Planning For That Big Trip

One of the reasons why I became a TC was to help people have the kind of fabulous holidays that I’ve enjoyed for years. I’m talking about holidays that can be described as a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience, but ones that you very much hope will happen more than once in your lifetime. This type of holiday doesn’t happen at the click of a mouse. This type of holiday doesn’t necessarily come ‘off the peg’. This type of holiday needs time that many busy people don’t have. This type of holiday needs careful thought and planning. This is the type of trip I love to organise for my customers! Here are some examples of ‘big trips’ I’ve organised in the past: A fabulous African experience including the Victoria Falls, wildlife watching in Botswana and a beach stay in Mozambique A trip through Argentina from the rainforests of Iguazu to the glaciers of Patagonia A journey across New Zealand, encompassing geysers and mud pools, Maori culture, vineyard visits, dramatic landscapes and laid back boat trips. A exploration of Vietnam with plenty of historical sights, an amazing cookery class and a cruise So, how do you get started on planning a big trip? There are a few things to think about first: Understand the climate - pick the right time to go and bear in mind what you plan to do. Cooler temperatures may be better if you plan activities like cycling or hiking. Don’t bite off more than you can chew! Many years ago, before I was a Travel Counsellor, I tried to plan a Brazil trip. I only wanted to go to 4 different places but realised with the distances, transport infrastructure and logistics I was going to need a lot more than 2 weeks if I didn’t want to spend more time travelling than seeing the sights. Generally ‘less is more’ and it also gives you the excuse to return on another trip at a later stage. Set your own pace It’s worth bearing in mind the effects of jet lag as well as heat and/or altitude. Always a good tip to include an extra night or two in the first place you visit to help you acclimatise. Another tip is to intersperse one night stays with longer stays where possible. If you spend one night in a hotel you might be arriving just in time for dinner and then have to check out in the morning. Doing this day in day out is exhausting and you risk not having time to really enjoy the places you are visiting. Having said this, some places only warrant a one night stay as they are a halfway stop on a long journey or because the main sights can be seen in a short time. Work the budget For most of us, the amount we spend on holidays is important and it does have a limit. I will always try to find options based on how much you want to spend, but you may need to make some compromises along the way. So, what do you value most? Staying in an iconic hotel is great, but if it’s a one night stay on a tour do you really need an all singing all dancing hotel with spa, sports facilities and entertainment? You may be able to save by staying somewhere more simple for these short stays to be able to splurge elsewhere. Also consider seasonality and travel at the less popular times - play your cards right and you could have an amazing experience without the crowds! Experience, Experience, Experience You will not be the only person wanting to have fabulous experiences on this trip, so make the most of your time by planning activities in advance. It still pains me that I made the mistake of not following this advice on my own trip in Argentina. I wouldn’t have missed floating across a lake full of turquoise icebergs to a remote settlement for the world, but I did have to miss hiking on the Perrito Moreno glacier to do it due to lack of available tours. Plan these things into the trip from the beginning so you’re sure of a place and you can also then get a better overview of how the trip will flow. Don’t forget to live the experience too. Unless you are an experienced photographer you’ll probably not capture the whole story through the lens. Some of the best bits of my adventures are in my mind’s eye and not on film. Be kind to yourself. This is a holiday, not a boot camp! Make sure you plan in some free time, so that you can revisit somewhere you particularly enjoyed or can spend some time just chilling out. Enjoy the moment rather than feeling like you’re rushing around just ticking places off. Ask yourself ‘do I need some R&R at the end?’. If you are moving around a lot and being active it’s worth adding a beach extension at the end if you can, or on a longer trip, e.g. to Australia, to build in a stopover on the way home. Engage the help of a professional. This is where I come in! I’ll work with you to put together your ideal itinerary, but will also help you think through the whole trip and ensure that it makes sense for you and your party and will give you the experiences you are craving. If you just have a country in mind, but lacking inspiration on where and what, I can give you ideas. Once we have a draft on paper, I find this really focusses the mind on what will work and what won’t, then we can tweak and refine until we get it exactly right. So, are you ready to plan that trip? I’m ready and waiting!