Planning your first trip is equal parts exciting and daunting. If you’re figuring out how to plan an international trip to a far-off continent, you're bound to be overwhelmed. Flights, visas, accommodation, transportation… your to-do list is about to look like a novel. Hell, even if you’re a European just trying to figure out how to plan a trip to Europe, I wouldn’t blame you for feeling lost.
But don’t worry—I’ve got you. I’ve been to more countries than I can count (okay, I can count them, but it sounds cooler this way). In my rich experience, I’ve learned that a well-planned trip is the difference between an epic adventure and a logistical nightmare.
Take in the view at Blyde River Canyon along South Africa’s Panorama Route. A quiet moment before the next stretch of the journey
Sure, you could pay a travel agency to handle everything, but where’s the fun in that?! They’ll only overcharge you for cookie-cutter itineraries when you could be crafting your own perfect trip—one that actually fits your budget, interests, and tolerance for chaos.
This guide of mine is as real as it gets: 10 steps, no fluff, and unique, practical tips you’ll actually put into action to plan your first international trip. And once you’ve followed it once, you’ll be a travel pro, ready to take on the world again and again. Let’s get to it!
Floating in Yaxmuul cenote, tucked away in Tulum’s jungle
Somewhere in Namibia, with nothing but open roads and mountains ahead (and lots and lots of sand!)
When it comes to any goal in life, having concrete wishes and expectations from the get-go is the best way to avoid disappointment. (Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.)
It’s important, first of all, to delve into exactly why you want to take an international trip to have the best chance of a great experience in the end. This is one of the more fun steps, one that requires maximum imagination and minimum research.
...and begin to create the blueprint for your perfect trip by posing multiple-choice sub-questions, such as:
Pro tip: If you want to travel with several other people, it’s crucial to make sure you calibrate your needs and preferences at this early stage. Get together—in person, not in a WhatsApp group—to talk frankly about all the things you can and can’t compromise on. Make sure you take notes!
And because I know you’re simply dying to know, if I were planning my next trip right now, my answers to these questions would be:
These are only ten criteria, but the concept of my trip is already pretty streamlined. This is what’s going to help me in the following stages of planning my international trip.
Salt flats and reflections in Jujuy, Argentina
By “travel budget”, I mean the maximum amount of money you’d be willing to set aside for every part of your trip. This includes:
The reason I suggest you note down the maximum amount of money is that it gives you a hard, fixed limit to work with when you come to the following steps. In other words, it’ll help you not to waste time browsing and researching options that will take you beyond your budget.
This maximum will obviously vary wildly from person to person, depending on their financial situation. For my imaginary week-long vacation, let’s say I can afford to reserve EUR 3,500.
Useful resource: TravelSpend is an app that lets you log your travel expenses in multiple currencies, set budgets according to spending categories, and generate expense reports. It’s something to use once you’re on the go rather than in the planning stage, but I just had to plug it for being super user-friendly!
From the skies to the ancient ruins—I finally made it to Machu Picchu
If you’re traveling with other people, they should consider their own individual maximums. If everyone decides to make everyone’s inclusion a priority, then you should all lower your maximums to match the lowest budget in the group. This ensures that nobody gets priced (and left) out of destinations, accommodation, or activities that others can afford.
For example, if my girlfriend—my only (very much wanted) travel companion—can only afford to spend EUR 3,000, my own budget is also reduced to EUR 3,000.
High-altitude blues at Lago del Goillet, Italy. A perfect spot for an active escape
Now, here’s where your vacation really starts to feel real! Take your trip criteria from Step 1 and start by looking for regions where they’re likely to be fulfilled. For starters, you can look at the Destinations section on my travel blog and let the inspiration juices flow.
In my case, I know I want an active, outdoorsy vacation, but I wouldn’t want to leave Europe (where I live) on account of wanting a more familiar location and not wanting to spend more than EUR 3,000 for one week.
Breakfast with a view at what was my favorite hotel along South Africa’s Garden Route: Kambaku @ Sea
...and I’d get suggestions like “Scotland”, “Iceland”, “Norway”, “Austria”, “Italy”, and “the Pyrenees”. Time to glance back at my criteria again!
Let’s be real—we’re not getting hot weather from any of the first three options, plus they’d all be beyond our budget. I want to go somewhere further from where I live (the Czech Republic) than Austria. I mean, I don’t want a total culture shock, but I’m feeling more adventurous than simply hopping next door.
And then, bearing in mind our calibrate-and-compromise discussion (also from Step 1), my girlfriend would highly prefer to go somewhere we’ve never been together before. That would rule out Italy, so the Pyrenees it would be.
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Don't forget to consider the finer details of what’s important to you personally. You don’t want to be getting off a plane in Saudi Arabia if you’re transgender, only to learn at that stage that they’re not so cool with you.
Okay, that’s an extreme example, but once you think you’ve settled on a destination, go over it one last time, bearing in mind factors such as:
Important note: Check your passport expiration date at this stage to ensure it has enough validity left. If you’re not an EU passport holder, you also need to bear in mind that your passport can’t be more than 10 years old to enter the EU, regardless of its expiration date.
Quiet moments on Calgary Beach, Isle of Mull, Scotland. A place to slow down and take it in
I’m lucky in that I don’t need to make many of the considerations above anyway, pretty much wherever I go (straight-white-male privilege flex!). But for the sake of my example trip plan, it’s fair to say that the Pyrenees are a safe and practical place for me and my girlfriend to visit, in all regards.
Exploring both the coast and the trails of Mallorca, Spain. A mix of sea and mountains in one trip
Unless you’re a kept man or woman with zero responsibilities year-round, there’s a fair chance that you already have an idea of when you’ll be free to set off on your vacation. By all means, stick with that time slot, but here are some more factors to check you’ve thought about before proceeding:
As it happens, my girlfriend and I are relatively flexible with travel dates. I took the liberty of Googling “best time to go to the Pyrenees” and eventually decided on the second week in September.
Airport waits and window seat views—part of the journey, wherever it leads
Look, I get it—no one gets excited about buying travel insurance. It’s like packing an umbrella—annoying, but essential unless you enjoy tempting fate. Lost luggage, medical emergencies, or a last-minute flight cancellation can turn your dream vacation into a financial nightmare. So for God’s sake, do yourself a favor and insure your trip!
Be budget-conscious: Remember that the further away from home you go and the more vigorous your activities are, the more expensive an adequate insurance plan is likely to be.
Exploring the Alcazaba fortress in Málaga—history, architecture, and a view over the city
Not all travel insurance is created equal. Some policies cover everything but spontaneous skydiving; others barely cover a paper cut. Of course, exactly what you’ll need depends on what kind of trip you’re taking. But in general, prioritize things like:
Pro tip: Find out whether your credit card provider offers travel insurance. Some providers include a plan when you pay for flight tickets, for instance. This would certainly save you a lot of hassle!
For a solid provider, I recommend World Nomads (worldnomads.com). They cover adventure activities, have flexible plans, and don’t disappear when you actually need them. Plus, they were founded by fellow travelers, not soulless insurance robots.
Long-haul flights are all about the little comforts—good seats, decent entertainment, and a solid plan for passing the time
It’s time to commit. I always get a minor adrenaline rush when I book flight tickets because it's when I know there’s no going back—this trip is happening!
Disclaimer: I don’t usually travel on international or intercity buses and trains, and the way they work is very specific according to the locality anyway. Therefore, you get my best travel-planning tips when it comes to arranging air transport and hiring cars:
Useful resource: This is my very own top time-saving hack. Before booking any flights, I always look at an airport’s Wikipedia article (yes, I am a nerd). There should be an up-to-date table showing which destinations are served by that airport and the airlines that serve them. Then, you can go directly to the relevant airline’s website to check availability in more detail.
Another useful resource: If you’re considering buying plane tickets from a carrier you’ve never flown with before, head to skytraxratings.com for comprehensive, certified ratings of pretty much every airline in the world. The truth comes out here!
I'm chasing the best tickets in the arena...
Chill out on our way to Chille
Okay, this Pyrenees trip of mine is still imaginary. But if it weren’t, this is how I’d get the most suitable flights for it. (And I did find them this way; I just didn’t actually book the tickets.)
*If your geography’s not up to scratch (can’t relate), use Google Maps to find airports near your final destination.
**This isn’t guaranteed to happen on your first flight search. If you can’t find anything suitable for you, go back to point 2 (or even point 1 if necessary).
You see—you can totally be your own travel agent! And for more hacks for getting the best plan tickets, don’t hesitate to click here...
Comfortable bed, beautiful view, beautiful scenery... @ Ndhula Luxury Tented Lodge, South Africa
You’ll already have a rough idea of the sort of place you’d like to stay from Step 1, be it in a fancy hotel, a self-catering apartment, or a tent. You do you, but personally, I only ever stay at hotels.
Useful resource: I always use Booking.com to reserve hotel rooms. From searching for a hotel to managing a booking, the app is super easy to use, and the reviews that other travelers leave are detailed and impartial. Okay, I know I’m shouting about how great it is to cut out the middleman, but this is an exception (plus, you can get discounts as part of a loyalty program!).
An unbearably hot outside... The swimming pool in the hotel—yep, I'll take it
As it was when you decided on your destination in Step 3, thorough research is key at this point. If you think you know all you need to know about the accommodation you’ve found, stop and consider these finer points...
After carefully considering everything above, I picked out the Gran Hotel de Jaca for us to stay at in the foothills of the Spanish Pyrenees. (It looks so pristine, bright, and modern inside that I’m starting to think of planning this trip for real...)
Want more tips on booking the best hotels? I hear you:
Fast and furious in Swakopmund Namib Dessert, Namibia... but with respect for nature
This is another exciting step—the very reason you’re making this trip! Again, after Steps 1 and 3, you might well have an idea of the main thing you want at your destination (in my case, it’s hiking and general outdoor adventure). But now’s your chance to fine-tune this idea as well as brainstorm on other attractions that might be worth visiting.
Useful resource: Viator.com is a great starting point for finding fun things to do all over the world. It kind of works similarly to Booking.com—with reservation capabilities, reviews, and a rewards system—only for activities.
Bologna is not just a delicious pasta dish...
If you’re traveling with other people, perhaps now more than ever, you need to coordinate with them. Teamwork makes the dream work (that’s what people say, right?)—get back together with your pals to research and decide on what you’d all like to do on your joint vacation.
And if you’re especially organized, you could even start planning your days in detail...
I am a master at drawing up travel itineraries! I should really start a career in it, but until I do, I’ll humbly let you in on my systematic, nine-point method.
But first, one important thing I should point out is: if something doesn’t go according to plan on your vacation itinerary, remember that it doesn’t matter in the long run. You’ll still have a good time, and you can always think of patch solutions on the spot.
Can you order food in the local language? @ Modena, Italy
So, now you’ve got a budget, a destination, travel insurance (seriously—don’t skip out on it!), travel tickets, accommodation, and plans for what to see and do. That’s the hardest stuff over! Next, it’s time to kick-start the fun by attempting to immerse yourself... while still at home.
I’ve learned phrases in lots of languages courtesy of my travels around the world, and there is something incredibly satisfying about it. I’d say Spanish and Italian are the languages I’ve become most confident in, largely because natives of Italy and South America aren’t the most proficient English speakers. (And, well, as far as languages go, they’re pretty easy.)
Standing in the shadow of history at the Segovia Aqueduct—centuries-old engineering still making an impression
I mean, if “so not to be an ignorant bastard” doesn’t answer this question, here, read these reasons:
When words fail, hand gestures will do—communicating with locals in Nagano, Japan
Useful resource: Not Duolingo. A controversial opinion, maybe, but I don’t think it offers much progress for occasional travelers or for serious language learners. Instead, I find the Memrise app to be very vocab-focused, using flashcards and “Learning With Locals” video clips to help get the important words drilled into your head.
Other useful resources: Google Translate and DeepL are the best apps for translating things once you’re on the go. DeepL provides slightly better translations for most languages, but it comes with a tighter character limit. Both apps also come with a lens feature that can translate physically written text using your phone’s camera.
We are happy together on the road @ Blyde River Canyon, South Africa
Lastly, this is something you’ll need to start doing only a few days before you leave for your vacation. (Or make it a week if you’re the forgetful, scatterbrained type.) People either love packing or hate it, but either way, if you start properly organizing your stuff in advance, the process will be much easier.
Pro tip: Make lists—as many as possible. A list for clothes, a list for accessories, a list for toiletries, a list for medication, a list for all the necessary documents; you get the idea. Going through all these lists on your day of departure day will best ensure that you don’t forget anything. But what exactly should you put on all your lists...?
Packing smart for Crete—sun protection, comfortable shoes, and just enough to enjoy Balos Lagoon without overloading the bag
Check out my longer article on packing tips for international travel for more hacks, examples, and things to consider.
But having said all this, it's also important not to overpack! There’s nothing worse than dragging half of your possessions across the world, straining your back in the process, only not even to use half of them. (I’ve, ahem, come to learn over time that it’s women who are particularly bad with this. Sorry, not sorry.)
If you’re away for a longer time (say, a month), don’t try to bring absolutely everything you’d need for that length of time. Instead, for example, buy more toiletries when you need them, and there’ll always be a way to wash some of your clothes.
Ending the day with dinner and a view—sometimes, the best part of travel is just slowing down (Kambaku @ Sea Hotel, South Africa)
And that’s it! If you made it this far, congrats—you now know how to plan a trip like a seasoned traveler. No more relying on overpriced travel agencies, no more blindly booking things without a clue. You’ve got all the tools to plan your international adventure, whether it’s a European getaway, a tropical escape, or a full-blown backpacking expedition.
Now, stop procrastinating, start planning, and most importantly—book the damn tickets! Sometimes, browsing cool hotels can help get you started, or, if you really need help, see all the destinations on my travel blog to get inspired.
Because let’s be honest, the hardest part of traveling isn’t figuring out the logistics—it’s getting over the mental hurdle of actually committing to the trip. And once you do? You’re in for one hell of an experience.
The biggest travel mistake is trying to see and do everything. Overloading your itinerary will leave you exhausted and unable to enjoy the experience. And Americans, I’m looking at you—stop trying to see all of Europe in a week. You can’t even properly see one country in that time. If you spend more time hopping between cities than actually exploring them, you’re doing it wrong. Pick a country, stick to it, and actually experience it. Prioritize the things you actually care about, leave room for spontaneity, and don’t feel obligated to visit “must-see” places if they don’t interest you.
Planning your next great adventure? Make it simple and stress-free @ Dalmore Guest Farm, South Africa
My travel tip is to be flexible and relax. Things will go wrong—flights will get delayed, plans will change, and Google Maps will betray you. Instead of stressing, adapt and roll with it. Sometimes, the best experiences come from unexpected situations. And remember, unless you leave your passport at home, everything will work out just fine. Anything you forget, you can buy once you arrive (unless your first trip is to the middle of the jungle, which I highly doubt). Also, rent a car. It gives you so much more freedom and makes travel life infinitely easier.
Now, go book that trip before you come up with another excuse!
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Hi, I’m Jan. I travel fast and intensely, whether I’m exploring the buzz of Tokyo in 3 days or road-tripping through mountains and beaches on a 3-week Thailand adventure. And no matter where I am, you’ll always find me in a comfortable hotel at night and eating the best food.
If that sounds like your kind of journey, hop on board, and let’s explore the world together!
I started this blog after realizing how tough it can be to find reliable, authentic travel info. You wouldn’t believe how many “travel bloggers” never even visit the places they write about! On Next Level of Travel, you can count on my full honesty and insights drawn from my firsthand experiences.
Here’s the deal: not every destination is all superlatives and unicorns. I’ll let you know if a tourist attraction isn’t worth your time, like skipping overrated stops in my 2-week Spain itinerary. And when I find something truly special—like the perfect mix of culture and nature in Cape Town—you can trust that it’s worth adding to your itinerary.
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