Does travel planning leave you in a cold sweat, unable to catch a breath and wondering just how you’re going to untangle this web of money, time, and logistical nightmares? Personally, I find it a very creative experience and one you shouldn’t be afraid of in the least! In fact, there are ways to engage yourself creative ways you may not have explored yet. Below are some tools you can use to help devise your travel itinerary. You can use them not only to stimulate your own creative juices but to involve the family in this creative experience as well! It will give the kids, the spouse, and everyone involved a sense of ownership of the experience.
Create an Inspiration Board
Create a Destination Board
Places I want to go
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Places I’ve been
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Places I want to explore further
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Devon
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London
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London
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The Lake District
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Stratford Upon Avon
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The Pembrokeshire coast
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Stonehenge
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Whitby
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Dover
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Create an Events Board
Things I want to do
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Things I’ve done
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Tour by canal boat
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Churchill’s War Rooms
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Tour Windsor Castle
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Buckingham Palace
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Tour Hampton Court
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Tower of London
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Have tea at Claridges
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Climb a Wainwright peak
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Tour Parliament
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Merlin’s cave
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Create an Itinerary
Pull all your previous research into an itinerary. Use the web to gauge your estimates.
Trip Item
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Description
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Theme, Goal, or Destination
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Type at least three things you want to see. Include a theme, goals you’d like to achieve, or destinations to visit.
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Budget
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Decide on a budget for your trip. For instance, $5,000.
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Determine how you’ll travel
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Plane, train, car rental, bus, foot, etc.
Estimate cost
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Determine lodging
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B&B, camping, 4-Star hotel, Air BnB, etc.
Estimate cost.
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Events
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Determine events, castles, sights, and other places that might incur a cost. For instance, an Elizabethan banquet or seeing Windsor castle.
Estimate cost.
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Food
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Pick an amount per day to allocate for food. Multiply it by the number of days of your trip for the estimated cost.
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Spending
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Pick an amount per day to allocate for spending. Multiply it by the number of days of your trip for the estimated cost.
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Other fees
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Kennel costs, trip insurance, gas, passport, etc.
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The Finale