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, or should you just take a bit of time off?

Once you've made this major decision and you're committed to going, everything else will begin slotting into place: you'll choose your travel destinations - across the Sahara, through Southeast Asia, or around the world perhaps?

You'll have to choose the best time to visit the countries you've chosen and decide how long to stay. And don't forget you'll have to tell your friends and family you've decided to take the leap, all the while promising them you'll be keeping in touch.

Some of these backpacking tips may help start you off on the right foot.

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 any travel phobias that may be lurking - 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, 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 unless you have family there and are willing to live at night. Paris in August, if you've ever experienced it, is filled with tourists and empty of Parisians. A lot of restaurants and shops also close for their own holidays.

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.

Some serious budgeting will be in order, so 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?

Don't forget your 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? You'll need it to cross borders in some parts of the world.

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!

I've made that mistake before by rushing and not doing any travel planning. In Cape Town I had to give away half the contents of 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.

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