Although some people like to just arrive somewhere and see what happens and adventure might take them, that’s not what everyone wants. In fact, not planning out a holiday can mean you miss out on a lot of places and activities that, had you researched your destination and planned in advance, you would have been able to enjoy. Here are some great tips for making the ideal travel itinerary so that you get to do everything you want when you’re away from home.

Be Realistic 

The first thing to think about when you are making your perfect travel itinerary for your break away is that it needs to be realistic. You want to do as much as possible, but don’t try to cram too much into your break, or you’ll be disappointed if you can’t quite manage it, or you’ll come home feeling a lot more tired and stressed than you did when you left, and that’s really not the point of taking a break. You need to leave yourself some time to breathe and just take in your new surroundings, so schedule that in too. 

Make A Wish List

Making a list of all the sights you want to see and things you want to do in the destination you're heading to is an excellent way to prepare for your perfect holiday.

In your travel notebook, write down all you know about the destination, including things you want to do, activities you want to try, and locations you want to see. This list does not have to cover just easily accessible locations or highlight every tourist attraction in the country; it can be anything. Make a list of everything that interests you. Later on, you'll need to determine whether or not your list of must-see locations is achievable and, if so, how. But for now, it's just a wish list to get you started. 

Also, if you are looking for more information or don't know anything about the place, making an inspiration board, which can be anything from an online notes app to an old-school pen and paper, with photographs and articles is a terrific idea. You can note down the trout limit in California, for example, if you were intending to go fishing there, or when the best times for skiing in Austria might be, and anything else. 

Plan your vacation around a certain activity or event that you really want to take part in or visit. This will take precedence on your schedule; envision it as an anchor and make it the focal point of your plans. You can arrange the remainder of the trip to coincide with the event's date or to ensure you have time to go wherever it is you want to go. 

Your Budget 

Every vacation begins with the creation of a travel budget. Whether you want to stay in modest dorms or 5-star all-inclusive hotels, backpack or fly first class, cook at the hostel kitchen or dine out in luxury restaurants, determining how much money you want or can spend can help you keep in control of your budget. Thinking about your budget can also guide you choose locations to visit or modes of transportation to use to get there.

Most essential, keep your finances in check. Some places are more costly than others, and you will prevent unpleasant shocks if you know in advance how much you have to spend. 

It is usually a good idea to allocate a little more in case of unanticipated circumstances. When you have a solid plan, you can avoid fighting with your partner about overspending since you both know the budget limit, or if you travel with a group of friends, you can agree on a particular amount of money you are prepared to spend on activities, lodging, or food.

This isn't to say you can't unexpectedly decide to spend extra and do some wild activity, but it's important to keep your day-to-day spending in check to avoid inevitable tension and bickering with your travel companions.

Book In Advance

Thanks to the wonders of the internet, it’s possible to book in advance for most places you want to go to and things you want to see. You can find tickets to sporting events online in advance, for example, and you can usually buy entrance tickets to museums, theme parks, and other activities like a Helicopter Ride over Sydney. The key to using this technique is not to book everything before you leave, but only the things that might sell out and have limited capacity. You can then work the rest of your itinerary around these events that are ‘set in stone’. 

Be Logical 

Your itinerary needs to be as logical as possible. If you are keen to see one attraction, then look for others that are near it so that you can spend a whole day in one location and see two or three (or more) different things. You don’t want to plan everything out and then realize that you have to traipse from one end of town and back again to get it all done. This will save you time and money and make the day feel a lot more worthwhile. 

Be Flexible 

Just because you have a travel itinerary, it doesn't mean you have to stick to it no matter what. Sometimes plans change, and if you can be flexible, you’ll find it a lot easier to deal with that change. It could mean that some of the visits you’ve planned have to be done on a different day or canceled altogether, depending on what has happened. Flexibility will help you not feel worried or anxious about this when you’re away. 

Do Your Research 

Getting all of the details on your desired vacation spot has never been simpler than it is right now, thanks to the convenience of doing practically everything from the comfort of your own home. 

Your best friend here is the internet, and with some help from conventional print guide books, you can do great things. Researching a new location might be overwhelming, but the effort will pay dividends when you arrive.