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| A passport: a major requirement for travelling abroad. (Photo by Gregg Manalo) |
Package tours have some sort of advantage and comfort
because they provide almost everything that travellers need. The tours are
organized and they have definite time schedule and routes that need to be
followed. Flexibility can be an issue
though.
Flexibility and independence are the very reasons why I
decided to try organizing trips on my own. So how to organize a trip? What are
the benefits? And what should be remembered when organizing a trip?
1. Choose a Country
If it is your first time to travel
on your own, choose a country that requires no visa. For Filipinos, start with any country in
South East Asia, Macau or Hong Kong. They're the nearest the provide visa-free access for Pinoys.
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| Travelling by plane these days are made affordable by budget airlines. (Photo by Gregg Manalo) |
2. Check the Airlines
Travellers want to save; let’s
accept it. Choose the airline offering the cheapest fare to your country of
choice and the country with the cheapest airfare. There are so many budget
airlines these days. Check daily for promos.
3. Research for Activities and Places to
Visit in your Chosen Country
If you want to make your trip
hassle-free and truly organized, you have to make sure that you know already
the places that catch your interest and those that you want to visit. Determine
their location in relation to your chosen hotel.
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| Hotel confirmation from a booking site. (Photo by Gregg Manalo) |
4. Book a Hotel
When you book your hotel, choose the
most affordable that is nearest to the city-center. If possible, choose the one
with “free cancelation” as this will allow you to change your booking when you
come across a much cheaper hotel. There are a lot of reliable booking sites
online to choose from. You will surely find cheap ones, but make sure you check
their location – are they near the city-center or to the public transport
system such as bus or train station.
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| Tourist map showing points of interests and public transport system. (Photo by Gregg Manalo) |
5. Explore the Public Transportation System
Part of your adventure and learning
in organizing your trip is experiencing the public transport system in your
chosen destination. It will not only save much of your pocket money, it will also
provide you with that feeling of authentic experience of the culture in the
city.
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| Pudong Airport in traditional Chinese writing. (Photo by Gregg Manalo) |
6. Learn Some Basic Language
This becomes an issue if you’re
travelling in a non-English speaking country. It can be frustrating and
fascinating at the same time. To avoid the frustration, make sure you learn
basic greetings or phrases in that country. Prepare ready phrases or questions
on your phone which you can show to the taxi drivers about your destination.
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| Local and temperature in key cities. (Photo by Gregg Manalo) |
7. Check Local Weather
You wanna dress appropriately during your trip. Should you take jackets, umbrella, shades? Also, you can save a lot on space and luggage weight if you would only take the necessary clothes and items for your trip.
8. Study Local Customs
Part of dressing appropriately during your trip is your observance of the local customs. You don't wanna offend local people and their customs by dressing or acting inappropriately. Know the dos and don'ts in your country of destination.
9. Be Ready to Explore
You wanna dress appropriately during your trip. Should you take jackets, umbrella, shades? Also, you can save a lot on space and luggage weight if you would only take the necessary clothes and items for your trip.
8. Study Local Customs
Part of dressing appropriately during your trip is your observance of the local customs. You don't wanna offend local people and their customs by dressing or acting inappropriately. Know the dos and don'ts in your country of destination.
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| Shopping for unique and affordable souvenir items can be fun. (Photo by Gregg Manalo) |
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