Before the trip: Planning & booking

Well prepared is half the journey - my tools & strategies for relaxed trips

The best trips don't start with the flight - but with the planning. Whether it's visas, accommodation or budget - a little preparation makes traveling all the more relaxed. I'll show you how I find my flights, book accommodation, manage bureaucracy without stress and still keep an open mind for spontaneous things. Without Excel madness - but with structure and experience.

Where to & when - choose destination & period smart

• 📅 It pays to be flexible

  → Plan destinations according to season, weather & events - e.g. cherry blossom in Japan or dry season in Mexico

• 🧳 Adjust the duration of your trip

  → Sometimes 10 days is better than 3 weeks - less rushing, more experiencing

• 📈 Research tools:

  • whenfor.com - weather vs. travel time

  • NomadList.com - remote work-ready & price check

📌 My tip: I collect destinations & time periods in a note - with key points, ideal travel month & personal “why”.

Find flights & book smart

• 🛫 My flight search routine:

  • Skyscanner (show whole month)

  • Google Flights for price history & filters

  • Momondo for combinations & rare connections

• 💡 Booking period:

  → Long-haul flights ideally 2-5 months in advance, weekends often more expensive

• ✈️ Flexible tips:

  • Open jaw flight (e.g. Tokyo in, Osaka out)

  • Night flights = time savings

  • Hand luggage only saves stress & money

📌 My hack: use incognito mode, compare prices in several currencies (e.g. Norwegian krone for flights with SAS = cheaper).

Find accommodation to suit your trip style

• 🏠 Apps & platforms:

  • Booking.com (flexibility & filters)

  • Hostelworld (community & reviews)

  • Airbnb (for longer stays or a homebase feeling)

  • Agoda (Asia!)

• 🏕️ Alternatives & savings tips:

  • Couchsurfing, TrustedHousesitters

  • Workaway (travel + cultural exchange)

  • Van & tent? → Campermate, Park4Night

📌 My strategy: I usually only pre-book the first 2-3 nights - then spontaneously depending on the vibe & local recommendations.

Visas, entry & documents - easy and on time

• 🌍 Visa check:

  • visalist.io → Simply check what you need

  • eVisitor/eTA: Canada, Australia, New Zealand = online & easy

• 📄 My travel documents folder contains:

  • Passport (valid for at least 6 months)

  • Return or onward flight booking

  • Travel insurance

  • Proof of accommodation & finances (for Visa on Arrival or similar)

📌 My tip: Save all important documents offline + store them in the cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox, encrypted). Paper copies? Yes, but only the most necessary ones.

Money, insurance & international sim

• 💳 Credit cards (always take 2 with you!) → e.g. DKB, Revolut, Wise

• 🛡️ Travel insurance → Long-term or single trip? I use SafetyWing or HanseMerkur

• 🌐 eSIM or SIM? → Airalo or Holafly as a prepaid eSIM - get started right away without searching for a store

📌My tip: Make a note of 1-2 local emergency numbers & also save your bank hotline offline!