6 Easy Steps to Prepare for a Trip without Stress

Whether it’s your big annual pilgrimage to an exotic island or a spur-of-the-moment escape to a new city for the long weekend, the process to prepare for a trip can be just as overwhelming as it is exciting.  Such exhilaration can sometimes lead to haphazard bookings and rushed research that you pay dearly for once you have arrived at your destination. Slowing down and dedicating some solid time in advance to research could mean the difference between exploring a new city without a worry in the world, or getting stuck at a strange airport with no visa. However, the Beige Renegade ethos is to keep things simple and never to let an overplanned trip displace the true joys of travel – exploration and discovery. We’ve put together a step by step guide to help you prepare for a trip without stress!

1Prepare your travel documents
Getting starting on your travel documents should be the first thing you do to prepare for a trip, and at least 3 months before your travel date. As daunting as it sounds, it can be as simple as calling the relevant foreign embassy or consulate in your city, or jumping on their website. The questions you will need to think about include whether your passport is valid for the period that is required by your destination (you will need to apply for a new one if not), whether you will need a visa, and what paperwork is required. Some countries might have special requirements such as an invitation letter or compulsory vaccinations. Valuable resources can also be found at the IATA Travel Centre and the Australians government’s Smart Traveller website. Finally, seasoned travellers will always tell you that travel insurance is a must – first check if your credit card already offers this cover, then have a look at what products are out there.

2Get the gist of your destination
Nothing says you need a degree on the socio-political issues of your destination before you prepare for a trip there, but the last thing you want is to step off your flight to Fiji right in the middle of monsoon season, due to lack of research. Google is a great starting point, and the country’s Wikipedia page will have some key information. You’ll want to know some basic facts: the language, currency, climate, social customs and even the political, health and safety situation (is it even safe to travel there right now?). The tourism board of your destination will also have great information on their websites. To get a visual idea of what your destination is like, why not do a search on Google Images or Pinterest?

3Make an experience wish list
With the basic knowledge about your destination covered, you are now ready to begin planning your trip in earnest. You might be tempted to show up to a place like New York City and just “wing it”– there’s just so much to see and do, you’re guaranteed magical experiences, right? Not necessarily! The obvious tourist sights listed on your hotel’s tourist map likely only scrape the surface of the amazing things to discover at your destination. Make an experience wish list of your own by letting your interests guide you – even if it means leaving the obligatory visit to the Empire State Building or Eiffel Tower to the last day. If you’re a foodie, try sourcing the best taco spots or fine dining restaurants. If you’ve got an eye for libations, look up the city’s most infamous speakeasies or cocktail bars. An art or history buff? Look up the galleries and museums, and even the exhibitions that will be showing during your travel dates.

4Broaden your research
Even when wielding the almighty Google, if you find yourself turning up the same run-of-the-mill tourist hotspots, it’s time to expand your research. Consider social media platforms such as Instagram (look under location tags and hashtags), Pinterest, travel websites like Lonely Planet, travel blogs, and travel forum such as TripAdvisor, to find those best kept secrets that only seasoned travellers and locals know about. Further, nothing beats your friends fervidly re-living their travel experiences through sharing first-hand travel adventures over a smorgasbord of hors d’oeuvres and red wine. Short on well travelled friends? Why not arrange a coffee catch-up with the friendly (tall, dark, and handsome) backpacker who whips up your takeaway chai latte every morning – from my experience, backpackers are walking Lonely Planet guides!  You’ll soon discover that most travelers are willing and eager travel advisers.

5Create a (loose) itinerary
This is the part where you get into the nitty-gritty, and start to plan your daily activities. Not only will establishing an itinerary help you keep track of all the really important dates and times like flights and hotel check-in’s, it will help you solidify those important details, such as which airport you will need to fly to, where you should base yourself to easily reach all your desired experiences, and even how much you’ll need in your travel budget. However, let us emphasise that you should never, ever, micromanaging your trip. Leave plenty of time and scope to discover and savour all the unexpected, unplanned, and off-itinerary experiences that are often the best part of travel. To get started, there are some great travel itinerary templates online, and also online tools – check out TripIt.

6Pack like a pro
Pack early, pack thoroughly, and pack light. Give yourself ample time to pack and re-pack – you’ll be thankful when you realise you’d neglected to pack your favourite, every-day red lippy the first time around. We have written quite extensively on the art of minimalist packing: check out our articles on How to Pack Light and How to Pack for Comfort and Style. 

Go with the flow

Finally, now this is not really a ‘step’, but keep in mind that there are some parts of a vacation that are very necessary goals, but some that are just suggestions. It would be lovely to get a glimpse of every sight you planned to see, or try every restaurant that was recommended to you, but by nature, a vacation is meant to be relaxing and enjoyable over all else. If your outings don’t work out as planned, just try to appreciate the fact that you’re on a break from boring, everyday life in an exciting new place. Relish in the novelty and in your company. A tight, jam-packed schedule with no leeway is more stressful than anything else, and certainly no fun for anyone.

Here are some other must-reads to help you prepare your trip: 

• 20 Tips before Travelling Internationally – Travelroo
• Travel checklist – Qantas
• 25 Clever Travel Hacks From Expert Travellers – Indie Traveller
• Trip Planning – Rick Stevens
• 12 Tips to Make International Travel Easier – Travel + Leisure
• 24 Of The Smartest Travel Hacks You’ll Ever Need – LifeBuzz
• 23 Genius Travel Hacks That’ll Save You Time, Space, and Money – BirchBox

Words: Becky Robertson | Photography: Jiawa Liu

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