Planning Your Trip

Are you looking to visit just one or two cities? Or are you looking to travel around a bit more, travelling between cities, maybe even a bit of island hopping?

Here are 6 things to take into consideration which will help you to get started.

1. Time. How long do you have set aside for travelling? And when do you want to travel? Are you giving yourself plenty of preparation time?
2. Money. What is your budget for booking travel and accommodation? What is your budget for spending money? How expensive are the places you are visiting?
3. Distance. How long are you travelling for to GET TO your starting point? Give yourself recovery days after long journeys.
4. Who you are going with. Are you travelling alone? Are you travelling with a partner, or a friend? Are there children? Are there teenagers? Does anyone have a disability? Are there dietary requirements? The make-up of your party will determine some of your choices around travelling.
5. Arriving and Departure. Where are you arriving in Europe? Do you NEED to leave from the same location? If you want a return ticket from the same airport that you are arriving at, your travel around Europe will need to be a circular route. If this isn’t a requirement, you can have a linear route, heading home from a different airport.
6. Restrictions. Be prepared for any restrictions on the countries you are visiting. Are there visa requirements? Are there criminal record restrictions? Are there compulsory vaccination requirements? Are these rules going to change before you travel?

And 5 Principles to keep in mind to help with planning and to make sure you enjoy your holiday.

1. Be realistic. which leads us nicely on to…
2. Don’t try to do EVERYTHING!
3. Be considerate.
4. Be flexible.

Getting Started

This may seem obvious, but the first thing you need to do is decide where you want to go.

1. Circular route.
2. Linear route.

Make a List

Have a think about how long you want to be away for.

Check a significant event

Somewhere on your travels, you will need to do a significant bit of travelling – like a long train journey or a ferry crossing – or attend a concert or festival – or visit someone for their birthday.

Don’t forget the Extras!

What stuff have you forgotten about?