Travel Planning Simplified, or
How to Make Sense of It All

It sounds so complicated, doesn't it! But smart travel planning doesn't have to be.

First things first: should you quit your job to travel?

Once you've made the decision to go, everything else will begin slotting into place: you've chosen your travel destinations - across the Sahara, through Southeast Asia, Macchu Picchu perhaps? How do you tell your friends you've decided to take the leap? When is the best time to visit the countries you've chosen? For how long? What do you need to do before you leave? What about keeping in touch? 

Some of these backpacking tips may help. So would looking at some of the web's best travel forums - plenty of experienced travelers out there are willing to share their knowledge with you. And if you're really the organized type, use this handy travel checklist to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

This may also be a good time to get rid of your travel phobias, if you have any - fear of flying or heights, fear of insects or animals.

There's so much to plan it can seem overwhelming, so here's what I do: I deconstruct my planning process into manageable bits, which I'll help you do.

When is the best time to travel?

This will completely depend on where you are going and the climate at that time of year. Northern and southern hemispheres have reversed seasons, making it too hot or too cold at different periods. Coastal areas may face hurricanes or typhoons part of the year. And there are monsoons and desert winds.

And don't forget the human-inspired dates: Christmas, Easter, Ramadan, August in Paris... the many factors that can affect your travel planning. There's no point in going to most of the Middle East during Ramadan when restaurants are closed all day!

We'll take the guessing out of timing and suggest the best times to go, depending on your destination.

Oh Glorious Paperwork!

There's no escaping the planning phase of your journey. It's one thing to take a one-week cruise in the Greek Islands - it's another to plan for several months abroad (or more, you never know!).

What about budgeting - how much will you need to take with you? Some travel advice on money might be useful.

What visas do you need? Where do you get them? Remember, an international travel visa is absolutely essential in many countries, depending on where you're from. What about some budget travel insurance? Do you need it for your health, your backpack or both? We'll tell you what to look for in a policy and how to get the best deal.

And, do I dare mention them, international travel vaccinations? Most will simply build on vaccinations you had when you were little but there may be a few new ones as well. And what is an International Vaccination Certificate, anyway?

Packing Like an Expert

There's nothing more disheartening than looking at your empty backpack, and the mound of clothes next to it - knowing one will never fit into the other!

On one memorable trip - for which I indulged in no travel planning whatsoever - I arrived in Cape Town only to give away half the belongings in my backpack because I could hardly lift it - something I'd neglected to notice while it was safely stored in the plane's hold.

So use my ultimate travel packing list to pack wisely!

And guess what? The longer you're on the road, the less you'll need.