Questions to Ask While Planning a Trip
Traveling is a beautiful way to spend some of your downtimes. See new ecosystems and climates, explore different types of architecture, and interact with various cultures to provide diverse experiences that broaden your horizons. Whenever I begin the process of choosing a place to travel to, there are a few questions I like to ask:
How much time do I have?
This is the most critical question to ask yourself when planning. This parameter rarely changes and profoundly affects all decisions made about a trip. Having a 3-day weekend, a week-long holiday, or an extended period limits travel to and from the destination and the length of time at a destination. When choosing a destination to travel to, allow for ample time to enjoy the trip. My rule of thumb is spending twice as much time at the destination as I am traveling. While reaching your destination can always be fun or could even be the main focus of the trip, be sure to give yourself enough time to enjoy where you are going and get home safely.
How much am I willing to spend?
The following important consideration is money. Travel can be cumulatively expensive. Between the mode of transport, the accommodations, the food, and the activities, trips can become prohibitively expensive quickly. However, establishing a predetermined budget for the trip provides tangible boundaries that allow you to make informed decisions as you move through the list of questions.
Will I be traveling with anyone? If so, how much decision power do they have in the process?
Solo traveling, couples trips, and group vacations greatly vary the planning process. As a primarily solo traveler, my knowledge in the sphere of group planning is firmly stunted. However, having made various trips with my mom, a group trip that I was entirely in control of planning, and other group trips I just tagged along for, I know the distribution of decision-making and planning power is vital for a successfully planned trip.
For example, what I want to do alone will vary significantly from what I want to do on a trip with my mother. Food, especially around lunchtime, becomes a matter of fueling myself when I am traveling alone. However, when I travel with my mom, I usually take mealtime to sit down with her and chat. Also, our food preferences vary drastically. While my mother has a “European” palate, I am willing to eat just about anything. So when planning a trip with another person, figure out if you will have one person in charge or evenly distribute responsibilities.
What kind of trip do I want? Relaxing, Educational, Adventure, Culture?
This question is meant to set the tone for your trip. Is it going to be fast-paced and filled with tourist attractions? Do you want to lay about in nature somewhere and recharge? Do you want to get “lost” in a city or forest for your predetermined time window? Maybe you want to see all the different museums a city offers. Or perhaps you want to discover a particular kind of cuisine. Whatever your vibe, ensure you (and your group) know the trip's goal. Then, knowing your goal, you can refine your searches and allocate your time and budget accordingly.
For me, this has been vital in my last two trips. When planning my trip to New Orleans, exploring was my priority. I have dreamed of going to this city for 25 years, so when I planned, I left it open-ended to get “lost.” I tend to do this when my expectations for a place are too high. New Orleans had become this mythical place in my imagination, and I desperately did not want to be disappointed. To combat this, I treated myself like a toddler in a playpen. I set myself up with my parameters, the city of New Orleans focusing on the French Quarter with no private transport. I ended up walking almost 10 miles every day that week. It was a successful choice, and a more in-depth discussion about this trip is coming.
In contrast, the trip I took to Orlando had different priorities. My mother and I went with the benchmarks for the trip, visiting my mom’s best friend and my tattoo appointment. This trip also involved a substantial time allotment for my work as it was the week leading up to my website launch. Everything else was filler.
Do I care where I am going? Just anywhere?
With all the previous information in mind, do you have a specific destination that fits your parameters? Sometimes, you have a destination before you even begin the planning process. Other times you may want a weather change. Another thing to remember is whether you want to go somewhere new or revisit a beloved place.
For my trip to New Orleans, I knew I wanted to explore the French Quarter, and from there, I made the few decisions I did. In contrast, for our trip to Orlando, my mom and my driving force were to get out of Philadelphia for Super Bowl 2023 weekend. So the goal was less about the destination and the act of leaving.
When is the best time to travel there?
This one is critical if you want to avoid dangerous weather, see a particular thing at a destination, or avoid crowds during a specific season. These considerations are also important when purchasing transport to your location. For example, we all remember the mass cancellation of flights due to the dangerous freeze that swept the US earlier this year.
This question came into play when deciding when to go to New Orleans. I knew I didn’t want to deal with humidity in a city, so summertime was out. I also had no interest in Mardi Gras, as I do not party and dislike crowds. I decided on the end of January because it was entirely out of season.
I know that usually, time off can occur at a predetermined time due to your job; however, that doesn’t mean you and your trip should suffer. Therefore, ensure that your chosen location is beneficial to the time of year you travel. Many resources on the infinite web can help you determine the beneficial times for a trip to your destination. It can be as simple as “what is the best season to go to______.”
What is the length of my trip?
Now just because you have a specific time frame does not mean you want to spend that entire window at your destination. You may have a week and want to go on a 5-day adventure. There is a benefit in cherishing time off, balancing travel, and mindfully decompressing. Also, a buffer for travel to and from is beneficial when a destination is prone to inclement weather. Pacing during a trip sets it up for enjoyment and proper decompression afterward.
Where am I going to stay?
Where you stay during a trip correlates directly to the type of trip you want. For example, accommodations with spas, hot springs, or meditation retreats are more appropriate if you want a relaxing by-the-water vibe. While if you are going to wander most of the day, safe accommodations with a warm shower may be all you need.
Other questions to remember include, do you want to be close to what you are visiting? Does access to transport affect your decision? Does the location provide the necessary amenities for my stay? Remember, your accommodations are meant to be your sanctuary away from home while traveling. Therefore, you should feel safe in your choice.
What will be open at my destination during my visit?
Knowing what is available when can save you many headaches when you arrive at your destination. Be mindful that different places have different schedules and seasons. The problem I constantly run into is restaurants. For example, in Puerto Rico, restaurants are rarely open on Mondays and barely on Tuesdays. While if you like farm-to-table as I do, some restaurants do not have enough fresh ingredients to maintain a menu in winter.
How am I going to get from point A to point B?
Transport is crucial. Reserving appropriate transportation can make or break a trip. Most significant cities have various public transport options, from buses to trains to taxis. There are even more touristy options like hop-on-hop-off buses and tours. However, in more rural areas, transport may be limited. Sometimes reaching your destination can take multiple steps, from a plane to a puddle jumper, a shuttle to a boat, etc. The more steps, to more wiggle room and travel time needed. Being cognizant of how you will move around your destination will reduce stress.
Which of my activities takes priority?
Always prioritize one or two things as the absolute must-sees of a trip. Sometimes everything goes right, and you have ample time to do everything on your wish list. However, more often than not, if you encounter problems, ensure you at least enjoy the highlight of your trip.
Finally, search “important things to know before going to _______.”
When traveling anywhere, be aware that you are going to someone else’s hometown. Every place has specific rules and social mores that must be acknowledged and respected when traveling. Maybe it is the local language, religion, laws, or cuisine, but there will be differences to consider.
When entering a sacred space, I respect the level of modesty requested of me. Whether I am required to veil or be barefoot, I appreciate that this is someone’s house of worship. Even if my interest is in how they choose to express their connection to their god through architecture, it does not exempt me from treating their place of worship with respect.
A more stern example is Singapore or Indonesia. In Singapore, chewing gum is banned country-wide, with a minimum fine of $500 on the first offense. While in Indonesia, a law was just passed that sex between non-married couples is an arrestable offense. In the US, it is essential to research “sun-down” towns or counties which may be safe to travel through during the daytime. However, depending on presentation, culture, and race, these places are prone to hate crimes once the sun goes down.
Remember, travel is meant to be an experience. Do not be discouraged by the realities of a destination; just be mindful of where you have chosen to explore. To ensure you are achieving the tone of travel you want, make sure you prioritize safety as well as fun. Going somewhere new is always an adventure; use the list above to make the most of your travels.