Traveling in 2022 is a lot easier than in 2020 and 2021, but there are still hurdles to overcome.
Depending on whether you are traveling domestically or internationally, you may have to complete a COVID-19 antigen test for travel before boarding your plane.
Aside from taking a test one or two times during your trip, there are other must-dos that you should think about before you set off on your journey.
To make the vacation planning or business traveling processes a little easier, we have put together an essential 2022 travel checklist.
Set a Budget
Before you go any further, you must set a budget for your vacation. Many people hear about a particular discount or promotion, which leads them to think they can plan the entire vacation for a modest price.
Between flights, hotels, Uber rides or rental cars, restaurant meals, and other activities, you can end up spending a lot of money. Even a week-long vacation abroad or to a major U.S. city can be pricey, depending on your budget.
Consider your savings, assess the last time you went on a vacation, and decide how much you are willing to spend. Think of your budget as a hard limit, which you will not exceed, regardless of the circumstances.
Plan Your Destinations
Now that you have a budget, you can begin to think about the places you want to visit. Are you in the mood for a trip to Europe or Asia, or do you want to visit a particular coast in the United States?
Having an idea about where you want to go can help you see what deals and promotions are available. Try to create a list of the two or three places you want to visit if you are traveling for a week to two weeks. Then you can look at possible flight routes, and hotel stays in each location.
People assume that planning a vacation on the fly is a lot of fun, but you can end up ruing missed discounts or wasted vacation days because of poor planning.
Create an In-Depth Itinerary
When you are done with a list of destinations, you can go ahead and book hotels and flights. During this process, create an in-depth itinerary of where you are going, how long you plan to spend in each city, and a run-through of the places you want to visit.
In our experience, when you create such a list, you begin to realize the cities where you are looking forward to doing the most. Then you can adjust your itinerary by planning to spend more time in those cities rather than equal time at each destination.
Having such an itinerary also ensures there are no wasted moments. Every part of your vacation is planned, while you can even list a couple of contingencies for specific activities. Depending on your mood or the weather, you may have to change your plans at the last minute, and having alternative activities makes this a lot easier.
Book Insurance
Many travelers make the mistake of not booking insurance as they are planning their trip. Think about where you are traveling, who is going with you, and how long you will be spending at your destinations. Then you can decide the scope of insurance coverage you need.
Travel insurance is beneficial, as you can receive financial compensation in the event of lost baggage, delayed or canceled flights, car accidents, hospital stays, and other issues you may encounter.
See the World on a Budget
One of the advantages of traveling in the early part of 2022 is that you can find some outstanding deals on flights, hotels, and vacation packages. People are still wary of traveling due to COVID-19, while we are in the off-season after the winter holidays.
If you are planning vacation days in the next few months, you may want to start planning your trip right away. You can book hotels and tickets for affordable prices and plan out your itinerary, so there are no wasted days during your trip.
Our travel checklist will help you manage each aspect of the journey to perfection.