To plan an adventure trip means you are ready to experience a unique and epic travel opportunity. An adventure trip is nothing like visiting a touristy destination for shopping, nightclubs, and photos in stylish swimsuits on the beach to take the most post-worthy pictures. Although those trips are loads of fun, you have to think more broadly when you're wondering how to plan an adventure trip.
Ready for an adventure trip? Here’s how to start planning for it.
Adventure travel is for the bold, brave, and fearless who desire to trek through a rainforest, climb to the top of the highest mountain, emerge in culture, or place themselves entirely out of their comfort zone. It's all about seeking a thrill or meaningful experience. Whether you are planning to travel solo or on a small group adventure tour, here are a few things to help you plan your adventure.
How to plan an adventure trip
1. Brainstorm
Ask yourself: What do I want to get out of this trip? Whether you're seeking a sense of accomplishment, searching for peace, or cultural exchange, there is an adventure that can give you all the feels you desire.
In the movie Eat, Pray, Love, Julia Roberts' character planned a year-long adventure trip in search of self-discovery. What is your "why" in taking an adventure trip, and how long would you like your adventure to be? You have a higher chance of achieving your desired experience once you identify what you want to gain from your trip.
Having this understanding will also help you research your travel plans. Take a look at some of the most thrilling adventure trips in the world to help make a decision.
2. Budget
Your budget will vary depending on the kind of experience you want.
Identify what works for your budget during your research. The goal is to determine how to get the most out of the experience for what you can afford. Don't allow your budget to discourage you from planning your adventure. It’s possible to have an adventure on a budget.
If you have a smaller budget, look into East Asia and Central and South America destinations. Your money will go much further when traveling to these destinations due to the difference in currency value.
Depending on your starting point, it may be closer to home if you need to head back in a hurry. If you have a bigger budget, try destinations in Europe, Australia, and Canada. Splurge on comfortable living accommodations, food, and flights. However, activities can be costly, so you may consider staying in a hostel to save money rather than a hotel to offset the cost.
READ: How to Save Money for Travel
3. Determine a Destination
Consider elements that can impact your trip. When determining a destination, you want to know if the weather will interfere with your plans. A quick search on Google asking, "When is the best time to travel to (insert country)" will help.
When traveling during the pandemic, stay updated with the country's Covid-19 restrictions. The last thing you want to do is visit a country during a lockdown. Learn about any civil or political issues that are currently taking place that may cause changes in that country's day-to-day functions. Ask yourself, is it safe to visit at this time?
Also, while researching your destination, it's always best to learn the cultural norms in that country to avoid culture shock. Imagine being the person wearing the bright pink dress to the all-white party because you didn't get the memo; that's what it can feel like if you don't do your research.
READ: What is Adventure Travel?
4. Planning your Activities
Choose the activities that give you life!
Make sure you have a solid plan. Saying you want to go to Costa Rica is not a concrete plan. However, saying you want to take a wildlife expedition in Costa Rica through Tortuguero National Park is much more concrete!
If you're unsure of what type of adventure to have, consider a few of these options. Physically active adventures include hiking, trekking, cycling, rock climbing, or ziplining. For water activities, you could choose snorkeling, sailing, kayaking, or paddleboarding.
And if you're more interested in learning about different cultures, you could choose a program focused on local food, art, fashion, or history.
5. Safety
Inform your family and friends about your travels, where you will stay, and how they can contact you. Research all required documents, so you're not stopped at the customs border when arriving. Ensure that you have the appropriate visas and vaccines before taking flight. Consider purchasing travel insurance as well as international health insurance.
READ: How to Stay Safe Abroad as an Expat
5 Tips on planning your adventure
1. Contact the bank
It’s important to figure out finances before you go.
Inform your bank that you will travel and how long you will be gone. You don't want your bank to cut off your credit card while abroad. Learn your bank's international usage policy to avoid spending extra money on fees. Some banks will charge a fee every time you swipe your card outside the country, and those fees add up.
Also, bring more than one bank card in case something happens. And keep in mind that in some countries, you may not be able to rely on a credit card. Many economies around the world still rely on cash transactions. (But the good news is that cash more directly impacts the local economy!)
READ: Should You Use Cash or Credit Card When Traveling?
2. Change currencies
Exchange a small amount of cash before you leave your home country. You never know when you'll need quick cash once you arrive at your destination. To save money, you don't want to exchange your currency at the airport due to the high exchange rate.
In many instances nowadays, it’s convenient to just take money out of the ATM when you arrive at your destination too. However, as mentioned above, make sure your bank is aware that you’re abroad—and double-check airport maps or information before arriving to make sure there’s an ATM in your terminal.
3. Create an itinerary
You may not even use it. However, when it comes to an itinerary, it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Include a list of food spots, activities, and sights you would like to see during your adventure. A little structure goes a long way.
4. Carry an extra phone
Even if your destination doesn’t have reception, it’s good to have an extra phone for emergencies.
Bring a backup phone that is unlocked if you have one, like your old iPhone or Android. While you're abroad, you can purchase a SIM card and prepaid plan to access a cellular network when there's no wifi available. Another reason for this is so that if you lose or break it, at least it wasn't your primary device.
If your phone isn’t unlocked, don’t panic. You’ll just need to be more strategic. Whenever you head off to a new place, check and see if there’s a McDonald’s, Starbucks, or similar multinational corporation that’s known for free wifi. You can use these to access Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp, or iMessage as needed. (And don’t forget about helpful travel apps that work offline, like Maps.me and All Trails.)
5. Use a travel app
Travel apps come in handy while traveling abroad. Browse through a few of these to gain more insight into making your adventure spectacular. Remember to download all apps you plan to use before your flight. Here are a few options:
- Lonely Planet. Various curated guides to help you navigate your new surroundings. The app provides lists of must-see destinations and experiences.
- Culture Trip. This app provides free travel inspiration with helpful insight on things to do, what to eat, and where to stay in your desired destinations.
- Whatsapp. Stay connected with family and friends worldwide through free messaging and calls. Make sure your family and friends have the app as well.
- FB Messenger. Similar to Whatsapp, most of your friends and family already have this app on their phones. You can make video calls and share photos from your adventure.
- XE Currency Converter. It can be challenging to convert currency in your mind so frequently. With a currency converting app, it'll do all the math for you. Just add your country's currency and the currency you want to convert to, add any amount you would like to convert, and you'll know how much to spend.
These are just some of the best adventure travel tips to get you going. Adventure trip planning is the key to setting yourself up for whatever curveballs your journey has in store. Whether it's trekking the foothills of the Himalayas or surfing the coasts of the Philippines, planning (or not planning) will make or break your experience!
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The three primary parts of adventure planning are identifying your budget, destination, and activities. Now that you have those identified, you're ready for the adventure of a lifetime. Remember that an adventure trip is whatever you make; find peace, seek a thrill, and immerse yourself in culture. Whatever your ideal adventure is, it's waiting for you. Plan it out and enjoy!
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