1. Find your ideal destination
It seems obvious, but it’s the most important step! To properly prepare for a trip, first find out about the destination. If you are going as a family, not sure that electric Ibiza and its sleepless nights is the most suitable destination. Instead, choose cities with a wide choice of family activities. The same if you dream of a romantic weekend , choose places with a more romantic atmosphere!
Are you going on vacation with friends? Spain, Portugal or Germany many countries are perfect for a 100% fun stay with the whole gang. If you can’t decide, why not take a road trip to the destination of your choice? Even if it is a trip that requires greater organization and a lot of preparation, the road trip is the ideal stay to keep everyone happy!
2. Do not go through the prison box (but through the plane box!)
It’s often at the airport or when reserving a rental car that we realize this… And an expired ID can very quickly ruin the entire trip! Be vigilant and check your official documents before booking your plane (or train) tickets . Finding yourself stranded before catching your plane, we don’t wish that on anyone!
Yes, it would still be a shame to cancel your trip on the day of departure.
So, don’t skip this step and check your papers carefully. Identity card or passport: find out the expiration date. You will be able to leave in complete peace and enjoy your vacation as it should be!
3. By plane? By car ? By train ? On horseback?
It’s a bit like the pillar of your trip: transport! Plane ? Train ? Car ? Everything else ? Depending on what you have planned, you will need to manage a certain number of reservations! Our advice for preparing your trip with peace of mind? Compare prices between different booking platforms to find the best deal!
Everything also varies depending on your travel itinerary. If you choose a destination close to your departure city, do not hesitate to choose the train or the car, for a more ecological trip. Of course, some destinations require flying. For example, if you want to fly to Reunion or Martinique from mainland France.
4. Book accommodation in advance
Rather campsite or 4-star hotel? In all cases, it is better to book your accommodation several weeks in advance to leave with peace of mind. It’s also a good opportunity to benefit from advantageous prices and prepare your trip well in advance! In the event of a problem, it is often easy to cancel online: no excuse for not planning your trip ahead of time.
When it comes to your accommodation, you are spoiled for choice. Hotel, gîte or guest room… The key is to carefully consider everyone’s wishes, if you are going with several people. The location of your accommodation is also important. For example, if you are flying to a dynamic European city, such as Lisbon or Madrid, the ideal would be to book a hotel close to the city center to take advantage of the various activities. However, if you opt for a more natural destination, do not hesitate to choose an atypical gîte to recharge your batteries during your stay.
5. The suitcase dilemma
Every trip, it’s the same thing… Whatever we do, the suitcase is always too full! To prepare for a trip, remember to only take the essentials (no need for example to take your favorite toothpaste, you will most certainly find it there) and to adopt a good method for packing your luggage in a few minutes.
Preparing your suitcase is nevertheless essential to avoid unpleasant surprises once you arrive at your destination. Because yes, although you can always buy soap or a toothbrush on site, it won’t be very practical if you arrive late at night or your hotel is far from a supermarket. Also, prices can be very high depending on the destination you have chosen. So, be careful not to forget anything!
6. Be stronger than GPS (or almost)
What do you want to do during your stay? In order to properly prepare for a trip, we advise you to map out your itinerary before leaving. Try to organize your days according to the points of interest you want to see and don’t load your schedule too much or you risk ending up with too intense a pace!
Organizing your itinerary also means varying the activities according to everyone’s desires. Discovering a museum with a guide or relaxing at the beach: everyone has their say. Remember to leave room for more relaxing activities. Vacations are also meant to relax!
7. Vacations, the real ones!
Do you dream of visiting the latest trendy exhibition and don’t want to miss out on the emblems of your destination? Remember to book in advance (and with your Connect Holiday Vouchers) if possible. The Guide also advises you to check the opening hours!
Also remember to compare prices to find activities that fall within your budget. After consulting the opinions of all travelers, all you have to do is book the chosen leisure activities. With the guide, you are at the top organizational level!
8. Dancing in the rain or tanning in the sun?
Let it be said, a vacation by the sea in the sun or in the rain: it changes everything! To avoid being disappointed, depending on the season in which you decide to go, prepare your trip and your suitcase with an eye on the weather!
Whether you want to relax by the water or hike in the mountains, the choice of destination is crucial! In Europe or abroad, many destinations offer you a 100% relaxing stay, under the sun. Like Corsica, Malta or even Marbella. On the mountain side, many resorts await you for a 100% ski or hiking stay if you go in summer. In any case, your vacation promises to be a success!
9. Make nice encounters
Organizing your trip also means preparing to meet great people. If you want to discover secret spots and addresses only known by locals, this is an excellent way to get closer to the local culture! And who knows, maybe the start of beautiful friendships.
Yes, holidays abroad are also a great opportunity to make connections, whether with locals or with other travelers!
10. Leave some room for the unexpected!
And finally, we also advise you to leave something unforeseen in the preparation of your trip. Take a random stroll, open the door of a shop that attracts you or follow a road without knowing what you will find at the end or add a last minute stop to your road trip… That’s also it, the spirit of a trip!
