Travel is a treat, a privilege, and a luxury! Yet it can also be hugely stressful, even in the initial stages of planning a trip. It is stressful because there is so much to think about, prepare and organise that things can quickly become overwhelming, draining all the joy out of the person’s experience doing the planning.

The good news is some tactics can make planning your next trip an altogether calmer experience. Read on to find out what they are. 

Make planning a pleasure.

A trip’s stress often begins not when you lock your front door or set foot on the plane but in the planning stages. After all, planning a trip can be a challenge in itself, with all the vital things you need to remember and research, such as places to stay, eat, and visit, and keep them all organised. 

The good news is that some bright sparks in the travel industry are working to make this process considerably easier by creating apps and tools that help you plan your trip. Indeed, by looking for the best app for trip planning online, you will find options to curate your trip with mood boards and mapping tools, so everything is in one place.

You can even add links and share them with friends and family to keep everyone in the loop, even at the planning stage, which is sure to reduce considerable stress! 

Be generous with your timescales.

Another way to make your trip planning experience less stressful is to be realistic about your time and where you want to spend it. Indeed, while seeing every site in the tour book would be ideal, you will likely end up exhausted and grumpy if you try it. 

With that in mind, as you make your plan, add additional time in each location or touchpoint during a journey. The added benefit is that it helps you prioritise what you want to see and where you want to go.

In addition, it helps keep anxiety levels low at the beginning of the holiday process because you know that you will have enough time to relax and enjoy yourself when you truly get there. 

Write a packing list now.

You may think that writing a packing list at the planning stage of your next trip is a bit much! However, it’s another clever way to reduce the stress you place on yourself and your family during this stage. By identifying your needs early on, you can ensure that you have enough time to meet them before your trip.

You can now take your time to refine your list and search for the perfect items well before your departure date. Thereby allowing you the reassurance that you will have all you need before you set off on your next adventure. 

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I hope this post has given you the information you need. If you have any recommendations, tips or advice, I would love for you to share them in the comment section below!

Other things you need to know

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