Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Travellers Guide: How to Organize Your Own Trip Overseas



A passport: a major requirement for travelling abroad. (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

First-time and frequent travellers alike usually opt for package tours in order to avoid the hassle of organizing a trip such as searching for cheap flights, finding affordable accommodation, and choosing tour routes. However, I believe that there should come a time when one should break-away from package tours and be more independent, exploring, and adventurous.

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. 


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.
           
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.

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. 

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.
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. 
Shopping for unique and affordable souvenir items can be fun. (Photo  by Gregg Manalo)
9. Be Ready to Explore

            You will enjoy more our travels if you explore. It means trying something different, having an open mind, and not being judgmental.  




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