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FREE Printable Travel Planner

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Plan for your next adventure or road trip with this FREE Printable Travel Planner. Includes daily itineraries, budget planning, checklists and so much more! Just download, print and get planning!

Make travel planning easier with checklists!

All the things that need done before travelling and road trips can feel overwhelming. But you can help manage all the planning stress by writing it down! Today we’re sharing 23 pages in our FREE ‘This Big Adventure Travel Planner’. Just download the sheets you want to use, print them out and you’re one step closer to a stress free trip!

What This Printable Travel Planner Includes:

All of these pages are free to use! They’re in a simple format that is easy to read and print. Just print them off and you’re one step closer to being a travel planning rockstar!  Here is what is included:

• First, click here to  DOWNLOAD all 23 pages
• Monthly Calendar – a birds eye view of your travel month
• Accommodation Research – an easy way to narrow down accommodations
• Accommodation Details – for details of your stay
• Travel Overview – an overall look at your trip
• Trip Snapshot – another overall look at your trip
• Budget Overview – plan your travel spending
• Expense Tracker – keep track of your travel spending
• Daily Planner – an overall view of your trip, by day
• Daily Itinerary – a more detailed look at your trip, by day
• Daily Road Trip Planner – a detailed schedule for road trips by day
• Road Trip Destinations – list where you want to go, what to visit and what to do
• Activity Planner – detailed planning of your trip activities
• Activities to Try – list what you want to do
• Restaurants to Try – list the restaurants you want to try
• Shopping + Souvenirs – keep track of shopping
• Packing Cheat Sheet – a list of items to pack
• What to Pack – a blank sheet so you can list what you want to pack
• Outfit Planner – a more detailed way to plan your trip outfits
• Travel Checklist – a blank checklist for everything you want to take
• Grocery List – for snacks and groceries
• Pet Sitter Notes – info for safe care of your critter!
• Notes/Journal – a place to keep track of highlights of your trip

How to Use This Travel Planner:

• Download: Download the sheets that you want…individual pages or all of them, it’s up to you!
• Print:  You can print them in colour or black and white on to letter sized paper. I set my printer to “Fill Page”. Often, I like to send kits like this off to get printed to a place like Staples…it’s inexpensive and the quality is so nice.
• If you like, you can  keep all of the pages in a binder  with sheet protectors.
• Get planning for your trip!

DOWNLOAD your FREE Travel Planner Here!

PIN IT for later!

More FREE Printables!

• Camping Food List
• Camping Supplies Checklist
• Summer Road Trip Eye Spy for Kids
• What to Pack for a Houseboat Trip
• Snowshoe Checklist for Easy Treks

Happy Planning!

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Travel Planner Templates

Quick jump to:, introduction.

Traveling is probably the best way to spend your vacations, holidays or even weekends. It's always exciting to plan your next adventure. However, it's very easy to forget or omit something important because preparation to the next trip requires attention to details and even a great level of self-discipline. Otherwise, you risk ending up at the resort without some important things. Needless to say that such mistakes can easily turn your journey into a stressful experience.

The good news is that you can avoid this by preparing thoroughly for the next trip. All using simple and convenient planning tools. Are your someone who likes to do it the old way, with pen and paper? Download the travel planner template and enjoy your booking, vacation planning, packing and traveling experience.

Check out the collection of printable travel planner templates that are available for free download and will help you organize and plan trip. Click the button below the template of your choice to get free sample via email.

Travel Itinerary Templates

Flight tickets, accommodations, souvenirs, activities and places to visit. There are so many things to remember and take care of that even a short road trip quickly becomes too overwhelming. In order to take everything under control and organize the journey, use a trip itinerary template.

This simple trip planner is designed to help you create perfect travel itinerary and make your next travel preparation an absolute breeze. Use it as a road trip itinerary planner template or business travel itinerary template to make your travel experience as smooth and pleasant as possible.

Download a travel itinerary template or vacation itinerary template in PDF (A4, A5, Half and Letter Size) to improve your planning experience and perfect your next trip.

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Shining Mom

Enjoying the little things

June 29, 2017

15 FREE Trip Planner Printables for Your Next Vacation!

In need of free trip planner printables ? I’m giddy in excitement to share this ultimate travel planner that I’ve just created. I have here over 15 sheets of free travel organizers to help you map out your next travel plans! If you think you’ll be needing them soon, scroll along! This freebie is for all of you, travel buddies. It’s time to plan your next trip. Enjoy!

My heart is thumping in excitement as I write this post.  Ahhh, the word “travel”. How it sparks up so much delight and thrill in my heart! Two weeks from now, we’re flying out as a family, and the excitement is already mounting. My son Kyle can’t wait for the day to come!

Our vacation inspired me to create your free trip planner printables on the blog today. I felt we needed some organizers to make sure we won’t forget anything important for the trip. A little planning ahead, I thought, would make the travel a delightful one for the family. Hence, just last night, I again tried my hands at creating a trip planner.

As always, I love to share what I create. And you know what? Little did I know that my passion for planning has helped me grow this blog to a level that I’ve never expected. My blog traffic has doubled and even tripped because of all of you. Thanks for the warm support to the Shining Mom family!

If you have some extra time today, I am inviting you to look into our shelves of freebies. The Shining Mom’s Printables Library is waiting for you.

Meanwhile, here are the free trip travel planners that we have for you.  Ready to see some of the pages included? Let’s have a quick planner tour!

What’s Inside Your Free Trip Planner?

Vacation Checklists

I don’t know about you, but I certainly am the “list lover” kind of girl. I can smoothly carry on my to-do’s for the day with a list. And when it comes to traveling, I have to see the things sorted out, again, with an agenda. If you’re pretty much like me, I am happy to let you know that this free trip planner has different kinds of checklists for your traveling needs. Hooray!

Travel Details and Recommendations

In addition to the pretty checklists, well, of course, I’ve included travel organizers where you can see your trip details at a glance. This free travel planner includes important schedules and reminders such as flight departure time, hotel reservation details and more! I actually created these particular sheets to make sure we won’t be missing out any in our upcoming travel. And to be sure that we get to have the best experience, I’ve also created a nifty page where we can write the travel recommendations we read or get from friends. Functional planner? But of course!

Outfit Planner, Travel Journal and More!

I also did not forget other travel planning nice-to-haves such as your outfit planner. (Yes, ladies, even your look for the travel needs to be carefully thought of!) And to make sure the vacation memory remains as vivid as it can be, there are also printable travel journal pages included!

Plan a Trip with this Free Travel Planner

Would you like print Shining Mom’s free trip planner already? You can easily do so by simply hopping over HERE . By the way, I have created four travel planner covers for you which you can also print for free. View the cover pages HERE . And… that’s it! You’re ready to lay your plans for your next travel!

Are you travelling soon? Do you have any organizer in mind for a trip that you wish to see in my future post? Feel free to leave your suggestions at the Comments and I’ll see what I can do!

Meanwhile, you might want to check out my Shining Mom’s library of free printables. I have already created thousands of freebies for you. Here are the current top posts that you might like to see:

• Nifty Budget Binder
• Free Meal Planner
• Ultimate Student Binder

Not time to print this planner yet? Pin this post on Pineterst for future use!

I hope you can use this planner, friends! And oh, if you like this post, please pin the topmost image on Pinterest? You’ll help me grow this blog that way and you can also easily access the post in the future. Thanks in advance!  Have a great day ahead!

July 14, 2017 at 1:19 am

You’re so creative!

July 16, 2017 at 8:47 am

Thanks, Kathy!

November 4, 2017 at 8:56 am

This is amazing and just what I needed! Thanks a lot for sharing 🙂

November 4, 2017 at 2:35 pm

You’re welcome!

April 24, 2018 at 8:21 pm

This is so amazing! My husband and I are planning our first ever beach resort vacation, so these will come in quite handy! I found you while doing a quick travel planner search on Pinterest. Thank you for the freebies!

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Travel Planning Printables

These travel planning spreadsheets, workbooks, and guides make trip preparation simple and stress-free., subscribe to snag instant access to the full suite of printables.

Inside you'll get...

A simple packing cheat sheet + packing lists for various destinations and seasons

Google Map itineraries for destinations like Guadeloupe and England

A worksheet for setting a trip mission and giving your travel purpose

Planners to help you choose the perfect destinations and the best experiences

An important checklist for traveling safely

A fun calendar to help make your life more like travel when you can't hit the road

Hi, I'm Jessie

I started traveling solo when I was 20 years old, and began documenting my trips on jessie on a journey in 2011.

Today this blog is my full-time business, and 99% of the stories you'll read on here are about my adventures exploring the world on my own (even though I'm engaged!) in search of offbeat sites, active adventures, and sustainable experiences.

A little bit about me:

• Some of my favorite travel destinations include Latvia, Slovenia, Thailand, Guadeloupe, Bhutan, Argentina, and Spain.
• I've been featured in top publications like USA TODAY, CNN, Business Insider, and AOL Travel, as well as a web series with Bravo and a featured guest on BBC Travel (TV).
• I've spoken at notable travel conferences like the TBEX, TravelCon, the Women In Travel Summit, Women's Travel Fest, the New York Travel Festival, iSugar Live, Find Spark, and more!
• I truly believe that with the right mindset you can achieve absolutely anything. Trust me when I say taking my first solo trip was terrifying and loved ones tried to talk me out of it. But I wanted it so badly I didn't allow myself to make excuses. Instead, I shut out social influences and listened to my own voice. The time to travel is *now* 🙂

Ready to plan your perfect trip?

© Jessie on a Journey 2024 | All Rights Reserved | contact

  privacy policy | disclaimer | terms.

Free Printables

Looking for a free printable travel planner? Well, you’re in the right place. Get a FREE printable Travel Planner Template for your perfect trip now.

Your remedy for pre-trip chaos and forgotten toiletries is here. Take the stress out of trip planning and turn your wanderlust into reality with our printable travel planner. An extensive checklist of everything you could ever need – this travel planner template will help even the most forgetful to arrive and depart fully equipped.

We’ve created a travel planner template to make your life easier and your travel experience as smooth as possible. You can print this travel itinerary planner any time and as much as you want – there is no limit! Our printable travel planner has no dates . Hence, you can plan your future trips for years to come.

Your travel itinerary planner is here for you and the trips you’ve always wanted.

Get this 17-page PDF Printable Travel Planner to help you plan your dream trip for FREE now. Never again a finger brushing with toothpaste at a hotel. Organize your trip and reduce the hassle with our travel planner template.

WHAT IS INSIDE YOUR FREE TRAVEL PLANNER?

• PERSONAL page
• WORLD MAP page
• INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES
• BUCKET LIST page with places you want to explore (2x)
• BRAINSTORMING DESTINATION page – get a little knowledge about the destinations you go to
• DESTINATION page – details about your transport information and accommodation
• THINGS TO SEE & DO page
• WEEK TRAVEL ITINERARY : print multiple copies to organize each week of your travels
• TRAVEL CALENDAR – to keep track of the key dates and overview of your trips
• BUDGET PLANNER : break down your budget by category to track expenses during your trip
• TRAVEL MEMORIES page
• PERFECT PACKING LIST : carry-on checklist
• ULTIMATE PACKING LIST – make sure you pack everything you need for your trip 
• EXTRA NOTES

Ready to start planning ? Just confirm the subscription, and we will send it directly to you to download.

Why do you need to subscribe?

Not only you receive our free travel planner , but you will also get a newsletter (once in a couple of months) where we will inform you about all the upcoming giveaways!

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FREE PRINTABLE TRAVEL PLANNER

Transform your travel plans from scattered to simplified with the free printable Better Travel Planner .

With this free planner you’ll...

• Ditch travel planning overwhelm
• Master your travel plans so that you can kick overwhelm and enjoy stress-free travel
• Confidently answer travel questions from your family and friends
• Never run out of amazing ideas for future getaways

SIGN UP FOR MY TRAVEL NEWSLETTER AND GET A FREE PRINTABLE TRAVEL PLANNER AS A GIFT.

 We’ll never spam you, and you can unsubscribe at any time. See our privacy policy here.

HI, I'M DARCY!

I believe that travel should be fun and easy, not stressful and complicated. 

I founded Plan Ready Go to provide travel planning tips, advice and tools especially for beginning travelers, anxious travelers (like me!)  and for those who want to plan their own travel but simply don’t know where to start.

My travel tips have appeared in Forbes, MSN.com, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Finance, Aol, Newsbreak and GOBankingRates.

Your FREE printable travel planner includes…

• Brainstorming sheet to help you narrow down your destination ideas
• Planning timeline sheet to help you keep track of what you need to do to get ready for your trip and when so you don’t forget anything important
• Trip overview sheet , so you can see your plans at a glance
• Daily itinerary planner sheet to keep track of all your plans for each day of your trip
• Daily trip expense tracking sheet to keep you on top of your trip budget
• Packing list checksheet so you don’t forget anything you need to take with you
• Trip review and travel journal pages to help you reflect on your trip and record your favorite memories
• BONUS: Recommended travel planning resources to help you find cheap flights, save money on rental cars and more

So, smash that button below, drop in your email address and then go buy a new suitcase. You’re going to need it.

SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER AND GET A FREE PRINTABLE TRAVEL PLANNER AS A GIFT.

We’ll never spam you, and you can unsubscribe at any time. See our privacy policy here.

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Vacation Planner Printables – Plan the Details, Focus on the Fun

Summer and vacation go together like peanut butter and jelly.   Whether you’re hopping a plane for destinations far away, hitting the road for family fun, or just sticking close to home for a stay-cation – no other time of year is better.

One thing all vacations have in common is that they all need some sort of planning before they happen.  Even a simple car trip to visit family needs a few things to be considered.

Since printables are always my go-to tool for all my planning needs, I whipped up some vacation planner printables.  I can’t wait to share them with you, so let’s jump right in and take a closer look shall we?

Vacation planner printables help keep track of all the little details so you can focus on the fun

 Vacation Planner Printables

Vacations are supposed to be fun and relaxing, and I firmly believe that planning them should not be stressful.  Depending on where you’re going and what you plan to do – the planning process might be more involved.

For the most part, I think these vacation planner printables will come in handy, no matter what kind of vacation you are planning.

Vacation Planner Sets

For your convenience I’ve combined all the individual pages into one easy to download and print set. I’ve also created a half-size version.

Check the sets out below. Keep scrolling to take a closer look at the different pages and the instructions for using them.

Download the Letter Size Vacation Planner Set

Download the Half Letter Size Vacation Planner Set

Vacation Planner

When are you leaving?

Where are you staying?

Did you pre-book a tour or pre-pay for an activity?

There is a lot to consider and keep track of when planning a vacation, and this printable is the place to keep all those details together.

Click Here to Download the Vacation Planner Page

There’s room to keep track of when you’re leaving and arriving, where you’re staying, transportation if you need it, plus space to keep track of what you’ve already booked and what else you want to do.

Use the calendar at the bottom there to jot down your general plans so you can see at a glance what’s happening.  I left it open so you can section it off into multiple weeks if you choose.

Vacation Packing List

Whenever we travel I’m mindful of the amount of space luggage takes up, so I like to plan out what I’m packing.

Sometimes I plan by person and sometimes I plan by the bag so I can keep things better organized, but I always – ALWAYS – make a list.

Click Here to Download the Vacation Packing List Page

I use the light green boxes on top of the lists to designate who or which bag the list is for.  Then I write down what we need to bring and check it off as I pack it.

I can’t count the number of times we’ve gone to visit my parents and forgotten something there, so I started bringing our packing list with me so I could make sure that what we bring with us comes home with us.

Places to Go and Things to See

Part of the fun of going on vacation is being able to experience new things and visit new places.  Even if your vacation is a staycation I’m sure there are plenty of attractions and activities near you that would be new and fun for you and your family.

Click Here to Download the Places to Go Things to See Page

This vacation planner printable is a spin off my family fun activities planner .   Each section gives you room to jot down the name of a place you want to go or thing you want to see, the address and the admission prices if applicable.

On the right-hand side, you can circle indoor or outdoor (this is super helpful for those rainy days) as well as check off if it needs to be a day trip and if you want to go again.

I included a notes section in case there is anything you want to remember about them for next time.

Vacation Day Planner

I don’t like to follow a strict schedule when I’m on vacation, but sometimes you need something to help make sure you’re not overloading your day with too much stuff.

Rather than create a typical planner, I thought it would be fun to combine the idea of a day planner with a journal.

Click Here to Download the Vacation Day Planner Page

With this day planner, I wanted something that would let a person sort of loosely schedule (for lack of a better word) their day without being too confining or rigid.

I wanted to make sure there was a place to note down anything that was needed for the day, just in case you’re off on an adventure and need to remember to bring a lunch or something.

Then I thought about how our family likes to recaps our days in the evening, and I thought it would be really fun to include a space to jot down the highlights of our vacation days.  Things we loved and don’t want to forget.

Now, let’s get back to that day planner side.

Example of How You Could Use the Day Planner

I realize it looks kind of weird, but here’s a picture of how I use it.  I think the visual will be better than me attempting to explain it.

The way I pictured this planner in my head was as more of a timeline than a planner.

As you might have noticed, I also included little notes, because I think the planner side could also be a fun place to keep notes of your thoughts, and as a total bonus, it will be something nice to look back on when you get home.

Whether you choose to use them all, or only need one or two, I hope these vacation planner printables help meet your vacation planning needs all year round, not just in the summer.

Before You Go

Have you heard that there’s a Facebook group just for us squirrelies? Come on over and check out the Scatter-Brain’s Guide group. We chat planners, organizing, vote on designs, and, on occasion, I even share exclusive printables that you won’t find anywhere else.

It’s loads of fun and it’s free! Click the button below to check it out.

Until Next Time,

Happy Printing!!!

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36 Comments

This travel planner is amazing! It’s just what I need to plan my trip to South Africa. One question, how do I print them?!?

Thank you, Heather

Hi Heather, sorry for the late reply. Just click the pictures of the ones you want and then you can download the PDF versions to your computer so you can print them that way. I print as many of them as I need. Usually one copy of the packing list and the planner. Then I do one or two of the weekly ones, and as many of the daily ones as I need for the trip. I hope that helps.

This was so helpful in planning our girls trip. Thanks so much for sharing!

I’m happy to hear that you found these helpful for your trip Linda! I hope you had a wonderful girls trip!

These are super helpful, thank you for uploading them! I am going to travel across Mexico by myself for 3 weeks and end with my friend’s wedding at an all-inclusive for 1 week. Just organizing all the places I want to go and ideas people give me for sightseeing! Thanks again 😉

You’re very welcome! I hope these come in handy for planning your trip. It sounds very exciting.

Hello! I am trying to figure out how to print the vacation planner but can’t seem to find a link. Can you please point me in the right direction? Thank you!

Hi Amber, all you need to do to print the vacation planner is to click the image of the printable and it will either download right away (check your Downloads folder) or open the pdf so you can choose to print or download right from the browser. I hope that helps.

Do you have a vacation budget planner that goes with this vacation planner? I would love to have that piece if so! Going on our trip in 2 weeks and want to nail down everything!

Hi Chanel, I don’t have budget sheet to go with the vacation planner printables, but it is on my list of ones to make.

How can I access these wonderful planners?

Hi Megan, all you need to do is click the images for the planners you want and you’ll be able to download them. Hope that helps.

These vacation planners are AMAZING 🙂

Thanks so much, Jasmine. I hope you enjoy using them.

Perfect! Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!

I’m so happy you like the vacation planner printables, Shaleah. I hope they work well for you.

You have really thought of everything! I do wish these came in half size so I could tuck them in my planner and be more “travel size”, but I’m sure I can do some printing magic and figure that out. Plus, I do most of my planning beforehand and just reference later anyway. These are so perfect thank you!

Hi Jessica, a half-size version of these is on my list, 🙂

Hi, how do we download free printable vacation planner?

Hi Amy, right now the vacation planner is all separate pages I’m working on an updated version but it’s not ready yet. To download the vacation planner, you just click the images of the pages you want. Then you can download or print straight from your browser. I hope that helps.

How do you print the daily planner?

Hi Kimberly, just click the image of the printable you want, then you can download it or print it straight from your browser. I hope that helps.

There is no hperlink for the vacation daily planner. Is there another way to download it?

Hi Kimberly, to download the vacation planner all you need to do is click the images of the pages you want.

Nevermind, I figured it out. Thanks for these.

Oh I’m glad you figured them out. Please let me know if I can help in any other way.

Thanks so much for sharing!

Hi Cayla, you are very welcome. I hope they come in handy for you.

Thank you so much! I am super picky about printables, but this is this was EXACTLY what I was looking for. It was also so easy to print and download. You are now my favorite printable site!!

Thank you so much for your kind words Jeannie. I’m really happy to hear that you found the vacation planner easy to print and download. I try to make things as easy as I can.

Thank you so much for sharing the vacation planner it was a time saving and very helpful.

Hi Mariam, I’m so glad you found them helpful!!!

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Add A Little Adventure

Inspiration for Everyday Life

Travel Planner Printable {Downloadable PDF}

By Cris Smith On: March 7, 2022 Last Modified: September 22, 2022

Something that always lifts my spirits during the long months of winter is to plan my next trip or vacation. That is where this travel planner printable comes in. This is how most of my family’s vacations have come together. I will research different locations, things to do, costs involved, transportation, hotels, rental cars, etc.

Sometimes I can go down a rabbit hole of vacation planning, then get distracted by something or someone and have to start all over again.

I’ve got the solution! Use this travel planner printable to keep all of your research and travel plans organized and in one place. This is a highly detailed planner that will ensure that you don’t forget anything on your next vacation or trip and that you have the best travel experience possible. It will ensure that all of your trip plans are organized and in one place.

My favorite part of this travel planner printable is the research and brainstorming pages. This is a great way to get all of your ideas recorded, so as you are researching best things to do, places to go, itineraries, etc., you will know precisely what you have to do. Of course, I also love the travel checklists. They are so helpful in making sure nothing is forgotten right down to the little details .

I also love the trip itinerary pages. You can plan out all of your days, or you can loosely write down ideas of what you want to do each day. This planner works to help you plan any trip whether it is a road trip , a business trip or any kind of vacation.

This travel planner printable includes 26 pages. Some of the pages you may want to print out multiple copies of. The following pages are in the planner:

•   A cover page
• A trip name and dates page – this is so you can reuse this planner for multiple trips. Once you download the planner to your computer, you can print out another copy of the travel planner every time you want to plan a new trip.
• A daily itinerary page. There are several sections to this page. This can serve as an overview of each day of your trip. The sections on this page are places to go, transportation, things to eat, weather, accommodations, things to buy, and budget. You can print out as many copies of this daily itinerary planner template as you need to coincide with the number of days in your trip.
• A trip summary page. This accounts for seven weeks of travel and is meant to be an overview of your trip. You can use just the first week if your trip is only a week long. 
• A travel budget page. This page is meant to plan the budget for your entire trip. It contains sections for transportation, lodging, food & drink, and entertainment.  There is also space for you to record your actual travel expenses.
• A travel checklist. This is a checklist of things to do to plan your trip. This page also includes a section for planning and recording who will care for things like your mail, and plants while you are away. You can also record your pet sitter information on this page. There is also an overview of things to pack. This page will ensure that all of the important things you need to arrange prior to your trip have been taken care of.
• A packing checklist. This is a detailed list of things to pack for your trip.
• A blank packing list for you to fill in with your own items. There are sections for clothes, toiletries, carry-on, entertainment, and “other.”
• A kids packing list. This page has things to pack for the kids.
• A carry-on packing list. This list contains items that you would pack in your carry-on.
• A blank carry-on packing list for you to fill in with your own items. There are sections for essentials, toiletries, comfort, entertainment, snacks, misc/optional, and others.
• A flight information page. This is a detailed page to record multiple flights if you need to. There is space for three flights. You can record all of the flight times and information. You can print out multiple copies of this page if you need space for more.  
• A car rental and hotel information page. This is where you can record your rental car information and hotel information. There is space for two hotels. Print out more copies of this page if you stay in more than two hotels.
• A research sheet. This has space for you to write your notes while researching your trip. There are spaces for the destination, best time of year, sights to see, things to experience, taste, and tips and advice.
• A brainstorming sheet. This is similar to the research sheet above. Except there is a table where you can note the good and the bad for hotels, food, place, locals, shopping, and transport. Then there is space to brainstorm activities/tours, restaurants/foods to try, shops, and entertainment.
• A travel calendar. This is a month’s view, but the calendar is updated to fill it in for the month you are taking your trip. You can print out more copies if you need more than one month.  
• A things to do page. The following three pages are pages to record things to do, see, and taste. The first one is things to do with planning for eight days.  
• A things to see page. The next page is things to see with space for the place and the date you plan on visiting for eight days.
• A things to taste page. This is the food you would like to try while on your trip, with space for where you can get it from.
• A photos to take page. This is where you can record what photos you want to take each day and the place.
• An outfit planner page. There is space to plan your outfits for a week. You can print out more copies of this page if you are traveling for more than a week. I love this page because it prevents me from overpacking. Spending the time to plan your outfits for each day in advance will ensure you don’t overpack, but you have everything you need. There is space for each day for the weather, day plans, night plans, and outfits.
• A travel bucket list page. You can record the places you want to go and see on this page. There is space for countries and cities.  
• A house sitter notes page. This page will come in handy to give your house sitter all of the personal information and essential details they will need. There is a section for your personal data and contact information and where you will be. Then a section for important telephone numbers, a section for home details and instructions, and a section for responsibilities and how often. This page will ensure that your house sitter has all of the necessary details they will need.
• A travel journal page. Trust me when I say that the details of different trips will start to run together as you age. You might remember doing something but not remember where you were at. This page will help you remember what you did on your trip and where it was. You can print out as many copies of this page as you need.
• A photo memories page. You can add your photos here if you are creating a travel binder or you can use this page to record photos you would like to take or have taken.
• A destination overview page. This page has space for you to record information about your destination. There is space for the capital, language, time difference, currency, and conversion rate. Then there is space for you to record the top places to visit. You can print out as many copies of this page as you need.

As you can see, this travel planner printable is pretty comprehensive. If you like to plan trips in detail or simply want to be organized and have everything in one place, then this planner is for you. It will make trip planning a fun process and help ensure that you have a great trip. This planner will work great for personal travel or business travel .

Download the Travel Planner Printable

You can purchase this travel planner printable for $12.00 and start planning your next adventure today. Click the button below to buy it. Once you purchase, you can download the planner to your computer and use it repeatedly for all of your future trips and vacations. The planner is a digital product, and no physical product will be sent. The travel planner printable is formatted to print on 8.5 x 11-inch paper. It is a 26 page PDF file.

Purchase the Travel Planner Printable for $12.00!

You can use any or all of the pages in the travel planner printable. Some of the pages may not be applicable to your trip, while others may require that you print multiple copies of a certain page.

There is another vacation planner and journal here that you might like as well. This one focuses more on the journal pages as well as your travel details.

Please note these printables are for  personal use only . You do not have permission to sell them for profit or claim them as your own design.

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Travel Planner Free Printable 7 Page Travel Checklist!

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Are you ready to start planning a vacation, family vacation or traveling for the holidays? Print this Free Travel Planner  and use the  travel checklists . We love traveling but, that also means being the travel planner for the family. Making sure everyone has everything they need for the trip. Mapping out things to do, places to go for your trips, what to pack and what flights you are taking. Having your travel plans in place you will more likely be able to sit back, and enjoy your vacation. 

Do you need a planner for your trip itinerary? We are here to help you have a smoother trip. Print and fill out your travel itinerary planner.

Keep it with you to keep all your travel plans in one spot this will help you stayed organized for your vacations. We hope you enjoy using our travel checklist PDF . 

Travel Planner

You can use this PRINTABLE TRAVEL PLANNER for a road trip planner too, just skip printing the flight page.

We have had some awesome summer vacations before, and camping trips. See our other resources and free printable travel checklists at the end of this post. Right now I’m planning for my trip to New York. Where are you traveling to? 

What do you get in this vacation planner?

Travel Planner Template

•  A page for flight, hotel, transfer, misc.
• Travel Checklist one printed with check boxes and one for you to fill out (2 pages) 
• Travel Bucket list with lines for you to fill out
• Daily Activities (with a spot for expenses, food plans, budget and more)
• Travel Planner cover sheets (2 pages)

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Travel Checklist PDF

• Travel Planner PDF is a 7 page set, is packed full of travel checklists for you to use when making your travel plans and itineraries. 

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Free Printable Travel Planner: Tips for an Unforgettable Vacation

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Vacations are a great way to take a break from the daily grind and create unforgettable memories with loved ones. However, planning a trip can be overwhelming, especially if you don't know where to start. That's where a free printable travel planner can come in handy. In this article, we'll explore the benefits of using this free printable travel planner and provide tips for planning an unforgettable vacation.

Why Plan Your Vacation Planning your vacation ahead of time can help you save money, reduce stress, and make the most of your time away. By planning ahead, you can take advantage of early bird deals and discounts, avoid last-minute price hikes, and ensure that you have enough time to make all necessary arrangements. Additionally, planning allows you to create an itinerary that fits your interests and budget, so you can make the most of your time away.

How to Plan Your Vacation Planning your vacation can be broken down into a few key steps. First, decide on your destination and travel dates. Next, set a budget and research flights, accommodations, and activities. Once you have a rough itinerary in mind, start making reservations and bookings. Finally, use a travel planner to organize your itinerary, packing list, and other important details.

Key Takeaways

• Planning ahead can help you save money, reduce stress, and make the most of your time away.
• To plan your vacation, decide on your destination and travel dates, set a budget, research flights, accommodations, and activities, make reservations and bookings, and use a travel planner to organize your itinerary and packing list.
• A free printable travel planner can help you find the right destination, plan your itinerary, set a travel budget, record your flight times, and develop a packing list.

Why Plan Your Vacation

Planning a vacation can be overwhelming, but it is an essential part of ensuring a memorable and stress-free trip. In this section, we will explore the importance of planning and the benefits of a well-planned vacation.

Importance of Planning

Planning a vacation is crucial for several reasons. First, it helps to avoid last-minute stress and panic. By planning ahead, travelers can ensure that they have everything they need for their trip and avoid the stress of rushing around at the last minute.

Second, planning helps to save money. By researching and booking accommodations, transportation, and activities in advance, travelers can take advantage of discounts and avoid paying inflated prices. Additionally, planning ahead allows travelers to budget and save for their trip, ensuring that they have enough money to enjoy their vacation fully.

Finally, planning helps to ensure safety. By researching the destination and understanding the local customs and laws, travelers can avoid potentially dangerous situations and ensure a safe and enjoyable trip.

Benefits of a Well-Planned Vacation

A well-planned vacation has numerous benefits. First, it allows travelers to maximize their time and experience everything their destination has to offer. By creating a detailed itinerary, travelers can ensure that they don't miss any must-see attractions or activities.

Second, a well-planned vacation allows travelers to relax and enjoy their trip fully. By taking care of all the details in advance, travelers can focus on having fun and making memories.

Finally, a well-planned vacation can help to create lifelong memories. By researching and choosing the perfect destination, accommodations, and activities, travelers can create a trip that is tailored to their interests and preferences, ensuring a truly unforgettable experience.

In conclusion, planning a vacation is essential for ensuring a stress-free, enjoyable, and memorable trip. By taking the time to research and plan ahead, travelers can maximize their time and budget, ensure their safety, and create lifelong memories.

How to Plan Your Vacation

Planning a vacation can be an exciting experience, but it can also be overwhelming. With so many options available, it can be difficult to know where to start. Here are some tips to help you plan your vacation and make it an unforgettable experience.

Choosing Your Destination

The first step in planning your vacation is to choose a destination. Consider what type of vacation you want to have. Do you want to relax on a beach, explore a new city, or go on an adventure in the great outdoors? Once you have an idea of what you want to do, research different destinations that offer those activities.

When choosing your destination, consider the time of year you will be traveling. Some destinations are more popular during certain seasons, and prices may vary depending on the time of year. Also, consider the distance and cost of travel to your destination.

Setting a Budget

Setting a budget is an important part of planning your vacation. Determine how much you can afford to spend on your trip, including transportation, accommodations, food, and activities. Be sure to factor in any additional expenses, such as travel insurance or souvenirs.

To help you stay within your budget, consider using a travel planner. There are many free printable travel planners available online that can help you organize your expenses and stay on track.

Creating an Itinerary

Creating an itinerary can help you make the most of your vacation. Research the activities and attractions available at your destination and prioritize the ones you want to do. Be sure to leave some free time in your schedule for relaxation and spontaneity.

When creating your itinerary, be realistic about how much you can do in a day. Don't try to cram too many activities into one day, or you may end up feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.

By following these tips, you can plan a vacation that meets your needs and budget and creates unforgettable memories.

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Using our Free Printable Travel Planner

Planning a vacation can be overwhelming, but using our free printable travel planner can make the process much easier. In this section, we will explore the advantages of a travel planner and how to use it effectively.

Advantages of a Travel Planner

A travel planner is a tool that helps you organize your trip from start to finish. Here are some advantages of using a travel planner:

• Saves time: A travel planner helps you keep track of all the details of your trip in one place, so you don't have to spend time searching for information or making multiple reservations.
• Reduces stress: By having a plan in place, you can relax and enjoy your vacation without worrying about what to do next or where to go.
• Helps you stay on budget: A travel planner can help you set a budget for your trip and keep track of your expenses, so you don't overspend.

How to Use a Travel Planner

Using a travel planner is easy and straightforward. Here are some steps to follow:

• Start by downloading our free printable travel planner or creating your own.
• Set a budget for your trip and record it in your travel planner.
• Decide on your travel destination and record it in the planner.
• Research and record the best flights, accommodations, and activities for your trip.
• Create a daily itinerary for your trip, including the places you want to visit, the times you want to go, and how you will get there.
• Pack your bags and record your packing list in the planner.
• Enjoy your trip and use the planner to keep track of your expenses and activities.

In conclusion, using our free printable travel planner can make vacation planning much easier and less stressful. By following the steps outlined above, you can effectively use a travel planner to plan an unforgettable vacation.

Click here to download our free printable travel planner. The download below includes: Trip at a glance Packing checklist Trip itinerary Daily itinerary Travel expenses Travel budget Travel notes

Tips for an Unforgettable Vacation

Planning a vacation can be a daunting task, but with the right mindset and tools, it can be a fun and exciting experience. Here are some tips for planning an unforgettable vacation that will leave lasting memories.

Unique Experiences

One way to make a vacation unforgettable is by seeking out unique experiences. Instead of sticking to the usual tourist attractions, consider exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations or trying out new activities. For example, if visiting a coastal town, try kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding instead of just lounging on the beach. If visiting a city, consider taking a street art tour or attending a local festival.

Local Cuisine

Another way to make a vacation unforgettable is by sampling the local cuisine. Trying new foods can be a fun and delicious adventure. Research the local specialties and popular restaurants in the area before arriving to ensure you don't miss out on any must-try dishes. Consider taking a cooking class or food tour to learn more about the local cuisine and culture.

Cultural Immersion

Finally, immersing oneself in the local culture can lead to unforgettable experiences. This can include attending local music or dance performances, visiting museums or historical sites, or simply striking up a conversation with a local. Consider staying in a homestay or Airbnb to get a more authentic experience of the local culture.

Remember, the key to an unforgettable vacation is to step outside of one's comfort zone and try new things. With these tips, anyone can plan a vacation that will create lasting memories.

In conclusion, planning an unforgettable vacation can be a daunting task. However, with the help of our free printable travel planner, the process can be simplified. This planner provides a comprehensive guide to help travelers find the right destination, plan their itinerary, set a travel budget, record flight times, and develop a packing list.

By using the planner, travelers can ensure that they have everything they need for their trip, from booking their flights and accommodations to packing the right clothing and accessories. The planner also helps travelers keep track of their expenses, ensuring that they stay within their budget.

In addition, the planner offers a variety of checklists and worksheets that can be customized to suit each traveler's needs. Whether it's a family vacation, a romantic getaway, or a solo adventure, the planner can be tailored to fit any type of trip.

Overall, our free printable travel planner is a valuable tool for anyone planning a vacation. With its user-friendly design and comprehensive features, it can help travelers save time, money, and stress, ensuring that their trip is truly unforgettable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some tips for creating a detailed travel plan.

When creating a travel plan, it's important to start with a clear idea of your destination, budget, and travel dates. Research your destination and create a list of must-see attractions and activities. Consider the time of year and weather conditions, and plan accordingly. Make sure to also leave some free time for unexpected adventures or relaxation.

How can a travel itinerary planner help with vacation planning?

A travel itinerary planner can help you stay organized and on track with your vacation planning. It can help you keep track of your travel dates, flights, accommodations, and activities. It can also help you create a budget and keep track of your expenses. Using a travel planner can help reduce stress and ensure that you don't miss out on any important details.

What should I include in my trip planning document?

Your trip planning document should include important details such as your travel dates, flight information, accommodations, and activities. It's also important to include emergency contact information, travel insurance details, and any necessary travel documents such as passports or visas. Make sure to also include a packing list and a budget for your trip.

What are the top 10 steps to planning an unforgettable vacation?

• Choose a destination
• Determine your budget
• Research your destination
• Decide on travel dates
• Book flights and accommodations
• Plan your itinerary
• Create a packing list
• Purchase travel insurance
• Make copies of important documents
• Enjoy your trip!

Friday 12th of February 2021

I'd love your travel plans packet.

Tuesday 12th of January 2021

Love the planner

Friday 1st of January 2021

Would live this packet.

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Itinerary Planner Template

Collect your online responses with Jotform and turn them into professional, elegant PDFs automatically.

No matter where you’re going, a travel itinerary planner helps organize all the details of your trip. Whether you’re packing your suitcase for a vacation or a business trip, plan ahead with our free Itinerary Planner PDF Template. All you need to do is fill out a short form with information about your upcoming trip, and this Itinerary Planner Template will automatically create a professional PDF listing every item in your to-do list. In just one click you can download your itinerary planner onto your phone, email it to others in your group, or print out a copy to carry during your travels.

Your upcoming trip is already tailored to your needs, so why not customize your Itinerary Planner Template as well? Our drag-and-drop PDF Editor lets you rearrange the template layout, change the fonts and colors, upload photos of your destination, and add form fields for more activities or transportation and lodging details. When you’re finished, your custom Itinerary Planner Template will quickly generate personalized PDF itinerary planners you can access on any device at any time — perfect for travellers without reliable internet access. Get ready for your next big adventure with a custom Itinerary Planner Template — once your travel details are organized in one place, you can spend less time planning the trip and more time enjoying it!

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Build your flight itinerary anywhere and easily! Use this Flight Itinerary PDF template built under the Jotform PDF editor and you bring your flight itinerary in your computer of mobile device!

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Create personalized schedules for your next trip with this free Itinerary Planner PDF Template. Download, share, and print custom itineraries in seconds!

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About Itinerary Templates

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step — or one carefully thought-out itinerary. Whether you’re a travel agent, event coordinator, wedding planner, or someone organizing an annual family road trip , you can instantly create schedules for any upcoming occasion with Jotform’s Itinerary PDF Templates.

Using our drag-and-drop PDF Editor , you can reorganize the itinerary template layout and include additional activity fields to help you plan every moment. When users fill out your customized itinerary form, their information will automatically be saved as PDFs that can easily be printed or sent electronically to everyone on the guest list. Once downloaded, these mobile-friendly PDF itineraries can quickly be accessed on phones, so even when internet isn’t available, everything can still go according to plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

1) what are the subtypes of itinerary templates.

There are itinerary templates for events, vacations, conferences — you name it! You can use travel itineraries — which include information about flights, hotels, tickets, vacation packages, and more — as well as business itineraries for conference schedules or meetings. Plus, you can fully personalize your itinerary for any trip you’re planning, whether that’s a road trip, a bachelor party, or an all-inclusive cruise.

2) What is the purpose of using an itinerary template?

The purpose of an itinerary template is to provide a structured plan for a trip or event. It outlines all the details of the event, including activities, schedules, budgets, to-do lists, and more. An itinerary template can help you organize and streamline the planning process both more productive and enjoyable, whether you’re putting on a conference or a small event for friends.

3) What are the benefits of using an itinerary template?

An itinerary template helps with time management and organization. It helps you lay out the details of an engagement in advance, saving you time and hassle once the event actually happens. Itinerary templates are also great for communicating details with others, as you can send them out to everyone involved to communicate logistics. Lastly, itinerary templates are useful when budgeting for expenses because you can estimate and track costs in one place.

4) How do I create an itinerary template?

You can create an itinerary by heading over to Jotform’s PDF templates library. We have you covered with multiple itinerary templates to choose from — no matter your needs. Simply pick the template that works best for you, click Use Template, and customize it in our PDF Editor. When you’re finished, you can share it via email or link or embed it in your website in seconds.

5) What information should be included in an itinerary template?

Generally, an itinerary template should include the major elements of the event or trip. For example, if you’re making a flight itinerary, make sure to include flight numbers, boarding times, terminals, and confirmation numbers.

If you’re making a conference itinerary, list the conference name, date, start time, location, sessions, and other details. Include a day-by-day or hour-by-hour breakdown of the schedule, depending on the length of your event.

The best way to construct an itinerary is to step back and think about all the information you would need to know as a traveler or attendee. This could include everything from budget and accommodation to meals and contact information, so take time to flesh out all the details.

6) Can I customize an itinerary template to suit my specific needs?

The beauty of the itinerary template is that you can adjust it to meet your requirements seamlessly. With Jotform’s intuitive drag-and-drop PDF Editor, you can rearrange sections, add new form fields, adjust fonts and colors, drop in your own logo, and much more. When you’re done, you can share it through email or a link with anyone who needs it. Plus, our mobile-friendly PDF itineraries work great on any phone, tablet, or computer, so your users can access them even if they’re traveling without a great internet connection.

7) Where can I find free itinerary templates online?

You can find free itinerary templates with a quick Google search. But, while there are many options to choose from, not all free itinerary templates are created equal. If you have to download a template as a Word document or PDF, editing them can get tricky, depending on which operating system or tools you use.

Jotform’s itinerary templates are completely free to use and easy to edit. Just choose the one you want to use, customize it in our PDF Editor, and you’re ready to go. You can create and share a robust itinerary in minutes.

8) How do I add accommodations and transportation details to an itinerary template?

You can add accommodation and transportation details to your itinerary template by replacing the text from the sections in one of our templates or by adding new sections to your itinerary.

You can include handy charts, color-block your sections, or create a snappy form design to make sure your users can absorb the information at a glance. To make your accommodation and transportation details even more organized, consider using standard formatting, bullet points, charts, and clear headings to enhance readability.

9) Can I share my itinerary template with others?

Yes! An itinerary wouldn’t be very useful if no one could see it except you — which is why Jotform has made this part as easy as possible. When you’re finished customizing your template, navigate to the Share button in the upper right corner of the PDF Editor. From there, you can create a link to share your document or invite users by email. You also have the option to grant private or company access, adjust permissions, and more.

10) Is it possible to create an itinerary template for multiple destinations?

Yes, you can create an itinerary template that covers multiple destinations for an event or trip! For example, if you’re organizing a company retreat with multiple destinations (think Chicago to New York or Paris to Berlin), you can create schedules for each location in the same itinerary. Put your stops on different pages or create separate charts with their activities. This way, you won’t have to send multiple documents to attendees.

11) Can I integrate a map or GPS coordinates into an itinerary template?

You can add a map as an image in your itinerary template to help guide attendees. You can also include information like the name and GPS coordinates of the destination in the template to make sure your attendees know where they’re headed.

12) How can an itinerary template help me stay organized during my trip?

An itinerary template can help you stay organized during your trip by eliminating unknown factors that may cost you time and money. For instance, if you book a bus to your day trip destination in advance, you won’t have to run around trying to find a way there the day of. An itinerary also helps you keep all the details about your day in one place so you won’t have to dig through your email searching for tickets or schedules.

One of the biggest perks of an itinerary is that it helps you manage your budget. Planning your budget in advance helps you estimate how much you’re going to spend and when, which also helps you add contingency funds should any surprises pop up.

And speaking of surprises — believe it or not, an itinerary can actually help with flexibility as well! Any trip will throw unexpected changes at you, but having your plans in one place will make it easier to rearrange specific activities or incorporate more time into your schedule with ease.

13) Are there any best practices for using an itinerary template?

There are several best practices that will help you get the most out of your itinerary template. The first one is to customize the template to your needs — adding all the details specific to your event will help you cover all your bases. Keep the information concise, so attendees don’t feel overwhelmed by too much text on the page.

It’s best to use a digital format such as a PDF for your itinerary, since paper itineraries are easy to lose or destroy. Be sure to share your document with all your attendees, so no one’s in the dark — and be sure to update it if any last-minute changes pop up!

14) How can I optimize my itinerary template to maximize my time during the trip?

Every itinerary will be different, depending on what each person enjoys. If you’re someone who likes to account for every minute of a trip, you can make a really robust itinerary. On the other hand, if you prefer to have some wiggle room, you can schedule one or two activities and leave the rest of your time to mosey around town.

In general, you can optimize your itinerary by prioritizing a couple must-see destinations and grouping activities together based on location. For example, if you’re headed to Barcelona and you’re most excited to see the Sagrada Familia, then you should plan a day in that part of town — and if a restaurant you wanted to try happens to be nearby, you can group those activities together.

It’s also wise to research transportation options in advance, because getting from one place to another often takes up the most time on trips. Be mindful of how long it’s going to take you to get somewhere — you might find it’s better to snag a cab than brave the train.

Lastly, plan in some buffer time and go with the flow! Nothing will ever go perfectly on a trip, but remember that it’s just as much about the journey as it is about the destination.

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Family Vacation Planner (+Free Printable Template)

NOTE*** The content on this page may contain affiliate links, we may make a commission. And, as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.   More information: disclosure page .

Even though I was a seasoned traveler before having children, planning family travel is a whole different game.  I had to learn to become an expert family vacation planner for a large family.  That’s why we created this ultimate family vacation planner with a free printable planning template – to help you plan the perfect family vacation.

Just the logistics of moving a large family from one destination to the next is complicated – add flights and car rental and accommodation or RV road trip, campgrounds.  Yikes! I needed an itinerary that I could print and fill in the blanks every time – and so do you.

But the process can be smooth and you can have fantastic family vacations with this ultimate family vacation planner template ! This article is meant to be used with the free printable template. Each step can be recorded on the template once you download it.

In addition, I have added a Google Doc planning template for cooperatively planning your vacation or sharing your itinerary with others.

Gone were the days of pick a location, buy a ticket, reserve a hotel and throw some stuff in a backpack.   Family travel requires more planning, taking others into account.

Seriously when I was in college, my Dad worked for the airlines and I didn’t even buy a ticket.  My brother and I just showed up and the airport, list ourselves on the standby list, and off we went.  Sometimes calling home from a totally different location than we were supposed to be. 

Like when we got bumped off a flight to Tokyo and opted for Manila Philippines instead.  Yeah, probably not going to do that with my baby and toddler in tow.  

1. Keep a Family Vacation Bucket List

As the lead family vacation planner, you should always be looking to the future.  Creating a family travel bucket list will help keep the whole family inspired and looking forward to traveling together.   

Did you know – looking forward to fun times together as well as remember the good times is actually good for your health?  We wrote about why family vacations are important and the science to prove it. 

The actual planning process can be very stressful though. So keeping a list of destinations everyone dreams of will give you the motivation to power through and even enjoy the vacation planning process.

Look on Pinterest, YouTube, google search, and magazines for inspiration.  We keep Pinterest boards for vacation destination ideas in addition to tips and tricks.

Or pull out the globe for a fun lesson in geography.  Keep your ideas organized in a folder, on the computer, in a notebook or on an Ap.  Just don’t bury it. 

Ready to go? Don’t forget to download our free printable to keep your ideas organized. 

2. Travel Companions – Decide Who is Traveling 

Once you are ready to start planning the next vacation.  The first thing to decide is who will be going on this family vacation together.  Will it be just an immediate family?  We travel with extended family so much that sometimes Charles and I just have to close the doors on certain trips and just bend together as a family. 

• Immediate family only
• Should you i nvite extended family
• Will friends be joining the fun?

If you do decide to invite extended family or friends go ahead and ask them along.  You can do this now and include them in the destination and travel dates decision.  Or wait until you have dates and a destination to invite them to come along.

Either way, you will want to have an idea of the headcount before moving forward with plans.  

3. How to Choose a Vacation Destination

Its time to pull out the family travel bucket list or start a lively group discussion around a map about where to go.  You will need a destination, which might be a country or a general route to follow through states if you are doing a road trip.  

This is the time to start filling in your family vacation printable in a notebook or use the vacation planning template in Google Docs that we created. We have been using Google Docs templates to collaboratively plan travel with extended family.

To use the free copy of the Google Doc template – use this link to access the Google Doc.

Then save it to your own drive. From there, share it with others. If you want them involved in the planning process – share it with the rights to edit. If you want to simply give them a copy of your itinerary – share as a read only file.

When I plan a travel itinerary I pick a county – say Japan- or general area for a road trip – say Oregon/Washinton Coast

.  If I know I just want to go to one place and stay put on a beach – the Florida Keys for example- thats OK too. 

If you are looking for international family destinations we have an article with 22 amazing places to travel in the world .   We asked expert travel bloggers to reccomend places to travel that they had been to with toddlers.

Once I have a destination established, I wait for the more detailed itinerary till I decide on the specific locations and activities. 

4. Choose Your Travel Dates

Once you have decided on a location the next step is travel dates.  The more people in the traveling group the more difficult this step will become.  

The destination may have an impact on this decision.  Or you may have chosen the destination based on the time of year you plan to travel.  Like the family beach vacation in the middle winter. 

First decide the length of the trip – days, weeks, months, forever?

Get out the calendar and everyone’s schedule and try to layout a couple of dates that meet the requirements.  This might not be possible but it will help with getting the best deals. 

I suggest using an interactive way to do this.  Get everyone in the room together, to meet their requirements. 

Of course, if you are planning with immediate family only, this meeting will likely be you and your spouse comparing schedules.

5. Do it Yourself vs Travel Agency vs Vacation Package

You might be an avid Do It Yourself family like we are.  For just about, everything including travel and this will be a given.   (Although, Charles and I have gone on a last-minute all-inclusive Hawaii vacation package when it popped up in my email.

I know some busy families like to contact a tour company or find and vacation package.  You will still need to  prov ide information to work with them to build an itinerary and outings.

If you do everything yourself you can customize your vacation exactly the way you want it and possibly save money. We have many travel resources available for the Do It Yourself style travel:

• How to find the cheapest flights for your family
• Rules for Flying with a Baby and Toddler
• How to find the best kid-friendly accommodations
• Tips for planning a road trip with toddlers
• 22 amazing places to travel in the world
• Ultimate packing checklist for family travel

6. Plan Your Travel Budget

You may already have money saved and a budget set or just starting to create a budget and savings plan. 

You need to know “How much will it cost for the trip?” There are books and a quick internet search for cost $ per day per person will be helpful to you.  

 Make sure to include the cost of flights, transportation, cost per day for accommodation, cost per day food and activities and special experiences.  Google Flights and other search engines are a good way to get a quick estimate.

Our budget is generally tight on family vacations so we plan on just one or two special experiences or outings.  Things we have splurged on are whale watching, the bioluminescent bay in Puerto Rico, a Hawk Walk in Ireland. 

7. Save Money for the Travel Fund

This amazing trip will need to be funded and likely from savings – money you already saved or money that you will be saving for travel. 

So you will need to start saving money, earning more money, collecting points and miles or a combination of all everything to get to your goal.

We have many resources to help you save money. Some of our articles that I think will be helpful to you are:

•  How to Save $10,000 in 6 months
• Ways to save money for a family vacation
• How to save money on groceries
• Ninja m ind tricks to help you save money fast

8. Things to Do – How to Choose Vacation Activities

Get the whole family involved and discuss the important experiences with your travel companions.  The kids love dreaming about all the fun they will have on vacation.

This is a collaborative effort and can be done around the kitchen table, over the phone, on FaceTime or Skype, or with collaborative software.   Google Docs or Mac file sharing are my go-to file-sharing tools for collaborating on an itinerary with my husband or extended family.

Let each family member choose destinations and things to see that are important to them. 

Of course, the whole trip can’t revolve around one kid’s dreams so let each person choose one or two ideas.  At this point, you might not actually know the available activities so I have everyone choose a category.  

For example, on our multigenerational trip to Costa Rica, everyone chose an animal they wanted to see. 

Charles was the sloth, mine was the cayman, my Dad the toucan, the 2-year-old wanted to see a monkey, and so on.  

Later, in the planning phase, we choose activities and accommodations based on the most likely place to see each animal. 

Other categories can be location or geography – beach, sand dunes, mountains.  Activities – horseback riding, museums, art gallery, zip line.

9. Outline the Itinerary for your Family Vacation

Start to build an itinerary based on the locations that each family member chose and a wish list of activities. 

At this point, your itinerary will look like a rough outline of travel dates, destinations, and some notes about transportation, accommodations, and activities.  

You can use paper and pencil, a word processor, cooperative that looks like Google docs or Mac share, or an app like trip it.   

Get out a map and other resources and research things to do and see in the area.   Here are some ideas of places to look for activities for your family.

• Blogs, Google
• Trip Advisor
• Tourism boards
• Family and friend
• Social media
• Guide books

Compare to the list of ideas for the trip to everyone’s must-have experience. 

At this point, I use sticky notes on the map with the location and to do. With a physical map and notes right on it, I can see the lay of the land.

You can now decide the best route to take for the vacation.  This might include one or more locations on your itinerary. 

Armed with your travel dates, accommodations, and vacation activities you can create an outline of an itinerary based on a number of days and locations.

10. Book your Travel 

Now gets the fun part. Actually booking and reserving travel for your family trip.

Knowing the traveling group, destination, travel dates will help you know which mode of transportation will be the right choice.   You probably will need a combination of driving, flying, riding the train, or taking a boat to arrive at your final destination.  

To research and book flights good tools include google flights, Skyscanner, Travelocity, kayak,  and the airline’s website. Kiwi is another great site to search on that I have found good deals.

If you are using miles and points you will be looking at the airline’s website or researching partner airlines. 

I search for all the above sites and if I have time, I wait for a good deal and book when the time is right.  You can enter alerts on various sites to let you know of a price drop. 

Then it’s time to book your travel!  This for me is one of the most stressful parts of the family travel planning process! 

Hitting the buy button is really unnerving for me when I am looking at thousands of dollars in airline tickets and bring to get just the right itinerary to suit my family.  

The travel to your destination will anchor the family vacation so it’s time to start filling in a finalized itinerary.  The destination, travel mode, and dates will be the first things to fill in.  

Don’t forget to record the tickets information on the itinerary: flight number, company, depart, arrive, points FF numbers, and login information.  

11. Book Accommodations with Best Value

Armed with the outline of your itinerary in hand and notes on your map, it’s time to book accommodation.  This might be one place to stay the whole time or many locations as your move around.  

You will face some challenges like the number of people in the group, your budget, and the needs of each group member.  

There are 6 or more of us that travel together so one hotel room is often too small and against the rules.   We have stayed in hotel suites, rented houses, rented an RV, stayed in hostels, tent camped, drove our own RV, and more.   On a trip to Canada, CanaDream was having a special on RV rental that ended up being the same cost as a van rental and hotels.  

We wrote this article on finding the best kid-friendly accommodations for your vacation. and this one on 9 Frugal Ways to Rent an RV for Cheap

So be creative for the best value and fits everyone and their needs. My favorite site to find a variety of options for accommodation is booking.com. The search function is easy to use, there are no booking fees and free cancellation on most rooms.

Some ideas for accommodations include:

• Hotels 
• Rental Property
• AirBnB , VRBO or Apartment
• RV rentals, RVShare , Outdoorsy
• Campgrounds- check at the national ( forest service ), state, city and county levels.
• Cruise lines
• Overnight parking for RV trips

And I always check reviews of the location on internet search, TripAdvisor, and more. 

I look at some good reviews and then head to the bad ones and see if any of them matters to me.   Someone complaining about kids having fun – that’s not negative – that’s my kind of place! 

I have canceled more than one place where the reviews were of unsanitary or unsafe conditions. 

Once the accommodations are booked make sure to record the details in your itinerary.

Dates, contact information, confirmation #, price, check-in and out times.  Print and save a copy of your confirmation and directions to the location.  You will want a hard copy when your phone dies or something happens to the cell service and you’re trying to check in or verify the price. 

12. Getting Around – Book Local Transportation

If you are on an amazing road trip your local transportation will have your own car for local transportation.  Otherwise, you will need a way to get around and see this on your amazing adventure.  

In the US, cars are the standard mode of transportation but there are more ways to get around.   Think about the location, culture, and options available. 

We traveled around Ireland with 6 of us and reserved a car with enough seats.  Cars in Europe are small, so they really meant seats 6 people or 4 and luggage but not both. Here are some ideas:

• Walking, biking if you are in a city center
• Train, Subway or light rail
• Bus tickets
• Boat or Ferry

Check the cancelation policies.  Car rentals in the US tend to be very flexible and do not even gather credit card information.  It’s worth booking right away and canceling later if you find a better deal. 

And don’t forget to write it all down in your itinerary and print hard copies.

13. Plan Your Family Vacation Activities

For me, this is where the fun starts.  Charles loves flying and looking through pictures of really cool places to stay.  It’s actually stressful for me and I am relieved to start moving on planning things to do and see on vacation. 

Look back at the list of what everyone wants to see and do and the map of all the locations.  Research fun activities within these parameters that you have.  

Consider your family travel rhythm.  We move slowly in the morning – leaving before 9 Am is difficult.  We like to alternate days between big adventures and staying close to our temporary “home.”

Of course, traveling on a budget you must take cost into consideration.  We generally have one day or activity we splurge on that is more expensive and be really frugal on the other activities.  That’s why we love playgrounds – free fun!  If you can afford a formal tour, it’s a great way to fit the things in you want to see and get a local’s expertise on the area. 

Make sure to schedule a recovery day after a long travel day or a big adventure.  Something a little more low-key and relaxing.

Book any tours or plan activities and record important information on the itinerary. 

Have a backup plan and extra activities on the list too.

On my itinerary, I have information about the planned activity for the day and a list of backup activities.  My backups are other things that seem interesting and options for inclement weather.  

Add your ideas and any reservations to your itinerary for the day that it is planned.  Don’t forget to bring out hard copies of the ideas. 

14. Places to Eat and Drink

When traveling with kids, meals, snacks, and rest stops have to be planned.  Leaving a plan for dinner until everyone is hungry is a recipe for disaster.  

Take into account will you will be traveling.   If you will be in the car you can take more supplies than if you are traveling by subway or foot.   

In general, we like to plan breakfast at the hotel, rental, or in our RV and lunch is a packed picnic.

Grammy and I made sandwiches on the tailgate of our rental car almost every day on our Ireland trip. 

Dinner is where we are more creative and might be dinner at a restaurant, home-cooked at the RV, take out on the beach, or with friends, we are visiting.  That’s our rhythm but of course, we are flexible too. 

And I always have snacks on hand to head off meltdowns.  If we are out sightseeing I carry a backpack or a bag on the stroller with food and drink.  

Think about your rhythm and budget.  Cooking at your temporary home (even in a hotel room) and on lunch on the road is cheaper and sometimes quicker than taking a crew of 4, 5, 6, or more in a restaurant.  Don’t forget with a big group you may need reservations.

Write notes on your itinerary about restaurants, picnics, street vendors, and even 7-11 in Japan.   

If you get caught off guard and need to find a restaurant fast, TripAdvisor has a cool feature that will let you know the “highest rated restaurants near me.”

Tools to use when looking for local places to eat include: 

• Trip advisor, blogs, google, Pinterest
• family and fiends, social media
• Hotel receptionist, other accommodation contact, tour guides

At this point, most of the itinerary should be filled in.  You can keep the file and add more details.  Make sure to have all the details in a location easy to access on your family vacation.  You will need the details to plan each day and you can add notes about each location.  Your notes will already be organized for your arrival home. 

Since your travel is coming soon you need to start preparing all of your plans and documents. 

15. Check passport and visa requirements 

• Get one now – processing times and wait time can be longer than expected

If you are traveling internationally and need a passport you need to start the process right away.   Wait time for the US can be 2 to 3 months.  Follow this process for US passports. 

• Check that your passport will be valid for 6 months on return

Each country has its own entry requirements for the validity of passports. Some countries require that a passport be valid for at least six months from the date of entry others in Europe require 3 months. 

• Check the Visa requirements 

Some countries require visas for people to enter the country.  And the requirements for each country are different so make sure to check visa requirements and get one if necessary.

• Know the rules for flying with a baby and toddlers

The rules for flying with a baby can vary based on the country you are in, the airline you are flying, and other factors. We have a comprehensive guide to the rules and policies you need to know when flying with a baby.

16. Health and immunization  requirements

Travel vaccines or immunizations are shots that travelers travel to areas of the world to protect them from illness.

Travel vaccines fall into two categories, recommended and required. 

For example, some countries in Africa and South America require proof of the yellow fever vaccine before entering the country. 

The vaccines you need to get before traveling will depend on where you plan to travel and your own health.  Check the  World Health Organization or the CDC in the US for more information. 

Read more in our article about Travel Fever and How to Stay Healthy on Vacation

17. Arrange for Travel Insurance

Insurance coverage changes when you are traveling. Your family may need some additional coverage for travel-related emergencies and expenses. Double-check with your health and car insurance companies what will be covered during your trip.  

Then decide what additional covers you need and arrange for travel insurance.   Roadside services such as AAA or RV insurance are useful when traveling by car or RV for your family vacation.  

Buy family travel insurance that will cover any travel-related emergencies that could arise.  Short-term travel insurance is available to purchase and covers expenses of family travel such as sick kids, trip interruption or cancellation, evacuation, car rental. 

Here is a good review of family travel insurance . 

18. Make Copies of Important Travel Documents

In this digital age, you still need to have hard copies of important documents while traveling.  Even when on a family vacation close to home or a road trip you should have hard copies of important travel documents. 

The US state department recommends making 2 copies of each in case of emergency.  Hopefully will never need to visit an embassy to replace a passport but activities with kids might require a birth certificate. 

Even something as simple as taking our 8-year-old to get her ears pierced in our home state required a birth certificate that we didn’t have. The experience ended in tears. 

Here is a list of important travel documents that you should have copies of on a family vacation. 

• Passport and Visa
• An extra passport picture to expedite replacement
• Consent for Travel with Minors
• Travel insurance 
• Driver’s license or international driving permit
• Health information including insurance, doctors contact, prescriptions, allergies, 
• Credit cards
• Travel itinerary
• Airline tickets
• Rail passes and transportation documents 
• Hotel or lodging reservation confirmations
• Car rental reservation confirmation
• Cruise tickets
• Vaccination certificates

You may not need all the above important travel documents.  If you are on a road trip close to home you won’t need a visa but you will need birth certificates and driver’s licenses. 

19. Phone and Internet Access

Before you leave home make sure you think about and have a plan for phone and internet access. 

Depending on where you travel cell service coverage and the internet will vary in availability and reliability.  

Hotels frequently have internet access as well as internet cafes and libraries.  In an RV, camping or boat internet access may not be available but you can arrange for mobile options before leaving home. 

20. How to Access Money while Traveling

A family vacation will require money and sometimes reloading the funds.  Although you have saved money for travel you should not travel with all that cash in hand. 

Take a small amount of cash that you might need and some for emergencies and figure out how to access money while traveling on your adventure. 

As far as I know, you can still get traveler’s cheques but with so many other modern options, I don’t know anyone who uses these anymore.  Credit cards, debit cards, and prepaid currency cards are much better options. 

ATMs are everywhere and a much better way to access funds on your vacation. Prepaid currency cards are another option.   

One more note – make sure you have enough money in the correct bank account.   You don’t want to be stuck on a family vacation trying to access money and no money in the bank!

21. Preparing to Leave Home

Preparing your home life for your departure is important too!  So don’t forget to prepare your home and regular life.

Make arrangements for any home maintenance such as lawn and garden care.  Let your neighbors know of your family travel plans and any people that might be coming by the house to help.

Make sure bills are up to date and automate anything that needs to be paid while away. Turn on auto-response on emails.

22. Finalize House and Pet Sitting Arrangements

I am actually terrible at this step and put it off way too long.  Good house sitters or pet sitters are hard to come by and their schedule can be really full. 

Try out a pet sitter before you leave on an extended vacation.  A couple of days or walks to see how they interact with the pets. 

On a 3 week vacation to Costa Rica, we were scrambling to figure out if the dogs were being taken care of.  Not something you want to worry about on a fun family vacation. 

23. Packing for Your Trip with Kids

I have been traveling forever and I can tell you a little preparation goes a long way in packing for a family vacation with kids. Read our packing checklist here

Back in the day, I stayed up late the night before travel, threw some clothes in a bag, and headed off the airport the next day.  When I transitioned to mom/family travel coordinator that method didn’t work anymore.  

Instead of waiting till the last minute, I started to ask, when should I start to pack for a family vacation?  It seems that 2 weeks before the family trip is a good timeframe to start planning what to pack.  Although longer trips might require purchasing more supplies and you should get to work much sooner. 

Start by thinking of the number of days, the weather, the activities, and the dress code for each activity.  Will you do laundry along the way? Will stores be available or do you plan to buy new clothes while on vacation?  You should plan on doing laundry based on your accommodations. 

After some experience in large family travel, I started following a standard packing checklist.  I fill in the number and type of outfits and check them off as they get packed.  As I get the packing finalized, I use sticky notes on top of each pile with notes about missing items. 

The optimal situation is If you have a dedicated space to start packing.  I start laying things out in the guest room on the bed.  When this room is not available I have set up a long table in a space that is off-limits to kids.  The key here is a separate space and off-limits to the kids. 

It’s madding to lay something out and turn around and the piles are mixed up or a favorite shirt is now being worn and sticky. 

My luggage system includes 

• check through luggage that goes under the plane or in the trunk of the car
• Bags for en route travel.  Each kid has a carry on bag or backpack with extra clothes,  jammies.  For road trips, I might separate the jammies into a bag that I have easy access to.   
• A cooler with snacks and food for travel.  Depending on the amount of time we travel this generally includes lunch or other meals too. 
• A larger cooler with more food for road trips if we are stopping at hotels or food in the RV fridge
• Separate electronics bags and camera equipment

Start with packing the luggage that will hold the majority of your clothes and the necessities.  I love cubes and ziplock bags for separating clothes into kids, outfits, or days depending on the plans. 

After that, I move to the en-route travel bags. Everything gets laid out and packed into the bags.

24. Prep for Your Return Home

In the excitement of planning for your upcoming family vacation don’t forget to plan for your return.  When you arrive home exhausted from your adventure, having things in order at home will make your transition back to normal life much easier.  

Here are some of my best tips to make life easier when you return home:

• Clean the house or my favorite – arrange for a cleaner to come while you are gone
• Put baking soda or vinegar in the toilets 
• Clean out the fridge and wash the shelves
• Leave a meal or two in the freezer/fridge ready for your return home
• Stock non-perishable items 
• Leave notes of what to do when you get home – like turn up the water heater and adjust the heat
• Turn down the heat, down the water heater, check appliances
• check in with neighbors, leave a key
• Close up windows and lights off – one time my neighbor came to turn off the 6 lights!

25. Confirm Flights and Check in Online

Once I failed to check-in online and rather show up at the airport with 3 kids and 6 months pregnant.  Which led to 2 days on airport floors – you can read about it in our bio.

The night before travel double check your flights, check-in online, check the first night accommodations, gas, and fluids in the car, check the weather. 

More than once, I failed to check the weather when a big winter storm was slamming right in my travel path.  

Most of all get everyone to bed early and have a good night’s rest before heading out on your family travel adventure!  Racing around the night before traveling just stresses the whole family out and makes it hard to rest – I know.  The kids are already excited and maybe a little nervous so slow down and set a relaxed rhythm for the night. 

Final Thoughts on this detailed step-by-step family vacation planning guide.

After reading through this whole comprehensive guide to planning family travel, I hope you are ready to get going on your next trip!

Don’t forget all the resources we have created for you:

• Family vacation planning printable template and checklist
• Packing for an RV Vacation
• Google Docs vacation planning template
• The ultimate printable packing checklist for your next vacation

Let me know if you can think of anything I missed in this detailed family vacation planner. What are your favorite tips for planning family travel?

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Thanks for the tip of creating an itinerary of all the locations for planning a family vacation. I agree that having savings specifically for the travel fund and earning more money is crucial to have the best vacation experience. My youngest sister just graduated high school, so the whole family is taking a dream vacation around the country and I decided to go to Pittsburgh because I am a huge Steelers fan. We want to make the trip amazing and hopefully, we can find some good car rental companies that accommodate our whole family.

Wow sounds like a fun adventure with the whole family. We travel with extended family all the time – which makes us quite a large group of 6 kids plus grandparents.

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Crazy Laura

June 21, 2021 By Casey This post may contain affiliate links. For more information please read my disclosure

Free Travel Planner Printable & Packing List Tracker Sheets

Prepare for your, well-deserved, week of relaxation with this free travel planner printable! Visiting new places is something I absolutely love! Traveling with a family of little ones can quickly become stressful. Having to pack and plan for others is something I know all too well… With these printables, you can now stay on top of your game for the next trip! To print the planner off, all you have to do is:

• scroll to the version you like
• click the link
• print the PDF page

I created three different pages for you to use! You can plan all your packing on one page. I print out a few copies of the packing so I can plan for the kids as well. Let me know what you think of them!

Here are the free printables:

Travel Itinerary Planner

The first version I made is a travel itinerary planner. There’s space to plan out your activities for your entire week (or two). I also like to have a list of restaurants and excursions that I’ve looked up before arriving because our family doesn’t plan out every single day!

Simple Packing List

This simple packing list is perfect so you don’t forget anything for your vacation! I have a habit of always forgetting something so this list has helped me tremendously! A print one-off for you and your kids, especially if they are not old enough to pack for themselves

Detailed Packing List

The second packing list version has a little more detail! This is great if you like to organize your lists by categories! This allows you to easily see what you need for each category so you never miss an item!

If these printables helped your vacation planning, share the love and share this post! I have a variety of different printables created for you to use! Check them out on my Printables Shop or you can find them on Etsy ! Drop a comment if you have any suggestions of printables you would like to see from me!

Related Free Printables:

• Routine Tracker Printable
• Chore Chart Printable
• Assignment Tracker

Pin To Save For Later!

• Save this PIN HERE to your Pinterest board!

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The FREE Europe Trip Planner You Need to Steal (Printable + Digital Workbook!)

Last Updated: April 21, 2023

*FYI - this post may contain affiliate links, which means we earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase from them. Also, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Check out our Privacy Policy and Disclosure. for more info.

Planning a trip to Europe? Stressed out about all the things you need to get done?

Don’t worry – my free 30 page Europe trip planner / workbook is here to help.

If you want a free resource that will guide you through the Europe trip planning process from start to finish, then keep scrolling. I have exactly what you need!

Save this Free Europe Trip Planner for Later!

You’ll be very glad you did.

How to Use My Free Europe Trip Planning Workbook

While I think the workbook itself is fairly self-explanatory, I think you’ll get the most value out of it if you first watch the accompanying video guide here, or read the written version of the guide in my How to Plan a Trip to Europe (Step by Step) post.

In short, the workbook contains 30 pages of helpful information and worksheets designed to guide you through the research and planning process for your Europe trip!

With it, you’ll go through all the following steps:

• Understanding the Schengen Area
• Choosing how much time to spend in Europe
• Choosing where/when to go to Europe
• Figuring out your visas/documents
• Booking your flights
• Booking your accommodation
• Figuring out what to do in each destination
• Deciding what to pack

Sound good? Then whoo – all my hours hunched over the computer were not in fact in vain. Take that, mom!

I’ve prepared two versions of this free Europe trip planner – a fillable PDF version that you can use and complete online, as well as a printable PDF version.

NOTE: There are some pages in the workbook that are intended to be used multiple times (e.g. one template/worksheet that can be used for every city or destination on your trip). In these cases, simply use your preferred PDF Reader to duplicate the pages as needed. This guide should help with that.

My Free Europe Trip Planning Workbook: Fillable PDF Version

This digital version is a fillable PDF with links to helpful resources and also interactive elements like checkboxes so you can have everything done online from your computer!

You can download it here.

My Free Europe Trip Planning Workbook: Printable Version

The printable version of my free Europe trip planner can be found here.

It’s basically the same as the digital copy, just with less emphasis on the clickable links and also a fun printable map that you can use to star your potential destinations.

NOTE: There are some pages in the workbook that are intended to be used multiple times (e.g. one template/worksheet that can be used for every city or destination on your trip). In these cases, simply print additional copies of those pages as needed.

I Hope You Enjoy Using My Free Europe Trip Planner!

Let me know in the comments if you have any questions or suggestions for additional pages to be added. I’d love to continue improving this free Eurotrip planner for the future, so I’m all ears!

My Go-To Travel Favourites:

🧳 Eagle Creek: My favourite packing cubes

💳 Wise: For FREE travel friendly credit cards

🍯 Airalo: My go-to eSIM

🏨 Booking.com: For searching hotels

📷 Sony A7IV: My (amazing) camera

✈️ Google Flights : For finding flight deals

🌎 WorldNomads: For travel insurance

🎉 GetYourGuide: For booking activities

1 thought on “The FREE Europe Trip Planner You Need to Steal (Printable + Digital Workbook!)”

Christina, what a wonderful resource! Thanks so much and glad to see you back.

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Calypso Tree

34 free travel itinerary templates (word, excel & pdf).

Free travel itinerary templates:  Your itinerary refers to your journey’s more detailed plan. Usually, highlights some places to be visited and the travel plan. By having itinerary templates, you will benefit from having the travel arrangement in one location for easier referencing and retrieval. 

Your travel plan is usually placed in the front of the folder full of your tickets, brochures, and confirmation receipts – this is also a good source to get information on the road. 

Although the information includes the travel plan for yourself or other people might contain different items, the basic structure was usually still retained. You can use your best itinerary templates.

Table of Contents

Benefits of Using an Itinerary Template

Traveling is an adventure! But planning for it can sometimes be stressful. That’s where a  travel itinerary template  can be your best friend.

• All-In-One Location:  Say Goodbye to Chaos!

Do you have flight details in your email, hotel bookings on an app, and excursion times on a sticky note? Stop the madness! An itinerary template puts all these details in one simple place. Just open it up, and you’ll know what’s happening next.

• Easy to Use:  No Tech Skills Needed!

You don’t have to be a computer genius to use an itinerary template. Most of it comes with clear fields for you to fill in. Just type your flight time here your hotel name there, and you’re done! It’s like filling out a fun quiz.

• Be Organized:  Know What Comes After What

The best part about being organized is knowing what’s next. You see your trip like a story when you put your plans in an itinerary template. First, this happens, then that. You can enjoy the trip more when you know what’s coming up.

• Shareable:  Keep Everyone in the Loop

Traveling with family or friends? Send them the itinerary template! That way, everyone knows the plan. If someone asks, “What time is dinner?” tell them to check the itinerary!

• Free:  More Money for Fun Stuff!

The best things in life are free. Well, most travel itinerary templates are free, too! That means you can save cash for fun stuff like snacks, souvenirs, or an extra special adventure!

• Time-Saving:  Quick Changes Made Easy

Plans change. Maybe it rains, and you can’t go to the beach. With an itinerary template, it’s super easy to swap things around. Just a few clicks, and you have a new plan!

• Keeps You On Track:  No More Missing Out

Need to catch a flight or need to remember a dinner reservation? With an itinerary, you’ll get reminders. It’s like having a helpful friend who says, “Hey, time to go!”

• Peace of Mind:  Worry Less, Enjoy More!

When you’re organized, you feel calmer. That means you can enjoy your trip more and less worrying about it.

Are you ready to try an  itinerary template ? Trust us, it will make your next trip so much easier! ????

Essential Elements in a Travel Itinerary

So you’re convinced that a travel itinerary template is a good idea. Great! But what should you include in it? Don’t fret; here’s a list of the  key things to put in your travel plan .

• Title and Dates: What’s the Trip For?

Start with a striking title that sums up your trip. Are you going on a “Summer Adventure in Hawaii” or a “Weekend Getaway in Paris”? Include the dates so you always know the timeframe.

• Names: Who’s Going?

If you’re traveling with other people, write down everyone’s name. It’s an easy way for everyone to know they’re looking at the right plan.

• Departure and Arrival: Take-Off and Landing

Include details about when and where you’re starting and ending your journey. Include times, places, and how you’re getting there. Plane? Train? Automobile?

• Transport Info: All Aboard!

Note any flight numbers, train cars, or other key details. It’s also smart to list any reservations and helpful phone numbers in case of delays.

• Lodging: Home Away From Home

Where are you staying? Include the name, address, and check-in/check-out times for each place you sleep.

• Activities: The Fun Stuff!

What’s a trip without cool stuff to do? List all the tours, visits, or shows you plan to attend. Add times and places so you remember.

• Meetings: Can’t-Miss Appointments

Are you mixing a little business with pleasure? Include any meetings or important appointments you have. Who, what, where, and when—it all goes here.

• Meals: Yummy in My Tummy

Planning to eat at that must-try café? Put it in the itinerary.

• Free Time: Do What You Want

It’s your trip, after all! Include some blocks of free time for spontaneous fun.

• Emergency Contacts: Just in Case

Include some emergency contacts, like local hospitals or a trusted friend back home.

• Checklist: Remember!

Add a small list at the end for any last-minute things you need to do or bring. Passport? Snacks? It goes here.

That’s your  travel itinerary essentials  covered! With everything in your template, you’re ready for an awesome, stress-free trip! ????

Tips for Crafting a Useful Travel Itinerary

It isn’t just about jotting down names and places. Here are some tips.

Be Realistic: Time Matters!

Always consider how much time each activity will take. Keep your day manageable. You want time to enjoy the places you visit!

Group Activities by Location: Smart Mapping

Put things that are close to each other on the same day. This way, you spend less time moving and more time doing.

Always Have a Plan B: Be Flexible

Sometimes, things go differently than planned. Maybe it rains, or a place is closed. Have a backup plan, so you’re never stuck with nothing to do.

Check Opening Hours: No Unwanted Surprises

Imagine showing up at a museum you’re excited to visit, only to find it’s closed on Tuesdays. Check opening times in advance to avoid this.

Share It: Keep Everyone in the Loop

If you’re traveling with others, ensure everyone has a copy of the itinerary. You could even make a shared online version.

Local Customs and Laws: When in Rome.

Check for any local customs, rules, or laws you should know about, like dress codes at religious sites.

Remember Time Zones: Sync Up!

If you’re crossing time zones, adjust all your times so you’re always on local time.

Add Some Breathing Room: Take It Easy

Don’t schedule something every minute of every day. You’ll need some downtime to relax and soak it all in.

Include All Confirmation Numbers: Quick Access

For flights, hotels, and activities that require booking, include all confirmation numbers for quick and easy access.

Double-Check All Details: Be Sure, Be Safe

Before you finalize your itinerary, double-check all times, dates, and reservations.

Print and Digital: Best of Both Worlds

Have both a printed copy and a digital copy available. Technology can fail, and you might only sometimes have Wi-Fi.

Keep it Handy: Easy Access.

Put your itinerary somewhere easy to get to. Save it on your phone or put it in a pocket in your bag.

Free Travel Itinerary Templates

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 01

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 02

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 03

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 04

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 05

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 13

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 14

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 15

Travel Itinerary Template Word

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 06

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 07

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 08

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 09

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 10

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 11

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 12

Easy to Use

One of the best things about using a Word template is its simplicity. You don’t have to be a computer wizard to figure it out!

Customizable

Word lets you change fonts and colors and even add pictures. Make your template  truly your own .

You can open a Word document on almost any device. It’s super  easy to share  with family or travel buddies, too.

Pre-made Templates

Word offers a variety of  ready-to-use templates . Just plug in your details, and you’re good to go!

Checklist Features

You can add  checkboxes  next to each activity or place. It feels so good to check them off as you go!

Safe and Secure

You can easily  lock the document  to keep your travel plans private.

Great for Printing

Word documents  print beautifully . It is a great option if you like having a paper copy of your plans.

How to Use It

• Open Word and choose a blank document or a pre-made template.
• Fill in your travel details like flights, hotels, and fun stuff to do.
• Add any  extra notes  or  checklists .
• Save it, print it, or share it via email.

Tips for Using Word Templates

• Spell-check : Always run a spell-check to avoid any errors.
• Save Often : Keep up your hard work. Save your doc often!
• Backup : Email a copy to yourself or save it in the cloud.

Using a Word template for your travel itinerary is a smart way to keep all your plans in one place. Give it a try for your next trip!

Free Travel Itinerary Templates Excel

Do you like spreadsheets?  Excel templates  offer even more ways to stay organized. You can sort your plans, filter them, and find what you need fast!

If you’ve been using regular Word documents or even pen and paper for your travel plans, it’s time to  upgrade to Excel ! Here’s why and how:

Easy to Edit: Change On-the-Go

Excel allows you to add or remove items quickly. If your plans change, delete a row or add a new one!

Sort and Filter: Find What You Need

Say you want to see all your flight details at once. Excel lets you sort and filter to find what you’re looking for in a snap.

Color Codes: Make It Pretty and Practical

Blue for sightseeing and red for meals. It makes it easier to understand your day at a glance.

Formulas: Count the Hours

You can use simple Excel formulas to add how much time each day’s activities will take.

Shareable: Easy to Send

Excel files are easily shared by email or cloud services like Google Drive. You can also password-protect it if it has sensitive data.

Collaborative: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Everyone can add their activities or notes in the same Excel sheet if you’re traveling with others. It’s a team itinerary!

Tabs for Days: One File, Many Uses

You can use different tabs for different parts of your trip. One tab for flights, another for hotels, and so on.

Links and Notes: Extra Info

You can add links to websites or notes with additional information in Excel.

Offline Access: Always Available

Once downloaded, Excel files are available even without internet access, making them reliable and handy.

Templates Galore: Start with a Bang

It is lots of pre-made Excel itinerary templates available online. It can give you a head start and create planning even quicker.

Itinerary Templates Excel

Itinerary Templates Free

travel itinerary template

Vacation itinerary template

Disney Itinerary Templates

Free business travel itinerary template excel

Weekly Itinerary Template

Birthday Itinerary Template

Daily itinerary planner

Program Itinerary Template

Meeting Itinerary Template

Travel Itinerary Template PDF

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 16

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 17

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 18

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 19

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 20

Itinerary Template – Free Travel Itinerary Templates

Business Tour – Free Travel Itinerary Templates

Business Travel Diary- Free Travel Itinerary Templates

Stable and Consistent

One of the biggest perks of using a PDF is that it looks the  same  on every device. No surprises!

Easy to Share

PDF files are  super easy to send  in an email or message. They can be opened on almost any gadget.

No Accidental Changes

Once you save it, it stays that way. You can’t accidentally mess up your plans!

Universal Acceptance

Almost all businesses can open and read PDFs. Most people can easily check your plans if you need to show them.

Password Protection

PDFs can be  locked  with a password. Your plans stay  safe and private .

Fantastic for Printing

If you like paper copies, PDFs print out  just how they look on screen .

• Make your plans in any software that can be saved as a PDF.
• Double-check all your details and  spelling .
• Save or ‘print’ your plans as a PDF file.
• Share or print your  snazzy  new PDF itinerary!

Tips for Using PDF Templates

• Read-Only : Remember, most PDFs can’t be easily changed. Make sure all your info is correct before you save it.
• Compatibility : Always ensure the people you share the PDF with can open it.
• Document Size : PDFs with lots of pictures can get big. Keep an eye on the file size if you need to email it.

A PDF travel itinerary template is  rock-solid  for keeping your travel plans organized and easily accessible. It’s a popular option, especially if you want a file that stays how you made it.

Common Mistakes in Using Travel Itinerary Templates

Skipping the Details : One of the most common errors is  filling in all the blanks . It can lead to confusion during your trip.

Ignoring Time Zones : Many must remember to account for time zone changes. It can mess up your plans.

Overstuffing the Itinerary : It’s tempting to pack your day full of activities. But this leaves  no room for rest or unexpected events .

Forgetting to Share : If you’re traveling with others,  forgetting to share  the itinerary can make things hard for everyone.

Not Checking Operation Hours : Imagine going to a museum only to find it’s closed. Always  check the working hours  of places you want to visit.

Skipping Backup Plans : Weather changes. Plans fall through. Having  no Plan B  can ruin your day.

Bad Formatting : If your itinerary is hard to read, it’s almost useless. Make sure you use  clear and easy-to-read formats .

Not Updating : Sometimes plans change.  Only updating your template  can make sure you get all the things.

Ignoring Local Customs and Laws : Failing to account for local customs or laws can be embarrassing and sometimes problematic. Always do your  basic homework .

Not Double-Checking : A small mistake in flight numbers or hotel booking IDs can be a big hassle. Always  double-check your details .

Avoiding these common mistakes can make your itinerary a powerful tool for a smooth and enjoyable trip!

Traveling is more fun when you’re organized. Using a  travel itinerary template  can help a lot! So why wait? Download a free template today!

Additional Resources

Want to know more? Click the links below for free templates and helpful travel apps.

• Free Itinerary Templates
• Best Travel Apps

Happy traveling! ????

What Is a Travel Itinerary Template?

A travel itinerary template is like a  map for your trip . It shows where you need to go, what you’ll do, and when you’ll do it.

Where Can I Find Free Travel Itinerary Templates?

You can find free templates online, in apps, Excel, or Word. Some travel websites also offer them for  free .

Should My Template Be Detailed or Broad?

That depends on you! Some folks like a  minute-by-minute plan , while others want just the  big events  listed. Choose what works for you.

Can I Use the Same Template for Different Trips?

Yes, you can! Just  change the details  to fit your new trip.

What Should I Include in My Template?

Include key info like  flights, hotels, and activities . Remember  small but important details  like transport from the airport to the hotel.

Do I Need to Print My Itinerary?

Only sometimes. You could keep it on your phone. But a printed copy is good, just in case your phone  runs out of juice .

How Many Copies Should I Make?

It’s a good idea to have  more than one copy . Leave one with a friend or family member back home, keep one with you, and maybe have a  digital copy .

Can I Add Last-Minute Changes?

Yes, you can. Just  update all your copies  so you’re not working off old info.

What Do I Do If My Plans Change Mid-Trip?

No problem! Just  update your template . You can do it with a printed copy or update the digital one on your device.

Is It OK to Leave Free Time in My Plan?

Absolutely! It’s your trip, after all. Free time lets you  explore  or  rest  as you feel like it.

The content creator team at calipsotree.com is dedicated to making topics accessible to everyone, with over 9 years of experience in writing and breaking down complex concepts into easy-to-understand articles that answer readers’ financial questions.

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15 Road Trip Planners and Checklists: Free Printables

Staying organized and documenting your travel is so important. We recommend  road trip planners to keep track of budgets, packing lists, and daily itinerary details.

One of the best road trip supplies you can get is a way to organize your upcoming trip! Here’s a list of 15 free printable road trip planners!

This list of road trip planners includes many with specific pages to note your budget plan, expenses, daily itinerary activities, accommodation details, and more!

You’ll also find packing lists specifically for a road trip so you don’t leave anything important behind.

Check out these 15 planners and checklists for road trips to help plan and organize your next adventure on the road!

This site contains affiliate links which means WE may receive commissions for purchases made through these links. We only provide links to products we actually use and/or wholeheartedly recommend! As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Read the full Disclosure Policy.

Family road trip packing tips.

When determining the family road trip items to pack for your next vacation, keeping the kids entertained is a big deal! Here are a few more accessories and travel toys lists we’ve created you might find helpful:

• Road trip accessories for kids
• Road trip toys for babies
• Road trip toys for toddlers
• Travel toys for younger kids
• Road trip journals for adults and kids
• Road trip activity pack – FREE printable download

Road Trip Planner Printables

These road trip planner printables include travel planners, checklists, and packing lists to use for your next trip!

Wanderlust Road Trip Planner Printable

This wanderlust road trip planner is to use it to not only plan for our travels but to keep records of what we spend, where we went, and in general journal everything about the trip.

FREE Printable Road Trip Safety Checklist & Planner for Moms

Everything you need to know to stay safe, along with free printables to make planning your road trip simple.

Best (FREE!) Printable Road Trip planner

Printable road trip planner: add GPS co-ordinates, addresses, and much more to stay organized!

The Best Printable Road Trip Checklists

Planning a road trip? These essential road trip checklists will help you plan, organize and pack all the essentials you need for the ultimate road trip.

FREE Printable Camping Route Planner For Your Camping Road Trip!

Planning a long camping road trip can quickly become overwhelming but it does not have to be! A camping route planner is a great tool to help you with the logistics of the traveling portion of your trip.

Travel Planner - Free Printable Travel Checklist

• Travel Checklist one printed with check boxes and one for you to fill out (2 pages) 
• Travel Bucket list with lines for you to fill out
• Daily Activities (with a spot for expenses, food plans, budget and more)
• Travel Planner cover sheets (2 pages)

Printable Travel Planner – {29 Pages}

Everyone going on vacation should have a printable travel planner on hand.  There is so much to do when you’re preparing your family for vacation and you’ve just got to have a way to not lose track of everything.

Free Travel Planner Printable

If you’re looking for a simple way to have a travel plan in place, take chare of your traveling plans with this free travel printable.

Family Travel & Vacation Planning: Brainstorm List Printable

Tool to help keep all the potential activities, tours, restaurants, shops, parks, and more organized! It’s just a simple brainstorming list with spaces to jot down those ideas by categories that make sense.

Our Essential Summer Road Trip Packing List

List includes absolute essentials, hacks for snacks, clothing, safety gear, entertainment, and odds and ends that make road trip travel so much better.

Printable Road Trip Packing List

Free road trip packing list printable so you don’t forget anything before you leave!

Travel Packing List – Free Printable

Take some of the guesswork and stress off of mom this year with our free printable packing list! Planning for your next family vacation is going to be AWESOME!

CLICK the graphic below to get the free Road Trip Activity Sheets!

USA AUDIO TOURS (GuideAlong)

“Download the app to your phone – no cell or wifi service needed. Based on your GPS location, the app takes you on a guided tour of the area and points out all the interesting features and stops. It’s like having a guide in the car with you.”

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39 Step Guide to Planning for a Vacation (Checklist & Timeline PDF)

P lanning for a vacation can feel overwhelming, especially if you are traveling with kids. Luckily travel planning is my superpower and over the years, I’ve gotten my process and timeline down to a science. To help others, I’ve boiled down my 20-plus years of trip planning experience into this trip planning checklist.

Since travel planning gives me joy, along with the anticipation of the trip, I tend to start planning as early as possible. Therefore, this vacation planning timeline and checklist is spaced out over a 12 month period, which is ideal for international trips. It also allows you to tackle just a few tasks at a time and not be overwhelmed with the planning process.

However, I realize everyone is not an advance planner like I am, so you can always compress this vacation planning timeline to suit your trip.

Download the Vacation Planning Checklist

Planning for vacation checklist.

If you are planning an international trip, especially if you are traveling during peak season or to a very popular destination, you need to start planning quite early. The preliminary stages should begin as far out as 12 months to decide on a destination, budget, and timeframe.

There are destinations, such as National Parks in the summer or Caribbean resorts during Festive Week, that can book up as early as nine to twelve months in advance.

Here is my step-by-step guide for planning a vacation:

Pick Your Destination

The first step to planning a vacation is figuring out where you are going. It sounds easy, but sometimes it takes a lot of work to figure out when, where, and how much. Start by discussing your vacation preferences and how you will make a decision. Will your choice be influenced by budget? Finding a flight deal? Will everyone in the family get a vote?

This process usually requires a bit preliminary research into a various destinations such as how much a trip costs, popular things to do, and the best time of year to visit.

Determine Your Trip Budget

We all have dream destinations, but there is a reason why there is something called a “bucket list”. Not every destination is affordable to us at this time. Sometimes we need to save up for years to afford a trip. Maybe we need to strategize about earning points and miles to make travel more affordable. Other times we need to wait for a flight sale. The whole reason we went to Morocco and Vienna was because we found a flight sale (although those destinations were ones that we were considering.)

When planning your trip budget, be sure to include airfare (if needed), accommodations, local transportation, activities, food, and other expenses such as gratuities, travel insurance, visas, etc. I have many guides to help you understand the trip cost for many destinations including Europe , London , Paris , Italy , Portugal , Amsterdam , Scotland , Iceland , Ireland , Japan , Morocco , and more.

Decide on Dates

Many times, especially when it comes to family travel, we don’t have a lot of flexibility when it comes to travel. Even so, you need to decide if you are traveling for spring break, summer vacation, or over the December holiday break. If you have more availability, you may want to research weather and trends to visit destinations during shoulder seasons or off-season when things are more affordable. Once you decide on a general time frame, you can start to research flight prices.

Research Airfare and Set Alerts

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you.

Once you have determined your destination and dates, it is time to start planning in earnest. I recommend using an app such as Hopper to see the cheapest times to fly. You can also set alerts and the app will let you know when they think it is a good time to buy.

I also subscribe to Going , which is a flight deal service that lets you set your preferred home airports and destinations and they will send out flight deal alerts.

Lastly, if you want to find the best way to accumulate points and miles through credit card spending and sign up bonuses, I’d suggest downloading the Travel Freely app to track your credit cards and learn how to earn points.

Request Paid Time Off

Before you book anything, especially anything non-refundable, be sure to request time off from your employer and get the approval on record.

Book Flights

Once the above steps are complete, you have a bit more breathing room. I typically try to book my international flights about six to eight months in advance for the most availability of reward seats and the best rates. Domestic flights should be booked about three to six months if possible, or at least four to six weeks in advance.

This is a good time to start paying attention to those flight deal alerts and look for sales around major events like Black Friday or Travel Tuesday. Some airlines also offer anniversary sales (JetBlue) or seasonal sales (Southwest.)

Book Accommodations

If you are traveling during a particularly busy time, you will want to start looking for accommodation early. National Park lodges book up very quickly after reservations open for the following year, generally nine to twelve months in advance. Other destinations that have limited availability and book up at least six months in advance include the Amalfi Coast, Greek Islands , and anywhere that you don’t have a large inventory of rooms and there is a limited season. Remember that you can always try Airbnb and these competitors too for alternatives to hotels.

For other trips, look to book accommodations anywhere from six months to three months in advance.

Purchase Travel Insurance

Purchasing travel insurance as soon as you book your trip has a few advantages. First, it protects you in case something comes up that forces you to cancel before you leave (for included reasons.) Also, if you are purchasing cancel anytime or cancel for any reason coverage, you generally need to purchase this within 14 days of your first trip deposit.

Having a travel insurance policy on your whole trip will typically also protect you against trip interruption, baggage loss, theft, and, importantly especially when traveling internationally, medical coverage.

Double Check Passport Validity

Remember that many countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your arrival. Double check the expiration dates of all of your travelers’ passports if traveling internationally. Also research your destination’s validity requirements and make sure that you are within that window. Be sure to give yourself a minimum of eight weeks to get a passport renewal and remember that things like government shutdowns can make this time frame much longer.

Check Visa and Vaccination Requirements

When traveling internationally, research if you require any visas or additional vaccinations including yellow fever, Covid-19, and others. If vaccinations are required, you may need to book an appointment at a travel clinic. Some visas can be purchased on arrival but others require paperwork to be completed in advance.

Start to Research Activities and Things to Do

Around three to six months out, you will want to begin to research your activities and things to do. I have some suggestions on how to do this and other ways to prepare kids for an international trip . You need to do this in advance because some attractions require advance reservations that sell out as soon as they open up (such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam ).

You don’t need to create your full itinerary yet, but what I do is open a Google Doc and when I find something I’m interested in, I copy the website, opening days/hours, and any relevant information (e.g. advance tickets required) into the document so that I can go in later and start to organize by day. I also open Google Maps and star/save each location on the map so that I can start to visualize where everything is in relation to each other and where I am staying (or would like to stay.)

Create An Itinerary Outline

By three months out, you need to really dig into your vacation planning. That is, unless you want to be disappointed when things you want to do or places you want to stay are booked. Start by putting together a skeleton outline.

Go back to the document that you started when researching things that you want to do. Refer to the hours and days they are open and the map to see which things are near each other. You will also want to make sure you have a balance of activities and downtime.

When traveling with young kids, I try to make sure that we only have one organized activity a day, two at most. You can also look to incorporate at least one thing a day that the kids chose to do. Plan the more physical activities and tours in the morning when everyone is fresh and take into consideration the weather as well.

Book Tours & Activities

Start booking your tours, classes, private guides, and activities between three months and one month out. Keep in mind, as mentioned above, some attractions have tickets that go on sale at very specific times and they sell out very quickly. Other attractions, such as the Louvre Museum and many others, require timed entry tickets.

If you are visiting National Parks, keep in mind that some require reservations (such as driving the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park ) and others require permits for specific hikes.

As you book your activities, put the confirmation numbers, contact information, cancellation policy, meeting place, and meeting time in your itinerary and/or your calendar (for the appropriate time zone!) Print any tickets or save them to your mobile wallet. You may also want to file or upload any confirmations or documentation to the Cloud so it is accessible at any time.

Book Your Other Transportation

If you require a rental car, try to book one between three to six months out for international trips, especially if you require an automatic transmission. Since there is usually limited inventory, those tend to book up fast and car rental prices increase the closer you to get to the date.

Trains can also book up, especially if you want an assigned seat in a premium cabin (which makes it easier for storing luggage.) Often trains start taking reservations from about 90 days in advance, but others open earlier.

Book Dining Reservations

Between four and two weeks out, it is time to start researching and booking dining reservations (earlier if you are looking for Michelin Star restaurants.) When reading blogs, I usually make a note about restaurants that they recommend and add them to my Google Doc and Map. I also use Yelp, TripAdvisor, OpenTable, The Fork, and Resy. Because I’m a bit of a research nut, I don’t just look at reviews, I also look at the restaurant websites to get a sense of formality, menu, and price.

I then consider the other activities we have planned for the day and where we will be for lunch and dinner time. If we are exhausted, I know we will want to stay close to the hotel for dinner and have something informal. For days with more downtime, or maybe the last night of the trip, we might want more of a splurge or special meal. When booked, add the reservation time and address, along with the booking method in case you need to cancel, to the itinerary.

Finalize Your Itinerary

Once everything is booked, it is time to finalize the itinerary. I usually keep this as a Google Doc and set it to be available offline. This means that I can edit it and access it on the road. I also print out at least one copy to carry with me and sometimes I’ve given a copy to my daughter too so she can easily see what we are doing each day. When she was younger, we would review the itinerary each night to discuss what we would do the next time. This helps a lot with sensitive kids.

It is a good idea to also send a copy to friends or family in case of an emergency.

Obtain an International Driving Permit

If you are renting a car in another country, you should research whether or not that country requires an International Driving Permit. Note that car rental companies are not very good about providing this information. You can get one at AAA offices, just call ahead to see if you need an appointment.

Order Foreign Currency

It is possible to get foreign currency from a local ATM when you arrive in-country, but then you need to pay additional fees if the bank doesn’t have a partnership with your home bank. And, the ATMs in airports tend to have higher fees. Just in case I have trouble finding an ATM or getting my card to work if I don’t have a PIN, I like to have some currency in my pocket when I arrive. You can usually get a pretty decent exchange rate from your local bank.

I know with Bank of America, you can place your order online and either have it shipped to you or you can pick it up at your local branch. This is a good time to take care of a few other money-related things:

• Let your bank know that you will be traveling so that they don’t put a hold on any transactions;
• Make sure your credit card(s) of choice don’t charge foreign transaction fees;
• Make sure you have a PIN for your chip-enabled credit cards, as some international terminals require a chip and PIN;
• Also notify your credit card provider to let them know about any international travel plans so they don’t trigger fraud alerts or deny transactions.

Arrange Pet Sitting or House Sitting

If you have pets, make sure you arrange pet sitting or kennel boarding. You may also want to consider house sitters for someone to take care of your plants, bring in the mail, and make sure your house isn’t empty. You can find house sitters on sites such as TrustedHouseSitters.com and other resources if you don’t have someone already.

Determine International Cell Plan

Make sure you know what your cell carrier’s international plan options are. Is some data included, like T-Mobile, or do they charge a daily fee, like Verizon? A cheaper option is often to purchase an e-SIM for unlocked, compatible phones. I use Textr because it is much cheaper than using my Verizon international plan. If you are interested, you can sign up using this link to save $3.00 off your data plan.

Purchase Travel Items

This is a good time to look through your closet and see if you need anything for your upcoming trip. Do you have good walking shoes? A lockable day bag? A good packable sunhat ? Are you suitcases in good working order? Do you need a travel umbrella? An international adapter? Make sure to give yourself time to shop and for order to deliverable.

Download Apps, Maps, and Entertainment

While you are on your home WiFi, be sure to download all the mobile apps that you might need on your trip including transit apps, phrasebook apps, airline apps, etc. Also go into Google Maps and download maps for the destinations you are visiting.

Make sure all your mobile tickets are saved in your mobile wallet and download any books, movies, or shows that you might want to use on the trip including on the plane.

Arrange for Mail to Be Held

Call the post office and arrange for your mail to be held while you are away (unless you hired a house sitter.) You may also want to ask your neighbors to keep an eye out for any package deliveries.

Alert Your Alarm Company or Police

If you have a home alarm monitoring service, you should reach out to them and let them know that you are traveling and give them alternate ways to contact you. You could also let the local police know so that they can schedule patrols.

Back Up Your Computer and Phones

If you are traveling with your computer, make sure it is backed up before you leave, same with your phone. Phones are a prime target for theft and computers have a way of getting stolen, broken, or left behind.

Arrange Parking and Airport Transportation

At least 24 hours before departure, figure out how you are getting to the airport and make your transportation arrangements or reserve your airport parking. If using a ride share service, you can schedule a pick up in advance to ensure a driver will be availability.

Packing for a big trip requires some thought so don’t leave it until the last minute. Make sure you are aware of your airline’s luggage weight and size restrictions. Also remember a clear, quart-size bag for your carry on liquids. Don’t forget your important documents, Passports, tickets, medications, etc.

See my tips for packing for a long flight .

Check In and Download Boarding Passes

Check in to your flight, double check your seat assignments, and download your boarding passes. You want to make sure your passport information and Known Traveler Numbers are all saved in your airline profiles before you check in.

This brings you up to your departure day and that last race to get things done before you leave for the airport!

Set Your Out of Office Message

Enjoy your paid time off! Set your out of office message to let people know that you will be on vacation.

Change Your Voicemail Message

If you are going out of the country and won’t be able to get voice calls, let people know by changing your voicemail message. You can suggest they contact you on FaceTime to WhatsApp instead.

Reset Your Thermostat

Before you leave the house, reset your thermostat so that you aren’t paying to heat or cool your house more than you need to while you are gone.

Empty Perishables from Refrigerator

No need to come home to a stinky fridge! Empty your refrigerator of all perishables before you go away.

Take Out Garbage

Now that your fridge is empty, time to take out the garbage. If you don’t want to bring it all the way to the curb, ask your housesitter or neighbor to bring it out for you on garbage day.

Unplug Appliances

Make sure you unplug appliances such as hairdryers, curling or flattening irons, toasters, or other devices that could catch fire.

Put Lights on a Timer

You can easily turn your lights into smart devices and either set timers or use the app to turn the lights on and off at appropriate times so that your house doesn’t look deserted while you are away.

Secure Valuables

Thieves prey on houses when people are on vacation, that is why it is important to not post on social media until you get home and have the lights go on and off to make it look like you are home. Even still, secure your valuables such as jewelry and computers in a safe location, such as an in-home safe.

Add Last Minute Items to Suitcases

Don’t forget all those last minute items that need to go into your suitcase and carry-on bag…toiletries, brush, wallets, money, chargers, etc.

Double Check Tickets / Passports / IDs

Before you jump in the car, make sure you have your IDs, passports, and any tickets or documents that your trip requires.

Set the house alarm (if you have one) and off you go…have fun!

Download the Trip Planning Checklist PDF

The post 39 Step Guide to Planning for a Vacation (Checklist & Timeline PDF) appeared first on We3Travel .

From saving on gas to driving with kids, here's your ultimate road trip planner

"Easy Travel” is a 10-part series focusing on how to reduce bumps during vacations, anticipate roadblocks and be ready when things aren’t going your way. If you'd like to contribute to our future reporting and share your experience as a source, you can click here to fill out this quick form .

Ina Daly has spent most of her life on the road.

“My dad was a truck driver and that led me to becoming a truck driver,” she said. “What we do in a day, on a daily job would be like a long road trip to most people.”

With nearly 40 years of driving for freight transportation services provider XPO and numerous industry accolades under her belt, including grand champion at this year’s Arizona Truck Driving Championship , Daly is a pro. She’s also a mom and a grandmother who’s happy to share her experiences to make everyone’s road trips better.

“Some of the things I'm telling you are what we truckers tell our family members,” she said. “I've had a lot of accomplishments in my career and going to the National Truck Driving Championships (this month) is a reward, but the bigger reward is being able to share some things … that have the potential to save lives.”

What to do before a long drive

“Make sure that your vehicle’s road trip ready,” Daly said. ”Really pay close attention to your tires, your coolant, your fan belt.”

She notes tire dealers often offer free inspections to ensure tires are properly inflated and undamaged.

AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz advises getting the whole car serviced before hitting the road.

“If you're a car person and you can, do that yourself at home, by all means,” she said. Otherwise, she recommends getting the oil changed and battery and tires checked professionally. 

To save time and avoid stress, Diaz also suggests filling up on gas the night before leaving and making hotel reservations well in advance, noting that many hotels allow cancellations without penalty up until the day beforehand. 

What do you need before a road trip?

It’s always good to keep an emergency kit with supplies like first aid, a flashlight and extra batteries, and basic tools in the vehicle.

“You want to make sure that if you do have a tire issue, you have the proper tools and jacks in your vehicle to be able to change it,” Daly said. She said warning signals like reflective triangles can also warn other drivers to steer clear in the event of a breakdown.

For road trips, both she and Diaz recommend shelf-stable snacks like protein bars that won’t melt and plenty of water. “Don't think that a bottle or two for everybody is enough,” Daly said. “You've got to have, you know, five or six bottles for everyone.” 

Diaz also recommends wet wipes, blankets during the winter, and any time-sensitive medication or pet food that might be needed in the event of an extended delay.

“These things ideally wouldn't take up too much room in your trunk but they're just good to have in case of an emergency,” Diaz said. “Just think, ‘If I were stuck for a long time, what would keep me comfortable until I was able to (get) help?’”  

A printed map and a general sense of the route can also help in case there GPS hiccups or a phone dies.  AAA’s free TripTik planner can help travelers plot their trips in advance and find rest stops, lodging, food and gas along the way. And its free Gas Cost Calculator can help locate the cheapest average gas prices for drivers when it’s time to refuel.

'Get out there': This mom is using a never-ending road trip to inspire Black family travel

What I should know before a road trip?

“Everything can be a distraction in the car – the radio, the kids, etc. But the phone is a big one,” Daly advised. “When you’re driving, that thing should not ever be in your hand.”

More than 3,500 people were killed on U.S. roads in 2021 because of distracted driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration . 

Daly also recommends watching out for distracted drivers.

“You can tell a distracted driver by their fluctuating speed,” she warned. “They're drifting in their lane. Their head is looking down instead of focusing on the road. You want to give those people a wide berth.”

How long will a road trip take?

Road trips always take longer than expected because of traffic, construction and other things that arise en route.

Diaz says to expect at least an hour longer than whatever the GPS predicts. Daly recommends leaving at least two hours early.

“You don't want that stressful drive,” Daly said. “You’re hurrying. That lends to bad driving behaviors like tailgating and speeding, which leads to accidents. Don’t put yourself in that situation.”

How many hours a day should you drive on a road trip?

“It just varies so much from person to person, how long they’re comfortable driving,” Diaz said. “We want to err on the side of safety. We want people to be safe on the roads and drive the speed limit and not rush it, but everybody's different.”

Switching out drivers can lighten the load, but no matter who is driving, Daly said, “If you're starting to feel a little, less attentive, maybe a little fatigued, it’s time to take a break.”

What time is best to drive?

“We always recommend, especially during the holidays, leave early in the morning,” Diaz said. “The later you leave in the day, the worse it's going to be because a lot of times during the week … you're going to mix with those commuters on the road.”

“Some people enjoy night driving,” she added. “Once you get to like 8 p.m., 9 p.m. traffic comes down a lot.” 

However, she noted drivers who leave in the evening should watch out for fatigue and plan to drive less than if they started fresh in the morning.

How do you take a good road trip with kids? 

When possible, Daly recommends having a designated passenger to help with kids so the driver can focus on the road.  

Another important thing is to keep seatbelts on the whole way.

“Kids have a tendency to take those off,” Daly said. “Make sure they stay buckled up. I've seen some horrible things out there.”

'I just want to see more of us': The importance of seeing people like you while traveling

What do kids need on a road trip?

Entertainment helps pass the time, but it doesn’t have to be digital. There are all sorts of screen-free road trip games . 

Diaz recommends printing a map or list of sites or cities for kids to watch for along the way.

“You know, yell it out or mark it on your sheet,” she said. “Have some crayons in the car with them so they're following along on the trip, and they feel like they're part of it.”

“Point out historical landmarks and scenery; enjoy nature,” Daly echoed. “That's one of the things that we truck drivers love about our jobs is we get to see the country and nature.”

Stop at points of interest every few hours or simply for everyone to stretch their legs.

And for those times when kids are on screens, make sure to pack car chargers.

What is the best way to save gas?

Don’t speed. 

“Fuel economy peaks at around 50 miles per hour on most cars, and then it drops off as the speeds increase,” Diaz said. “You think, ‘OK, if I just go 70, I'm going to get there faster, and it'll be better,’ but essentially, you're just wasting gas at that point." Fuel economy can be increased by as much as 15% by reducing highway speeds by 5 to 10 miles per hour, she said.

Don’t idle unnecessarily either, like at rest stops.

“Your car engine consumes about a quarter to a half a gallon of fuel per hour while it's idling,” she said. “But a warm engine only takes about 10 seconds’ worth of fuel to restart, so if it's safe to do so, just shut off your engine.”

Story continues below.

What happens if my tire blows out?

“When you blow a tire, kaboom, it freaks you out. Do not panic,” Daly said. “Don't slow down abruptly or brake hard or jerk the wheel because that will cause you to lose control and have an accident.”

“Just focus on steering,” she added. “Slow very gradually, off to the side of the road in a safe area, and you won’t have any issue from your blown tire.”

How do you drive around semitrucks?

“Be aware of our needs and limitations,” Daly said. “You know we’re big. We need a lot of space around us. We have big blind spots. … If you can’t see the truck driver’s face in the mirrors of the truck, the truck driver can’t see you.”

She advised against passing on the right. 

“If you have to pass quickly, don’t linger over there. We see people driving over there for the shade (and it) puts us in a very dangerous situation,” she said. “And don’t cut in front of us and then hit your breaks. People don’t like to follow a truck because they can’t see around us, so they pass us and then cut in front of us.”

“It takes away that safety cushion we leave in front of us,” she added. “When you see all that space in front of a truck, that's not for your convenience so that you can pass us and cut into it. That’s for our safety and yours.”

By the same token, she advised fellow drivers to leave plenty of space in front of their own vehicles, so they have enough room to stop quickly in an emergency. If another driver cuts into that space, she suggested, “Take a break. Slow down again. Recreate that space. Bite your tongue and think pure thoughts.”

That last tip may not be so easy.

What has been your best or worst road trip experience?

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Garden tours, plants sales and more ways to spend time among flowers

Visit Maine's botanical gardens or get a sneak peek of what your neighbors are growing in their back yards.

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One of the loveliest ways to ease yourself fully out of the post-winter blahs and into springtime is to quit being a wallflower and instead surround yourself with living, blooming plants.

From botanical gardens to plant sales and garden tours, it’s time to make like the Scarecrow in “The Wizard of Oz” and while away the hours, conferring with flowers.

The waterfall at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay. Photo by Tory Paxson, Courtesy of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

TOTALLY BOTANICAL

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay is open for the season, daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Maine Days are May 31 to June 2, when anyone with a Maine driver’s license or state ID gets in for free. Ditto for dads/father figures on Father’s Day (June 16). Advance registration is required. With more than 300 acres of gardens and natural spaces, including a waterfall, there will be plenty to see, smell and bask in the scenery.

Here are more things to do in Boothbay

A tour group walks on the boardwalk at Viles Arboretum in Augusta. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Viles Arboretum is a botanical garden in Augusta with 6 miles of trails and more than 20 botanical collections. It’s open daily from sunrise to sunset, and admission is free. There are 224 acres with all sorts of flora and fauna to discover. Leashed dogs are welcome, and the visitor center is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

Viles Arboretum offers medicinal plant walks, and although the May 18 session is full, you can still register for the June 15 and Sept. 14 events, lead by herbalist, homeopath and flower essence practitioner Debra Bluth. Tickets are $25. Advertisement

The Mount Desert Land & Garden Preserve has four areas to explore on its property in Northeast Harbor: the Asticou Azelea Garden (dawn to dusk daily), the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden (noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday from July 9 to Sept. 8, reservations required), Thuya Garden (dawn to dusk daily, June 15 to Oct. 14) and Little Long Pond Natural Lands (hiking trails and carriage roads open dawn to dusk daily). On June 26, at the Wildflowers of Little Long Pond event, participants can wander around the garden’s fields and forest, spotting wildflowers along the way while practicing how to identify them.

Joyce Saltman, right, and Beth Anisbeck embrace a tree for 60 seconds during a tree hugging event sponsored by Portland Parks and Recreation, at Deering Oaks Park last year. Carl D. Walsh/Staff Photographer

TOURS AND MORE

2nd Annual Tree Hugging 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Deering Oaks Park, Portland. portlandmaine.gov The tree hugging is a family-friendly community gathering to celebrate Portland’s many trees. Park ranger Liz Collado will lead a sensory awakening and forest bathing session. Along with tree hugging, there will be a storytime, and you can touch a forestry truck and meet naturalist Noah Querido and Portland city arborist Mark Reiland. Just down the road, you’ll find Fessenden Park, on the corner of Brighton and Deering Avenues. The tulips have arrived, and it’s worth a visit to see them.

McLaughlin Garden Lilac Festival 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 24. McLaughlin Garden and Homestead, 97 Main St., South Paris, $5. mclaughlingardens.org You’ll find more than 125 varieties of lilacs at the McLaughlin Garden Lilac Festival. Explore on your own or take a guided tour led by a horticulturist. There will also be family-friendly activities, and you can shop for native and unusual plants.

4th annual Woodfords Community Garden Tour 1-4 p.m. June 8. Woodfords Corner Community in Back Cove, Deering Highlands, Oakdale and Deering Center, $20 suggested donation. woodfordscorner.org Presented by Friends of Woodfords Corner, this self-guided tour features at least 10 gardens. As you make your way down the list, you’ll find yourself pleasantly surprised by all of the hidden havens bursting with flowers, plants and impressive yardscaping elements.

Peony Society of Maine 23rd annual Garden Tour 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 8 and 15. Both tours start at 1348 Ohio St., Bangor, $5 donation. peonysocietyofmaine.net You’ll visit multiple gardens in Bangor, Winterport, Ripley and St. Albans, and your senses will be filled with countless peonies. A peony plant will be raffled off at the end of each tour. Advertisement

Hidden Gardens of Historic Bath 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 22. Sagadahoc Preservation Inc., 880 Washington St., Bath, $40. sagadahocpreservation.org The Hidden Gardens of Historic Bath house and garden tour features several homes in North Bath. Every stop on the tour will be a treat for your senses and may motivate you to make some of your own magic when you get back home.

Garden Conservancy Open Garden Days 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 29. Beckett Castle Rose Garden, Singles Road, Cape Elizabeth, $10. gardenconservancy.org You’ll see plenty of roses as well as ocean views at Beckett Castle, which sits right on the water, with views of five lighthouses. The castle was built in 1871, and its rose garden features more than 70 varieties of heirloom roses. A 50-foot stone tower doubles as the rose arbor entrance to the castle.

PICK A PLANT SALE

Tate House Museum’s Annual Plant and Herb Sale 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 18. Tate House Museum, 1267 Westbrook St., Portland, 207-774-6177.  tatehouse.org The wide selection includes perennials divided from the museum’s 18th century reproduction garden. Visitors can also make their own “seed bombs” and get a sneak peak at a new installation by artist Ashley Page from 10 a.m. to noon.

Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland Spring Plant S ale 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. May 18, Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, 217 Landing Road, Westbrook, 207-854-9771.  arlgp.org   Perennials, house plants and more will be on sale, and plants that don’t have specific pricing are “name your own fee.” Anyone interested in donating plants or pots to the sale should send a message to [email protected] .

Taking Root Plant Sale 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 1, Tom Settlemire Community Garden, Maurice Drive, Brunswick, 207-729-7694.  btlt.org This annual sale is organized by the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust. Proceeds benefit the Common Good Garden, which provides food and gardening education for the Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program. Master gardeners will be on hand to help shoppers choose their best options.

Scarborough Land Trust Native Plant Sale and Spring Festival 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 1, Broadturn Farm, 388 Broadturn Road, Scarborough, 207-289-1199.  scarboroughlandtrust.org Visitors will find native plants, food vendors, local artisans, guided nature walks and activities for kids. To preorder plants, visit the Scarborough Land Trust website.

Maine Audubon Society Native Plants Sale and Festival 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., June 8, Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, 20 Gilsland Farm Road, Falmouth, 207-781-2330.  maineaudubon.org More than 75 species of native wildflowers, shrubs and tree seedlings will be available, along with workshops, info tables and experts.

Staff writer Megan Gray contributed to this report.

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