How to Plan an International Trip on a Budget: An Efficient Step-by-Step Guide

Planning an international trip on a budget feels overwhelming when you’re trying to find cheap flights, avoid tourist traps, and figure out how much time you actually need in each destination—all without accidentally booking that “bargain” hotel that’s two hours from the city center.

After personally planning dozens of international trips across 35+ countries (from Arctic Lapland to monsoon-season Thailand) over the past decade, I’ve learned exactly which budget travel strategies actually work and which ones waste your time.

Spoiler: the best planning tools are often free, and expensive doesn’t always mean better.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll show you exactly how to plan an international trip on a budget—from using free Google Sheets templates to organize your itinerary to flight deal-hunting tools that’ll save you hundreds of dollars. I’ll also share the rookie mistakes that cost me money (like underestimating travel time between cities) so you can avoid them.

Whether you’re a nervous first-timer worried about making expensive mistakes or a seasoned traveler looking to streamline your planning process, this guide breaks down everything you need to create an amazing international trip without breaking the bank.

The Key to Planning an International Trip

International trip planning comes down to six decisions made in the right order:

1. Pick your travel destination based on budget, season, and visa requirements
2. Set a realistic total budget including flights, accommodation, food, and activities
3. Find flights using Google Flights’ Anywhere feature or deal alert tools like NextVacay
4. Book accommodation at least 2-3 months ahead for best deals and availability
5. Pre-book time-sensitive attractions (sold-out tours are the most common regret I’ve had)
6. Confirm passport validity and whether you need travel insurance or vaccinations

The full 22-step breakdown is below, but these six decisions prevent the most expensive and frustrating mistakes.

My First Time Doing International Travel

Before I went to Europe for the first time, I read books, magazines, and websites, and watched all those travel movies that I had said, “Oh, I want to see that someday!”

In the olden days (yes, I’m dating myself), the local library’s travel books were the best research for international trip planning.

Prepped with my library finds, I went to London in 2006 with my mom for my 16th birthday instead of spending a lot on a big sweet sixteen celebration.

It was an epic trip done without a smartphone, GPS, Uber, or anything else invented after 2006.

And guess what, a lot of the travel prep has remained the same.

No, you don’t have to go to the library anymore (it is free if you want), or you can, of course, browse the internet and sites like this blog to get all the info you may need.

If this is your first trip solo, I have a special guide just for you! My first-time-traveling-alone post will answer all your burning questions.

My first travel abroad experience, I think, was technically Mexico or Aruba, but since I didn’t plan either, we won’t focus on that here.

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Plan an International Trip

22 steps may sound like a lot, but some of these may be super easy questions for you to answer.

I merely present some of them, such as ‘Where are you headed?’, to make the guide as seamless as possible, so feel free to skip down to the next step if you’ve got one already covered.

1. Decide Where You’d Like to Go

This blog is full of European and North American travel destinations, but there are so many lovely places to explore around the world.

So, the first question when learning how to plan an overseas trip is: where are you heading?

I’ve sometimes had a location in mind, such as my trips to London, as I’m a big anglophile.

But I’ve also let cheap flights dictate where I go.

This happened on my trip to Barcelona, when I used a flight voucher for a super cheap airfare that landed in my inbox via NextVacay (more on that below).

If these don’t spark anything, try answering these questions:

1. Do you want to go somewhere that speaks the same language?
   • It’s fine to start in countries where your native language is spoken, but don’t let that stop you! I’ve never been so inconvenienced by language that it made a trip difficult. Just download Google Translate and the language in question in advance for offline access. Also pick up some key phrases before you go
2. Are you hoping to spend time in one country or more?
   • Some countries are geographically easier to move from one to another
3. What are you hoping to do during this trip?
   • Belize is great for Maya ruins and snorkeling, while Barcelona is great for food and architecture. Every place has something it’s known for
4. Is the time of year right for the destination you’re considering?
   • I’ve put off going to Japan because I planned to depart in April, which is the start of the rainy season. I didn’t see anything at the Matterhorn because a blizzard rolled in in April (which I thought meant spring, my bad). Check the weather before booking
5. Are you okay with longer flights?
   • My mom can’t stand being on a flight too long, while I couldn’t care less, which is one of the reasons I travel more extensively than she does
6. Do you need to get a visa or vaccinations?
   • In some countries, you need to apply for a visa, which can take time. You may also need to get vaccinations

Need help deciding? Check out these must-visit places in Europe!

Once you’ve done all that, you should be able to narrow down where you want to visit.

⚠️ Always check travel advisories: I review the U.S. Department of State website for the latest information, especially if I’ve heard news about a particular location recently

2. When Should You Travel Abroad?

When you want to go depends wholeheartedly on you, but some things to consider are:

Weather Considerations

When I visited Finland inside the Arctic Circle, it was -20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Not a temperature I’d like to experience again…LOL 🥶.

But the goal of the trip was to celebrate my friend’s December birthday and to do winter activities, so a Finnish Lapland winter itinerary was a must.

Conversely, I arrived in Thailand just before the monsoon season, so it was rather rainy during my last few days.

Luckily, it didn’t affect me too much, but there was a day when I didn’t even bother going to attractions because it was raining cats and dogs.

You don’t want to spend money only to have the weather spoil your fun.

Maximize Your Vacation Days

Back when I was working in TV, I had the summers off, so it was a great time for me to jet off to a new place.

However, you may not have that luxury when planning an overseas trip.

What I suggest instead is to plan your trip around a holiday so you have a built-in vacation day, and then take off days around it to get extra time.

For example, American Thanksgiving is on a Thursday, which is an off day for most professions. Take Friday as a vacation day, and you suddenly have four days off in a row: Thursday-Sunday.

Peak Season vs. Shoulder Season

Certain times of the year can be more expensive, e.g., Christmas, Spring Break, etc.

However, I have found some deals just after or on the day of a holiday, such as when I flew to Mexico City on American Thanksgiving, and the flight wasn’t too costly.

Alternatively, traveling in the low or shoulder season can be a great way to save on your budget, as it’s usually cheaper and has fewer crowds.

Shoulder season varies by destination, so be sure to research your desired destination before booking.

Those looking to travel smarter may also find that sustainable travel in the low season helps them to be eco-friendly.

The Caveat on Holidays

You’ll find that other countries have different holidays from yours, such as May 1st.

In Greece and some other European countries, this date is called May Day or Labor Day.

It is a public holiday, so some attractions are closed.

Something to be aware of, as you don’t want to plan a short 3-day trip only to find that one of those days you’re out of luck due to holiday closures!

This happened to me in Munich and while I was lucky I had a walking tour of the Old Town that still proceeded, there wasn’t a whole lot of other stuff available for me to explore.

3. How Long Should You Go for?

I’ve been going on longer trips lately, 3-4 weeks.

I even went for 4.5-months across Europe as a digital nomad!

I know this isn’t possible for everyone, as I’ve mostly been able to do so because of employment gaps.

However, my general suggestion is to spend at least 2-3 days in any given city.

I have stayed longer in the past, such as 8 days in Paris, but that was far too long, which is why I have built guides such as how many days in Paris.

I now know that nearly no place needs that long, something I’ve become keenly aware of as my aunt and I grew kinda bored toward the end of our Parisian trip.

A good odometer to determine how many days to spend:

1. How many places are you going to?
   • Number of cities and countries
2. How much do you plan to see?
   • Are you a leisurely or a fast-paced traveler?
3. How long does it take to get there?
   • Is it far from your home country?

…will better dictate this answer.

For example, I spent 8 full days in Belize:

• Day 0: Travel day (flight to Belize City and another to Ambergris Caye)
• Day 1-3: Explored Ambergris Caye
• Day 4: Transport day to San Ignacio
• Day 5-8: Explored San Ignacio (extra day wound up being helpful for weather delays)
• Day 9: Left Belize by bus for Bacalar

4. What Does Your Travel Budget Look Like?

Not a super fun question, but how much you’re willing to budget for a trip will help you nail down many of these questions.

If you’re on a limited budget, stick to places you can get a lot of bang for your buck!

Of course, you can save by staying in hostels and buying groceries, but let me tell you, even the grocery stores in Norway are expensive, so even cost-cutting measures sometimes aren’t enough to make it ‘cheap.’

The cheapest meal I had in Norway totaled about $17 USD, and it was a chicken wrap—nothing fancy.

If you’re looking for a more afforable vacation try a place like Mexico or Thailand where the currency strength may be less than yours.

5. Check in with Your Travel Companions

I’ve traveled with a few different personalities.

Some were better fits than others.

No matter what you do, make sure to agree on some basics, such as budget and travel style (they may be luxury while you’re budget), before proceeding with the international trip planning.

I have a detailed guide on who I believe makes the best travel companions, along with questions to ask before you go.

6. Find the Best Flight Deal

I never pay a whole lot for flights!

How?

I’ve been a subscriber to email lists like NextVacay and Secret Flying since around 2019, which email me deals directly to my inbox. You have to pay a small subscription fee for NextVacay, but it sends you flight deals from your home airport.

So sometimes I have a destination in mind, and I just wait to go when a deal rolls in.

Another great tool for finding good deals is Google Flights’ Anywhere feature.

Type in your nearest airport, and then instead of putting a destination in the “Where to?” box, put “Anywhere,” and it’ll generate a map for you.

You can, of course, put a destination, but if you’re looking for the best flight deals, it pays to be flexible.

I found a $273 flight to Amsterdam from LAX this way.

I knew I wanted to explore Europe around April, so I just punched in April and anywhere and found this super cheap flight!

A Note on International Flights

Sometimes, it’s cheaper if you’re booking flights from abroad to find a hopper destination.

What do I mean by that?

On the way to Rovaniemi, Finland, my travel buddy and I flew into London.

Why?

Because it was cheaper than going directly to Finland from San Diego.

So we took an international flight from California to London, England, spent a few days there, then flew to Rovaniemi, Finland.

The two flights were cheaper than the direct flight.

I got to experience London during winter this way, so if you have the time, it’s a good hack!

7. Create a List of Things to Do

If you’re a visual person, like me, create a Google Doc of every place you want to visit.

Seeing it all laid out with photos helps me remember what’s what, especially when planning something as extensive as a 4-week European itinerary.

The example below shows what I’ve been doing for each attraction since I started planning at 16.

It is first separated by country, then by city (with a guesstimate of the number of days), followed by a picture, name, opening hours, notes, admission cost, and duration.

Duration, I think, is one that a lot of people forget about when planning an overseas trip.

Knowing whether it’ll take half a day or an hour helps to plan out how much you can accomplish.

Not to say plans don’t change, I could discover something else to do there, or an attraction may take more or less time, but this really helps me structure the itinerary, so it’s one of my top travel tips when learning how to plan an international trip!

I also sometimes will highlight the name of a place if it’s included in a sightseeing pass, so I know not to book tickets for it separately.

8. Narrow Your Itinerary

Google My Maps will help you plan your days and determine how long it will take to get from place to place, as you’ll have a visual layout of the land.

The key thing is how far apart everything is.

In the Dublin example below, you can see that everything is quite close.

Many times, I’ve added a place to my list only to find it’s very far out of the city and would take a while to get to.

If that happens, I usually weigh how much I actually want to see that attractions.

If it’s a must, like my trip to Château Pierrefonds, I make it work.

However, I’ll toss sites off the list entirely if I’m iffy about it.

For example, Hampton Court Palace is relatively close to London, so it was an easy day trip. Warwick Castle, however, was a lot farther.

When I looked up how much it would cost to take a train there, I decided it wasn’t worth adding to my travel itinerary.

Doing this will save you a load of time and money, as you won’t spend money on a ticket only to be shocked by how much it costs or how long it’s taking, especially when you could be doing something else.

Once you have all the sites you want pinned to a dedicated map, you can name it, save it, share it, or print it and bring it on your trip.

If you are going to print it, I’d advise creating a map for each city so it isn’t tiny and unreadable when printed.

When I used to print my map, I marked it up with numbers corresponding to my Google Doc, so I knew which location was which (no zooming on paper, so that’s the downside).

You can access these maps via the Google Maps app if you log in to your Google account, tap Saved, then scroll down to Maps.

From there, you’ll be able to access any of the Google My Maps you have built.

Create a Google Saved Places List

Alternatively, you can create a Google Saved Places List.

You’ll see on a number of my guides that I’ve created a map AND a list for you.

I like the Saved Places List, instead of My Maps, as you can easily sort by ‘Distance’ to quickly see what’s open and nearby while traveling.

Say you finish early at one location; you can quickly check whether another site is nearby and/or open, plus other essential info.

To create your own Saved Places List, check out this guide.

9. Consider a Tourist Card

Many cities offer sightseeing passes.

If I plan to get one, like the Paris Museum Pass or the Omnia Card, I make sure it’s worth it first!

To decide if it is, I mark on my itinerary which locations that pass covers by highlighting the site’s name on the Google Doc.

It helps me to see how much of what I’ve planned to visit is covered.

I then do the calculations of how much the pass is versus how much individual tickets are.

Aside from helping me assess whether a pass or tourism card is worth it, doing this helps me remember where NOT to buy a ticket and instead show my pass, or whether there’s anything else, like skip-the-line access, on offer that can save some time.

I will also sometimes discover other things I want to add to my itinerary.

Sometimes sightseeing passes don’t offer much value for your money, but sometimes they’ll save you a load, like the Salzburg Card, which covers attractions and public transportation.

For even more tourist cards, check out my travel planning guides, which also cover Vienna, Ljubljana, and Lisbon.

💰 Travel tip: Sign up for the newsletter of whatever pass you’re considering getting, as they’ll sometimes email discounts. Usually, it’s only 10-15%, but savings are savings!

10. Build in Buffer Time

Strikes, weather, lost luggage, and airline disruptions can happen, so it’s best to build buffer days into your itinerary.

Especially if you’re traveling with a group of people flying in from various locations.

I did this for my family’s Greek island-hopping trip since two of us were flying in from California, one from New Orleans, and another from Maine.

If any of us had been delayed for whatever reason, it might have thrown off the rest of the trip if I hadn’t built in that first day as a buffer.

11. Make Hostel or Hotel Reservations

Either way, I highly recommend making sure wherever you stay feels safe, comfortable, and is centrally located.

You don’t want to spend a lot of time traveling back and forth out of a city just because a hotel at the airport is a bit cheaper.

There’s always some affordable accommodation to be had!

Do check into amenities; however, as they can make all the difference.

I usually look for breakfast included or anything else that I’d have to pay for if it wasn’t already part of the tab: airport shuttles (sometimes free, make sure to inquire), free parking, laundry service, etc.

It’s always good to check these before booking your stay.

Wi-Fi is usually a given, but check if it’s just in common areas or not.

🛏️ Note: I tend to stay away from vacation rentals primarily because I’m often traveling solo; however, if you’re with family or a larger group, this may be the best accommodation option

Budget Accommodation Tips

I use Hostelworld to research which hostels are safe to stay in.

It’s the gold standard for researching hostel accommodations and one of my top hostel tips.

💡 Travel tip: Sometimes, if the hostel has its own website it may offer a membership program you can sign up for to receive a discount. Follow your chosen hostel or hotel’s social media channels or newsletter to learn about deals and sales.

For hotels, I use Google to compare prices across different sites, as it shows a wide range of budget accommodations.

Aggregator sites like Hotels.com don’t show all hotels, so it’s best to check Google first.

Sometimes, you can book hotels through your credit card and use points, so check there as well for deals.

If you are booking, especially during peak season, you should do so in advance, as rooms fill up quickly.

Booking late can also drive up prices, as many deals will already be taken.

You’ll also have a more extensive selection the further you book ahead.

If you need last-minute deals, check out sites like Hotel Tonight, which sometimes offer good deals.

12. Do You Need to Rent a Car?

I have only rented a car on a trip three times in my travels:

• Rhodes, Greece: The island is quite large, so it was faster to get around
• Rovaniemi, Finland: Travel buddy wanted to do hikes outside the city
• Southern Germany: Easier to castle hop

If taking public transport seems like a nightmare for your international trip, consider renting a car.

Otherwise, I tend to stick to buses, trains, trams, etc as the cost of the car, gas, and parking fees can add up quickly.

Do You Need an International Driver’s Permit?

If you do decide to rent a car, make sure you can.

When I rented the car in Greece, I had to get an international driver’s permit, which was easy enough to get at AAA for $20.

This will vary by country, so check before departing.

Do You Need Car Insurance?

Unfortunately, accidents do happen, so make sure to either use your insurance (check with your provider on this option) or get it at the rental place.

I made sure to get the insurance at the car rental place while in Greece.

And I’m thankful I did because, upon returning the car, they seemed to think I had somehow damaged it and gave me a hard time until one employee pointed out I had their insurance, at which point it suddenly became a non-issue.

When I visited Finland and Germany, however, no permit was needed, and no issues arose upon returning the vehicle, so just keep all this in mind if you do rent a car.

13. Planning Transport Abroad

Depending on where you are going, it’s usually cheaper and more convenient to take public transportation.

Especially in Europe, where getting around by train or bus is super easy! I’ve even used the hop-on-hop-off bus in certain cities.

Using public transportation, especially for long distances, is more sustainable and has a lower impact.

I did a ton of train travel around Europe and found it prompt, comfortable, and affordable.

While some may complain it takes a bit longer in some cases, I just used the time between destinations to catch up on blogging!

Pre-Booking & Timing Your Transfers

If it’s a high-demand route, it’s also safer to book in advance so you don’t miss out on that other country or end up with a timeframe that sucks.

I know that for Greece, hopper flights between islands are more plentiful during the summer months, as it’s high tourist season. However, in winter, there are fewer flights.

As for timing, for example’s sake, say the earliest train I could take to the airport left at 7 a.m., and it takes 3 hours to get there (transfers and such). The earliest flight I could then take is at 11 a.m. Always leave at least an hour for yourself, if not more.

I know this may seem obvious, but not planning enough time can cause a nightmare. I’ve seen what happens when a bus breakdown or a flight delay screws up the next transfer, and it is not a fun experience for anyone.

Warning for Public Transportation

Something I’ve encountered while traveling abroad is that sometimes public transportation isn’t available.

Usually, it’s because I’m flying in late or leaving extra early, so public transportation isn’t running yet.

I had this happen in Santorini, Greece, when our flight was late at night.

In these cases, I’ll either arrange a ride-share service, such as Uber, or reach out to my hotel for assistance.

If, for some reason, a public transport route is shut down (I had this happen in Oslo, Norway), I use the CityMapper app, which gives up-to-date information for major cities and helps me find an alternative route.

It’s one of my top apps for Europe!

Download the Maps.Me App

Downloading the Maps.me app is also a good idea, as it provides offline access.

Just make sure to download the location you’ll be at in advance so you can look up places on the go and get directions without Wi-Fi.

I’ve been in some funny locations without data, and this has saved my butt more times than I can count!

It is a freemium app that charges after 10 map downloads. Since I started using it around 2018, I’ve gone beyond that number, but I still find it well worth it, which is why it’s one of my essential travel apps.

And don’t forget to sort your phone plan before you leave! More on that in my pre-trip checklist.

14. Create a Google Sheet for the Final Itinerary

Now that you’ve done all your itinerary homework, it’s time to lay it out!

I got this awesome Google Sheet idea from a fellow solo female traveler. You can find out how we met in my Bumble BFF review.

In Google Sheets, she’s laid out the travel dates, country, city, type (e.g., flight, excursion, public transport, or hotel), date, time, company, site, confirmation number, and notes.

If you’re doing this with another person, you can also do the total and per-person costs so you can easily tally what each person owes. She’s got a paid column for that to keep track.

There are tabs for Things to Do and Hotels, so we can each do research, add our picks to the list, and decide as a group which are best.

Typically, I’ll color-fill a pick I like best—whether that’s a hotel or a tour provider so she knows my preference.

Because it’s on Google, it’s easily accessible and editable if you’re planning with others.

You’ll notice it’s color-coded: yellow for flights, green for transportation, orange for hotels or hostels, and blue for guided excursions—making it easy to read at a glance.

We were able to access this easily through the Google Sheets app on the go.

Just make sure to mark your Google Sheet as “Make available offline” so you can access it even without Wi-Fi.

15. Book Tours and Tickets in Advance

Plan ahead for any sort of tour you’d like to participate in or museum you’d like to visit.

Don’t do what my travel buddy and I did in Florence and wait till the last minute to get tickets.

We almost didn’t see David because of this!

My favorite tour guide companies are GetYourGuide and Viator.

From their sites, you’ll be able to track down walking tours, food tours, cooking classes, and even something as unique as Aurora hunting!

I love booking with GetYourGuide in particular because of their great cancellation policy.

When my cousin was injured in Belize, even though we didn’t give the required 24-hour notice, they still issued a refund, and it showed up in my bank account days later.

16. Passport and Global Entry

If you don’t have a passport, get one ASAP, as they can take a while to process.

According to the U.S. State Department, routine passport processing currently takes 4-6 weeks; expedited processing takes 2-3 weeks for an additional fee.

If you do have one, check that it’s valid and that its expiration date is at least 3 or 6 months away, as some countries don’t allow entry if it has less than 3 or 6 months of validity left. Some also require unused pages.

I once worked with a guy who was going on a work trip to Malaysia, and days before departure, he discovered that his passport had only a month or two left. It was REALLY expensive to rush it, so avoid that if possible!

If you plan to travel frequently, get yourself Global Entry.

I got mine paid for by my credit card company as they had an offer, so you may be able to get this for free.

All you need to do is follow the credit card company’s guidelines when applying to get refunded.

As for the application, it was an online form, then a short in-person interview at the airport.

A few weeks later, I got a card in the mail. Even though I carry it with me, I’ve never had to use it. I just go through Global Entry when returning to the United States. It snaps a pic of me and welcomes me in—super simple.

This card also provides access to TSA PreCheck.

17. Do You Need a Visa or Other Application?

Depending on your country of origin and your destination, you may need to apply for a visa.

It’s best to check your countries government website for the most up-to-date information.

For Americans, that’s https://travel.state.gov/

For some countries, you may also need to apply for travel authorizations, such as the EU’s ETIAS, which requires an online application and a small fee.

The same goes for the United Kingdom’s ETA.

I did the latter, and it took about 5-10 minutes to fill out and another 5-10 minutes to get approved. However, even though I had it done quickly, I would not recommend waiting until the last minute to submit this, as quick approval times are not guaranteed.

18. Do You Need Travel Insurance or Not?

I’ve only been required to have travel insurance once, in Thailand, right after COVID.

However, whether you should get it will depend on your destination country and personal needs.

If I were to get travel insurance, I’d recommend SafetyWing, as I know many bloggers who have tried their platform and loved their coverage.

Is it risky to go without insurance?

It certainly can be. But I don’t have any health conditions or partake in any activities that make me concerned enough to buy.

Plus, the healthcare in many countries is low-cost or free. My cousin got injured in Belize, and we walked out without a bill, as their healthcare is free.

19. Need Vaccinations?

Americans can find what vaccinations they may need at https://travel.state.gov/.

I’ve yet to need to get any in Europe, North America, or Thailand (the only country in Asia I’ve visited thus far), but it’s always best to check, as you don’t want to arrive only to be sent back home because you didn’t get your shots.

20. Check for Credit Card Foreign Fees

Research whether your credit card charges foreign transaction fees, as it can become quite costly if it does.

On an early trip, I took my aunt’s word that mine wouldn’t charge fees, but came home to some, not fun!

Most popular credit cards don’t these days, but it’s always safest and more affordable to check!

Capital One Venture and Chase Sapphire Preferred, I’ve used on travels without additional fees.

I go into more detail about the Chase benefits in my travel resources guide.

21. Bring Some Cash

You should have some cash on hand, even if it’s in your home country’s currency, as you can always find an exchange at an airport or city center if needed.

I’ve had my debit card act wonky at certain ATMs, so I was always relieved to have a backup!

22. Share Your Itinerary

Share your itinerary, especially if you’re traveling solo, so someone knows where you’re supposed to be in case anything unfortunate happens.

I typically share my Google Sheets and update it as I go, so that, should I change hotels or decide to move on to another place, there is a record of it.

✈️ My list of things to do before a trip abroad provides even more tips!

FAQs

Related Travel Planning Guides

• How to Plan an International Trip on a Budget: My Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Use Google Maps to Plan a Trip in 9 Simple Steps
• 44 Things to Do Before Traveling Internationally + My Free Pre-Trip Checklist
• Looking for a Travel Companion? Best Questions to Ask Before Your Next Trip
• Viator vs. GetYourGuide: Which Is Better for Booking Tours? An Honest Review

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