How to Prepare for Your Next Trip: 5 Quick Things You Can Do Today
Traveling, be it for business, pleasure, or both, is one of the best things we can do with our lives.
Most people consider it a hassle, though, as they think it costs too much, many unexpected things can happen, and it takes time to prepare for your next trip and do it right.
That’s not the case anymore. In fact, things are much easier, faster and hassle-free than you realize.
In his latest post, Tynan makes predictions about 9 big trends. One of them is travel.
Here’s what he says:
‘I don’t think most people understand how cheap and easy travel can be.
Many people are mentally stuck in the age of expensive hotels and travel agents. As people dip their toes and realize how frictionless travel can be, I think it will become much more normal for people to travel a lot.
Right now all airlines are devaluing frequent flyer programs, which is going to make flying even cheaper. People like me are getting 20%-100% back in future flights every time we pay for a flight. As this loophole closes, cash prices for flights will continue to drop.’
If you’re doing this for the first time, though, it might be hard to believe that traveling is really that worth it. So, preparing for your next trip will give you some peace of mind.
Here’s what you can do today to make sure your adventure goes as planned:
1. Do your research.

If you’re going to South East Asia, for instance, there’s a lot you can read to be mentally prepared for the experience, but to also get to know the culture, what you shouldn’t do there, what to wear, and what to expect.
Visiting a new continent is a big thing. But even if it’s another country, or even city, reading a bit about it – both from travel guides and from personal blogs of people who’ve already done it and share their best tips and resources – will save you a lot of time, unexpected issues, and even the culture shock itself.
A research will also make your time there easier. Knowing what the weather is like at this time of the year, what’s not polite to say to locals, or what looks is inappropriate when sightseeing, will make your stay better.
In addition, you’ll be aware of the risks involved, like the presence of many pickpockets in a certain area, the need for vaccines, etc.
Read also: What My 8-week Southeast Asian Holiday Taught Me
2. Make sure you’ll get to the destination safely.
One of the many benefits of the digital age we live in is that you can find, check and pay for almost anything online, and in advance.
Do that with your accommodation, but also for any transport you’ll use once you get out of the plane.
For instance, if you’re going to Paris, you can contact a company that provides taxi services to and from the airport.
The traveling itself will be stress-free if you know you have someone to count on to get safely to your home during the trip.
3. Plan your first day.

Trying to plan every moment of every day is not only impossible, but ends badly too.
Such perfectionism means you’ll be disappointed or angry any time the plan changes, those you’re traveling with change their opinion, a place you were supposed to visit is closed, or else.
So, to balance planning and being organized with going with the flow and actually having a good time, plan just the first day, and maybe the last one.
Decide where you’ll go, what you’ll eat, how much free time you’ll have, etc.
4. Calculate the costs.
It’s good to have a general idea of what prices to expect there, and to stick to a certain daily budget.
Some people might go on a 2-month holiday to the other corner of the world, for example, while they’ll still be doing their work remotely. In this case, you’ll need to keep managing your time and money well even when you’re there, so that your bank accounts don’t suffer.
For a shorter trip, though, it’s good to know how much you’ll need to save the money in advance.
5. Be excited about it.
Last but not least, don’t forget to be positive about all this. It’s a reason to smile, not something to prevent you from sleeping at night.
Now that you know all this, what step will you take today to make sure you have the time of your life on your next trip?