It’s the moment of truth now…time to seal the deal and get ready to see all of your plans come to light. In Part 1 you figured out the basics; in Part 2 you delved into the details; here you’ll take some action and get set to jet!

Step 7: Get your ticket, let’s go!

Despite the sequence of this list, buying your tickets – plane, train, and attractions – will be a little spread out over the course of your planning. In fact you’ll want to buy your plane ticket and book your lodging at the same time and well in advance (think around Step 5). Advance purchase of attraction tickets and day trips are also a great idea to avoid lines and sold out excursions. You’ll save money by pre-booking in virtually every case. 

Step 8: Get your stuff together

I have seen some “miracle packing” articles out there that are quite impressive! - Mine is coming soon. I’m a firm believer in going carry-on only. Packing light will enable you to have the best possible time. Less fuss at the airport and less weight to carry around town makes for less stress (don’t forget you're supposed to be stepping out of your comfort zone a bit). Consider it a test of your creativity – how many outfits can you get out of 3 pairs of pants, 4 shirts, and 2 scarves? Answer: more than you think!

A few more things to consider: hit up Amazon for things like an outlet converter, money belt, and snacks (granola bars travel well). It’s a good idea to have some cash – you can exchange currency beforehand at most banks. Make sure your passport is up to date and won’t expire for at least 3 months from the end of your trip. Establish an emergency contact and give copies of documents and itineraries to a trusted relative or friend. There is more, but I’ll share a detailed list in another post.

Step 9: Time to revel

You did it! You’ve planned your dream trip. Maybe you’ve just booked your last ticket, or you’re literally headed to the airport. Or maybe you can just picture yourself being in that moment – I’m reliving that moment from last Spring as I'm writing this.

Revel in this feeling. Your diligence and sacrifice has paid off. You’re on your way to exploring this great big world and even after all the work you’ve done to get here, this is just the beginning – you still have your entire trip to savor! And be sure that you do savor every moment. Take insane amounts of pictures (like I did) and make sure you’re in them. Try the weird dish that you can’t pronounce. Stop and listen to some street musicians. Don’t spend your whole day in a museum (unless that’s your thing). Engage the people you encounter with whatever broken language skills you can muster. You are finally there - have the time of your life.

Then come home, share your stories, and start planning the next round. 

Share your thoughts:

• What did you think of this series?
  
• Can you relate to this process from your own travel experiences?
  

Much of the fun of travel comes from designing the trip. Your planning sessions will set the stage for your great adventure and will help you troubleshoot all kinds of issues before it’s too late. In Part 1 of this series you considered the why, where, and who. Next we dive into the planning – it’s about to get real.

Step 4: How much is this gonna cost me?

Budgeting is the way to make a dream become reality. Once you set your limits, the potential of your trip is much more real. The amount of money you are able to spend will narrow down the clutter of choices that can seem overwhelming at the start. 

Some things to consider – How much time can you take off work? Do you have savings that you’re willing to tap into? What about rewards services or Skymiles that you can cash in? What level of luxury do you want? Then break it down into bite-sized pieces – Lodging, Food and Drink (don’t forget to build in your tab!), Attractions/Excursions, Transportation, Shopping, etc. It’s also beneficial to have a range in mind, going from “super frugal bare bones” to “rent won’t get paid if I go over this amount.” As you go along, you’ll discover how close you’re willing to get to that maximum figure. I've shared some of my unconventional budgeting tips here.

Step 5: When to start the countdown

Deciding when to go on your trip ties in with determining your budget. Travel cost will be dependent upon, not only where you go, but when you go. Unless you’ve already got a pocket full of cash to take you around the world, don’t forget to factor in how much time you’ll need to build up your travel kitty. And of course you’ll want to research the best times of year to visit whichever haven you have your heart set on. Check the weather, rainfall, tourist-mob potential, etc. 

For research loving planners like me, planning an international trip can easily take 6-8 months. This is mostly due to creating a savings timetable (more on that in a future post). But if you’re the more spontaneous type, or you feel like you’ll never go if you put it off for too long, you can get away with a planning period as short as 2-3 months – as long as your budget is not too tight. If you act fast, you should have ample time to reserve your flat or hotel, book your plane ticket, and note a few sites to visit.

Step 6: Where to stay and what to do

Deciding where to stay is not so much about choosing between a fancy hotel, a cozy flat, or a student hostel – I’ve covered my preference in a previous post. This is more about deciding what part of town or type of neighborhood appeals to you given the things you want to do. Do you see yourself hitting up the main attractions, going on day trips, shopping the malls and markets, or relaxing by the water? Grab a guide book and a map to chart out a rough itinerary for each day. If this seems like a lot, I can help you with this. 

The purpose is cohesion – you want everything to flow as well as possible so you can relish the experience. Designing this part is the most work you’ll do in planning your trip. It will take a while, and it should – you want to make sure you’ll enjoy yourself and not be far from what you like when you get there. It’s also the most fun you’ll have before you touchdown on that landing strip.

[Next up: Putting your money where your mouth is – buying the tickets.]

You’ve decided - you’re in! That burning desire to escape for a while (or better, to not let life escape you) has taken hold and you’ve made up your mind – if only you had someone to go with. 

Ah, there it is…another hurdle. 

For this post, and most of my posts, I’ll focus on international travel. Getting someone to commit to spending thousands of dollars on a 10 day adventure is no small feat. Your best bet is to find someone who is already dying to go! Even then, the price tag and commitment can be a little daunting. 

Budgeting is key to building confidence in your friend. If you can start the planning and estimate a rough bottom line cost, you’ll have something to work with – because let’s face it, money is tight for everyone these days. Plus sticking to a budget is the best way to have a great, guilt-free time. And it’s a vital skill to master if you want to go on more than one trip in your lifetime (another post on that later).

Another thing to remember is quality over quantity. You may be considering getting a group together - 4, 5, 6 people. The excitement of navigating the ruins of ancient Greece is something you want to share with all your closest friends – I understand the sentiment, but I do have a word of caution. More is not always merrier, especially when it comes to coordinating what everyone wants to do and when. Unless you’re ok with your group splitting off into mini groups, aim for a group of 3 or less.

Also consider personalities – are you Type A and always on the go? Do you prefer to plan every detail and leave nothing to chance? Or do you like to go with the flow in almost everything you do? Is spontaneity your only guide? A little bit of both? Having a friend who compliments (not matches) your personality is key to an enjoyable experience. Pay attention to how your friends react when planning smaller get-togethers, like dinners out or movie nights. Are they decisive and mindful of other’s ideas? Are they flexible when a glitch pops up? Remember, at the end of your trip, you still want to actually be friends! 

Put the word out well in advance of when you’re planning to dig your toes in those black sand beaches. And don’t forget to consider friends you’re not super close with – you’d be surprised who would end up making a great travel partner.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Please share below.

When it comes to packing for a trip, there are so many articles you can find about how to pack light, pack smart, and pack an insane amount of stuff into a tiny little space. This post is a little different. Sometimes it's just best to leave most of your stuff behind.

First, a caveat: I am a woman, like most of my readers (in case you were wondering). I'm also well aware that I have far too many clothes and a whole lot of hair and beauty products (all of which I "need," by the way)! This bit of travel advice I'm about to dish is a challenge, even for me. It may seem like an impossible task, but I hope you'll see the benefits of trying it.

The TSA and all major airlines have been socking it to us over the past few years. It seems every travel season there are stricter rules concerning allowed items and the size and number of our carry-ons. We all know the liquid rules (if you don't, read up on them here), but now our carry-on luggage is also being downsized. Bags on most domestic American airlines can now be no larger than 22" x 14" x 9" (see Delta's notice here) and there's word that many international airlines are going even further. But never fear, SHEbirdie is here to help you make the most out of your limited space.

As you may know from my other travel tips, I highly recommend going carry-on only when you fly. With that in mind, and considering that up to 40% of our luggage as women is toiletries, the focus here will be on paring down our beauty arsenals. 

At the beginning of this post I mentioned that sometimes it's best to just leave most of our stuff at home. Well if you're doing carry-on only, this is pretty much a necessity. Taking this approach will require that you allot some extra cash ($10-20) to buy a few toiletry items from the local drug store when you arrive at your destination. If you're concerned that there won't be a drug store around, or that you won't have the transportation to run errands, don't forget that most airports have drug stores in them! 

Here is my list of what you should pack versus what you should buy:

Notice that under "PACK" there are only 2 items listed that will count against your liquid allowance (with leeway for a few specialty products). Also, if you get done with all of your packing and still have room left, you can of course pack in some of the "BUY" items and save yourself a bit of cash.

Overall, I think it's worth spending a few dollars at the drug store to save yourself the aggravation of trying to pack an impossible amount of toiletries into your small carry-on bags. As long as you're not too particular about your toothpaste, this approach may be just what you need to get around one of the major hurdles of air travel.

• What do you think? Is this something you already do, or would try?
  
• What other ways do you simplify your packing?

I’ve thought a lot about how I would approach the topic of trip budgeting, mostly because it is a beast of a topic, but also because there are so many “how-to” articles already out there and I don’t want to give the same old spiel. This won’t be your typical “put away X amount each month” kind of advice. I’ll share what worked for me and give you the honest run-down of how I managed to afford a 10 day European adventure with zero savings to start. 

Single-hood has its advantages. As a young independent single woman, I started my trip planning with a built in advantage – my income supports me alone. I understand that this is not true for many people who are nevertheless ferociously bitten by the travel bug. And it’s also not a requirement to achieve your dreams of traveling the world. But in my case, it helped me to be able to afford the length and type of trip that I took. For those with family obligations, longer prep times or shorter trips can make up the difference.

Tax refunds are for splurging. A huge part of my travel budgeting came from my annual tax refund. Everyone has different factors that affect how much they will receive each spring (or by the second week of February if you’re on top of things!), but most of us get something back. Use this lump sum to your advantage when planning your trip. If you’re not getting a refund, set up your filing status at work to reflect fewer exemptions. You’re essentially building your vacation fund in between tax days.

It’s all about who you know. Knowing someone with connections is not only great for a job hunt, it pays off for travel too. I am blessed to be able to call some wonderful (and wonderfully connected) people my friends. I know professional musicians, amazingly in-demand photographers, savvy business networking gurus, and a successful manager at a well-known hotel chain. While we didn’t actually stay in their hotels on our trip, we were still able to reap the benefits of their employee rewards program. Thanks to my connected friend's generosity, we were able to take a day trip, go on a riverboat cruise, and take advantage of free and discounted site-seeing opportunities at no charge to us!

This next part is a bit controversial, so I’ll only briefly put it out there – Your IRA or other investment accounts can be tapped into…for a price. It’s always advised not to touch these accounts, but at the end of the day it’s your money and your decision. If you have a lifelong dream to go on safari in the Australian Outback or to journey to the Holy Lands, what you allow to stand in your way is up to you. This is obviously not a piggy bank for your yearly vacation – it’s more of a “cannot miss this once in a lifetime opportunity” option.

Credit cards, preferably with rewards, are the safest way to book reservations and spend money overseas. This is not to say that your credit card limit should be your trip budget, but it’s okay to use it now and pay it down later. This is a major reason why I spend a long time planning an international trip and why I spread out my adventures (currently to every other year). Once you’re back home, it’s time to regroup financially by paying down the credit cards you used and building your savings accounts back up. And on that note…

It truly is helpful to attempt to put away some cash every month. If you examine where your non-bill paying money is spent each paycheck, you’ll probably find that it mostly goes to eating out and buying random articles of clothing just because they are on sale. If you can manage to cut back on just those two things, you might be surprised at how much money you can save toward your dream vacation.

So there you have it – a little unconventional, but a tried and tested way to get out see the world. If some of these options seem out of your reach, there are many other ways to get there. Plan out one part at a time – the plane tickets, the apartment/hotel booking, the food budget. Believe me when I say the sacrifice will be worth it.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Please share below.

“Travel is never a matter of money, but of courage.” – Paulo Coelho

The truth of this quote can be lost it the hyperbole. Of course travel takes money – not as much as people assume sometimes, but it costs nonetheless. I believe the true sentiment here is that if someone has the courage and the will to do something, it can be done.

We can do what we decide we will do. It does not matter how difficult it may appear to be from the outside. It does not matter how many others have tried and failed. It does not matter what it will cost in time, money, resources, effort, or sacrifice. If a person truly wants something – and I mean absolutely irrevocably wants something - they will find a way to get it. It’s the way of the human spirit. There is something in us that won’t rest until we’ve attained it. 

Now you may be saying, “But I’ve been there and it didn’t work for me – I wanted something so bad, but I just didn’t have the means to get it….” To that I’d venture to guess that you were afraid of something. Maybe the result of actually getting that thing you wanted would put you out of your comfort zone. Maybe you would have to give up a habit that you’ve grown attached to in order to achieve that goal. Maybe the thought of failing consumed you to the point where all you could visualize was the embarrassment that would follow. Break it down – fear will be at the core of why that thing you wanted did not materialize.

Fear is the only thing that prevents us from actually getting what we want for our lives. When it comes to travel, the fear may be the flying part, or the foreign language part, or the asking for help part. A big obstacle for many of us is our job. Maybe the money you make at work can barely pay your bills - this is a real challenge, but there are still opportunities for travel with charity organizations, foreign exchange work programs, or even personal networking. Maybe you don't have the vacation days to take – plan a trip for a holiday/long weekend, or check if your company offers a leave program. Or if your job is truly holding you back from the adventurous life that you want, consider saving up for a career change and take a sabbatical in between (I'll fill you in on how I did it in another post). 

The excuses are endless, but so are the solutions! Just ask yourself what you really want and then keep challenging yourself to honestly answer this question: Why not?

I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Please share below.

I admit I was hesitant when my friend first suggested that we look into renting flats or apartments for our European adventure. Well, maybe a little more than hesitant…it was more of a “Whatchoo talkin ‘bout Willis?” kind of moment. 

You mean you want me to sleep in someone else’s bed, use their dishes, their shower, and otherwise be in their personal space amongst their personal things, for several days in a foreign country? Uh, let me think about that one.

But after I did a little research (ok, a lot) and looked at the savings versus the hotels in the area, I started to open up to the idea. Then I realized the range of neighborhoods that we could explore and the opportunity to “live like a local” became hugely appealing to me. This was really going to add to our adventure.

The idea of renting a flat as opposed to booking a hotel is becoming more and more popular. Living like the locals do has its benefits. In choosing a flat, you have a better opportunity to experience the various neighborhoods of a metro area. In London for example, the neighborhoods of Chelsea, Camden, and Greenwich each have different characteristics that would make for a distinct experience depending on where you choose to stay (more on London neighborhoods in a future post). Hotels, on the other hand, are usually only available in limited areas (read: typical tourist spots).

Renting a flat will also save you money. In my research, I found they were 10 to 25 percent cheaper than booking a hotel. Plus, you would typically have a kitchen and laundry available which is invaluable when you’re trying to save on food costs and when you’re traveling light. And the idea that you’ll be living in someone else’s personal space is not entirely true. While there are some inhabited apartments that people sublet, many are solely rented to travelers.

There are a few good services available for online booking – we used Airbnb and I would recommend them for ease of use and a wide variety of possible rentals. So when planning your next trip, do a little neighborhood research, check out some reviews and consider giving a flat a chance!

I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Please share below.

“Une grande cafe, sil vous plait…. Uh, PLUS grande sil vous plait!” 

This was me trying to order a large coffee in Paris last year (fyi – no such thing). 

I cannot tell you how broken and sparse my use of the beautiful French language was on that trip. If I weren’t so caught up in the surreal experience of actually being back there, I would have been mortified! But it got us by. 

It’s a bit ironic because here at home, I knew French speaking people who I could have sat with over the years and honed my skills, but didn’t because I was afraid my pronunciation was no good and I’d just embarrass myself. Amazing what a desperate situation will embolden you to do – and yes, scoring more than a teacup-sized serving of my morning joe qualified as a desperate situation! 

Besides ordering cafes, croissants, and carafes du l’eau, we didn’t have to use much French. But when we did, we noticed a more helpful vibe emerge before us. A simple “merci” goes a long way in Paris. Even just  knowing a few nouns like “le metro”, “la porte de sortie”, and “la toilette” show an effort that the French will appreciate. You can pose these words as questions with just the tone of your voice (not quite correct, but it works in a pinch). I would suppose it works in a similar way with other languages in other foreign countries, though I only have the French experience under my belt for now.

Visiting a foreign country with some language skills in your repertoire will portray a sign of respect and can make all the difference in the experience you have with the locals. So try dusting off that old high school textbook or buy a translation dictionary (that includes phrases) to brush up before your trip. If you’ve never had any experience with foreign language, there are beginner lessons you can download. I recommend Behind the Wheel for the very basics, but skip the counting lessons and jump in at the simple phrases. You don’t need to know much, but it helps to know something.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Please share below.

First, I’ll say, there is much respect reserved for people who go out and do “social things” alone. It’s seen as a mark of maturity and confidence and in certain situations it’s just plain ballsy. Going out to see a movie, dining out in a popular restaurant, checking out a ballgame or a concert – going solo in these social settings can be liberating. You may discover something new about yourself or pay attention to things you hadn’t before. I definitely recommend challenging yourself to try it (if that would be a challenge for you). However, going solo on a trip to a foreign country, or even another state, is a whole other beast. 

Now, we all know there are plenty of people who trek across the globe on their own journeys of self-discovery (many of them have their own travel blogs!). Or you may personally know someone who just likes to go off alone once a year to a mountain cabin to reflect on life or work on his memoir. To each, his own and more power to them! It truly is a mark of confidence and shows a desire for self-awareness – good stuff. But I would say, if you’re a newbie traveler or you’ve never been out of the country before, take a friend. 

Experiencing a new country, people, and culture is an exciting experience. It’s one that you’ll want to share. Having a friend with you to co-experience a truly awesome moment or to capture those photos of you in front of the Eiffel Tower (selfies are nearly impossible in this case, trust me) is indispensable. 

Not only will you be able to share all the fun, but you’ll also have each other’s backs. Being safe in foreign country is a no-brainer (though…it does require using your brain – more on that in another post). The good old buddy system rule comes into play here. You can research to your hearts content, but when you’re lost in the seedy part of Camden, you’ll feel loads better knowing you’re not there alone. Plus two heads are better than one – it’s much easier to work your way out of a sticky situation with two minds engaged in the process.

I will confess, I have not yet ventured out on a solo trip. I’m sure there are many benefits to this, but I haven’t experienced them…yet. When I do, I’ll be sure to fill you in on what I learn. Until then, you’re probably wondering how to actually get a friend to commit to a big trip – see more about that here.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Please share below.