My 3-steps on how to plan a multi-destination trip efficiently is born from years of flying around the world as a corporate pilot. Planning multiple destinations in a single trip is just another day at the office for me. However, for the average traveler, this can be a daunting task when it comes to logistics, safety, and schedule. To minimize stress and maximize the trip, here are my 3-steps on how to plan a multi-destination trip efficiently.
Step 1: Research and Prioritize Your Destinations
Are you planning on visiting multiple cities in multiple countries? Are you traveling to multiple cities domestically? Although each question will guide you to a different planning strategy, the foundational elements of research and prioritization remain the same. Start with your budget and how much you can afford. Then, list out the destinations you must see and the ones that, if you run out of time, won’t be so bad to miss. Make sure those destinations with the most importance are leading the list. Finally, and importantly, I recommend having a travel journal to list out the details of the trip. Use Google Maps or Apple Maps to write down distances and times. This will help you with step 2.
Step 2: Create a Detailed Itinerary
Route Planning:
I wrote about the Chinese Finger Method for trip planning some time ago. This is a system I created years ago to master my trip planning as a pilot. Once you have your destinations planned out, you can use this method for mapping out routes and how you plan to visit each area. Start at your hotel and end at your hotel so the entire day is planned out. You can do this for each destination. Use the travel journal or something like Apple Notes, OneNote, or Evernote to keep all your information in one place and on your phone for quick reference.
Stay Flexible:
Plans change, weather happens, or delays come up. Plan for the worst and hope for the best. Don’t be 100% married to your itinerary but use it more as a guide. Another concept I created years ago is called AAM (pronounced like “Aim”). When unforeseen changes happen, you A – adjust to the change, A – adapt and make it your new normal, and M – move forward with the change.
Book Accommodations and Logistics:
Once your destinations and route planning are complete, it’s time to book your accommodations and logistics to get around. Log everything in your travel journal and keep track of it all. This can be the fun part of trip building. Most people I know regrettably start here instead of doing what I recommended first by prioritizing. You have to build the foundation and the house before you can live in it. Step 2 is all about building that foundation for the house, or in this case, your trip. Once you have this complete, it’s time for the last step.
Step 3: Pack Smart and Stay Organized
Pack for Climate Variations:
Sometimes I’ve started a multi-destination trip in the cold up in Finland and ended my trip in the sunny parts of the Caribbean. Radical climates in a single trip like this can present a lot of packing challenges, especially if I want to avoid bringing a big suitcase with me. Visit the weather channel and jot down the five-day outlook for each place you are going to and pack accordingly.
Organize Your Documents:
Most documents are digital these days, but do yourself a favor and start with some administrative discipline by keeping all reservations in one spot. It will save you a lot of frustration trying to find a reservation when you are standing in a line, jet-lagged, and hungry. Make sure your passport is secure and have a copy of it on hand to carry with you instead of the original.
Conclusion
Traveling to multiple destinations doesn’t have to be stressful. My 3-steps on how to plan a mutli-destination trip efficiently simple. You plan with prioritization, create an itinerary, then pack accordingly. Be prepared for changes and use my AAM concept to adjust quickly to a plan B or even a C. Look at the positive in all situations and make the best of it. There will be plenty of challenges along the way, but in the end, you’re on an adventure and making memories as you go.
Safe Travels – The Nomad Pilot
