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How to Plan Your Perfect Vacation

Advice From a Pro: 3 Powerful Tools I Use When Planning

With over 15 years of travel experience (thanks to my mom’s job in the airline industry), I’ve honed my approach to crafting unforgettable trips. In this guide, I’m going to show you how to plan your perfect vacation. Whether it’s finding unique destinations, hidden gems, or life-changing experiences, I’ve discovered a method that works every time.

I’ll share my favorite tools and tips to help you plan your dream vacation—from choosing the perfect destination to finalizing all the details.

My Go-To Tools for Travel Planning

There are plenty of amazing travel blogs, Pinterest pages, and Instagram accounts that can spark your wanderlust. While I love these for inspiration, my actual trip planning revolves around these three tools:

  1. AI (ChatGPT)
  2. Google Maps
  3. TripAdvisor or Viator

With these platforms, you’ll have everything you need to design the trip of a lifetime. Here’s how I use them:

Step 1: Decide Where You Want to Go

Every great trip starts with a question: Where do I want to go? If you already have a destination (or a few) in mind, skip ahead to Step 2. If not, here’s how to narrow it down:

Reflect on Your Ideal Vacation

Ask yourself:

  • What’s the purpose of this trip? (Relaxation, adventure, or both?)
  • Do I want hot weather or cold?
  • Am I craving a bustling city or a remote escape?
  • How do I want to feel on this vacation? (Peaceful, energized, inspired?)

Answering these questions will give you clarity on your ideal destination.

Use AI for Inspiration

Once you know what you’re looking for, use AI to create a personalized list of destinations. For example, here’s a prompt you can try:

“You’re my travel advisor helping me plan my next vacation. I want you to give me a list of 10 places that fit my desired experience:

  • Mixture of adventure activities and relaxation.
  • Easy to get around via train, bus, or taxi.
  • Warm weather during the month of November, but not too humid.”

Using this prompt as an example, this is what AI can generate:

AI will generate a curated list of options tailored to your needs, giving you a fantastic starting point for your trip. If nothing listed sparks your interest, just ask for some more recommendations or provide more details to help narrow the search.

Step 2: Research Your Destination

If you already know where you’re headed—or after AI has helped you pick—use it again to refine your plans. Here’s how:

Gather Key Information

Use a prompt like this to get detailed advice:

“I’m planning a trip to New Zealand for 2 weeks in November. I want to visit Auckland, Queenstown, and Mt. Cook. Please provide:

  1. The most popular and safe neighborhoods/areas to stay (ideally near shops, restaurants, and key attractions).
  2. The best ways to get around New Zealand and estimated costs.
  3. Unique & adventurous experiences such as heli-hiking, wine tours, or boat excursions.”

AI can provide actionable details to help you picture your trip and make informed decisions.

Step 3: Expand on the Details

Now that you have inspiration and basic plans, it’s time to dive into specifics.

Find the Best Activities

TripAdvisor or Viator are my go-to platforms for discovering activities. Search for “Things To Do” in your destination to uncover highly rated tours and experiences. Many of these will align with what AI suggested, helping you filter your options even further.

If you use TripAdvisor often, it will pick up on what you like to do and make some recommendations:

Choose the Right Accommodations

For accommodations, I rely heavily on Google Maps. Here’s why:

  1. Search the city or area you’re visiting (e.g., “Queenstown New Zealand”).
  2. Use the “hotels” filter and adjust based on your preferences (minimum star rating, budget, pet-friendly, free cancellation, etc.).
  3. Look at the map view to pinpoint the location of each hotel relative to key attractions, restaurants, and transportation options.
  4. Explore nearby coffee shops, restaurants, and shops to get a feel for the neighborhood.

This step helps me envision my daily routine and ensures I’m staying somewhere convenient and enjoyable.

Step 4: Bring It All Together

By combining these tools, you’ll have a clear, actionable plan for your trip:

  1. AI: Generates inspiration, key details, and recommendations tailored to your preferences.
  2. TripAdvisor/Viator: Highlights top-rated experiences and activities.
  3. Google Maps: Helps you choose the best accommodations and plan your logistics.

With these steps, you’ll not only plan an incredible trip but also feel confident and excited about the journey ahead.

Final Thoughts

Travel planning doesn’t have to be stressful. By using the tools and strategies outlined here, you’ll not only create a seamless itinerary but also set the stage for an unforgettable adventure. Whether you’re exploring remote landscapes or vibrant cities, the journey begins with intentional planning.

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