how to plan your spontaneous trip in advance

Have you ever heard of someone who found a travel deal and booked it, effortlessly? How do they do it?

I mean, don’t most people usually plan their trips details out months in advance. Just me?

But dang… those lucky people seem to be able to find deals at the drop of a hat.

I’m not one to deny that luck may play a part, but the great thing is that you can join the exclusive group of lucky folks who know how to save money on their travel plans every time.

I won’t hide the secret in decoded messaging and make you wish you had one of those coveted cereal box toys like we used to hoard as kids.

I’m not that kind of girl. I’ll just give it to you straight.

Here’s the secret:

Plan a few dream trips in advance. 

Then, when a deal pops up, you’ve got a few destinations at the ready. You’ll know how much you can afford and if the deals you’re seeing are within your budget and fit your desired travel dates.

Yep, that’s it.

Okay, so… post over. Go plan your trips and book your flights.

Ha! Just kidding.

I’m going to give you a few more tips to make your spontaneous trip planning a success.

1. Dream Big

Trust me on this one. Start thinking about where you’ve always wanted to visit. Are you an adrenaline junkie, a budding art connoisseur, a family historian, or just looking for some solid relaxation on a tropical beach?

Brainstorm your list on whatever platform makes sense to you. Grab a fancy travel notebook from your favorite supply store, open up a google doc, or if you’re thrifty like me, maybe you’ll grab one of those sprial-bound back-to-school 10 cent specials and dedicate it to all things travel-dreamin’.

This exercise is for your eyes only, so don’t let your friends, parents, or co-workers opinions have any effect on the type of trip you want to take.

2. Pick Your Destinations

That’s right, plural.

Narrow your brainstorming list a to a handful of destinations you want to see right now. Not someday, but right now.

Having a list of several different options will mean that it is more likely that you can find a deal that will match your dream list.

3. Start your Research

Put on your comfy pants, grab a kombucha/latte/lemon water (not all at the same time cuz that’s just GROSS), and hit up your favorite search engine. I’m a Pinterest fanatic for this kind of research.

4. Prepare a Sample Budget

 While you’re researching, make notes of what folks are saying about food costs, transportation fees, museum passes, etc. Then compile your research in to a quick spreadsheet to calculate a budget.

Don’t worry about getting absolutely every detail correct.  The point is to just have a rough estimate of your what an ideal vacation in this destination might cost you.

Here are some typical expense categories:

Transportation, Accommodations, Admissions/Entertainment, Meals, Souvenirs 

5. Be Flexible

Now that you’ve got an idea what you’d like to do, how long you would want to stay, and how much that would cost you, take a look and see where some flexibility can save you some money.

One of the quickest ways to cut costs when planning your trip is to travel during the off-season. As you’re researching your destinations, make some mental or physical notes about when you would and wouldn’t like to visit those places.

Wouldn’t consider a beach vacation if the temps outside are lower than 80? Note it. Want to visit the Alps in winter, note it. In other words, if Japan in cherry blossom season is a non-negotiable, then just leave room in your budget because costs will likely be higher during that season.

Next, think about duration.

Will a long weekend in Paris be enough for now, or would you rather wait until you can check off all the items on your Parisian bucket list?

Will leaving for Hawaii in the middle of the week cause your boss high blood pressure?

Knowing some key tips will help. For example flights leaving mid-week, booking flights on a Tuesday or Thursday, and staying 7+ days will all mean cheaper fares. Also it is useful to check prices ever few days starting now as knowing how much rates are and have been in the past will help you know at a glance if that deal is great or just OK.  

Now, consider accommodations.

Would you be okay in a 3 star hotel near a transportation hub, or a 5 star luxury pad in the heart of the city?

In our house, we operate under the mindset that we would rather spend two days in a hostle on the outskirts of Paris, than never get there at all because we didn’t have the money saved up for a two week luxury trip.

We typically traveling in shoulder season. Here are two trips where crowds were low, prices were affordable, and the views were incredible.

6. Finding Deals

Now it’s time to start searching for deals. There are tons of businesses dedicated to notifying their followers of flash sales, mistake fares, and bogo cruising deals. We subscribe to plenty and also offer this as a service to our clients.

But first, some honest truth about deals: People are rarely ready for them.

If you haven’t done the work to know how much your trip will cost without the deal, how will you know if you can take advantage of the it without breaking the bank, adding to your credit card debt, or putting your job in jeopardy?

One final word of advice:

No matter how long you are fortunate enough to visit your dream destination, you’ll never see it all. So plan that short trip, take advantage of a long weekend or a screaming deal. It will inspire you to return.

Always assume you will return.

-Mandi