Okay, so I’ve been planning this massive, multi-country trip for, like, ever. Seriously, it’s been on my bucket list forever, and I finally decided to just go for it. The biggest headache? Figuring out the actual planning part. Where do I even start when I want to be gone for months at a time?
First, I grabbed a notebook – yeah, a real paper one. I’m old school like that sometimes. I started by just brainstorming every single place I’ve ever dreamed of visiting. Think scribbled lists, messy arrows, the whole shebang. It was chaotic, but it got the ball rolling.
My Tools of Choice
Then, I needed some digital help. I messed around with a few different tools. Here’s what I tried:
- Google Sheets: This is my go-to for pretty much everything. I created a massive spreadsheet with columns for countries, cities, estimated costs, potential dates, visa requirements – you name it. It’s super flexible, and I can access it from anywhere.
- Notion: I am using it beacuse I wanted something a bit more structured than just a spreadsheet. it helps organize all my random notes, links, and inspiration.
- Some “Travel Planner” Apps: Honestly, I downloaded a bunch, but most of them felt too…restrictive. They wanted me to follow their itinerary, not build my own. I ditched those pretty quickly.
The Actual Planning Process
Once I had my tools set up, I started refining my monster list. I grouped countries by region, thinking about the best travel routes and seasons. This is where Google Maps became my best friend – I spent hours just zooming in and out, figuring out how to get from point A to point B to point Z.
Next, I dove into the budget. Oof, that was a reality check. I used my spreadsheet to estimate daily costs for things like accommodation, food, and transportation in each country. I also factored in bigger expenses like flights and travel insurance.
The hardest part? Visas. Seriously, visa requirements are a nightmare. I spent days just researching what I needed for each country, how long it would take to get them, and how much they would cost. I added all that info to my spreadsheet, of course.
Finally, I started building a rough itinerary. I’m not a super strict planner, so I left plenty of room for spontaneity. But I wanted to have a general idea of where I’d be and when, especially for booking things like flights and accommodation in advance (to save some cash!).
It’s still a work in progress, but I’m finally feeling like this epic trip is actually going to happen. It’s been a ton of work, but seeing it all come together is incredibly satisfying. Using these tools and this process, I transformed a vague dream into a concrete plan. I will keep updating when I have any progress.
