Planning your trip

The first thing you want to do before planning your itinerary is to find inspiration…

Google the top things to do in the location you’re heading, have a look at what comes up, and do some digging to determine which places are non-negotiables for your trip.

Of course, we also have a growing library of travel tips and guides specifically for changemakers, so make sure you check out the recommendations from our community of conscious travellers:

Have a look at the itineraries of some organised tours… chances are they will go to the most popular tourist destinations in a relatively short period of time. Depending on our travel style you could use their itinerary as a guide and follow a similar route, staying in hostels and catching public transport to keep your costs down. Or, if you’ve got a longer time period you could use that as a guide to where you might go and figure out your next step as you go.

YouTubers and travel bloggers can also provide insights into the best places to visit, the best times to go, and any insider tips that can make the trip more enjoyable. By reading several different blog posts or watching their videos, you can get a well-rounded view of the city and figure out which attractions are a must-see. You can also get ideas for how to plan your own itinerary, based on the blogger’s recommendations. Plus, following travel bloggers is a great way to arm yourself with knowledge before your next vacation. So if you’re looking for some inspiration for your next adventure, be sure to check out your favourite travel bloggers.

Start searching & build your itinerary

Next you can start planning your itinerary, knowing the places you want to try to visit. There are a tonne of resources and tools to help you start building your itinerary and getting an idea of how much you’ll cost and what your itinerary will look like…

Transport

Flights are often the most expensive part of your trip, but there are tools like WayAway to help you compare and book flights.

A little location flexibility can go a long way when it comes to saving money. For example, you might find a cheaper flight to or from a nearby airport. Flights from Brisbane to Singapore can be expensive, but budget airlines fly from the Gold Coast airport, so if you can spare an extra couple of hours catching a train to the Gold Coast instead, you could save hundreds of dollars. Similarly, you might be keen in flying to a particular country, but if there’s a connecting flight that will get you to a different city in that country for cheaper, that might be a good option.

When you have an idea of the places you want to travel, you need to know how long it will take to get between destinations and how much it will cost. Omio is a comparator of transport options, that allows you to compare the journey times, prices and carbon footprints of different modes of transport so that you can make the best decision for your journey. When making a decision about how to travel, most people only consider two things; time and cost. However, there is another important factor to consider – the environment. Omio’s carbon footprint calculator takes into account the emissions of each mode of transport, allowing you to compare the environmental impact as well as the cost and journey time. This is important because the transport sector is a major contributor to global emissions, and so by making more environmentally friendly choices we can help to reduce our impact on the planet. Use Omio to compare all three factors – time, cost and environment – and make the best choice for your journey:

Some regions of the world are incredibly well connected by a railway system, making it an easy and affordable way to travel. Plus, trains produce far less greenhouse gas emissions than cars, so catching the train instead of driving helps to reduce your carbon footprint. And if you’re using public transport instead of driving, that means there’s one less car on the road and less traffic congestion for everyone.

Taking the bus has a lot of advantages over other modes of transport. It’s more environmentally friendly, for one thing. Buses also tend to be cheaper than trains or planes, and they’re usually more comfortable, too. But there are other benefits to catching the bus that people don’t always think about. For example, buses can be a great way to see new places. When you’re on a bus, you have the opportunity to really take in your surroundings and learn about a new place. You can also meet new people when you’re travelling by bus. Bus journeys can be a great opportunity to strike up conversations with fellow passengers and learn about their cultures and backgrounds.

There are a number of benefits to hiring a car when travelling. First of all, it can be much more convenient than relying on public transportation, especially if you are travelling with a large group or have a lot of luggage. Secondly, it gives you the freedom to explore your destination at your own pace and make spontaneous decisions about where to go and what to see. Finally, it can often be cheaper than taking taxis or using other forms of transport, especially if you are planning to do a lot of driving.

Accommodation

It helps to know how long you will spend in each location, which will depend largely on your budget, and how much time you have. You might want to allocate a few spare days in each town so you can explore it on your own or see what other travellers have to say once you’re there. Or if you’re short on time, you might only spend the amount of time it takes for you to do the activities that you want to do.

Booking.com is a great booking tool for all types of travellers because it offers a wide range of accommodation options, accurate room descriptions, and honest customer reviews. Travellers can search for hotels, apartments, hostels, and even private rooms in people’s homes. They can filter their search by price, location, amenities, and more. Room descriptions include photos, lists of amenities, and information about the size and layout of the space. And most importantly, customer reviews are honest and uncensored. This means that travellers can get an accurate picture of what to expect from their accommodation before they book it. So whether you’re looking for a luxury hotel or a cheap hostel, Booking.com is a great place to start your search.

Staying in a hostel can be a great way to meet new people and see new places. Hostels are typically much cheaper than hotels, making them a popular choice for budget-minded travelers. But staying in a hostel can also offer some unexpected benefits.

For example, many hostels offer free or discounted tours and activities, which can be a great way to learn about a new destination. And because hostels are often located in central areas, they can be a great base for exploring a new city or town. Whether you’re looking to save money or meet new people, staying in a hostel can be an enjoyable and educational experience.

Activities

One of the best ways to save money on your trip is to plan DIY activities and tours. Some activities will be simple to DIY… just Google “DIY ________ trip” to find bloggers detailing how they’ve done it themselves. With a little creativity and some research, it’s easy to find free or low-cost things to do in any destination. For example, instead of taking a tour of the local sights, try doing a self-guided walking or biking tour. Not only will this be cheaper, but it will also give you the opportunity to explore at your own pace and discover hidden gems that you might otherwise miss. Don’t forget to take advantage of free or discounted admission days at museums, galleries, and other attractions; by planning ahead and being willing to try something new, you can easily save money on your next trip. It’s always a good idea to check the official website for a destination though (even for national parks) as some locations will require you to have a registered guide.

Other activities you won’t be able to DIY, as they might have restricted access, or it simply might too expensive to pay for something on your own when tour operators offer large groups discounts. It’s always good to compare your options for tours to see what they include. Most destinations offer half day and full day tours, and sometimes there’s very little price difference. Other tours might include meals for only a tiny bit extra, or the company might employ locals as the guides so you’d rather give them your money. Do a little research and find the best option that works for you.

When comparing tour options, websites like Viator allow you to search and book tours that are all independently operated; plus it’s owned and managed by TripAdvisor so you’ll always be able to find authentic reviews about the experience from previous travellers.

Get Your Guide is another popular platform for searching and booking tours that is popular with younger travellers; most tours offer instant booking so you can get the confirmation and ticket sent to your phone if you decide to book a last-minute tour.

Once you’ve explored all of these options, bookmarked your favourites and got a rough itinerary, you can start booking your trip as soon as the time is right for you! Don’t forget that you can use our free travel planning template on Notion to help you store all of the important links and booking details for your trip: