How to Plan a Self-Guided Tour
Do you feel content with the package tour? Are you looking for more freedom along the trip? If the answer is yes, then you should try planning a tour on your own. A self-guided tour can be better and cheaper than a package tour. However, it takes adequate planning before you start the journey. There are a few steps you can follow to arrange a perfect self-guided tour.
First of all, identify which country is most desiring to you. If you have trouble coming up with an ideal destination, maybe you can think of the movies you’ve watched before. The beautiful, exotic scenery in the movie might give you some inspiration. While searching the information of the country, remember to check WHO’s website: https://www.who.int/travel-advice to see if the country is safe to visit. (Travelmous, 2020). When looking for the destination, you should choose the one you truly appreciate and the one that is really suitable for you. This will help guarantee a wonderful start on your journey.
Second, after making the decision on the destination, it’s time to book an affordable flight ticket. As the saying goes, “It’s better to shop around before rushing into anything.” You can do some price comparison first by using the platforms like Skyscanner. Also, in off season, the airlines may release some tickets with special sale, so don’t miss the chance. It takes time and effort to find an economical flight ticket, but it can really save your budget.
Third, pick the must-see tourist attractions and arrange your day. Thanks to the advance of technology, we don’t need to buy a guide book to get all the information we need. We can easily and freely browse the websites like Lonely Planet, Tripadvisor or use apps like Instagram where people share their travel experiences and get the info we want. After selecting the ideal local attractions, you can check those places and label them on the Google Map. That will help you locate the place and can also see other visitors’ reviews. Remember, don’t put more than two must-see sites into one day. Your plan should be flexible and adjustable.
Lastly, we should find an accommodation where we can rest our exhausted bodies and restore energy. People should check guest reviews in advance, especially negative reviews. The cleanliness, location of safety and comfort of a hotel can all be checked in the reviews. Reading negative reviews can help us reach the actual condition of the hotel and help exclude the one we don’t like at all. Websites like Booking.com, Agoda, Airbnb etc., all serve as platforms which provide thousands of choices for visitors to choose. Their prices are transparent and sometimes provide free cancellation without charging the fee. There are many options when choosing the accommodation, but you should choose the one that is reliable.
In sum, by following the four steps above, which include identifying the most desirable country to you, booking the affordable ticket, picking the tourist attractions, and finding an accommodation, you can make a perfect self-guided tour. You will visit the sites you love, and spend the time you would like to spend on them. You will find the trip mostly goes your wishful way and all the encounters worthwhile after you start your journey.
References
俏鬍子旅行團 (Travelmous) (2020). 旅遊規劃｜如何規劃自助旅行：從規劃到出發，10 步驟搞定夢想旅程. Retrieved from:
https://travelm.tw/how-to-be-a-backpacker/
