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Cook up Your Trip: Plan Your Own Holiday
With Cook up Your Trip, you will learn how to plan your dream trip: choosing a destination, the steps to follow, the logistics, and how to save money at the same time.
Do you like the way it sounds? Keep reading; here, you will find everything you need to make your next trip unforgettable! 😉
You are in the right place. Your next adventure starts here.
Why plan your own trip instead of using a travel agency?

Because it gives you total freedom — you choose where to go, how long to stay, and what to skip. No group tours, no commissions, no compromises. And it’s more affordable than you think. The four sections below will guide you through everything you need to know.
For your convenience, the part of my blog called Cook Up Your Trip is divided into 4 parts:
I’d recommend that you read each of these sections, as they include much more information. But, as a summary, this is what you will find in them:
🗺️ Planning a trip?
Use my Free Travel Planner to organise your itinerary, budget, and days step by step without missing anything.
1. Where to Go: Finding the Right Destination for You

Do you need help determining where to go on a trip? Are you wondering which place you should pick? I’ll explain how to select a destination based on your preferences and circumstances.
It’s the first step of every journey, right? But it is not always easy. And there are so many places in the world that sometimes you don’t know how to decide.
We will go step by step through the questions you should ask yourself when choosing the perfect destination for your next trip. This will ensure your decision is successful and you enjoy a spectacular holiday.
In this section, you will find, for example, information about:
a. Types of Holidays
So you can select the type of trip that best suits your needs.
b. Best Time to Go to Each Country
Maybe you already know where to go, but not when. If this is your case, see my article on the Best Time to Go for each of the 194 countries in the world.
c. Best Destinations by Month
Sometimes, you don’t travel when you want, but when you can. If that’s your case, you may be interested in knowing the best destinations by month.
d. Languages Spoken in Each Country
If you are looking for a destination where they speak your language, my post, Countries by Spoken Language, is for you.
e. How Many Days You Need
Every so often, when travelling, we are limited by the number of days we can take off. Or maybe you want to know how many days you will need to visit the destination you are going to. Whatever your case, don’t miss these 2 articles: How many days I need to visit each city and How many days I need to visit each country.
f. Top Tourist Attractions by Country
If you have been recommended a destination but aren’t sure if you’re interested, check out my article on the Top Tourist Attractions in the most visited countries.
g. The Cheapest Countries to Travel To
Do you have a very tight budget? Then, it may be a good idea to select a cheap destination. My post, The Cheapest Countries to Travel to (and the Most Expensive), will give you some ideas.
All that and much more in Where to Go! Get inspired by specific examples to select the destination that best suits your desires.
2. Plan Your Own Trip Step by Step: From Idea to Booked Trip

Do you want to organise your own trip but require help figuring out where to start?
It may be overwhelming if this is your first time, but don’t worry; I am here to help. In the Step-by-Step section, I will guide you through the entire process so that you can organise the trip of your dreams yourself.
Are you wondering why do it yourself instead of going to a travel agency?
I will explain why it’s worth trying at least once. After experiencing it once, I’m sure you’ll be eager to do it again. 😉
Yes, cheap travel is possible.
Would you like to learn how to plan your own trip without overspending?
When people think of travel, they often assume it has to be expensive. However, this is not necessarily the case.
If you want to know how to do it, take advantage of the section of my blog called Travel Cheap.
I will provide some helpful tips to save money across various categories:
a. Transportation
This includes tips for avoiding overpaying for transportation to your destination.
b. Accommodation
Here, you will find tips to save money when searching for and booking accommodation for your trip. It also includes other articles, such as Types of Accommodation, to evaluate all the options.
c. Transfers
Here are some recommendations for saving money when moving between places after arriving at your destination.
It includes a dedicated post with everything you need to know about Car Rentals, so you won’t be fooled.
d. At the Destination
When you arrive at your holiday destination, use these tips to avoid overspending. Four categories to consider are communication, tourist attractions, food, and shopping.
e. Money (Cash & Cards)
This is a complete guide, Money, with everything you need to know about money and travel. It includes information on everything from where to exchange currency to how to use cards abroad.
Don’t miss my Travel Kit — when you plan your own trip, having the right tools makes all the difference. It’s a one-stop page with all my go-to resources for booking flights, accommodation, local transport, tours, travel insurance, and more. I’ve included trusted platforms I personally use and recommend.
4. Travel Logistics: Everything to Sort Before You Leave

In the Travel Logistics section, I cover all aspects of travel preparation. This extensive section includes numerous articles and provides useful information to help your trip go smoothly.
Among the highlights of this section, you will find:
a. Travel Documents
We’ll review all the travel documents you will need or might need during your holiday. This is undoubtedly the most crucial preparation before travelling, which can save you many headaches.
b. How to Choose Your Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is essential when travelling to avoid potential issues. However, purchasing insurance can be a tedious process. This post aims to help you select the best one for your needs without overspending.
c. How to prepare your luggage
Here are the steps to pack the perfect suitcase so you will not miss anything. It includes everything from choosing and organising a suitcase to advice on luggage if you travel by plane.
d. Travel First Aid Kit
Bringing a first aid kit on your travels may be more important than many realise. Here, I detail everything you should include and why.
e. Plug Types by Country
Currently, 15 different types of plugs are used worldwide. Refer to this post to determine whether you’ll need an adapter for your trip and what type.
f. Tips to Overcome Jet Lag
In this post, I provide natural tips on preventing Jet Lag and avoiding its unpleasant effects so they do not ruin your holiday.
🗺️ Want to make planning even easier?
Download your Free Travel Planner and build your own trip in minutes.
5. Travel Kit to Plan Your Own Trip
To help you organise your adventure, I’ve gathered the best tools I use and recommend for booking flights, hotels, local transport and more. These links support this site at no extra cost to you.
🧳 Book Your Trip Here
- ✈️ Flights: Compare the best flight prices with Kayak.
- 🛏️ Accommodation: Find hotels and unique stays at great prices worldwide with Booking.com.
- 🚐 Transfers: Pre-book your airport or city transfers to avoid stress on arrival with Welcome Pickups.
- 🚗 Car Rentals: Explore destinations at your own pace by using Discover Cars or Auto Europe to compare reliable car rental providers.
- 💺Transport (Bus and Train Tickets): Compare schedules and easily book intercity bus and train travel with Omio.
- 📷 Tours & Activities: Book fun experiences, guided tours, and skip-the-line tickets in advance with GetYourGuide or Viator.
- 🌐 Internet Connection: Stay connected abroad with Airalo eSIMs.
- 🔐 For safe and reliable internet access wherever you roam, I always recommend using a VPN—NordVPN is my go-to.
- 🛡️ And don’t forget travel insurance — a small step that saves big headaches! I use Just Travel Cover for comprehensive protection, including coverage for pre-existing conditions. 🌍 Not based in the UK? VisitorsCoverage has you covered—easy, affordable, ready to go!
Safe travels! 🌏✈️
I hope you enjoy reading all the articles and find them helpful. If you are missing anything or would like me to incorporate something else, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Simply fill out the contact form, and I’ll be happy to assist you. 😊




















