The Road Linds Travels

As much as we love traveling, and some of us, like myself, love travel planning, certain aspects simply instill anxiety and dread. Not all of us love to fly, nor do we love to pack. And I get it – travel planning isn’t for everyone. That’s why I thought I’d share some of my secrets (maybe not secrets to some of you) and a few hacks when it comes to travel planning and prepping to make your next trip a breeze. Ready? Set. Go!

*This post contains affiliate links for which I may receive a small commission should a purchase result from a click. This, in no way, affects you or your cost.

So, for starters, how far ahead you begin planning is going to make a world of difference. For longer trips, such as the three-month Euro trip I’m currently wrapping up the planning for, you’re going to want to begin your planning months in advance. For shorter weekend getaways or week-long excursions, two to three months will usually suffice.

This, of course, depends on what types of activities you’re interested in. Want to see Sagrada Familia in Barcelona? Plan ahead – reservations sell out quickly, so you’ll need to know exactly when you want to go and when those tickets will be available so you can be sure not to miss your opportunity. For the record, they begin selling tickets two months in advance.

THIRD-PARTY TRAVEL SITES VS. BOOKING DIRECTLY

In a nutshell, third-party travel sites are the Expedias, Travelocitys, Pricelines, and related of the world wide web. Often, you can book entire vacation packages via these sites. However, don’t cease your research there. While these sites are often cheaper, this isn’t always the case. And your bank account will thank you for doing your due diligence by going directly to the source to compare pricing.

For example, I stumbled across this beautiful accommodation in Siena, Italy, via Booking.com while researching the Tuscan leg of our trip. However, when I went directly to Villa del Sole’s website, I found my room to be significantly cheaper than booking through the third-party site. However, this isn’t always the case, so case in point, do the extra research.

One of the frequently cited cons of third-party sites is if/when an issue arises. If you haven’t run into issues while traveling, have you really traveled? Whose responsibility is it to address said issue? This is where travel insurance comes in handy. I, personally, use Faye, though I’m new to them, so I can’t speak thoroughly as to their services just yet. I also have no affiliation or partnership with them, though I can say that their customer service is prompt and stellar.

Another frequent misconception is that if you book a flight through a third-party site, you can’t rack up those airline miles. And that’s not true. There’s usually a box you can check to enter your frequent flier number and be awarded those coveted miles while booking.

In fact, did you know that after you book a flight through a third-party site, such as Expedia, you can go directly to the airline’s site to manage that flight? Want an upgrade? That’s possible. Want to choose your seats at a later time? You can do that, too. Though, I recommend choosing your seat early, if possible. Unless you enjoy being stuck at the back of the plane with every other dilly-dallier.

TRAVEL PLANNING & PACKING

This brings me to luggage. Are you the checked bag type? Or are you the carry-on-only type like me, no matter how long or short of a trip? I once had a customs agent eye me up and down suspiciously for my luggageless appearance after a nine-day trip to Japan. It was just me and my fat-ass backpack. I’ve since upgraded my 35L to a 55L, but it’s still carry-on only for me, even for the upcoming three-month trip of a lifetime.

You see, the advantages of carry-on only outweigh the disadvantages, in my humble opinion:

If you know how to pack, then a 55L backpack is all the room you’ll need. In case you missed my post about The Art of Packing Lightly, you can check it out by clicking on that link. In addition to rolling, rolling, rolling, I’ve since upgraded to some additional packing assistance courtesy of all of the blogs and listicles I enjoy reading in my spare time, including a nifty lil’ “neck pillow.”

No matter how you feel about neck pillows, this is the one you need. It’s not just any neck pillow. Remove the funky-smelling foam from the inside, wash the cover, and stuff it full of things you don’t mind getting wrinkled. (i.e., underwear, socks, etc.) You’ve now created more space in your carry-on, you still have a neck pillow, and I award this five stars for organization! In addition, it will wrap around any strap on your backpack and snap in place. That’s $24.99 well spent if ya ask me!

CASH BACK WHILE TRAVEL PLANNING

One last thing before I go – if you’re not using a rewards card or Rakuten when travel planning, you’re missing out on a nice chunk of change back in your pocket. Oh, and did you know you can use your rewards card to pay and get money back from Rakuten at the same time? That’s right – double the cash back!

When I book through Booking.com or a slew of other sites, I activate cashback through my Rakuten extension on my browser, and I’m instantly earning a percentage back when I complete that booking. If I use my Capital One Quiksilver card to make that purchase, I’m also earning cash back from Capital One. I’ve seen travel sites with as much as 10% cash back on purchases.

Imagine this – Expedia is having a 10% back sitewide on all travel bundles. You’ve booked your flight with your preferred carrier, your accommodations, and a rental car with your rewards credit card. So, not only are you going to receive loyalty points on that flight, but you’re going to receive cash back from your credit card and cash back after your stay with Rakuten. That amount can quickly add up, and who doesn’t like to save money?!

By the way, Rakuten isn’t just for travel purchases – it’s accepted in many places online and in stores. What are you waiting for? Sign up with Rakuten now!

Until next time because I’ve got plenty more to share in the days to come. Happy travel planning! Feel free to reach out with any questions – I’d be happy to chat or help!