Plan Ahead. Pay Ahead.

As I have mentioned in my previous post, planning your trip ahead is a good way to maximize your time and enjoy your vacation more. This, however,  is not the only thing you have to consider. Sure, your itinerary is there and you already know everything you can about the place. Your camera is ready and your bags are ready. What about your budget?

One reason why most people are reluctant to travel is because they think traveling entails a huge amount of money and they simply cannot afford it. Not really. True, you can't simply go somewhere without funds and certainly not expect to get far with only Php 1,000. However, that doesn't mean you can't go to these places because you're not rich.

If you really want to go there then do something about it. Here are some things I do so I can travel without starving for months.

Let's say you have selected the place already here's what you can do to reach your dream destination.

1. The Checklist. Ask yourself these most important questions, how do i get there? (bus, plane, ship) How long will I be staying? Where will I stay? Once you have answered these questions, itinerary will be the least of your worries.

2. The Budget. Depending on your answers to the questions above, you have to estimate your budget. How much do you need for transportation? How much do you need for lodging? How much for pocket money?

3. How to get there. First, secure your transportation. If you are going by plane, you might want to check out the websites of several airline companies in the country. Air Philippines and Cebu Pacific have promo fare almost every month. Check out bus schedules and fares as well while you're at it especially if you are going somewhere far and expecting different types of transportation.

4. Lodging. Once you have the transportation secured, check out for hotels and lodging places. Check websites such as tripadvisor.com and other related sites. This usually how I get an idea of where to stay. Check what people recommends on the places you want to go to. Most of these people are backpackers so they know the most budget-friendly places to stay in. It also contains their reviews about the place so you know in advance if that place would be worth your money.

5. Book in advance. You know what usually eats your budget when you travel? transportation and lodging. Yes, a plane ticket is expensive. Yes, hotels are expensive. That is why you have to book them in advance this way you will not feel the bulk of the expenses.

Once you have decided where to go, how to get there and where to stay everything else will be a breeze. That is why it is important that you put into consideration the length of time it will take for you to save up for your trip. Once you have done the first four, then next thing for you to do is secure your transportation. Pay for your airfare in advance. If you can avail of a promo fare, much better. Once you have that secured, then save up for your lodging. If you can secure for reservation first then pay for it. Make sure though that you pay everything before your trip. Once you have both paid up, then you only have your pocket money to worry about.

Depending on how much you need, it may take you 2 or more pay days before you are ready to go. With your lodgings and transportation paid up, you can spend your pocket money to your hearts content without worrying that you may not be able to get home.

making your dreams a reality takes a long time. be patient and save up. you will get to your dream destination probably not in the most luxurious way possible but you will get there. isn't that what matters?

traveling without hassles

i travel every few months or so and i have been to many places in the country. i've traveled by land, sea and air. i've stayed in the cheapest inns, a transient house, great and not so great hotels and even in bus terminals. when i was in college, i also got to sleep in an army barracks. it's fun and memorable and i guess that is what traveling is all about.

there are some things i have learned along the way and i want to share it with you. you may also learn from it.

1. Research. if you are going to a place you've never been to before it is always good to research about that place. if you know someone living there, much better because you will have first hand knowledge of things you have to know before you go to that place. before you embark on a trip check the place first. researching about the place makes you more prepared when you get there. also it will give you a clearer idea on what to do when you get there.

2. Plan ahead. don't wait until the day that you are about to leave before you pack your things. tendency is, you will either leave something behind or bring something that you don't need. worst, you do both. it's a good idea to write down the things that you need to bring with special consideration to your length of stay and method of transportation. if you are planning to buy things on your trip, either bring a bigger luggage or bring few clothes. if you are traveling far and may need to transfer from one method of transpo to another (i.e plane to bus or vice versa) check in advance where you need to get off or what you have to do to get to the next terminal. that way you can avoid wasting your time by getting lost.

3. Pack ahead of time. too excited? not really. personally, i prefer to pack ahead of time when my mind is still clear than packing a day or two before i leave when i have the tendency to dash around and try to do all the things i should have done weeks ago. avoid the last moment rush. packing ahead of time gives you more time to do other stuffs and relax before your trip. if you pack ahead, you tend to be more organized and least likely to leave important things behind.

4. Choose your lodgings wisely. Think about how you want to spend your vacation. If you are planning on lounging around all day doing nothing and simply wants some peace of mind, then by all means choose the most luxurious hotel you can find and afford. If you are planning to roam around the whole day however (like me) and only planning to go back to your hotel to probably sleep, shower and change your clothes then it is best to look for a place that's more affordable but still safe and clean. If you are like me who doesn't really care what kind of hotel you sleep in as long as it has clean a bathroom, comfortable bed, clean room and safe, then go for inns, transient houses or lodging houses. prices on these places are usually half the price of a hotel room. amenities are not great but surely you did not travel far just to watch TV or sleep, right?

5. Don't buy the first cute souvenir you find---unless if it's a last minute purchase. don't buy the first thing you see on your first day especially if it is still the first place you went to. look around more because you might find something better and cheaper. this is why it is good to research the place in advance before you go there that way you know what strategy to use to maximize your time. it is always best to shop for pasalubongs/souvenirs on the last day of your trip.

6. Create an itinerary. follow an itinerary so you don't waste your time asking yourself where to go next. research or ask around in advance which restaurants to go to because most of us always waste a lot of time just deciding where to eat. try to list down things you really want to visit so you don't miss anything. if you have enough time left then you can visit other places that are not on your list.

7. Prepare extra batteries and memory cards. don't get caught unprepared and lose the chance of capturing a moment just because your camera is dead and your memory card is full. make sure you have enough battery and memory space for your trip.

8. List down the names of people you want to buy souvenirs for. this way you don't forget anyone or buy too many things and have no one to give to. also, if you can buy in bulk then buy in bulk it is cheaper this way.

9. Be mindful of your time especially if you are going by plane or by sea. these methods of transportation have specific time schedules unlike buses where you can just take the next one if you miss the first. if you have a scheduled flight be mindful of your time. always make sure that you include unexpected delays in your plans. for example, if your flight is at 6pm and you are from Baguio City then it is best if you leave Baguio 8 or 9am. that way even if you encounter delays along the way you will still have enough time to get to the airport. i know arriving four hours ahead of your flight may be too much but if you are traveling in from a far place, it is better to arrive early than run through the gate to catch your flight. especially if you are on a public transportation and or on a budget, it is always best to avoid missing your flight. imagine the cost of re-booking a flight.

10. Always check your luggage. make sure you have everything with you when you leave a place (lodge/hotel, terminal or airports). if you can put everything in one bag, much better. if remembering everything is hard for you because you bought a million things in your trip,then make a checklist or count your bags.

 these things here are what i always follow (and try to follow) whenever i go somewhere. these of course are just tips that you can use as a guide the next time you travel. after all, only you can choose how you want your trip to go. if you have other tips out there, feel free to share. enjoy your next destination!