Top 5 Tips about Planning a Trip You Can’t Take Yet (stupid Covid19)
Make a Dream List
Most of us probably have one of these anyway, but making a physical list of places you want to go, or experiences you want to have, or sites you want to see, can really help with choosing which trip to do when. For example, I wanted to visit India, but I especially wanted to experience Holi. This meant arranging a trip to India for the end of March or beginning of April. The year mattered little, but the months mattered. With a good Dream List, you can pick the trip that best fits the time you’re able to travel.
Track flights
You can do this for multiple flights on Google and have email sent on price changes. If you’re feeling very extra, you can track them yourself in a spreadsheet. This would allow you to avoid the increase in prices associated with checking on a specific flight to often. It would also allow you to track more than one destination at once in a very organized way. No matter how you do this, keep an eye on flights to destinations on your Dream List. It’ll give you a sense of how much you can expect to pay for that flight. If you’re not traveling, at least you can save for travel!
Make Airbnb Lists
Airbnb let’s you save homes to different lists. As far as I can tell there is not a limit on how many of these lists you can have. I think I had 20 at last count. These let you do that fun accommodations searching now, even though you can’t book. As with flights, you’ll be able to organize the information based on your Dream List and get a sense of budget, plus you’ll be able to find your favorites quickly when you do go to book!
Do Research
Obviously, flight tracking and Airbnb searching are research, but there is also general research to do while you wait to book your next trip. Personally, I use Pinterest to create boards for each of my Dream List locales and I pin articles, maps, packing lists, etc. to that board. That way, when it comes time to book, I’ll have a set of resources for planning my itinerary, packing, and making activity and restaurant reservations!
Watch Sales
Even if you can’t travel right now, that doesn’t mean you can’t prepare! With the economy all wonky, many places are having excellent sales. Maybe it’s time to invest in those nice noise cancelling headphones, or a new carry-on. I personally am eyeing this bag.
However, you choose to pass the time until we can travel again, try to be optimistic. Nothing is forever, and we will wander again.
