I use the Systematic Approach to Travel (SAT) Process – okay, I borrowed and modified this from the Systematic Approach to Training Process. You probably use a similar method, even though you didn’t think it was this structured. This is a good process that can be utilized for other areas beyond travel. Training for the nuclear power industry in the US is based on this process, and each step is very formalized. Take a look at the process and see if can work for you. The good thing about it is that you can modify it as needed, but it is a good place to start.
The SAT Process consists of the following 5 parts that creates the ADDIE acronym: Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation.
Analysis – This is when planning process begins. It usually begins with casual conversation that determines where you are going, when you are going, and who is going. It may be a culmination of ideas that have been evolving over the years, or it may be a spur of the moment idea. It may have originated from an idea on your last trip, or a previous trip. It may be a dream vacation that you are finally ready to take.
Design – This is where the objectives of the trip are determined. What is the reason for the vacation? Will you lay around and relax, visit family or friends, visit monuments or amusement sites, eat a particular food, explore a certain area, climb a certain mountain, bike a certain trail, etc. The trip can have multiple objectives, possibly different objectives for different individuals. The remainder of the planning should revolve around these objectives. Keep in mind that some of these objectives are time sensitive based on a date or a season.
Development – After the objectives have been determined, then it is time to actually set the date and make reservations. Buy plane tickets, make hotel reservations, buy event tickets, or at least research the availability. It may be decided to buy event tickets after you arrive to eliminate time restraints. This is really where the research occurs. Enjoy this part of the process. l love planning a trip. For me, this is where the excitement begins. I like researching places to stay, things to do, foods to eat, types of transportation available, etc. When my planning is complete, it is almost like I have been there already. With the internet, this is really as simple or complex as you want it to be. This step also involves packing and buying essential items required for the trip.
Implementation – This is when the travel actually begins. It is time to grab your bags, turn the lights out, and lock the doors. Bon voyage!
Evaluation – Even though this part is at the end of the process, but it is actually used throughout each step. Each step is evaluated to determine if it is in alignment with the other steps. It is also used at the end of the trip to evaluate what went right and what went wrong. What will you do different next time, and what will you definitely do again? It may also be where the Analysis for the next trip begins. The sooner you travel the next time, the smoother it is likely to be because the learnings are fresher and will likely be applied.
Why Travel
Why are you taking a trip? This may seem like a silly question, but may be the most important factor in your travel. When creating this post, I started to pose it later, but decided to move it closer to the top. The reasons may vary, but the most obvious are to just get away from the everyday hustle and bustle, to relax, to explore somewhere new, to meet up with family or friends, to challenge yourself, or to see or do something fascinating. All of these are good reasons, but this really gets into the psychological reason for wanting to travel.
I have met many people that want to travel – one day. When the children are grown, or when they retire, or when they get the house or bills paid off are some of the excuses. I believe one of the biggest reasons they do not travel is because they do not know how to travel. Many people think a European vacation is for rich people; they don’t realize they can go to Europe for a week for about the same amount of money it will cost to rent a beach house 100 miles away where they eat out everyday, attend shows, go to amusement/water parks, ride go-carts, and play miniature golf.
My wife and I went to Rome in 2018 on our 30th anniversary where we stayed in an AirBNB close to the Coliseum. Instead of spending time in an amusement park, we walked all over Rome, meandering down cobblestone streets being amazed at every turn. A day trip on the bullet train took us to Venice to explore the canals and merchants. We didn’t skimp, but didn’t spend much more than we would have going to the beach. And oh what memories we have. We even had a quarter left over to throw into Trevi Fountain!
Once you figure out why you want to travel, the rest will become easier. Mental preparedness will help ease the process. If you don’t know where you want to go, talk to someone that has done some travel. Even though their travel objectives may not align with your own, a lot of the ideas and processes will overlap.
Where to Travel
Sometimes this is the most natural part of planning, but not always. If there is place you want to go, that you have always dreamed about, then this is easy. But, if you just want to go somewhere, but are not exactly sure where, then it can be complicated. My problem is that I want to go to so many places, it is sometimes difficult to decide on where to travel next. Some of the things to keep in mind is who is going, when will you go, how long will your trip be, what season is it, what kind of trip will it be, and how much money is available for the trip.
Many people like to stay in their own region or own country, while others like to explore new countries or continents. I fall into the latter group, but I also enjoy shorter trips nearby. When going on an international trip, I have often heard people tell me that they haven’t seen all there is to see in this country yet. I often wonder how much effort they have actually made to explore their own country! The answer is probably not a lot. Don’t get me wrong, travel is not for everyone, unless it is close to home it usually requires removing someone from their comfort zone, and some people do not do well in those situations.
For me, I like the adventure, I like exploring other landscapes, other cultures, other foods, and other activities. I have a list of places I want to go, some for the activities, but others just for the experience. Sometimes, it depends on who is going. If it is my wife and I, or two daughters, we usually travel to experience the landscape, culture, or history – sometimes just to relax in a familiar setting such as the beach. But, if it is only my oldest daughter and I, there is usually some kind of adventure involved – think climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro!
Keep in mind that travel will erase some of your preconceived impressions of others. If you have never been out of your region, then your ideas of others may be limited to what you see on the news. I encourage you get out of your comfort zone and travel to a foreign country if at all possible.
When to Travel
When you will go and for how long usually involves taking time off from work if you are still employed. How much vacation time do you have, how much time off can you take at one time, and do you have other commitments such as caring for someone? If you have pets, will you bring them or who will take care of them? Have you committed to do something else during this time, and if so, can you cancel or reschedule?
Climate also plays a big part in when and where you will go. If you are looking for a trip to the beach in Maine to soak up some sun, January is probably not the best time to go – you can still go to the beach, but somewhere much further south.
If you are going on the spur of the moment, it can make for an exciting time; however, since I like to plan, I miss out on some of the preparation, but I have still always had a good time. For me, planning sets the tone to help decide on what must be seen or done, and also helps you decide on other options as time becomes available.
Make sure you understand the weather for where you are traveling. For our 20th wedding anniversary, my beautiful bride and I went to Paris, France. It was romantic, but it was also in the spring. It rained everyday, as we expected, but we were prepared and had a wonderful time. I did so much research for that trip, that my wife swears I had been there before.
How to Travel
Once you have decided where and when you will go, you have to decide how you will get there. If it is close by and you have an automobile, this may not take much thought. If it is across the world, that may not take a lot of either either, you only have to decide on the flight. But, if the trip is several hundred miles away in your own country, you should at least explore your options.
If driving, then you will need to consider the age and condition of your automobile, gas, tolls, where to park, how many people are going, and what you need to bring. Several year ago, my family and I went to New York City and took the train from Virginia. It was relaxing and we didn’t need to drive or park in the city. We could have flown, but it would have taken about the same amount of time by the time we drove to the airport, arrived early, waited on the flight, etc. Driving would have also taken about the same amount of time. With gas, tolls, and parking, all of these options were comparable in price and time, but my wife suggested, “If going to New York, you have to take the train!” It was a good call, and I booked a hotel within walking distance of the train station.
Recently, my oldest daughter and I took a road trip to Utah. You can see my “Epic Road Trip to Utah” post for details, but we drove 4,750 miles on that trip. Some of our decisions to drive were based on the COVID-19 restrictions at the time and the fact that we wanted to camp. It was an aggressive schedule to drive that far in 10 days, but it turned out great. We took my pickup truck which had plenty of room for all of our gear.
You also have to take into account on whether you will need to rent a car when you get to your destination. In 2019, a group of nine family/friends flew to Arizona for Christmas. We looked at renting a couple of different vehicles, but decided that since we would be traveling together, it would be better to rent a 12 or 15-passenger van. Since I had been to Arizona one time before, it was decided I was the “expert,” and I became the self-designated tour director. I loved it. We had an allotment of 1,800 miles for the week and used over 1,700 of them. We stayed in Goodyear outside of Phoenix, but took day trips to the Grand Canyon, Sedona, and Tombstone. It was a lot of miles and a lot of memories.
What Will it Cost
Any trip can be extravagant or miserly. I prefer to travel coach, but I like to have a first class adventure, which doesn’t mean spending a lot of money. For flights, I usually shop around and look at various dates to fly – weekdays are usually cheaper than weekends, but it can change. Keep in mind that travel days are usually lost days, so if you can fly out the night before, you can gain some of the time back.
AirBNBs or similar may be cheaper than hotels, especially if you plan on doing any cooking. Cooking for us on vacation usually means we will eat breakfast in the room and possibly a grilled cheese sandwich one or two times. A refrigerator can help with storing ingredients used to prepare lunches to take with you. All of these help save money that be used for other activities.
Many cities offer a “city card” that includes multiple museums or historic sites to visit for a reduced price. Public transportation such as subways or buses also help keep expenses down. Day trips on trains are also an inexpensive was to travel in Europe.
Keep in mind when going on an adventure trip what kind of gear you will need. When my oldest daughter and I went to Tanzania in 2019 to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro and go on safari, we had a lot of gear to buy. Sometimes it may be cheaper to rent the gear when you get there if you only plan on using it one time. We have used most of the gear on multiple occasions since the trip, so it was practical to buy it.
When eating out in a foreign country, it is usually cheaper to eat in restaurants away from the touristy areas. Also, don’t spend all of your time going to the touristy areas. You have to do some of the touristy things, but try to find a balance and get out into the neighborhoods where people live. This may be a bonus if staying in an AirBNB instead of a hotel.
If you want to fly first class, stay in top hotels, and eat in top-rated Michelin restaurants, you have to expect to spend a lot of money. But for me, flying coach and staying in a smaller, but clean AirBNB, is all I need because, to be honest, we don’t spend much time in the room anyway. Do your research, but don’t be such a penny-pincher that you don’t want to spend any money when get there. It would be a shame to travel all the way to Paris, but then pass on the Louvre because it was a few dollars more than you wanted to spend.
In conclusion, the best advice I have for you is to just go, even if you don’t have it all figured out. Don’t let the language be a barrier either. If you only learn one or two words, the people will appreciate the effort. They will also help you, even if they don’t admit it, many of them can speak or understand some English. Keep in mind that you are in their country. They don’t owe you anything, but they will help you. Your attitude will go a long way in travel.
You will also find that the most memorable part of trip, will not be what you expect. For me, I enjoy getting up early and walking through the neighborhoods as the city is waking up. Listening to the sounds of shopkeepers opening their stores and setting out their goods for the day, the clanging of trash cans, and talking to the neighboring shopkeepers – even though I may not understand the language, I understand the people – because the people are just like me and you! So just go, enjoy your trip, then come back and tell us about it. You may not get it all just right, but that is part of the adventure!