Plan smarter with a proven checklist

A great holiday begins long before departure day. This practical, step‑by‑step checklist helps you move from idea to booked trip with clarity and confidence. We’ll cover picking the right dates, optimising your valuable time off, setting a realistic budget, locking down travel and accommodation, building a flexible itinerary, preparing packing lists, and sharing your plan with family or friends.

1) Pick dates and optimise PTO

Start with your non‑negotiables—school terms, work deadlines, and family commitments. Then look for opportunities to bridge public holidays to stretch time off without burning extra days. Shoulder seasons (the periods between a destination's peak and off-peak tourist seasons) often deliver better weather‑to‑price ratios and fewer crowds.

2) Set a budget that reflects your goals

Create spend bands for transport, accommodation, meals, and activities. Decide where to splurge (e.g., location or experience) and where to save (e.g. self‑catering). Add a 10–15% contingency for surprises. Upfront clarity prevents stress later.

3) Lock down the big rocks early!

Book flights or rail first, then accommodation close to your key activities to reduce transit time. Flexible change policies are helpful when travelling with groups or children. Capture all confirmations in one place.

4) Build a flexible itinerary

Plan A/B options and include deliberate rest days. Blend “must‑dos” with spontaneous time. If travelling as a family, schedule shorter activity blocks and nearby amenities to minimise friction.

5) Prepare packing and share the plan

Create a master packing template, then adapt for climate and trip type. Share your plan with travelling companions so everyone can prepare, contribute ideas, and coordinate logistics.

6) Use the Holiday Planner

Map dates, optimise annual leave / paid time off (PTO), get informative insights on your destinations and trip suggestions using My Holiday Planner.