Independent Travel

Planning it All Yourself

There’s a special freedom that comes with handling every detail of your journey yourself. From choosing where to stay, to building your own itinerary, to finding those hidden local gems—DIY trip planning lets you craft an adventure that’s completely personal. It takes more time and research, but it also means you travel at your own pace, with the satisfaction of knowing you shaped the experience from start to finish, and enables you to spend your money on the things which are most important to YOU. Perhaps best of all, the anticipation grows with every choice you make—turning the planning itself into part of the joy of the journey.

How to Plan Your Own Trip

When you decide to plan your own trip, you want to think about how much work is involved. It varies dramatically by length of trip and destination as well as the number of people traveling together. Check out our Resources to see what tools can be useful to you. It is very helpful to think about how you will organize all the information you gather before you actually leap into planning! Meanwhile, here is an overview of the steps to planning that dream experience:

1. Choose Your Destination

Think about what excites you—nature, history, food, culture, or relaxation.
Narrow it down based on your interests, budget, and time available.
Check whether you need a visa or special documents.

2. Pick the Best Time to Go

Research the seasons: weather, festivals, or peak vs. off-peak crowds.
Consider costs—flights and hotels are often cheaper outside high season.
Factor in your own schedule: school breaks, work holidays, or personal events.

3. Plan How to Get There

Compare flights, trains, or drives to find the most convenient and affordable option.
Look into travel time, connections, and baggage rules.
Don’t forget transfers—how you’ll get from the airport or station to your stay.

4. Find the Right Place(s) to Stay

Decide on your style: hotel, guesthouse, vacation rental, or boutique stay.
Weigh location vs. cost—sometimes being closer to the center saves you time.
Read reviews, check photos, and make sure it matches your comfort level.

5. Research Things to Do

Start with the must-see sights that define the destination.
Go deeper: look for local markets, neighborhoods, and cultural spots.
Balance big attractions with hidden gems for a richer experience.

6. Explore Food Options

Research local specialties you don’t want to miss.
Mix popular restaurants with street food or neighborhood favorites.
Check if you’ll need reservations for popular spots.

7. Build Your Itinerary & Pace Yourself

Map activities by location to avoid backtracking.
Limit each day to a realistic number of sights—you’ll enjoy more if you do less.
Leave space for downtime, wandering, or spontaneous finds.

8. Budget & Book in Advance

Estimate costs for transport, lodging, food, and activities.
Book major items early (flights, hotels, top attractions).
Keep some flexibility for last-minute discoveries.

9. Prepare Before You Go

Sort out travel insurance, currency, and local SIM/eSIM if needed.
Make copies of documents and download offline maps.
Double-check luggage rules and pack smart.

By planning each step yourself, you don’t just create an itinerary—you build anticipation, adding to the joy of the journey before you even leave.