STEP ONE: Accommodation
The first step is usually to settle your accommodation and this depends on your budget level.
Hostels: As a student doing an exchange in Europe, I used to bunk at hostels by booking at Hostelworld or Hostelbookers. Both are credible websites with excellent reviews from previous customers. The good part about staying at hostels is the common lounge area where you get to meet people from all walks of life. Hostels are perfect if you are into making new friends and partying your holiday away with them.
Hotels: Getting a bit too old of the partying till dawn and wanting a quieter place, I usually book hotel these days. My favourite hotel booking site has got to be tripadvisor as they are able to do a comparison of all the hotel prices across various hotel websites such as Agoda, booking.com, hotels.com . Oh yes, hotels.com has this really cool promotion where you get to stay for a night free after booking 10 nights of hotel stay.
Couchsurfing: If you are looking for a kind soul to let you bunk in at their place for free, this is the place to go. Couchsurfing is an online website that allows you to find hosts from over 100,000 cities.
STEP TWO: Air Tickets
A website I often frequent to compare air ticket prices is Misa Travel. Most international airline prices are available for comparison. My only grunt is the lack of budget airlines for comparison. As such, if I'm travelling within the region, I would usually open multiple browsers to check out the budget deals on Tiger, AirAsia, Scoot and Jetstar.
STEP THREE: Travel Insurance
Don't underestimate the importance of travel insurance. I have had friends who have experienced lost luggages, missed flights, being robbed and getting injured while overseas. For those who had bought some form of travel insurance, they were at least able to claim the financial loss involved. I myself had food poisoning on my trip to Phuket last year and my travel insurer was able to reimburse me for my doctor's fee here in Singapore. I used MSIG travel insurance. Remember to take down your travel insurance number and the hotline to call.
STEP FOUR: Register with MFA
A lot of people don't register their presence overseas but what if you are stuck in a civil war in a foreign country? Who is going to save to you? That's when the MFA comes in. Abstract from their website.
"The information you provide us will allow us to contact you in order to make sure that you are safe and, if need be, assist you should an emergency (eg natural disasters, civil unrest, etc)."
They will be the ones to ensure that you get back to Singapore safety! Register here.
STEP FIVE: Apply for a VISA
I cannot emphasize how as a Singaporean, I feel so so so lucky that we do not need visas for most short visits. The only visas I have applied for are my Australian visa and my student visa to Sweden. Travelling to Europe, USA and South-East Asia is such a breeze for us Singaporeans and we shouldn't take it for granted. Thank you to all those who worked so hard to achieve good bilateral relations :) Anyway, yes back to applying for a visa, while most countries allow Singaporeans to travel into their country without a visa, its always good to check and apply early if need be, especially if you are thinking of staying for an extended period of time.
STEP SIX: Research, Research, Research
I have heard of so many friends who regret not doing their research. I had a friend who went to San Francisco in their Tshirt and shorts, only to realize how chilly the winds were. I had a friend who went to India, only to realize that you had to declare your currency if you brought in more than 10000 rps (approx SGD 212). So researching will save you tons of emotional agony, financial loss and ensure that you have a happy holiday.
Common questions to research on
What will the weather be like? Is it going to be dry, windy or always rainy? What kind of travel adaptor will I need to help recharge my digital devices? What are the food and monetary restrictions of the airport? Do I need to set aside some money for airport tax? Is tap water safe to drink?
STEP EIGHT: Create An Itinerary
I always feel an itinerary is good as it gives everyone an idea of what we are going to do, where we are going to live and basically this results in less quarrels. It doesn't have to be an extremely detailed one where you note down your plans up to the last second. But something sketchy of the day ahead will help in saving time and communication. I usually read blogs of people who have posted on their travels as I find the reviews more real and genuine. And what you see in those photos is what u get (if they are not photoshopped or sponsored). Apart from blogs, I go on sites such as tripadvisor to get ideas for my itinerary.
Some of my blog posts to help you plan your itinerary:
STEP SEVEN: Get Packing
Use a travel checklist to assist you in your packing. I use GoInternational and Alittlebitwonderful when packing my clothes and electronics. Theorganisedhousewife also provides a wonderful checklist for the car and kids when doing a road trip.
STEP EIGHT: Enjoy the trip!
After all the administrative work, your dream holiday is here! Now sit back, relax and holiday with a blast!