If the number of travel websites gets you frustrated to find the right info to organize your next holidays, then follow to easy guide to plan your adventure travel. Today planning a vacation is more easy. You can find all info you need and then book your holiday.
But how can we navigate and choose the right information around the "jungle" of websites available?
Here a step by step process to organize your vacation and identify the key elements to consider.
There are exactly 5 easy steps to do reach your goal:
1. Choose what type of activity to practice 2. Choose the right destination 3. Search for info about practicing the activities in that destination 4. Plan you trip 5. Compare the different vacation packages offers
1. Let's start with defining what type of activity to practice.
If you don't know what to do, here a list of possible ideas:
Outdoor recreational activities like: Backpacking; Camping; Hiking; Trekking or riding a bicycle.
Experiences in the nature like Bird watching; Diving-scuba; Ecotourism, also known as ecological tourism.
Winter sports like Skiing or Snowshoeing.
Before choose the activity verify the availability, your physical preparation, the risks and the period when practice it.
2. Once you choose the activity, it's time to choose the destination where practice it.
* You can follow the ideas of your friends, family or social network. * You can choose a random place in the world map * Get advices from a travel agent * Find top 10 destinations in niche websites or blogs * At least search on Google to find ideas or suggestions
3. Now it's the turn of searching for detailed info on how to practice this activity in you preferred destination
Search in magazines, guide books, blogs or review sites for:
* Communications * Public transports and transfers * Document requirements * Health and Safety * Weight, liquid and money converters * Weather
Some times it's better to grab info by watching video trips, pictures or type the name of the destination in news aggregators to see what's going on.
Forum and message boards are a great source to find unbiased info and reviews.
You can search between a list of threads of other people that have already visited that particular destination.
The best forum about adventure travels are:
* BootsnAll Travel Network * Forums from Discovery.com * Aaron Aardvark * Adventure travel budget forum * TripAdvisor * Backpacker Adventure Travel Forum * Thorn Tree Travel Forum
4. Now you have the key elements to plan your trip.
You have to book your flight, buy the right insurance and pack your gear and accessories.
Be sure to pack at least this essential list of accessories:
* Anti-bacterial cream * Anti-diarrhea medicine * Backpack * Bathing suit * Batteries * Boots * Bug repellent * Camera * Clothes * Copies of important documents (Check, passport, visa, etc…) * Gloves * Hat * Rain poncho * Shaving Accessories * Shoes * Shorts * Socks * Sun glasses * Torch
5. Especially in remote destinations, it's suggested to book a package travel from a qualified local tour operator.
To compare the different offers of various travel companies you can:
* See how much detailed are their trip dossier information * See their environment protection standards * Evaluate their customer service: If they have chat, mail timing, etc… * Verify the risk and safety policy * Try to search if they have been sued in popular travellers review websites or forums
Now you've finished your trip planning. By following these tips you can save up time and money (book locally is cheaper then book from big tour operators).
Prepare you digital camera, your legs and enjoy your next vacation!
Enrico Forte is an Italian travel agent expert in outdoor adventure travel activities all around the world. He writes for the Mandala trek travel blog where you can follow his adventures and tips. The blog lists a great series of tutorials and how to video to learn more about outdoors and active travels.
