Why Online?
If not on the internet then where shall you find ready
information regarding new countries and destinations? When you research online
and discuss your itinerary with fellow travelers, you get more insight into the
places you can visit. Many 2.0 Travel websites are geared to provide useful
info and their forums can serve as an excellent place to ask for journals,
videos and photos collected by other travelers.
Take for instance that you plan a trip to Japan. If
you do a simple search online, you can collect all sorts of information on
Japan, starting from basic demography, culture to stories and urban legends of
the country. Such a massive collection of tales and recounts is possible
because of the amalgamation of real experiences from actual people who have
visited Japan before.
Using online resources allows you to plan according to the
climatic and weather conditions of the place, type of recreational activities
available and facilities on offer. You can accordingly pack your clothes, carry
necessary medication and currency.
Probably the best advantage of online planning sites is the
fact that it gives you a chance to make a loose schedule. Planning too far into
the future often backfires. Hence, you can create a rough plan and begin your
journey. As you finish on leg of your journey, you can use travel sites to
determine the best routes and destinations for the second leg.
Do Not Forget To Make
Offline Preparations Too!
Just because you are using the internet to make preparations
does not mean that you shall overlook your offline requirements. Write down a
list; prepare it to include museums, restaurants, malls and places of interest.
This list will allow you to stay on track when on the road and away from the
internet.
Prepare a budget that you shall stay within. While the net
can give you a good idea of how much money to carry, it is you who has to
decide what your budget shall be at the end of the day. Also, travel as light
as possible so that you have space for all your shopping and do not get bogged
down by extra baggage.
When you plan a trip, ensure that someone in your
family or a friend is aware of your journey. Leave them with an emergency
contact number or a postal address so that they can get in touch with you in
dire circumstances. Also, take into considerations all the travel documents you
shall need to cross international boundaries. Make redundant copies of the same
and wherever possible produce only the copies, hiding the originals away.
