How Do I Plan My Itinerary and Budget?

When I was young, it has always been my dream to travel. I prefer a DIY travel than getting a travel agency. With this, time is in my hands and I will be able to enjoy every moment when visiting places.

Making itineraries gives me the sense of satisfaction and helps me relax. Making these felt like I am also travelling by just looking at the photos when I do the research.

When I make itineraries there are things that I consider before making the final one.

1. List all the possible places for our accommodation

2. List all the possible attractions or tourist spots that we may visit during the trip.

3. Group the attractions/tourist spots by their location.

4. Check the attractions' schedule and availability, as well as the number of hours suggested in exploring the place. I also check if there are shows scheduled for the day.

5. Create a draft to know how many days it takes to visit all the attractions listed, considering their schedule and opening hours.

6. From the list of your accommodations, look for an affordable one that is somehow near to all attractions/tourist spots and also near the bus stops or train stations.

7. Cross out attractions that are not achievable. I use Google Maps for this so I can check the distance and the travel time of each location.

8. Create a final itinerary with the chosen accommodation as starting point.

Once I finish my itinerary, I also list down all the expenses that I might spend before and during the trip, these will help me prepare my budget. These includes:

1. Attraction Tickets

2. Food Budget

3. Bus/Train/Uber/Grab/Local Transportation Estimated Fares

4. Hotel Accommodation

5. WiFi/Data Consumption

6. Plane Tickets and Baggage Check-in

When checking the fares, I usually head on to train apps, Uber/Grab apps, or sometimes Google Maps, as they give the estimated amount of the fare when going to places.

When travelling, I always find its purpose. I usually do this to experience the province or the country's culture, their food and how they do their daily lives. With that, I allot most of my budget for food, experiences and attractions. I make sure also that when I visit the place, I will be able to visit, if not all, most of the locations. I make sure that our day-to-day itinerary is worth it.

You may check some of my travels in my Instagram and Facebook account.😍

How about you? How do you plan your travel? Do you also opt for a DIY itinerary and a budget-friendly travel? Share yours by leaving a comment below. Until the next blog! xoxo