filipa.figueira21“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.”
Do you want to learn how to plan a trip? Below are my best tips that have been helping me planing my travel adventures.
1- Flights
To search for flights my favourite flight search engine is Skyscanner. It is very easy and simple to use and user-friendly! I always do several tests for example changing the departure airport (Lisbon or Porto), as well as changing the dates to see If I can get better prices. Another thing I do is search for flights in an incognito window. Additionally, you might consider doing a flight alert, this way you will be notified when the prices of your flight decrease.
Other good flight search engines that I have used are Momondo, Kayak and Google Flights.
After deciding on the flight on Skyscanner, I go to the official website of the airline company and buy the ticket there.
2- Accommodation
After buying the flights the next thing I do is to search for accommodation and my favourite platform is Booking. It is very easy to use and you can do several filters when it comes to the type of accommodation (hostel, hotel, apartment), location (closer to the city centre) and scoring (highest score on booking). Before I choose a place I always see the reviews that other travellers wrote and the location. I have also used Airbnb to search for accommodation.
3- Planning what to see and do
This is the part where I have more fun because I like to read about the destination I am heading to and learn new things.
Guides and Itineraries
I search for guides and itineraries online, I read blog posts, I search on Facebook groups, and I see youtube videos and I also see Instagram hashtags (it was with an Instagram hashtag that I discovered Neal’s Yard in London).
Search for typical dishes
This is someone that I advise everyone to do! After all, trying new food is one of the best things about travelling.
Learn the basics of the local language
Something that I also like to do is to learn the basics of the language of the country where I am headed to. For example this year in July I went to Cyprus and before going I watch a youtube video about how to say the basics in Greece.
Meet locals
For me visiting a new country without meeting locals is not a trip well done. I always try to meet new people in a new destination since they will share with me the best places to eat, things to do and other stories. For that reason, I use the Couchsurfing app to meet new people.
6 ideas do meet locals while travelling.
Buy a pocket guide
If I am going to a destination for a long time I also see the small travel pocket guides and I consider buying them (they are good to learn more about the country and to keep us busy when we are waiting for the flights for example). This year I bought a pocket guide to Cyprus and I read it all before and during the trip.
4- Travel Insurance
If you’re travelling for a long period of time or for a more dangerous destination do travel insurance. I have used Iati Seguros.
5- Documents
Before I go on a trip I send an email to my family with my flight information, hotels where I am staying and If I am not travelling alone a contact of someone that is travelling with me. I also have copies of my Identity card.