1001 Dorogaan independent magazine about independent travel

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Trip planning

How to plan an independent trip: step by step

The main article in this section: how to plan a trip without a travel agency and without drowning in options. The result: the goal of the trip is clear, your documents are checked, the budget includes a reserve, the route is realistic, tickets and accommodation are bought from reliable sellers, and you have a backup plan in case of trouble. There are no specific hotels, prices or timetables here, only the order of steps and where to check current conditions.

Documents and goal first, then tickets, then everything else. Change the order, and your trip will be shaped by chance.

— Editor's note

Before you start

  • Approximate dates and length of the trip
  • One or two sentences about your goal: what you want to see and do
  • A passport or other travel document and an idea of when it expires
  • A rough budget for travel, accommodation, food and a reserve
  • A smartphone with an offline map and the carriers' official apps

  1. Decide on the goal and type of trip

    Islands, mountains, a small town, fortresses or a big city: the type of trip determines transport, clothing and pace.

    If you want the sea and walks without a car, islands with ferries and walking days will suit you.

  2. Check documents and entry rules

    Check document requirements and passport validity with official sources. Read the official travel safety advice for the region you have chosen.

    If your passport expires soon, sort out the document before buying tickets.

  3. Work out a budget with a reserve

    Add up travel, accommodation, food, admission tickets and local transport. Add a reserve for the unexpected.

    Set aside a separate sum to cover an extra night if a ferry or flight is cancelled.

  4. Sketch out the route

    Two or three main stops, how you will travel between them and at least one free day.

    A week: three days in one place, a travel day, three days in another and a spare day before your flight.

  5. Buy tickets from a reliable seller

    Buy from the carrier or from a site it links to. Keep confirmations, boarding passes and receipts.

    If the carrier names a specific booking service, follow the link from its own website rather than an advert.

  6. Choose accommodation that fits the route

    Stay near the station, port or trailhead if you have an early start. Check the cancellation terms of your booking.

    Before an early ferry, it is easier to stay in the port town than in a hilltop village.

  7. Prepare a backup plan

    Note indoor places in case of rain, an alternative way to travel and the number 112.

    If a ferry is cancelled, spend the night at the port and leave on the first sailing rather than changing the whole route.

  8. Check everything the day before

    Timetables, the weather forecast, documents and your phone charge. Save your accommodation address for offline use.

    The evening before you leave, open the carrier's website and make sure your departure has not been rescheduled.

Common mistakes

  • Buying tickets before checking documents and entry rules
  • Planning a ferry or train and a flight on the same day
  • Leaving no free day for weather and tiredness
  • Relying on old publications: timetables and rules may have changed
  • Throwing away boarding passes and receipts before the trip is over
  • Setting out on a mountain trail without a weather forecast or an offline map

Alternatives

  • If you are short of time, choose one place and its surroundings instead of moving around
  • If you do not want to keep moving, stay in one town and take day trips
  • If you are travelling with children, choose short routes and roomy accommodation
  • If your budget is tight, start with a destination closer to home and take trains instead of flying

Pre-trip checklist

  • The goal and type of trip are clear
  • Documents and entry rules have been checked with official sources
  • The budget includes a reserve for the unexpected
  • The route is planned and a free day is left
  • Tickets are bought from the carrier or a seller it links to; confirmations and receipts are saved
  • Accommodation fits the route and the cancellation terms are clear
  • A backup plan, an offline map and the number 112 are saved
  • Transport

    Train, bus, ferry, plane and car: when each works best and what to keep in mind on the way.

  • Destinations

    Six types of destination, from islands to road trips, and how to choose the right one for you.

  • Local guide

    Traveller etiquette, safety, the 112 number and what to do if something goes wrong.

Sources

  • Regulation (EC) No 261/2004
  • Montreal Convention 1999
  • Official travel safety advice

Information is current as of the date of preparation. Entry rules, timetables, prices and carrier terms change, so check them with official sources before you travel.