6 tips for planning your dream trip

The first step in vacation planning is deciding where you want to go. If you have a bucket list ready, now is the time to dust it off and see which places spark most of your interest.

Depending on what season you're planning to travel and for how long, you may have different options. It wouldn't make sense to go to a far-away island if you can only dedicate a few days to your vacation. Also, some countries like Greece or Croatia may get extremely busy and overly hot in summer, so you'd be better off visiting them in late spring or early fall.

Do a bit of research to understand what you can expect in each of your desired locations and how easy it is to get there. Think about what kind of trip you'd prefer more - discovering cultural heritage, embarking on outdoor adventures, or relaxing on the beach. You can look into travel blogs, Instagram, and YouTube to get inspired and discover places you'd love to see in real life.

Finally, decide if it's a trip you'd like to do solo, with a partner, or in a group. That can considerably impact your travel plans and budget.

Once you've figured out where you want to travel, it's time to look into your finances. Transportation and accommodation costs will probably constitute the biggest part of your travel budget, but there are ways to save on it.

The sooner you plan your trip, the more likely you'll be able to get cheaper plane tickets. Airlines organize numerous sales throughout the year, especially before holidays. You may also use trip planners like Skyscanner or Kiwi. They can scan through several airline websites at a time and find the most affordable connections, plus send price alerts.

Setting expectations on how much you're ready to pay for the whole trip will give you an idea of the amount of money you're ready to spend on transportation and other elements. Sometimes you may have to pay a lot to get to a place but other things may be a lot more affordable there than in your home country.

You know where you're going, for how long, and how you're going to get there. Now, to make the most of your time at your desired destination, it's good to create a checklist of places you'd like to visit and activities you'd love to experience.

At this point, you don't need to come up with a detailed plan of what you're going to do each day. Unless there's a tour that gets quickly sold out or you want to try out a restaurant that's usually overbooked, give yourself the flexibility and freedom to choose what to do and when on the spot.

Nobody wants to feel stressed when they're on vacation, so don't fill up your schedule before the trip has even started. It's enough to jot down ideas and paint the big picture - whether or not you'll want to travel around and how much time you may need to allocate for each activity on your list.

The key to a good vacation is the ability to get a good rest, and accommodation has a lot to do with it. Depending on your budget, you have numerous options to choose from.

If you're traveling solo, you may consider staying at a hostel as they're relatively cheap and give you the possibility to meet fellow travelers. Or maybe you have a friend living close to your destination who could host you in exchange for a gift.

Otherwise, you can use one of the popular booking sites that offer various types of accommodation. From single rooms to apartments, and even exclusive houses, there's something for everyone at different price ranges and with useful customer reviews.

Another thing you should consider is whether or not you can get around by public transport or if you'd like to feel more comfortable and rent a car. If you choose the latter, you may want to book a car in advance as last-minute reservations in high season may not be possible.

At least a couple of months before your departure date, make sure you have all the documents you need to enter your country of destination.

Certain states require travelers to have a visa, and it may take more than a month to get one. You will also need a valid passport, so check that it's up-to-date. An ID will only work when traveling within the EU.

If you choose to go to an exotic location, you may be required to get vaccinated beforehand to protect your health. Check the entry requirements of the specific country to see if that's your case.

Finally, for a smooth travel experience, it's best to arm yourself with a variety of handy mobile apps, such as Google Maps, Tripadvisor, and Foursquare for finding places, or local transportation apps for getting around.

Also, if your mobile plan doesn't include the country you're visiting, get an eSim via Airalo or other similar apps as roaming may end up costing you extra.

Packing is probably one of the most annoying things about traveling, but if you don't leave it to the last minute, it can be manageable.

Unless you're going abroad for months, opt for hand luggage and a backpack in particular. It will save you time, and money, and will make it easier to go to places. Check the climate in your destination and try to strike a balance between packing all the essentials and only a few things you need.

You'll probably want to bring some souvenirs from your vacation, so make sure you leave some space in your luggage for storing those lasting memories. Documents, a wallet, and a mobile phone are the three things you definitely need. You can buy the rest if need be on the spot.

Regardless if you go for a backpack or need bigger luggage on your trip, make sure you have baggage insurance included in your travel insurance package. This will give you extra assurance that you lose anything important on the way, you also have plan B available.

Even experienced travelers can sometimes face an unexpected turn of events abroad – your flight gets canceled, you get injured when going on an adventure, or you get into an accident with your rental car.

In cases like these, remember that you're not alone. If Travel insurance can support you 24/7 and depending on your insurance package, help you cover unforeseen travel expenses. You can easily submit your claim via If self-service portal or application If Mobile Baltics. Just make sure you've had your travel insurance at least 3 days before the take-off to ensure the travel interruptions were covered as well.