Plan a Vacation: Step by Step Guide
Vacation planner: plan your winter escape with Expedia
The anticipation of planning your vacation in 2024 and researching is almost as good as actually being there. Start dreaming today and craft your perfect itinerary. When you book with Expedia, you can plan a vacation with access to the latest deals for thrilling destinations around the world. Choose from solo adventures, romantic couples retreats, family-friendly vacations or city breaks for the ultimate weekend away with friends.
Whether you crave tropical beaches, winter activities, thrilling trips through the wilderness or simply want to relax in luxury, select your stay and flight options and plan a getaway to remember.
You can also add optional extras to make your escape truly memorable. Why not book a classic car to cruise around, make special requests to help celebrate birthdays, or book excursions to get your adrenaline flowing?
Expedia brings you our latest vacation planner guide, an all-in-one travel companion that makes your vacation easy to research, organize, and share. Track flight prices to make sure you get some of the best deals and keep all your reservations and bookings in one place. You’ll also have access to our personal travel advisor powered by ChatGPT technology to answer any travel-related or destination-specific inquiries. Once your booking is complete, the app serves as a real-time record of your vacation, including up-to-date notifications on any changes to your reservations.
You’re the architect of this vacation season, and with Expedia, you’ll get to plan it exactly how you want. Let’s begin.
How to plan a vacation with Expedia?
Vacation planning with Expedia is simple and fun. Just follow these steps and get closer to your departure:
- Decide where to go
- Decide when to go
- Research on the Expedia app
- Share your travel plans with your group
- Book your flights and accommodation
- Book excursions or activities
- Enjoy your vacation!
1. Decide where to go on your vacation
When you think, "I need to plan my vacation," the first choice you need to make is where to go. Find a vacation destination in 2024 that matches the type of vacation, you’re looking to have and who will be joining you. For inspiration, start planning your 2025 Hawaiian or European vacation, check out Expedia’s travel guides and choose somewhere new to explore or a favorite spot you’ve been waiting to revisit.
2. Decide when to go
Deciding when to go on a vacation in 2024 will depend on the type of trip you want to experience, where you’re going, and practical considerations like the weather conditions at particular times of the year. Sometimes, travel dates will be determined by your vacation days from work or when your children are off school, but being flexible with your travel dates, if possible, is one of the best ways to save money on your vacation. Travelling offseason, for example, can save you hundreds of dollars.
3. Explore trip ideas with ChatGPT on the Expedia app
Expedia’s app for vacation planning is powered by ChatGPT, offering you all the services of a mobile travel planner in your pocket. Not only can this technology suggest places to stay and visit and how to navigate a new destination, but it also saves hotel recommendations and itinerary points of interest, helping you stay organized.
4. Save your trip ideas and invite people to your trip
Save all details of your vacation, including reservations and itineraries, and then invite others to the app to share your trip details. If you’re the vacation planner in your family or friendship circle, your life is about to get much easier. Imagine quickly sharing all the details of a large family or group trip with every person attending. You’ll never have to chase people down to remind them of flight times and hotel details again.
5. Book flights, hotels and rental cars by bundling your trip for even more savings
Enjoy even more vacation savings when you book your flights and hotels together in a vacation package. Bundling your travel bookings, including rental cars, is convenient and can help you save money.
6. Book activities and things to do
Pre-booking your activities and excursions helps you plan your vacation budget and gets you excited about your vacation before you even leave. Choose from a huge range of things to do at your destination, including tours, special events, theme parks, museums, and more.
7. When to book your vacation
According to Expedia’s latest research and insight into air travel hacks, the cheapest day to book flights is, generally speaking, Sundays, while Fridays are the most expensive. Booking your vacation on a Sunday can save up to 13% off the cost of your next vacation. Booking in advance, about 60 days before international travel, results in cheaper flights. It’s also best to travel in the morning to avoid cancellations or delays, which can snowball, affecting more flights later in the day.
Top tips on how to plan a vacation
How to plan a vacation?
Start to plan a vacation in 2024 by picking your desired destination and travel dates. If you need ideas, explore our latest deals or available options in a specific location during your planned vacation period. Browse flights and activities to enhance your travel itinerary, and remember that Expedia can help you stick to your budget with manageable monthly payments.
How can I plan my vacation with Expedia?
Planning your vacation with Expedia is easy. Enter your dream destination or travel dates into our site or app, browse the available flight options, hotels and activities, and book your desired choices. By using the Expedia app for vacation planning, you could find great deals and embark on a 2025 memorable vacation escape.
Can I create my own vacation package?
Expedia makes it easy to customize your vacation package by combining flights, hotels and activities that suit your travel plans. Explore deals and offers that align with your dream adventure and personalize a package that gets you in the vacation spirit.
How to plan an all-inclusive vacation?
Easily plan an all-inclusive vacation escape with flights by clicking the “packages" button on Expedia. You can also explore all-inclusive hotels without airfare by clicking the “stays" button. Bundling flights with your all-inclusive hotel can help you save, so take a look as you plan your itinerary.
How to plan a cheap vacation?
You could discover significant savings by exploring the latest flight deals on Expedia. If you have a specific destination for your journey, enter it along with your travel dates. Then, sort results by price or apply a budget filter to uncover the most enticing deals for your chosen vacation travel period.
How do I plan a family vacation?
Want to plan a memorable family getaway but don’t know where to start? Begin by using our filters to explore family-friendly hotels in top destinations like Disney resorts, Hawaii, and Costa Rica. Enhance your search by filtering for accommodations that offer kid-friendly amenities, such as game rooms, pools, and waterparks.
How do I plan a vacation on a budget?
The key to planning a vacation on a budget is having realistic expectations. Fill out your travel planner with your budget in mind, setting reasonable daily amounts for food, accommodations and activities. Whether you’re European vacation planning or staying closer to home, Expedia can help you find deals and offers that suit your vacation budget.
What factors should I consider when choosing a vacation destination?
Consider factors like desired destination, budget, travel dates, weather and preferred activities. Whether you’re looking for a warm winter escape or interested in immersing yourself in one of Europe’s charming vacation markets, Expedia’s filters can help you tailor your search based on the proper criteria.
How far in advance should I start planning my vacation?
Start planning your vacation at least a month in advance for domestic travel and 60 days in advance for international travel. According to Expedia’s air travel hacks, travellers who booked their flights 28 days before departing on a domestic trip saved 24% on average, while travellers who booked international flights 60 days out saved around 10%.
How can I find some of the best deals for my vacation?
If you’re tour planning on a budget, explore Expedia’s flight deals and consider bundling flights and accommodation for extra savings. Look out for promotions and deals to snag some of the best offers for your vacation.
Is it better to book a vacation package or plan everything individually?
It depends on your preferences. If you’re Hawaii vacation planning, booking a vacation package can be convenient and offer significant cost savings. However, some vacation planners prefer to reserve everything individually as it allows for more customization. Consider factors like time, budget and practicality when deciding which approach works for you.
How do I budget for my vacation?
Determine a realistic budget by considering expenses like flights, accommodation, food and activities as you fill out your vacation planner. With Expedia, you can compare prices and secure your vacation with a modest deposit and convenient monthly payments that match your financial plans.
Does Expedia have a flexible cancellation policy?
Yes. Experience the joy of flexible planning with Expedia’s free cancellation and pay-later options. Simply filter your search by payment type, and remember that cancellation policies can vary depending on your vacation package. Always check cancellation policies when tour planning and booking your getaway.
Why should I plan my next vacation with Expedia?
Expedia makes it easy to plan a dream vacation getaway that suits your budget. Whether you’re looking to spend time with family, unwind on a weekend escape, or embark on a thrilling winter adventure, Expedia has great deals on vacation packages to help you design an unforgettable trip.
