Plan Your DIY Travel Itinerary

5 Parts:

DIY Travel or Package Tour?

Start your DIY Travel Itinerary

Practical Tips on Planning a DIY Travel Itinerary

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Your phone alarm rings and you hit the snooze button. You repeat the same process at least five more times before dragging yourself to the shower to start your predictable same old regular routine. Wake up. Go to work. Yawn in front of your computer screen. Pretend to be busy. And just watch for the clock to strike 6 p.m. If this happens to you daily, then you are totally bored. What's the best way to spice things up? Travel!

The idea of travelling itself injects some energy into your life. Everyone deserves to have a vacation at least once a year, so why not start planning yours now? Hit the web and book a flight. Get a pen and paper because this article will help you sketch a perfect DIY travel itinerary to make that vacation count!

There is a never-ending debate about which is better - to prepare your own travel itinerary, or to buy a package tour? The answer really relies on the person or the group making the trip. Each has pros and cons and it depends on different factors.

Personality of the Traveller

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   Adventure-seeker

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   People who prefer to travel on their own schedule, are usually more adventurous. They are travellers, not tourists. They like the flexibility of going to whatever places their feet take them. They are open to unexpected thrills and are challenged to discover places on their own. They find meeting new people and interacting with the locals an opportunity for them to embrace the culture of the city they are visiting. If the place is too cool for them, they don't really mind overstaying. They may plan some hotels, but never all of the, and often leave the last part of their vacation open, so they can go wherever they want after getting a bit used to where they are. Often times, this person will meet someone on his/her travels, and go somewhere with them, or meet people who invite them to their place. You will discover, restaurants or hole in the wall street food stalls, local markets where you can eat and shop. Do you need all these expensive hotel room? Adventurous people don't because they don't spend much time in the room, and hostels are much less expensive to stay in.

    

   1. Downside to Spontaneity.  
      1. You may not find a hotel when you need one.
      2. Saying the time you spend planning is a downside, would be a mistake. The time you spend planning your trip, you will be learning all about the place you're going to, and have a much better time exploring.

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   Detail-oriented

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   For short stays, especially for people who don't have much time to plan their own itinerary, it is advisable to go for a package tour. This enables them to simply go on with their work duties and just leave and board a train for a weekend that has been well-prepared for them. There are less hassles and effort when you choose to buy a package holiday compared to those who are doing their own itinerary.

    

   1. Travelling with a tour may have quite a few perks, but also has quite a few downsides.  
      1. Your time is limited and you follow a certain schedule.
      2. While it is true that there is a sense of security and orderliness, the places you travel to and the time allotted to explore those places are limited.
      3. You end up being with the same people all the time, and they're all tourists.
      4. You aren't in a situation where you are meeting the people who live in the area. ### Everything is dictated to you. There is little room for spontaneity or adventure.
      5. You will see the predictable places, but you won't see the gems that aren't obvious.

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Package

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   Solo traveller

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   For solo travellers who are brave enough to explore alone, DIY is a great option. It's okay to join a package tour, but it's going to cost you more because the tendency is that most of the room accommodations are shared. Unless you are willing to pay double, or you are willing to share a room with strangers to save some money, then you can opt for an agency-assisted tour. But there are disadvantages too because you don't know who you are going to share bedrooms with. It could be a good thing because you'll be meeting some fellow travellers, but it's risky at the same time. Most of the travellers who go for package tours are couples and families. Again, unless it's totally fine with you to be partner-less, you can still choose that arranged tour. However, a DIY tour would enable you to choose what food you can eat, where you can stay, how you are going to enjoy every single day, and decide who you want to meet and mingle with.

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2. 2
   Travel with a group

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   A package tour is ideal for large groups due to the financial advantage. Travel agencies get discounts when they purchase in bulk. It's also less hassle to gather the group at certain times because you know that a tourist guide will do that for you. Small groups can still choose DIY travel itineraries, especially if they have bonded and they all share the same interest. Many backpackers enjoy a great deal on their vacation time because they are not restricted by fixed schedules. They are free to go wherever they want and to do whatever they want, and they don't tend to go for the more expensive accommodations.

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Duration of Travel

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   Long stays

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   DIY is perfect for those who are travelling for a long period of time. They purposely book a later flight because they want to make the most of their travel. They are open for chances to enjoy some unexpected and perhaps peculiar experiences along the way. Some people who book a package tour also choose the longer stays, but it's more practical to do it your own. You can save a lot and sometimes you don't necessarily want stick to a strict schedule because you might be missing something.

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2. 2
   Short stays

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   Some people who are too busy don't have much time to spend on long vacation days. They can't afford to take care of their own itinerary. It's fine for them as long as they get away with their daily work and routine, at least for a short period of time.

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Budget

Those who prefer a package tour think that people who choose to go DIY travel cannot afford a package tour.

Those who choose DIY travel think that people who choose a package tour are less adventurous and that they settle for something less. There's no right preference here. But it is true that you can do more when you choose to arrange your travel by yourself because you don't need to pay for a travel agent's commission. You can budget your accommodation, food, and activities on your own. It's fun because you do not only get to save a few bucks, but you also get the chance to explore the place and learn in-depth information about it even before you get there. It's like doing a virtual tour of your own for free.

Doing your own travel itinerary can be a big effort, confusing, stressful and it can consume your time, especially when things don't go your way. Expect to make many adjustments, but the process is quite fun, especially if you're the type of person who likes to make things personal. It's especially fun now that you can plan so much of your trip online. Here are some suggestions to starting your own travel itinerary.

Where to Go?

Your destination is the first thing you need to think of when planning your DIY travel. Whether you want to go out of town or out of the country, you need to consider several factors before deciding on your destination.

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   Write a list of places you have been meaning to visit

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   Start to list places you have dreamed of going to. It's so much easier to decide when you look the list over. Put them in order - most desired place first. Write down an approximate cost of going to that location. Before you figure this out, look a how their dollar is doing, and what the average cost of a hotel is. This will make it easier for you to decide where you're going. Keep the list so you can put a check mark on the place once you've been there. It's like ticking off an entry on your Bucket List.

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   Your personality can dictate which place to go

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   Assess yourself too. You might be meaning to go to Africa but you know you cannot bear the heat. Perhaps you love the beach and water sports adventures. Maybe your grandmother was born in Ireland, and you've never been. It's easier to decide when you know yourself well. However, you can also plan to go to a certain place that is out of your character. You want to push yourself out of your comfort zone and try different things. All you need to do is to accept the challenge to yourself and think carefully about which adventure you specifically want to try. The most adventurous travellers have been known to spin a globe, close their eyes, and point. They find a place close to where there finger is pointing, as it stopped the globe from spinning.

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3. 3
   Budget

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   Set a budget to determine how far you can go, but just because you have a little lower budget doesn't mean you can't go to your dream destination. This is what DIY travelling is all about. You can arrange yourself a well-budgeted and affordable trip if only you research and haggle well. If you're short on a budget, then start with local destinations first. Then save for an out of the country tour next year. However if you have already saved a lot for the vacation you've been wanting for so long, then it's fine to go right away to your top dream destination. The important thing is that even if you are on a budget, you should still bring with you a credit card in case of emergency.

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   Season

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   If you are planning to travel during a specific holiday season, you should consider the fact that many other people would certainly be travelling at the same time. If you don't like to be in a situation where you are mostly going to line up for food, amusement rides, or other activities, then go to a place that is less travelled on a holiday. On the other hand, if your purpose of travelling is to feel the season with shopping spree or beach bumming, then go ahead and pick the best location you can spend your holiday in.

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When to Go?

After deciding on where to go, think about when is the best time to go there or when is the best time for you to travel. The date of travel must be convenient for you and your friends or family, or whomever you're going to travel with. Here are some factors you need to consider when thinking about the perfect date of travelling:

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   Peak season

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   There is a certain peak season for every area. A tropical country is mostly visited by tourists during summer. People also flock to cold areas during summer, especially when they're country of origin is mostly humid. If you enjoy being around many people, then it's fine, but you may not enjoy the view and the serenity of the place because all you can see is people. Those who are looking for solitude might not be able to relax in a crowded places. The location also becomes less appealing when the other tourists don't care much about their litter.

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Here are the advantages when choosing to travel during a peak season.

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   1. 2
      Spirit of Festivity

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      It is expected to see many people on a mostly visited destination, especially when it is peak season. Different races from all over the world are strolling and wandering around the city with you. It's like a festival because you see lots of people sharing the same happiness as yours. You get to celebrate and enjoy the culture around you with so many people.

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   2. 3
      Weather is probably the best.

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   3. 4
      Everything is open

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      Sometimes, there are certain things closed during the off season.

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2. There are also disadvantages to travelling during the peak season.
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      Long lines

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      When there are many people, it's difficult to buy food, a ride ticket or reservations to dinners because of the long queue. It could be stressful. It's a whole lot better when you are on vacation and you can eat whenever you want to without lining up a long queue.

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   2. 2
      Everything is more expensive - flights, hotel and restaurants.

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   3. 3
      It's crowded everywhere you go.

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   4. 4
      Often the kids are out of school, making everything more chaotic.

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   5. 5
      There are more tourists, making meeting people who live where you are visiting more scarce.

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3. Off Season. Choosing to travel in an off-season is a wiser choice to many who want solitude and serenity when on vacation. After all, you want to relax and just enjoy the company of your loved ones. Here are the perks when choosing to travel in the off-season. There are so many good things about booking a trip in the off-season. Just a few of the advantages are.
   1. 1
      Flights, hotels and restaurants are cheaper

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   2. 2
      Kids are often still in school

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   3. 3
      Cheaper accommodations

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      Hotels and other types of accommodation offer low prices for their rooms during off-season. Since there are less people, they want to attract more customers by lowering their rates. There are times when they give the deluxe room for a price of a standard room. Just as an example, on Booking.com, today, I could have booked a double room at the Martello in Bray, Ireland, from Friday April 14 - Sunday the 16th for $293.00. It started at $406.00, but there was a 25% discount. The perks of booking late. The same room booked for Friday July 7 - Sunday July 8 would be $499.00 CND.

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   4. 4
      Easier access to food and activities

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      When there's not many people in the area, you have a freer time to explore many food at stalls, discover many restaurants and compare them and also pick the activities you want without the long lines and impatient people.

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   5. 5
      Less crowd and noise and people

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      You can enjoy the beach, the city and the key locations sans the crowd. It's quiet and peaceful but not boring. It's like owning the city and blending with the locals. There is a better opportunity for travelers to find solace. This is great because you want to break your routine. Being in an exquisite place without the noisy crowd is the best way to relax and enjoy.

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4. There are also some disadvantages when booking a trip during the off-season.
   1. 1
      Some things are closed during the off-season.

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   2. 2
      Some places, the weather won't be warm enough for swimming.

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Things to Consider

Who to Travel With?

Another important component when planning a DIY travel itinerary is who you are going to travel with. If you are alone, then it's going to be easier since you will be your own boss. It's easy to plan too if you're travelling with a partner because you will mostly likely have the same interests and plans. But if you are with a group, you need to all be in sync, and many things must be considered. The opinion of each one matters. Basically, the more people involved, the more difficult and complicated the planning will be, as there are more people to please. Here are some suggestions on who you may choose to go with when you travel. The nice thing about travelling with a larger group, is you can book an entire house, or, check this out, castle.

What To Do On Your Trip?

Here is a question that involves a lot of creative thinking. Of course you already know that when you travel, you basically relax, enjoy the views, eat local food, shop, and do a lot of road trips. But given a specific budget, time, number of travellers joining you and the type of destination you plan to go, there should be at least some concrete details of what you want to do on your vacation. It is like an outline of what you would like to experience and how you want to experience it. Below are some tips on what you can do when you are travelling:

• When booking a flight, compare airlines ticket rates. Do not settle with an airline that has bad reputation.
• Book early to avail of promos. Some airlines even offer free seats or no base fare at all.
• The date and number of days you'll be staying at a destination should be convenient to all of the travellers.
• When booking for accommodations, check different hotels and compare rates online. Communicate with the manager of the hotel to verify some things. You don't want to be charged hidden taxes!
• Ask for the standard check-in and check-out time. If you are arriving early, you can have an early check-in and pay for an extra amount or you may leave your things at the reception, stroll around the city, and come back for the official check-in time. Most hotels allow travellers to spend an extra hour after their check-out time.
• For an extended stay, opt for a condo or apartment, especially when travelling with friends or family. This way, you don't have to buy food all the time. It's nice if you can cook your own and try their native delicacies.
• Air B&Bs are an excellent choice. You can live with locals, and even if you have the place to yourself and the rest of your travel buddies, you can cook together, live in a residential area and feel more like residents than tourists. They are also often priced really reasonably.
• When touring around the city or villages on foot, you can ask a local to come with you and guide you.
• You can also tour around using a rented car. Just make sure your phones have GPS or your rental car has. If you are unaccustomed to driving on the left side, and you are in a country where they do, do not rent a standard car. It's enough to sit and the left, drive on the left, drive impossibly narrow road - adding to all this having to suddenly shift with your left hand, is just too much.
• Install smartphone apps that will help you in case of emergency. Free apps like Hostelworld (offers a directory of geo-targeted budget hotels), Hailo (an app that could make a cab in your location come to you) and PinPin ATM Finder (helps you find the nearest ATM machine) are some of the apps that could be of great help.
• Plan your wardrobe. Wear comfortable and appropriate shoes and clothes. One hint, stick to three colours, and you'll need to pack less.
• Always bring your passport and Visa with you.
• Read online forums about travelling. Sites like Tripadvisor, Lonelyplanet, Fodor's, Virtual tourist, Travelblog.org and Travbuddy are very useful for practical tips. Many people share their own experiences and they answer queries too. You can find commendable restaurants, bars, hotels, food and activities, that you can try while you are on your travel destination.

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