Your trip won't plan itself. But we can help.
From first daydream to boarding pass. Visas, flights, beds, budgets, the lot. We've broken the whole thing into a clear order so you know exactly what to do first, second and third.
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What you're getting into
Planning a trip looks like a mess until you put it in order. Here's the shape of it.
10 steps that actually work
Work through these in order. Each one feeds the next, so you're never guessing what to do.
Pick your destination
Start with a shortlist of three, not a final answer. Weigh up season, budget, flight time and what you actually want, whether that's beaches, culture, food or a proper adventure.
Browse destinations →Set your budget
Know your number before you book a thing. Southeast Asia runs around £25 to £40 / $33 to $53 / €29 to €46 a day backpacking. Mid-range Europe is more like £100 to £150 / $132 to $198 / €115 to €173.
Use the budget calculator →Check entry requirements
Visas, ETAs, jabs and travel advisories. Sort this early, since some visas take weeks. Getting it wrong can mean missing the trip entirely, so don't leave it to the week before.
Check entry rules →Book your flights
Prices move fast. For long-haul, 3 to 6 months out is usually the sweet spot. Set fare alerts, stay flexible by a day either side, and always check regional airports.
Find cheap flights →Sort your accommodation
Book your first and last nights early, especially in peak season. Leave some nights loose if you want the freedom to move. Hostels, guesthouses, Airbnbs or hotels, your budget sets the mix.
Browse stays →Get travel insurance
Non-negotiable. A medical emergency abroad can run into tens of thousands. Compare cover for medical, cancellation and lost luggage, and sort it before you book anything else, not after.
Compare insurance →Plan your itinerary
Don't over-plan, leave room to wander. But have a rough shape for each week. Knowing which cities you're in on which days stops you working it out on the ground when you should be exploring.
Generate an itinerary →Sort money and cards
Cash versus card, exchange and ATM fees, this is where people quietly lose money. Use a fee-free travel card like Wise or Revolut, and carry a little local currency for your first day.
Money and cards →Pack smart
Not light for the sake of it, smart. The wrong gear makes a trip miserable. Build your list around the climate, the length of the trip and what you'll actually be doing once you're there.
See the packing checklist →Final checks before you fly
48 hours out: check your flight status, find your passport, download offline maps and screenshot your accommodation confirmations. Small things that save enormous headaches.
Pre-trip checklist →Our free planning tools
Three little tools that do the heavy lifting. Use them as much as you like.
Itinerary Generator
Tell it where you're going and for how long. Get a starting itinerary back in seconds.
Build my itinerary →Budget Calculator
Pop in your destination, trip length and style. Get a realistic daily budget by category, in GBP, USD and EUR.
Calculate my budget →Entry Requirement Checker
Visas, ETAs, vaccinations and travel warnings. Check what you need before you book.
Check requirements →Planning guides and resources
Real advice from real trips. Dig into the detail on any part of your planning.
Travel hubs worth a look
However you travel, there's a hub for it. Have a nose around.
Get the free travel starter kit
Step-by-step planning checklists, printable templates and a stack of money-saving tips. Everything we wish we'd had on our first trip, in one place.
Count me in
Where do I even start when planning a trip?
How much does travel actually cost?
How far in advance should I book a trip?
Do I need travel insurance?
How do I know if I need a visa?
Is it cheaper to book flights directly or through a comparison site?
What's the safest way to carry money abroad?
Got the steps. Now build the trip.
Rough out a route with the itinerary generator, or hand the whole thing over and we'll build it for you.