How I plan a Trip

Many would tell us how amazing and inspiring it is that we travel with our little girl all the time. The truth is, for an obsessive compulsive like me, it takes a lot of preparation, careful planning and extensive research. Most trips are planned and booked months ahead.

In planning a trip, here are the things that I consider and prepare in advance:

TRAVEL BUCKET / WISH LIST

The main reason why we travel is to experience new things, taste amazing food, learn about different cultures and set foot in unfamiliar places. I’ve always had a map of the Philippines and of the world. I usually use this as a starting point for my travels. I look at it (at times pick random places), make and update my list and go from there. My list are categorized based on places I want to visit, the activities that I want to do and food I want to taste.

TIME OF DEPARTURE AND ARRIVAL

To maximize our spending for each trip and to visit as many places as we can in each year, a number of our flights are booked on budget airlines and during seat sale. Unfortunately, many of these flights are way too early or way too late in the day. This may be a big challenge when travelling with a child. Having a detailed itinerary and some foresight helped us manage these situations with almost no inconvenience and tantrum episodes. You may visit my previous article on early morning flights for some tips (https://summerdaysph.blogspot.com/2018/04/early-morning-flights.html).

ACCOMMODATIONS

Accommodations may take a huge chunk of your travel budget. We have experienced booking in Airbnb and Mid range to High-end hotels and resorts. It all depends on the destination and our planned activities and itinerary. Prior to having a child, we sometimes did not even bother to book in advance. We also did many backpacking trips and stayed in the most basic and cheap accommodations. However, since we started bringing Summer along, we’ve stayed away from budget accommodations. These days, advanced booking is a must and I screen our accommodations based on the following:

Size of the room
   A kid, especially and infant comes with a LOT of stuff. First because you are newbie parents and you do not want to take any chances by trying to pack light and second because they really use and consume a lot. Summer drinks formula and uses disposable diaper so that alone takes up a lot of space, thus, more luggage as opposed to our previous trips with only one backpack per person. The bigger the room, the larger the space, the better.

Water heater
   This is available in most accommodations but it is always best to investigate and know for sure. This is the reason why until now, we have not gone on a camping trip or an overnight hiking trip.

Kitchen or a big bathroom sink with countertop

   Few resorts have kitchens but many Airbnb rentals have it. For accommodations that do not have a kitchen, a bigger bathroom sink with countertops are okay with us. This is because my daughter is bottle fed and we need the space to wash her bottles.

 Elevator
   This is not really a must but it offers a great deal of convenience for us. With a baby or toddler, the luggage and the stroller in tow, booking a place with an elevator is always a big help. Booking a place with a bell service is an even bigger help.

Good Location
   In places where a hired car is too expensive and commuting is a must, it is very important to book an area near the best mode of transportation. It may be more expensive at times but the difference in price is definitely worth it. If we are going to a place or country for the first time, it can be quite hard to know the accessibility for sure. I never rely on the published information on the hotel or property owner’s site. Instead, I have proven that customer comments and feedback are much more reliable. I read comments in several sites extensively. It can be daunting and can take a lot of time but it has been the most useful for me so far. 

Stroller friendly destination
   One of the considerations for us prior to booking a flight is to know whether the place is stroller and family friendly. Places that are not too ideal for family travel have not really stopped us from visiting. But we tend to postpone most trips and plan them depending on the kid’s age, with very few exceptions. 

BE AS DETAILED AS POSSIBLE

After booking our flights, I start to research all the aspect of our trip. From there, I plan a detailed itinerary and budget with notes on what to book, when to book them and where to book it. I like to book as much as I can online and in advance.

All the planning and advanced bookings are, of course, just guides and aids for a more convenient travel. In travel with a child though, it is never black and white and it is important to expect a slower pace. Of course, getting lost sometimes is also part of the fun.

UPDATE THE LIST OF THINGS TO BRING

Because I pack for two, I have a detailed list of things to pack and bring during our trips. It has evolved in time, as Summer got bigger. Perhaps I can dig up my list and post it in another article as a starting point for your own packing guide.

I hope some of you will find these trips helpful.

Happy travels!