How to Make Your Dream Trip Happen

Each of us has a Dream Trip;  something that we hope to do SOMEDAY.  But for a lot of people, the trip fails to takeoff and so SOMEDAY  becomes NEVER.

But given practical problems like a hectic schedule or economic constraints (a fancy way of saying being broke),  how can the dream trip become a real one? I asked the same question a couple of years ago when I was dreaming of a solo trip to Europe.  The answer is a lot simpler than we think;  it is a nugget of wisdom not only applicable to sports but to life in general as well and here it is:  JUST DO IT.  Armed with this mantra, I pursued my dream like a relentless hound after a game. It didn’t take long before I was rewarded.  So I’m sharing with you a list of what I did to turn my dream trip into a real one.

1.  Incorporate your dream trip into your life goals.  Write these down and read your list everyday to strengthen your resolve.

2.  Set-up a savings account or a piggy bank. Name it as your (Name of destination) Travel Fund. (Example:  Machu Picchu Travel Fund, Barcelona Travel Fund).

 

3.  Identify the places you want to go to and make an itinerary. Be specific.  Block off the dates in your calendar.

4. Mock-book your airline ticket and hotel accommodations to see how much you need for your trip.  Depending on how much you are willing to spend,  add in your projected amount for food, transportation, entrance fees for museums and/or places of interest and emergency expenses. Divide the total amount by the number of months you have before your scheduled trip. Set aside the resulting amount each month and deposit to your savings/piggy bank (see #2).

5.  Visualize your trip:  from your plane ride, your outfits, your hotel room to the places you’d like to visit. It’s important to get a very clear picture of where you want to go and how you will get there. Before my trip, I frequented  Google Street View, a very cool tool that allowed me to see the streets of Barcelona and Lisbon in every angle possible.

6.  Tell your family and friends about your plans. Nothing beats having a cheering squad to back you up and boost your morale.

7.  Once you’ve achieved at least 3/4 of your savings goal, book your ticket and accomodations… for real!

8.  Finally, stop asking the universe for favors. Pray for God’s grace instead. The universe has nothing to do with whether or not your trip will push through, no matter how romantic the thought may be. Ultimately, it’s by the grace of God that everything happens– including your Dream Trip.  Good luck!

I’ve updated this post and submitted it as my entry to the Pinoy Travel Bloggers’ Blog Carnival entitled How to Fund your Wanderlust hosted by Journeying James. Check out the other interesting and helpful entries!

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