiwi.com
For more choices, visit our Resources page
3 | Accommodations
My favourite website for booking hotels is booking.com – I love their flexible cancellation policy which means I’m covered till the last minute. I also like that the totals show up for the whole stay so it helps me budget better. Other favourites of mine are Millennium & Copthorne Group of Hotels and Resorts for their consistent high quality accommodations and service. You could also take a look at the Radisson Hotels chain that caters for all budget. For accommodations in UK that has a personal touch and affordable luxury, stay at Hotel du Vin.
4 | Unique experiences & tours
My all time go to resource for unique experiences and tours is Get your Guide. I am also a fan of Viator for their special deals. You shall find suggestions on recommended tours sprinkled throughout TTS on each experience I write about.
5 | Travel insurance
Never travel without travel insurance and never overpay for travel insurance! Before purchasing any any travel policy, read through the terms to ensure that the plan is right for you and your trip.
6 | Travel essentials
Never travel without these! I use and fully endorse all the products on this page but especially: High powered wireless power bank, Universal travel adapter and unlimited portable pocket wifi.
TRAVEL PLANNING
In this post you shall find 5 reasons why planning is important in travel. Travel planning can be daunting sometimes, especially if it is your first time to travel. You would not know where to start and it is easy to get overwhelmed over what is step 1, step 2 and so on.
I remember my family trips when my kids were still in diapers, and what helped me then and still does, is that I always had a list. A list to ensure that I do not miss anything important, like their favourite toys or a little character cushions that they cannot do without. Space had to be made for these.
All you Mums out there know exactly what I am talking about 🙂 You can read more About Me here.
I have planned many travels, long-haul, short-haul and within the UK. Have done so in a personal capacity for my family, friends, colleagues as well as business trips. I always had a list! I like lists 😊, I guess I am just wired that way! Don’t get me wrong…I am all for the “unplanned”, off the beaten path kind of adventure too but I think you do need to have a plan to do the unplanned and off the beaten path kind of adventure.
When you think about it, travelling is not as easy or simple as choosing a destination, booking your flight and off you go! Although sometimes you can if it is within the same country or when you are familiar with the destination where you do not have to research so much. However, there is more to travelling!
THERE IS MORE TO TRAVELLING
There is more to travelling because it is about making a trip, a trip that is stress-free, a trip without major hitches, or even if you come to face certain “hitches”, how you could cope with it.
So, for me, in my plan, I have a pre-travel, travel and post-travel list of things to do. All three lists are important because they are inter-related. It has helped with many of my vacations and I am sure that it will help yours too. I know, I know…it sounds daunting and pedantic but believe me, having a list which embodies a plan is so worth it. It’s the know-how and the basic framework that will make travelling look like a piece of cake and make you feel less stressed. I am certain that you will agree with me when you have gone through reading them.
Therefore, in this post, I will list the reasons why I think travel planning is important. This simple list has been the core to all of my travels.
You may want to read the following best read comprehensive article about Travel Checklist 25 Top Tips for a Stress Free Vacation — This post embodies literally everything you need to plan your vacation along with external links and more.
THE 5 REASONS WHY PLANNING IS IMPORTANT IN TRAVEL
1 | Travel Planning saves time
Some may dismiss planning as too time consuming and that it is okay to plan on the go. Well, it may be okay but if you spend a little time on your to-do list, it helps you to think about priorities, allocate time for attractions and consider your budget.
As well, it is an opportunity to have flexibility built-in for unforeseen circumstances such as weather or traffic conditions. In addition, when you are on vacation, I am sure your goal is to maximise your experiences at your travel destination instead of spending time googling places to visit or figuring out what to do. So, spending a little time to plan will maximise your time when travelling. To do so, will enhance your experiences.
2 | Planning ahead helps you Prioritise and Maximise your Experiences
Depending on your destination, you may have a lot of attractions or just a few. Whatever there may be, prioritising what you want to experience will play an important role in how many of these experiences you can have during your vacation.
While you are prioritising, you may also consider attractions that are close together where you can visit in a day or half a day. Prioritising may help free-up time for a spa or a little down-time, which sometimes gets overlooked because it is not embedded into our travels.
Read: Complete Guide to the City of Verona which includes a day trip along with the best and off the beaten path activities, what and where to eat Veronese cuisine plus unique places to stay.
3 | Travel Planning stretches your Pound or Dollar
Travel is not an open-cheque vacation, I am sure. For me and for most of us, we have a budget with a little fund set aside for emergencies. It is within this budget that we seek to maximise our experiences–accommodation, attractions, food and transport.
Researching on the attractions, local delicacies, local crafts and other “must see” will help with budgeting. You can dismiss the least important attractions and visit or do some off the beaten path exploring.
Transportation from one place to another will also impact on your budget, so researching on how best to get around your destination will help.
Spend some time researching free entry attractions. Purchasing tickets in advance and online will help with budgeting. Stretching a pound or a dollar means more experiences and planning helps you do that.
4 | Planning is Important in Travel so that Essentials are not Forgotten
Planning helps you to think about the necessary essentials you may need on your travel. For example, the type of clothing for the weather at the time you are travelling. Travel vaccinations, medication and any bug-sprays which you may need.
Planning a trip to Japan? you may find my helpful guide about the best time to visit Japan including the seasons and guide to clothing useful in planning your trip.
5 | Travel Planning Prepares you for Immigration Issues and Emergencies
When travelling abroad, you must comply with the immigration rules in the destination country. Planning helps you to ensure that you have the required visa and meet any other requirements necessary for entry.
Legal entry/Tourist travel Visa
PRO TIP: Check Visa requirements with iVisa, a leading independent company and highly regarded in the travel documentation industry for its speedy processing and professionalism.
You need to ensure you have the phone numbers of your embassies in case of emergencies. Remember also to have phone numbers of emergency contacts whom you can reach at home.
finally on why planning is important in travel
My conclusion in a nutshell — Get Travel Planning! How your vacation should be is important because you want it to be a positive experience, stress-free and fun. I believe Planning your Travels can help you do just that. It saves you time, stretches your money, maximises your experiences and you will surely enjoy a hassle-free vacation. I hope this post was helpful in deciding why planning should be embedded into all travels.
Before you go, drop your email in the box below. This way, you stay connected with Timeless Travel Steps to receive free travel guides and travel stories to inspire your travels. Our travel inspiration covers primarily Europe and you may find them helpful in your planning too.
You can always Unsubscribe at any time but know that I will be sad to see you go.
Travel Inspiration?
There are so many beautiful places on our beautiful Earth that may draw you. I know I am constantly planning trips to escape the cold winter, or find peace and serenity in my autumn solo travels. I must say, I love summers in England as at most times the weather is bearable. Besides, summers are expensive to getaway and I much prefer to spend a little more of my £££ in comfort travel. Therefore, I am very much an off-seasonal traveller.
Europe Travel
If you are considering travelling to Europe, you may like some of my timeless steps in the following beautiful places I have visited:
Visit Milan, a city that never fails to deliver on cultural and gastronomical delights. One of the best ways to experience the city, both the historical and cultural vibes is to join a Milan city walking tour.
My personal favourite is the gourmet food tour in Milan which is quite special. Go here to the dedicated City of Milan Guide page that offers comprehensive guides about the important landmarks and fun places to visit along with the best places to stay.
Take a look at the Lake Como travel page. This page has everything a traveller needs to visit this immensely beautiful region in Italy. If you are travelling to Lake Como, I’d highly recommend the boat tour which is a really nice way to experience the best of the lake.
You may also like Barcelona, the vibrant and hip city that does not fail to deliver at any time of the year. If you like to visit this trendy city, I’d highly recommend a winter visit as it is a perfect getaway for some warm winter sunshine.
A nice way to get to know Barcelona is by joining this walking and tapas tour which includes wine. In this tour, you will not only taste the best of the local cuisine but also see the important landmarks in the city. Go here to read all about the best things to do in Barcelona during a winter vacation.
Other beautiful destinations to consider are Seville, Budapest and Verona.
… and of course, LONDON!! This grand city where anyone is someone will surely leave you with timeless memories to take home.
Well, I guess that is all I have for you in this article about travel planning. You are more than welcome to browse around this little corner of mine for more inspiring travel stories.
Wherever you are, wherever travel takes you, have good fun, Always!
Georgina xx
What’s new
Liked the post on 5 Reasons Why Planning is Important in Travel? Pin it on Pinterest!
Timeless Travel Steps is supported by my readers. This article and related articles are sprinkled with affiliate links. This means that I may earn a commission from qualified purchases and bookings at no additional cost to you. These links have no influence on the editorial content produced herein. I only recommend products and services that I use personally and believe these will add value to my readers’ choices. Your support means a lot to me as it keeps this blog going.
5 Reasons Why Planning is Important in Travel was first published at timelesstravelsteps.com
This article is regularly edited and updated. Last update was on February 9, 2023
I totally in tuned with you about being open towards exploring as it goes – They are the best experiences and memories to have. Thank you so much for sharing your travel planning experiences.
You are welcome! Thank you so much for sharing your insights into travel planning because it is so very important to have a good plan for when we travel.
Downtime is so very important – to recharge and off with our wanderings again 🙂
You are absolutely correct1 Planning is so much fun, the excitement, the thrill…beautiful. One can never be over prepared.
Thank you so much. Absolutely, planning is key 🙂 and getting the best out of sightseeing days as well.
That relaxing day is so SO important! It adds that little luxury to a full-on holiday! So glad you are also a list person! 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts.
I am a planner for all the same reasons. Plus I do not want to regret missing a nearby landmark!
Agree that travel planning is key to having a glitch-free time. Before kids, we were more of an impulsive travellers. We do plan some of the most important things, but leave the rest to experience things on the go, which we really enjoyed. However, after having kids, I started planning every bit of it. but also found that no amount of travel planning helps – ha ha. So I still do an outline of planning on things to do, where to eat etc.. but am more open towards exploring things as it goes.
So true, travel planning is key to be able to make the most out of the trip. Listing out with all the parameters you mentioned become inherent while planning the trip and it usually ties in with the itinerary. I remember how for my trip to Portugal, we went into in-depth research and accordingly booked the Air bnBs/hotels post deciding on the destinations we wanted to see. And budgeting again is so imp! Thanks for sharing this useful post.
Totally agree! I’m a huge planner and although somethings are great to just experience, I don’t want to ever feel like I missed out on anything 🙂
I love travel planning, i find it really fun and a bit of a
Mission to see how much I can realistically fit into my budget. I definitely have to plan in the spa and down time though or I will get itchy feet n want to move.
Love this and agree with all of these points – planning is almost (ALMOST!) as fun as the actual travel and makes me more excited for where I’m going. I love researching restaurants to visit and like to have a budget in mind too. 🙂
I agree that planning a trip is essential. If we prepare the travel well, we have fewer problems and stress during the holidays. This often saves our time and money, and we can focus on sightseeing. It is a great post & tips!
I am exactly like you. I have list upon list upon list. It is essential! I also find it the most difficult part of preparing for a trip. There are so many things that I always want to see and do that I can never decide.I also schedule in a “do nothing” day every 2nd day of the trips to either relax or explore something that I hadn’t found in my research.
That’s exactly how to do it! Armed with as much information as you can but leave room for encounters and adventures to chance.
I know some travellers find travel planning a chore, but for me it’s all part of the journey. It’s like an appetizer for the main meal, it whets your appetite! I love doing extensive research before any trip, so that I’m armed with information and ideas of what to do when I arrive. I definitely over-plan, because I want to do the destination justice, but once there I make sure to leave flexibility in my day to leave some encounters and adventures to chance….
Absolutely! Planning is key to a successful vacation. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate it.
I agree! A little bit of planning goes a long way, best trips have had some thought put into them
Absolutely!. I am a “to do list” kinda person and have one for my daily/weekly chores. It may seem insane but it really is sanity for me so nothing goes amissed and even if it does. I am in a position to handle the situation well. Thank you so much for your kind words. Appreciate it very much.
I agree with you, I don’t know how a trip will be a success without lists. You end up wasting a lot of time if you don’t plan your trip. Thanks for sharing these great tips.
You are so welcome. My kids often thought that I was insane too, but they see the wisdom of it in my list now, as they pack their own. However, they are yet to grasp the “stretching our dollars” bit! I am sure it will come in time 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. Much appreciated.
I think I need to frame this post! I plan so much for my vacations and my family thinks I am nuts. These are all the reasons that I do it! and they have never complained about the results of maximized vacation time and stretching our dollars. Thank you for justifying my insanity.
I know what you mean, Christy! We often forget sometimes because we do so much of it, yet writing down the obvious is always good and will ensure nothing is missed. Afterall, what do we have to lose! Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Christy. I appreciate it.
Thank you, Roz for your thoughtful comments. Absolutely! A list is SO important. I can imagine how prepared you are and you need to be when leaving your house to a sitter. All the planning, prep work is worth it.
I couldn’t agree more, Georgina, good planning is essential to making a stress-free trip! I keep my travel and packing lists on the laptop and print them out each time I travel, they only need a bit of tweaking to make them fit each trip. The same for the house I am leaving for a while in the care of a house sitter! Making sure you check out whether visas are needed, tickets to shows or sights you want to see, packing to what I call ‘the weakest link ‘ (the plane with the least number of kilos allowed in the cabin and in the hold – our camera gear weighs a lot!)
Absolutely agree Georgina — lists and planning are so important! So often I know these things but forget and need to be reminded — thanks for that.
Lists are so important, and I totally live by them! Absolutely agree with you, Estelle that our planning becomes our itinerary also, and it is important to prioritise.
I too totally agree with lists – for basically every aspect of the planning stage. And, very importantly, after going to all that effort, I make sure I take my list with me. The planning basically turns into my travel itinerary. When I do this I realise I may not have the time to do all I would like. Then, as you say Georgina, it is necessary to prioritise. Thumbs up to your travel planning tips
Absolutely, this is Why Planning is so important so you don’t miss out or does not cost you an arm and a leg for an attraction which you must see. Planning is crucial if it is a destination you will not be returning to for some time, which means you prioritise on the attractions that you must see. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. I appreciate it.
So agree about the lists! I don’t know how people manage without one! Some things are so crucial – like passports and visas. Other things less so but it can mean you miss out on seeing something if you don’t plan ahead. Like when we went to Granada a few years ago. Didn’t research and found when we got there that we couldn’t get into The Alhambra which is the main reason for going there! Tickets sold out. So we had to buy a one-on-one tour with a private guide which was expensive but great. Lesson learnt!