If you are looking for a vacation, then these days, you don’t need a travel agent to do it all for you. With the wonder that is the world wide web, there are plenty of things that you can do to find some bargains. Having said that, you do need to do a certain amount of due-diligence to make sure that you get a good deal and don’t end up with a nasty surprise upon arrival. So in order to make sure that you get a good deal and you have peace of mind of getting the kind of vacation that you want, then here are some of the main issue to look out for when planning a DIY vacation.

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Flights

• When you input names of the people flying, make sure that you triple check what you have entered. An autocorrect could mean a spelling gets changed. If this isn’t spotted, then it is pretty likely that the airline won’t allow you to fly. It can cost you quite a lot to change the details.
• Check the location of the airport. You might think you’re getting a good deal on a flight. But if you end up having to get a taxi or a bus ride for two hours once you’re at your location, it is far from ideal. Plus, that is going to cost you a lot of money. A lot of budget airlines use smaller airports that are outside of cities. So that is one to check, for sure.
• Check the airline that you’re flying with. You might have a particular preference. But many airlines partner up these days. So if you want to get airmiles, or even use up some air miles to cover costs, then you need to check it isn’t a flight with their partner airline.

Hotel Accommodation

• You should never assume anything when it comes to your accommodation. If you’re going to a hot country and the hotel doesn’t mention a pool, don’t just presume it will have one. Of course, it would make sense that it would. But not all will. So don’t presume, and you won’t be left disappointed.
• Look for reviews of hotels on sites like tripadvisor. You want to make sure that it isn’t too good to be true. If the same problem is coming up with several reviews, then it could be time to choose a different hotel.
• As well as checking the reviews, you can see what pictures people have posted. Of course, a hotel website is going to post their best pictures online. But these could be edited heavily or years out of date. So look for photos from previous travelers to see if they match up.
• Checking where the hotel is exactly, on a site like Google Maps, is a must. You can see what amenities are around, as well as how far away things are. If you’re told your accommodation has beach views, is there a beach nearby? If you’re told you’ll be by a Metro station, then how many minutes will it take to walk to it? Then you can make an informed decision about your accommodation.

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Self-Catering Accommodation

If you prefer to go down the self-catered route, then it can make things a lot cheaper. You can even look for a room for rent in someone’s property these days. This can be good if you’re looking to keep costs down, as well as wanting to rent and stay there for quite a while. So it is definitely a better option when it comes to longer-term trips. But what should you look out for when it comes to self-catered accommodation?

• Check the terms and conditions or ‘the fine print’ closely. You don’t want to end up with losing your deposit if you arrive slightly later than you said you would, for example. What about insurance? Who will have keys and access to the property? What happens if things get broken, or keys get lost? You should never presume anything, so check it all out carefully.
• See if there are any independent reviews online. Like booking a hotel, you want to make sure that you’re going to get what you’re told you’ll get, as well as getting value for money. If it is a villa, you want to make sure that the owners will come and meet you as and when you have arranged, as well as making sure that they are contactable. So if you see any reviews that mention the same thing, or that the owners weren’t easy to contact, then it can be a good indicator that you should steer clear.
• Look at Google Street View if possible too. It can give you a good idea about the street that you’ll be on and what kind of access is around. If you have young children or have someone in the group that is in a wheelchair, then you might want to check that there aren’t steep steps up to the property, for example. It will let you know if you’re in a mainly residential area too. If your flight arrives late at night, you’d need to be quiet when arriving at your property, for example.

Camping

Campsites can vary hugely. So if you’re thinking of doing a DIY camping vacation, then you need to know what you’re getting yourself in for. When it comes to camping, you do expect it to be pretty basic in many ways. But you might not want it to be almost primitive, as it can be at some sites. So get opinions from others, as well as reviews, when it comes to the site and the conditions of it. Along with that, check all of the things that you need to bring. Are there access to things like gas and electricity, for example? If not, you won’t want to bring your hot plate for cooking. You’d need to think more about bringing something like a portable gas stove instead. So check what it all comes with and then, check again!

Once you’re actually at the campsite itself, then you need to think about where you pitch up. You might want to be fairly close to the bathroom block, but not too close. It can get quite noisy if you are. So that is something to consider. You should also attempt putting your tent up before you go, especially if it is new. You don’t want to be left with some tent pegs missing and a collapsed tent! So with that in mind, having a list of the things you need to take with you is a good idea. Then you can make sure that you don’t forget anything; you never know what stores will or won’t be around you if you’ve never been to that place before.

At the end of the day, what it comes down to is preparation. If you’re someone that likes to do things quite last minute, then it can be a risk. As long as you’re willing to take those risks, then that is fine. If you prefer to take your time and plan, then you can make sure that your DIY vacation will run as smoothly as it can. It also pays to get travel insurance; that can make such a difference, just in case anything goes wrong, you won’t be out of pocket. Have you got any tips or tricks that you would add? Would love to hear what you think and what you have found works for you when you plan your own vacation from scratch.