The Perfect Trip Planning Guide for Teens
There’s so much more to homeschooling and educating our children than the 3 R’s isn’t there? Have you considered using a trip planning guide for teens as a tool to teach life skills?
We all want our kids to achieve a healthy balance of activity, academics, and life skills. One great way to learn all these at the same time is to travel, as a family, to exciting places that allow you to learn on location (and on the way to the location). The next step is to teach your teens how to plan their own trips. Whether it’s a road trip in their home country or an exotic travel destination to a dream destination that requires detailed travel plans, Teaching your teens to plan a trip is a skill that will last a lifetime.
I want to share a few ways family trips teach life skills and travel lessons for kids and share with you the 20 steps every teen needs to do to plan and have an epic travel adventure. The trip planning guide for teens below is also available as a pdf, so you can easily hand this step-by-step guide off to your teens and let the fun begin!
I know, twenty may sound like a lot, but I’ve broken it down into manageable ideas/steps for teens. Keep reading to find out what your teen needs to do before and during a trip to plan well, stay safe, and have fun.
Trip Planning Guide for Your Teen:
- Decide on your destination. What kind of trip do you want to take? Do you want to go to a beach, a mountain, a city, or a foreign country? Once you know your destination, you can start planning the rest of your trip.
- Do your research. Once you know where you’re going, start researching the area. What are the must-see attractions? What are the best places to eat? When is the best time to travel there? What are the weather conditions like? The more you know, the better prepared you’ll be for your trip. Travel blogs, Google Maps, and online travel guides are indispensable at this stage for helping you understand the type of trip you want to plan for.
- Set a budget. This a a vital step in the planning process. The length of your travel itinerary will impact your travel budget. So, decide early if it is a weekend getaway or an epic adventure involving international travel. Of course, you’ll also want to keep the following questions in mind: How much money do you have to spend on your trip? Once you know your budget, you can start planning your activities and accommodations accordingly.
- Book your flights and accommodations. If you’re flying, book your flights as soon as possible to get the best deals. You’ll want to look at cheap flights with easy access to your destination. One of the best travel planning tips is to consider shoulder season if you are on a tight budget. If you’re staying in a hotel, book your room well in advance, especially if you’re traveling during peak season.
- Get a passport and visa if necessary. If you’re traveling to a foreign country, you’ll need to get a passport and visa. You can apply for a passport at your local post office. Check online for visa requirements in the country you plan to visit. You can apply for a visa at the embassy or consulate of the country you’re visiting. Remember to carry your travel documents with you in a safe place, but not in your checked luggage as you will need them at various points along your journey.
- Get travel insurance. This is a really important step that many teens (and their families) often disregard. Travel insurance can protect you in case of unexpected events, such as flight cancellations or lost luggage. It’s a good idea to get travel insurance for any trip, but it’s especially important for long trips or trips to developing countries. But,more importantly, travel insurance provides for medical assistance when traveling beyond your local medical facilities. This can be vital when traveling overseas where proof of ability to pay may be required before being seen for your medical emergency. the easiest way to prevent the stress of an unexpected medical emergency is to have travel medical insurance. it is quite affordable when you consider the alternative.
- Pack your bags. When packing your bags, be sure to pack light. You don’t want to be lugging around a heavy suitcase all over the place. Pack only the essentials, and leave anything you don’t absolutely need at home.
- Get to the airport early. It’s always a good idea to get to the airport early, especially if you’re flying. This will give you plenty of time to check in for your flight, go through security, and find your gate.
- Enjoy your trip! Once you’re on your trip, relax and enjoy yourself! This is your time to explore new places and have fun.
- Stay safe. Be sure to stay safe while you’re traveling. Be aware of your surroundings and take precautions against crime. This post is a great read on how to keep safe.
- Keep in touch with your loved ones. Let your loved ones know where you’re going and when you expect to be back. You can also keep in touch with them by phone, email, or social media. In the days before wifi and social media, ‘ no news was good news’. In today’s world teens are encouraged to remember to keep their family informed with simple texts, pictures, and regular phone calls if possible.
- Take care of your belongings. Be sure to take care of your belongings while you’re traveling. Don’t leave them unattended, and be sure to keep them locked up in your hotel room or hostel.
- Be respectful of the local culture. When you’re traveling to a foreign country, be sure to be respectful of the local culture. Dress appropriately, and avoid doing anything that might be considered offensive. Learning about local customs before arriving always helpful.
- Learn a few phrases in the local language. It’s always helpful to learn a few phrases in the local language. This will help you get around and communicate with the locals.
- Try the local cuisine. One of the best things about traveling is trying new foods. Be sure to try the local cuisine when you’re traveling. You might be surprised at what you like!
- Shop around for souvenirs. Don’t buy souvenirs the first place you see them. Shop around to get the best deals.
- Don’t overspend. It’s easy to overspend when you’re traveling. Be sure to set a budget and stick to it. Keeping track of your expenses daily will help you know where you are at and help you stay within your budget.
- Pace yourself. Don’t try to do too much on your trip. Take some time to relax and enjoy yourself. Everyone has a unique travel style. Yours may be active and full of adventure, while someone else may be all about relaxing and enjoying a good book.
- Be flexible. Things don’t always go according to plan when you’re traveling. Be prepared to roll with the punches and make changes to your itinerary if necessary.
- Have fun! Traveling is a great way to experience new cultures and make memories that will last a lifetime. Soak it all in and have fun!
So…Be THAT Family
Go for it! the trip planning guide for tens will help you be THAT family that travels together and comes home with epic tales of adventure, courage, and a greater sense of togetherness.
Capture your memories, share your stories, and plan the next learning-on-location adventure. Apply the lessons learned beyond life skills to your geography and current events schoolwork, your literature, history, and even your math and language arts.
Every time you travel, make teachable moments come alive with your family by learning on location and using the world as your classroom to learn life skills through family travel.
If you’re ready to:
- do more traveling with your family
- launch your kid into adulthood with a solid set of travel-planning skills
- learn your family’s travel and learning style,
Download this Trip Planning Guide for Teens
Sign up for your free printable and consider adding Navigating Life Skills for Success to this year’s class set for your teen.
