trip it easy

Tripit Review: What You Need To Know About the Travel Planning App

February 23, 2024

If you’re a keen independent traveler—as in, you book flights and hotels separately, add on extras, and use multiple travel companies or sites in the pursuit of the perfect trip—there is an app that can make travel planning a whole lot easier. For anyone who needs a hand with logistics, TripIt, an award-winning travel organization app, helps you track all of your trip itineraries in one place, compiling flight, activity, accommodation, and transportation details, alerting you to changes to any reservations, and even allowing you to snag a better seat on the plane if one becomes available. 

TripIt won the People’s Choice Webby in 2023 in the travel apps category. And, personally, I’ve been using it to keep me on the road as a travel writer for ten years, which is why I’m here to walk you through how it all works.

What is TripIt?

TripIt is a San Francisco–based company that was founded in 2006 by Andy Denmark, Gregg Brockway, and Scott Hintz, a trio of serial tech founders and entrepreneurs with a strong base in the travel industry. The company was acquired by Concur Technologies in 2011, and when SAP acquired Concur in 2014, it also acquired TripIt. 

The app works by organizing all your travel details in one place, creating a comprehensive itinerary for each trip from the confirmation emails that you provide. When you book a flight, hotel, or reservation, you forward the confirmation email to  [email protected] . TripIt then adds it to your itinerary. The whole thing culminates in a linear, day-by-day itinerary that shows you where you need to be and when on your trip. (If you have more than one trip booked, each one will show up in its own itinerary.) 

Some of the app’s most useful features come into play when traveling with others: The sharing function means you can loop in friends and family, sharing details of your travels with them so there’s no confusion around where you’ll be and when. 

Pros: Why we love TripIt

• Clear organization and no-fuss itinerary building: You just send an email or sync your email, and TripIt does the rest for you.
• Offline capabilities: There have been many instances during my travels when I haven’t had internet, but I’ve still relied on TripIt to figure out where I’m supposed to be and when.
• Alert system:  The handy alert system keeps you updated ahead of your trip, with a notification that your trip is coming up a day before, and during your travels, with reminders about flight and check-in details.
• Easy sharing:  It’s easy to share trip details via Whatsapp, Slack, and other messaging apps. There are a few different levels to sharing—you can simply share trip details with others, you can invite them to collaborate on the trip, or you can even include a planner who is not going on the trip.
• Advanced features with TripIt Pro: These include real-time alerts when the status of your flight changes, flight-change alternatives for when your flight is canceled and you need another option, a picker for the best seat on the plane, points and miles trackers to keep all of your loyalty points in one app, and more.

Cons: Limitations of TripIt

• Language limitations:  TripIt’s website and app function in US English, British English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish, but it can get confused and require further assistance if you submit confirmation emails in other languages.
• Technological issues:  Its technology doesn’t always understand emails that you forward and can miss some items. (That’s why I always check when I’ve imported a plan to be sure that all of my information was added correctly.) 
• Style points:  TripIt isn’t the most hip—no cool graphics, cute copywriting, or design that blows you away. But, it’s functional and it works.

What is TripIt Pro?

TripIt Pro, which costs $49 per year, is a souped-up version of the free TripIt app. It’s still a way to streamline all those travel details, making your trip smoother and easier to navigate. But Pro comes with a laundry list of advanced features not offered with the free version:

• Seat tracker:  So you can move to a better seat on your flight if one becomes available
• Fare tracker:  Lets you know if airfare drops on your route after you book so you can try to recoup some of that cash
• Check-in reminder: 24 hours before takeoff 
• Points tracker:  All of your reward programs in one place
• Inner circle:  Automatically shares your travel plan with a pre-selected group of family, friends, or coworkers
• International tools:  Country-specific travel information—such as embassies, exchange rates, and travel advice like tipping and plug requirements
• Documents : Add photos, QR codes, and PDFs alongside your travel plans
• Flight status:  Real-time alerts keep you ahead of the game through your trip
• Alternate flights:  If you need to change flights, the app gives you options
• Go now: An alert to leave home for your flight, based on local information
• Interactive maps:  Walking directions and searchable airport maps
• Terminal and gate reminder:  Airport information in your pocket
• Connecting flights:  Takes the stress out of finding your connecting gate
• Baggage claim info:  Tells you where to find your luggage on landing

How to use TripIt to plan and organize your trip

First, sign up on the  TripIt website , or if you plan to use TripIt on your mobile device,  download the app . The web version of TripIt is fine if you’re sitting at your laptop and in the planning phase, but you’ll definitely want to download the TripIt app to have on your phone once the trip kicks off. As part of the sign-up process, you’ll input your location and add any extra email addresses from which you might forward trip plans to the app.

1. Add flights and other reservations to TripIt

It’s easy: Book a flight, hotel, car rental, or other trip item, and when you receive the confirmation email, forward it to [email protected] . The app instantly recognizes that it’s come from you (thanks to the email addresses you provided) and starts building your itinerary. You’ll get both an email and phone notification alerting you that a new itinerary item has been received. Then repeat the process with all of your trip bookings and reservations, and the app will build your full itinerary.

Occasionally, you may forward an email that TripIt cannot interpret; in this case, you’ll get a notification saying that you need to review the item. To fix the issue, either open the item via the email or in the unfiled folder in the app and confirm the details.

You can always add items manually in the app, whether it’s a concert, cruise, parking information, or something else trip-related. Open the Trips section, click on the relevant trip, and hit the blue button with the plus sign. From there, you can add items under a broad range of headings. For each one, note the time and date of the event or booking and include other need-to-know information, such as addresses and confirmation codes, if necessary.

You can also set up Inbox Sync within the free app. Instead of forwarding confirmation emails, the app scans your inbox multiple times a day for travel plans and updates your itinerary automatically. Inbox Sync is compatible with Gmail, Google Workspace, Yahoo! Mail, and Outlook.

2. Sync TripIt to your personal calendar

In the TripIt app, go to ‘Account,’ ‘Settings,’ and then ‘Calendar Sync.’ TripIt syncs to Apple, Google, and Microsoft Outlook calendars; it also automatically adjusts time zones if you choose. This feature is ideal, particularly for business travelers, to keep all of your plans aligned across work and leisure.

Note: You can also sync TripIt to your  Flighty account if you have one. According to TripIt, the connection has to be done from within the Flighty app. If you connect the two accounts, all of your flight information from TripIt will automatically import into your Flighty app, where you can get more granular information on your flights, including real-time flight data (such as delays), previous flight route data, weather, and aircraft details. 

3. Customize your trips

Once you’ve added your flights and reservations for a trip, you can personalize your itinerary with images and extra information in PDF and text formats. For instance, you can view the entire trip on a map, upload travel documents, and add contacts in the ‘Account’ section for urgent matters.

4. View your trip in a timeline

On the main Trips page, your travel plans are arranged in chronological order and titled with the destination you’re going to. To view a specific trip, tap on the destination to view the corresponding timeline. If you want to add more to the trip or edit what you’ve already added, tap the plus button or the dots in the top right corner. 

Pro tips for making the most of TripIt

1.   sync your inbox..

It’s a simple step that goes a long way. Often, it’s easy to get wrapped up in trip-planning mode and forget to forward along those emails. Take some time when setting up your account to sync your inbox; that way you don’t have to remember to forward the confirmations. The app will scan your inbox and automatically add anything it detects is related to a particular trip. 

2.   Share your plans.

Hit the share icon in the top right, and you can instantly invite others or send a read-only version of your plans by text, Whatsapp, Slack, or email. Your travel buddies don’t need a TripIt account to view these details, though they will need an account if they want to collaborate on the itinerary. Bonus: Multiple people can sync emails, so if one of your travel buddies makes a reservation and their email is synced, it will automatically get added to the collaborative itinerary.

3.   Check your stats.

In the Account section of your app, there’s a handy breakdown of your travel stats, including how far you’ve traveled each year and over time. In the past ten years, I’ve been around the world over four times and visited more than 100 cities. The Travel Stats section is a fun way to visualize the data that TripIt has captured from your trip itineraries.

4. Add all of your reservations, not just flights and hotels.

When it comes to my own travels, I input flights, hotels, and transport, as well as all of my events, meetings, restaurant bookings, and more into this trip planner. I also regularly upload PDFs and documents to go alongside the purely logistical details—things like a list of places I want to visit, a magazine article I’ve seen, or notes I’ve been making while researching the place. Everything can be uploaded in a single place. The real benefits come by using TripIt like a personal travel assistant, by adding all of your must-dos and can’t-miss items in one place. If you allow push notifications, TripIt then gives regular updates and alerts reminding you when to leave, check-in, or fly.

Frequently asked questions about TripIt

TripIt is a must-have for any traveler who struggles with logistics. The handy travel-organizing app syncs with your inbox and produces easy-to-use online and offline itineraries for your trips. TripIt Pro offers advanced features, including gate calls, safety notes, and embassy information. The app is a simple and streamlined way to keep all of your travel information in one place.

Freelance Writer

Laura Hall is an award-winning author, travel writer, and journalist based in Copenhagen. She’s always got a bag packed and a plan to visit somewhere new.

Published February 23, 2024

Last updated February 23, 2024

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TripIt Review: A Worthwhile Travel Planning Tool or an Outdated Resource?

September 28, 2021 6 min read

Keeping all information relating to a trip organized and in one place can be stressful. That’s why finding a great travel planning app is so important. 

TripIt is one option on the market. It claims to organize all travel details, such as flight information and hotel reservations, in one place. You can also receive notifications relating to your travel bookings. 

But is TripIt really the best option out there? This TripIt review intends to offer an overview of how to use TripIt and its pros and cons to ultimately answer the question: Is TripIt worth it? 

What is TripIt?

TripIt is a travel planning app that generates itineraries and keeps all details relating to your trip in one place. As opposed to apps that make travel suggestions, like Wanderlog , TripIt simply consolidates all of your already planned trip information in one place. Things you can add include transport, accommodation, and activity details. 

TripIt intends to take care of your travel details to lower stress and worry when traveling and improve organization. You can use TripIt online, or there’s a convenient TripIt mobile app for iPhone, iPad, and Android.  

This app has been touted as a good choice for those that have their travel plans set. However, TripIt is not the place to find vacation inspiration. 

Despite some drawbacks, the company has caught the eye of many publications and has been featured by The New York Times , NBC , Forbes , Travel+Leisure , and more. 

Is TripIt Free? 

If TripIt sounds like something that would interest you, you may be wondering: “Is TripIt free?” Conveniently, the basic plan is free. However, this plan offers limited features (discussed below.) 

How Much is TripIt Pro? 

TripIt Pro is a paid subscription option offered by TripIt that provides more features and benefits than their basic plan. TripIt Pro costs $49 a year, and you can try it free for 30 days. 

TripIt for Teams 

TripIt also has a third membership option, TripIt for Teams. This option helps plan travel for business and other “team” type situations. 

It keeps all team member’s itineraries in one place and can make different itineraries for different travelers on the trip. The team can then access a travel calendar with everyone’s schedule on it. 

TripIt for Teams costs $29/month for 1-10 users, $49/month for 11-25 users, $89/month for 26-50 users, and $159/month for 51-100 users.  

TripIt vs. TripIt Pro 

So, how exactly do you compare TripIt Pro vs. TripIt basic?  

When comparing the two for this TripIt review, we found that TripIt Pro offers more updates on your trip and a few extra features. 

Extra features you’ll be provided with when using TripIt Pro vs. TripIt basic include:

• Seat upgrade information 
• Check-in reminders
• Fare trackers
• Reward program points tracker
• Flight updates 
• Security wait time updates
• Information on finding connecting flights
• Baggage claim location 
• Gate information and updates 
• Interactive maps 
• Estimates of the best time to leave for your trip (for example, when to leave home to catch your flight) and estimated travel times
• Ability to send travel plans to friends and family
• Ability to add documents and files to your itinerary, like PDFs or photos 

How to Cancel TripIt Pro 

If you purchase TripIt Pro and don’t like the upgrade, it’s easy to cancel. To cancel TripIt Pro:

• Sign in to your account
• Click your user name, then “Settings”, then “Billing Information”
• Press “Cancel TripIt Pro.” 

When looking into cancellation for this TripIt review, we discovered that you can’t get a refund on your annual fee. If you want to cancel, auto-renewal will be disabled, but you must finish the year-long subscription.

If you want to cancel the TripIt Pro free trial before you get charged the annual fee, follow the same steps as above. 

How Does TripIt Work?

• Download TripIt for Android, iPhone, or iPad, or visit tripit.com.
• Sign up for an account and decide if you’ll upgrade to TripIt Pro. 
• Select “Start Itinerary.” 
• Add your destination city, travel start and end dates, a trip name, and a description (if you like.) Then click “Add Trip.” 
• You can then manually add to your itinerary or email information to be added. 

Information you can add includes: 

• Hotel and other accommodation reservations
• Flight bookings
• Car rentals
• Restaurant bookings 
• Meetings 

TripIt also shows predicted weather conditions during your trip to help plan activities and what to pack. Additionally, TripIt is currently offering Covid-19 travel guidance. You can see the carbon footprint of the trip along with ways to offset emissions too.   

How do I email an itinerary to Tripit? 

To email travel information to TripIt, forward all travel plan confirmation emails from your email to [email protected] . 

You can also agree to let TripIt scan your email and add travel plans relating to your trip as you receive email confirmations. If doing this, make sure the email account you create your TripIt account with is the one you use for travel confirmation emails. 

How to add itinerary to TripIt

Once in your trip itinerary, click “Add Plan,” and you can choose a range of things to add under the subheadings “Transportation,” “Activities,” and “Other.”

What are the Benefits of Tripit? 

Easy to Add Transport, Accommodation, and Activity Details

When testing the app for this TripIt review, we found that adding information to your trip itinerary was very easy. The process of manually adding transport, accommodation, and activities, and forwarding confirmation emails is straightforward and low hassle. 

Allowing TripIt to scan your email makes the process even simpler as they will automatically add things relating to your trip to your itinerary as you receive confirmation emails. 

Once your itinerary is created, it’s also very easy to understand. 

Automatic Reminders and Updates 

If you opt for TripIt Pro, you’ll receive updates and reminders about your trip. These updates make staying on top of what is going on simple. These notifications include suggestions as to when you should leave to reach a location on time, transport updates, and much more.

Can Use via Mobile Device or Online 

You can conveniently access TripIt both via web browser and an app for mobile devices. Having a mobile app is especially handy as travelers can check their itinerary on the go.   

Does TripIt Have Any Drawbacks? 

Too many notifications and emails.

TripIt sends a lot of emails and notifications, especially if you use TripIt Pro. They send travel updates for almost any activity relating to your travel, many of which you don’t need to know. They also often provide the same updates multiple times. 

This issue results in user inboxes becoming full and can mean they miss other important emails. You can turn off email and other notifications. However, you won’t get notified of significant updates, which is one of the purposes of the app.   

Alerts Can Be Incorrect  

When looking at customer feedback for this TripIt review, we found that some negative reviewers of TripIt mention that incorrect alerts relating to their travel plans were given. In some cases, users have even missed their flights because of this! If you choose to use TripIt Pro, always double-check the alerts before acting on them. 

Imported Trip Details Can Be Incorrect 

Users have also said that automatically added trip information has been imported incorrectly. For example, confirmations not related to the trip have been added along with duplicates. 

TripIt Pro is Expensive 

More and more travel planning software is offering all premium features for free. Therefore, paying $49 a year to access TripIt Pro is quite expensive. For example, Wanderlog offers a host of benefits, including itinerary creation and activity suggestions, at no cost. 

Comparable to Google Docs and Sheets 

Some say that as TripIt offers basic features, it’s comparable to simply adding your travel info to a Google Doc, Sheet, or other similar document. 

Slightly Boring and Outdated Website 

TripIt’s website, and to some extent the app, is relatively outdated and features a basic design. In addition, some of the website pages don’t load properly or don’t redirect as they should. 

This dated user interface ultimately affects usability, and there are many alternatives to TripIt with more functional (and fun) websites and apps. 

Does Not Suggest Places to Visit During Your Trip 

TripIt is simply a place to store information relating to your trip that you have already planned. TripIt doesn’t give any suggestions on where to stay, what transport route to take, or what activities to do at your destination. 

This is a big disadvantage as many alternatives to TripIt do offer suggestions. For example, Wanderlog allows you to create travel itineraries with information you already have planned. But we also offer lots of suggestions to make your trip even better. If you like any of our activity suggestions, you can easily add them to your itinerary. 

This TripIt flaw could occur because the software was originally intended more for business travel than for vacation travel. 

Is TripIt Worth It? 

Having used the software for this TripIt review, we would say that there are benefits to using TripIt. However, there are better options on the market. For example, other travel planning apps , like Wanderlog, offer suggestions on accommodation and activities in your destination. 

Despite this, those that have used TripIt seem to be satisfied. The company receives 4.1/5 Stars based on 220+ Facebook reviews.

Positive reviewers like:

• The convenience of the app
• How all their travel info is in one place
• The fact that alerts and updates are offered, for example, updates on flight information  

One particularly happy user says, “ My [favorite] app! Especially love how the pro version keeps me updated on flight changes including gate updates and delays. Easy to forward. Easy to forward emails from travel Booking confirmations to create your plans. Seeing all my planned trips [on] one screen is what keeps me sane every day when I’m dreaming about my next holiday!”

On the other hand, negative reviewers mention: 

• Trip details not getting imported correctly
• Notifications, especially relating to flights, being incorrect 
• Receiving too many emails and notifications, many of which say the same thing 

Another question many people have when considering using TripIt is: “Is TripIt Pro worth it?” If set on using TripIt, the Pro version is a good choice for those that travel a lot. 

However, the only real added benefit is alerts and updates relating to travel plans. For the most part, you can set those up directly for most things. For example, many airlines will text or email with flight updates.  As mentioned, there are also many free alternatives to TripIt Pro (like Wanderlog) So, paying $49 a year isn’t necessary. In fact, with Wanderlog, you have access to all the features offered by TripIt. Plus, you can access activity suggestions and benefit from our more modern and user-friendly interface, all at no cost. Sounds good? Start using the Wanderlog travel planner today!

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You will never travel without this app again

TripIt: Travel Planner 4+

Trip & holiday organiser.

• #61 in Travel
• 4.8 • 39.4K Ratings
• Offers In-App Purchases

Screenshots

Description.

Join nearly 20 million travellers on the world's highest-rated travel planner app for trip and itinerary organisation! TRAVEL ITINERARY As soon as you book a flight, hotel, rental car or other travel plan, simply forward it to [email protected] and we’ll automatically add it to your comprehensive itinerary. Seamlessly sync travel plans to your calendar or share them with anyone you choose. RESERVATION DETAILS No more frantically searching through your inbox for important details about your travel plans, like when your flight gets in or the confirmation number for your hotel. Find them in a flash with TripIt – even when you’re offline. Access this information hands-free with Siri shortcuts! Upload PDFs, photos, boarding passes, digital passport QR codes and more to your travel itinerary so you can track everything in one place. MAPS AND DIRECTIONS The TripIt app includes all the map-related tools you’ll need on the go (it’s great for road trips). - Plot out your entire trip on Google Maps or Apple Maps - Quickly pull up transportation options and driving directions between two points (powered by Rome2Rio) - Easily locate the closest restaurants, parking, cashpoints and more TRIPIT PRO For roughly the price of checking your bags, upgrade to TripIt Pro to access exclusive travel perks all year long. When you upgrade, TripIt Pro will do all this for you (and more!): • Share real-time flight status alerts and check-in reminders • Notify you if you're eligible for a refund if your fare price drops after booking • Track your reward programmes and alert you if points are expiring • Navigate you through the airport with interactive maps Your iTunes account will be charged when the purchase is confirmed. Your TripIt Pro subscription will be good for 1 year, and automatically renew each year at $48.99 unless you turn off auto-renew at least 24 hours before your term ends. To manage your subscription, including auto-renew, visit iTunes Account Settings. FREE TRIPIT PRO FOR SAP CONCUR USERS If your company uses SAP Concur, you may receive complimentary TripIt Pro benefits that most travellers have to pay for. Make sure you’re connected to TripIt to get itineraries created for you as soon as you book, and receive a complimentary subscription to TripIt Pro, if you’re eligible. For more information, see the TripIt User Agreement (https://www.tripit.com/uhp/userAgreement) and Privacy Policy (https://www.tripit.com/uhp/privacyPolicy).

Version 18.4.1

• Introducing our newest TripIt Pro feature, Risk Alerts! Get proactive alerts about events that have the potential to disrupt your trip, so you can modify your itinerary if needed and still enjoy your trip. Alerts may cover inclement weather, unplanned airport closures, protests or strikes, public health events and more. Enable these push notifications by toggling “Risks and Disruptions” to “On” within Settings.

Ratings and Reviews

39.4K Ratings

So, so good. The best itinerary app ever

This app has made my life so much easier, and I couldn’t be more impressed with it. I travel a lot and sort all the bookings out myself through multiple different websites, which previously used to make keeping on top of my itinerary a bit of a chore, especially when travelling in areas outside of wifi / mobile data. Tripit automatically retrieves all my booking info through my email without me having to do anything at all, and compiles it into a sleek, user-friendly, easy-to-navigate itinerary that updates itself in real time with gate and terminal info and saves for offline use. It is also quick and easy to check in online for flights through the app, and it retrieves and copies all the booking confirmation codes for you to save you having to dig around in your email for them. Sharing travel info with friends and family is easy and very clear. I am very very happy with how much work this app saves me and how much smoother it makes all my travelling. I have a couple of suggestions for improvements in the future... recently I cancelled a hotel booking and it wasn’t as easy to remove a cancelled item from my itinerary as I’d hoped. I had another one but I can’t remember what it is now, can’t have been that good I suppose. Cheers Tripit for making my itinerant life a breeze.

Excellent App

Have been using this app for several years now. Excellent. What would be a good addition (unless it is there and I have missed it) is a copy option to repeat a previous entry into the same trip. I can see you can copy into a new trip but I can’t find an option to copy the same information to the next day for example or to another location in the same travel itinerary. I often just add an activity with nothing more than a title of LEISURE for when I dont have a specific thing planned at the time of creating the itinerary. For example staying in one location for seven days and I just create the LEISURE activity title for each of the seven days. It would be great to create one and say be able to copy that entry forward for several days. Another Suggestion: Option to move the entire trip to new dates for those occaisons where you need to cancel but still want to take the trip exactly as created but on a later start date. Auto adjusting all dates would be useful. COVID19 is a great example of having to cancel now but want to do the exact trip in the future. Great App though and I use it all the time for all our travel, business and pleasure.

Fantastic travel app

Amazing app for automatically storing all travel & accommodation details in the one place and giving a simple overview of an upcoming trip as well as recording all previous trips. You can set it to monitor your email inbox and it will add flights/accommodation/etc automatically, alternately you can forward any email you want it to file and it identifies the data in the email and adds it to your trip. They have perfected the free vs paid model - something that many apps fail dismally. Keep doing this well and you will keep growing in the future. The free version (which I have used for many years) works completely without restricting your use of the app or bombarding you with ads or videos. The paid version has extra features which benefit frequent travellers (as well as those that are time-poor) such as advising of gate changes and if lower fares become available for a flight, potentiality saving them much more money than the subscription price.

Subscriptions

App privacy.

The developer, TripIt , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer's privacy policy .

Data Linked to You

The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:

• Contact Info
• User Content
• Identifiers

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

• Diagnostics

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish

• TripIt Pro (1 Year) $77.99
• Developer Website
• App Support
• Privacy Policy

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How the TripIt app Makes Your Travels Easier

Written By: The Planet D

Travel Planning

Updated On: January 17, 2021

We first starting using the TripIt app two years ago to help manage our travel itineraries and once we signed up we wondered, why didn’t we do this sooner?

Table of Contents

TripIt App Explained

TripIt is a travel app that organizes all your travel plans into an itinerary and puts all your trip details in one place. To set it up all you have to do is sign up for your account with the email address that you receive your various travel confirmations in, and the app will scan for these and add them automatically to your account. If it happens to miss an alert or if you prefer to opt out of the feature , you can forward your reservation to  [email protected] . When it receives all your travel plans, it magically transforms your upcoming travels into a master itinerary.

Once you’ve set up the email forwarding service, (remember, if you don’t want to forward automatically, you can do it manually) you rarely have to think about it again. We simply get an email message saying “We noticed your email and added it to your itinerary.” I then click on “view itinerary” on my iPhone and it takes me to the app with my entire itinerary laid out for me.

See: Continuing Balance with ThePlanetD on TripIt

I get alerts for car rentals, flights, hotel reservations, and we’ve even received an alert for events. The beauty of TripIt is you can book your travels anywhere be it through different booking sites like Air Canada, American Express, or Expedia.com, any travel confirmation email I have will be picked up by TripIt using my associated email account. It’s so simple.

How does the TripIt app make your travels easier?

Terminal information.

Often times we aren’t sure what terminal we’re flying from. When the airport parking shuttle asks us and we’re not sure, we can take a quick look at our itinerary and see. TripIt tells us what terminal we’re flying from and it often knows the gate well before anyone else.

TripIt Pro Perks

The basic plan for TripIt is free and it is great as is, but TripIt Pro takes your travel planning to another level and it is only $49 per year.

Gate Information

If you’ve ever flown through London Heathrow, you know what a pain it is to wait for your gate to be announced. It’s a huge airport and often times they announce the gate just a few minutes before boarding and you have to run to the opposite side of the airport! I’ll never forget sitting in the lounge waiting for our gate to be announced and getting an alert from TripIt well before it was posted on the airport monitor. We casually made our way to the gate well before anyone else and because we had airline status, we could board the plane before most people even arrived. Our travels were made easier by giving us time to relax and settle in.

Delays and Cancelation Alerts

We fly a lot and there have been many times when we’ve had tight connections in airports . Recently we had a flight from South Dakota to Toronto with a narrow 25 minute connection in Minneapolis. We were nervous that we’d miss our connection, but when we landed, we received an alert from TripIt that the flight was delayed, so we could depart the plane in a cool and calm manner knowing that we’d make our flight home with time to spare.

We’ve been sitting in the waiting area of our flight that was scheduled to start boarding in a few minutes when we’ve received an alert informing us of a gate change from the TripIt app. We’ve been halfway down the hall when we finally hear the announcement that the gate has changed and as usual, we were at the front of the line boarding the plane while the rest of the crowd is still rushing to the new departure lounge. It’s put us ahead of the crowd on several occasions.

Early bird Alerts

Our TripIt Pro plan sends us alerts 24 hours ahead of our flight to remind us to check in. When you are a frequent flier like us, this is an excellent perk. We often have the opportunity for seat upgrades and being first to check in helps us secure the best seats. If we happen to have terrible seats, we can set an alert in the seat tracker to let us know when other seats come available. We can beat other people to the punch.

Just yesterday we checked in for a flight only to find there were no seats available together. We set up a seat tracker alert and within a few hours TripIt let us know that two seats became available. We knew before anyone else, so we went to our flight and changed seats.

Read: 1o Tips to Managing Work/Life Balance

Even when we land TripIt is there to help. We don’t have to check the monitors to find out where our bags are, TripIt lets us know where to go.

TripIt app Makes Travel Easy

I love making my travels easier and more relaxed. Travel shouldn’t be stressful and the TripIt app helps make everything easier. When you travel as much as we do, it helps to have all your travel plans in one place. Sure we could use a Google calendar, but that calendar doesn’t tell us our flight details, times, terminals and gates or any of our hotel information. TripIt puts it all in one place and we can check it anytime anywhere.

Sign up for the TripIt app for your smart phone now and start making your travels easier. New customers receive a 30 day trial of TripIt Pro

Read Next: 9 iPhone photography apps to Create Kick Ass Shots

This article is in partnership with TripIt but like everything on ThePlanetD, we would never endorse or recommend something if we don’t use it and love it ourselves. 

Travel Planning Resources

Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly.

Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner

Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor

Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO . 

Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it. Here is what we recommend:

• Allianz - Occasional Travelers.
• Medjet - Global air medical transport and travel security.

Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.

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About The Planet D

Dave Bouskill and Debra Corbeil are the owners and founders of The Planet D. After traveling to 115 countries, on all 7 continents over the past 13 years they have become one of the foremost experts in travel. Being recognized as top travel bloggers and influencers by the likes of Forbes Magazine , the Society of American Travel Writers and USA Today has allowed them to become leaders in their field.

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7 thoughts on “How the TripIt app Makes Your Travels Easier”

If you need to get to Libya, let me know. I might be able to help you out.

Great profile of TripIt! We’ve been using this religiously since May, 2009 – a few weeks after they launched their first smart phone app. During the past 6 years, TripIt has captured and cataloged 91 trips for us, and all of it is available online to look back on and reference.

Beyond the automated features, we manually enter a LOT of stuff that may not have an email confirmation – restaurant reservations, activities we’ve booked, etc. One of the great features is the simple Notes option. We will enter lists of restaurants we’ve vetted, or things to do, or info about Visa requirements – just about anything we have researched about a trip ahead of time that we want to have at our fingertips while we’re traveling.

One more note – most of our travel is outside the US, and all of the data stored in TripIt can be accessed without an Internet connection. This is a huge benefit.

Thanks again for posting this great review!

I had an experience in a connecting airport where my gate was changed 4 times after I arrived at the airport from my first flight. I didn’t find this out until I arrived at each gate and then had to go to another gate. They were far apart and I had to take shuttles for some of the changes. TripIt sure would have helped here. I use Passbook on my iPhone which is great, but by adding TripIt to my apps, they will work well together. I am always looking for apps to make traveling easier. Why not take advantage of the age of technology.

That’s the worst! We’ve had stuff like that happen too. It’s great to have a heads up in advance. I have to say, we’ve saved a lot of time with TripIt. We’ve been sitting in the lounge listening to the flight attendants talking when we’ve already received a flight delayed message from TripIt and the staff doesn’t even know yet. I’ve heard them a good 5 minutes after our alert finally say, we just got notice that the flight was delayed. I wanted to say to them, I already knew that!

Hey Dave, It seems to be a very useful app. I must use this while travelling to hilly areas. Thanks for sharing this wonderful app.

Oh, I like the look of this. I’m so stuck in my ways I still have a wad of printed documents and a Word document on my laptop!

This is for you then Airanwen. I tend to be stuck in my ways as well, things have to be really simple for me to make a change and this app is simple. Hope you give it a try!

TripIt Pro Review: The Must-Have Travel App

So when you’re freshly back from a trip away, what’s the first thing you do? Have a hot bath? Order a delightfully unhealthy takeaway, because you’re “too tired to cook”? Sadly weep over your souvenirs? Well, I do all those things too, but after my trip to Prague, I added “write a TripIt Pro review” to my list. Because this is something that every traveller needs to own in order to make your trip completely stress-free, and if you suffer from travel anxiety, it’s an absolute MUST .

Now, you might be thinking to yourself, “but isn’t TripIt just some travel organizer app? I’m really organised anyway! I even have all my fluids in a plastic bag before I get to the airport! Why do I need an organizer app?” Well, I can understand where you’re coming from – that’s what most travel organizer apps out there do. You enter your flight details, and the app records them… and that’s about it. However, TripIt Pro completely blows this out of the water, by providing so much information which is going to be useful for you before you leave, when you’re at the airport, and once you get to your destination. Seriously, I’m never travelling without it again. Prague was by far the smoothest, most successful travel experience I’ve ever had .

Let’s look at all the ways that TripIt Pro is going to make your life much easier!

TripIt Pro: Before You Leave

Obviously you’ll want to download the app first of all – find it here on  TripIt’s website!

Now, before you sign up to the Pro features, consider this – do you own or work for a company which uses SAP Concur? Because if you do, you may already have a complimentary subscription to TripIt Pro! Which makes your life even easier; yay! All you have to do is visit the SAP Concur App Center to connect your account; check out all the details  here .

Easy trip imports

Next, you’ll be wanting to import your trip details. You can do this manually, by entering your departure and arrival airport, date of travel, and flight numbers – but really, wouldn’t you like to save that time? So TripIt Pro makes it easy for you. You can enter your email address into the app, and after giving it authorization, it’ll scan your emails for your flight confirmations and automatically import it into the app. It’s ridiculously simple! It even found my hotel booking confirmation and added that too, which gave me some BRILLIANT local information specific to where I was staying – but I’ll get to that in a minute!

If the idea of an app scanning your emails sounds kinda scary, please don’t be put off – it’s totally secure. It’s an automated process which only looks for emails from travel-related companies, so there won’t be some person looking through your receipts for leopard-print mankinis. Your secrets are safe! Plus, if you want, you can let it scan your emails until it finds the details and imports them, then go to Settings and flip a switch to turn the scans off until you next need it.

You can also forward your confirmation emails to an address at TripIt, which will then add it to your itinerary, so you have plenty of options!

Sharing with friends and family

There’s some other awesome options you can use here. Firstly, you can set up the app to share with your Inner Circle. So if you want to keep loved ones updated with your flight progress, or just make your friends insanely jealous, TripIt Pro will send them nifty updates on how you’re getting on. No more struggling to find a phone signal to send that “I’ve landed!” text message! You can also keep track of all your flight reward points, you frequent traveller you.

Busting travel anxiety

Now, on to one of my very favourite features, and a big reason to why this app is an absolute must for travel anxiety sufferers. One of the big anxieties when travelling is whether you’re going to be safe. You can look at the hotel reviews on  TripAdvisor  and see all kinds of glowing reviews, only to find that the area around it is  awful . We’ve all had that one trip where the hotel is fine, but it’s in a sea of strip joints, surrounded by dark streets with shady types hanging out on them. The kind of area where you you start keeping a good grip on your  personal alarm  when you return to the hotel at night.

Well, TripIt Pro does away with this. By scanning your hotel information, it gives you a Neighborhood Safety Score. It looks at the crime statistics for the area your hotel is in, and breaks it down into categories, such as physical harm, crimes against female travellers, and more. Guys, this is AWESOME . It takes away that anxiety of not knowing what to expect: if your hotel looks to be in a dodgy area, you can make other arrangements, or at least know what to expect and budget taking public transport or taxis to deliver you closer to your door. This feature alone makes gives it my immediate and complete recommendation – and I haven’t even started on all the other anxiety-saving features yet!

TripIt Pro: On The Day Of Travel

As much as I love the features you can use when you first book your trip, TripIt Pro completely kicks ass in the hours before you leave, and on the day you’re travelling. Why, you may ask? Well, let’s have a look!

Flight Status Alerts

Firstly, make sure that your flight status alerts are switched ON. You do not want to miss out on these, because they’re about to make your life oh so easy !

Check-in alerts

I love this, because I’m the kind of fool who’ll forget to do an online check-in, then turn up all at the airport only to queue for an age. No chance of that with TripIt Pro looking after you: it’ll send you an alert that online check-in is available (which is awesome, because it often varies from airline to airline), and you can tap a button to take you to the appropriate page. It’ll even tell you what the weather is going to be like , so you don’t turn up wearing that cute sundress and sandals when there’s two feet of snow on the ground. How handy is that?

Go Now alerts

Not sure when you need to leave for the airport? Enter your location, and it’ll tell you when to start driving . If you’re going by public transport, it’ll give you a list of transport options, plus the price, in order for you to navigate your way there.

Airport maps

I think we can all agree that airports can be one of the most confusing places in the world, especially when you’re trying to find something in a hurry. First you need to find your check-in desk or bag drop, then there’s finding somewhere to get a bottle of water after security, then there’s the toilets, then there’s that last-minute purchase of a hat which you totally won’t use. Or it could just be the layout – for example, I was really confused at Prague airport, because the security checks were located right by the gate, rather than after the passport checks. One look at TripIt Pro’s airport maps eliminates all that pesky worry!

They’re brilliant, detailed maps . Plus, on larger airports (I’ve used London Heathrow as my example), you can filter it down to a single terminal, rather than having to squish an entire airport map on to your screen. You can also zoom in as much as you please, should you want to really examine that luxury airport lounge. And speaking of…

Airport lounges

TripIt Pro gives you you chance to live the high life, by detailing all of the airport lounges which may be available to you, the price of entry, and all the nifty gadgets you can find within. No more looking wistfully at the closed-off Eden that is an airport lounge, staring at relaxed travellers calmly working on their laptops in comfy chairs, whilst you perch on your backpack surrounded by wailing babies. This is definitely a feature that I’ll be using on future travels, especially as my boyfriend gets quite stressed by loud noises and general hectic activity. Even better, TripIt Pro provides you with a $25 credit for LoungeBuddy, so you can have a relaxing time courtesy of the app!

Live flight alerts

Even if you use no other feature on the app, TripIt Pro is completely worth it for the flight alerts. They are SO FAST. Trust me, if your flight is delayed, or if your gate changes, TripIt will let you know even before the airport monitors do . When I flew to Prague, I could only find a seat in the terminal from which I couldn’t see any of the screens (it was in a bar though; don’t feel too bad for me). No problemo. I put my phone on the table in front of me, and when TripIt alerted me as to which gate I was flying from, I was one of the first in the queue.

TripIt Pro is downright magnificent when you’re at the airport. It’s like having a guiding hand which is keeping an eye on you with every step. You won’t be late, you won’t get lost, you won’t get stressed. It’s as perfect an airport experience as you can have .

TripIt Pro: When You Arrive

Thinking that your TripIt Pro experience ends as soon as your flight takes off? Not so! The app still has some tricks up its sleeve which will make your life easier on arrival !

Baggage carousel location

I. Freaking. Loved. This.

One of my big anxiety points when flying is finding the correct baggage carousel. I hate the waiting, having to stop in the middle of a busy terminal to check a screen and find out which number carousel my bag will be on, getting trampled by people who are desperate to be off and on the way to their hotel. Anything that makes this part of flying easier will be a-ok with me.

Imagine my surprise when on landing, I switch my phone off airplane mode, and have a message pop up from TripIt Pro telling me which carousel to go to . I haven’t even got off the plane (indeed, it was still moving), and I know exactly where to go already.

If you could marry an app, then I would’ve done so at that point.

Destination tips

TripIt Pro is still looking after you, even after you reach your hotel!

My favourite feature is the Navigator – you can simply tap one button, and it’ll tell you how to get from your current location to your hotel . This is soooo useful – not only can you use it to get from the airport to your hotel (it gave me exact directions for the bus and tram journey I needed to do), but every time afterwards during your trip. Wandered off the beaten path, and need to get back? One tap, and you know the way! And if it involves public transport, it’ll tell you how much cash you’ll need to part with.

But what about if you’re at your hotel, or anywhere else in town, and you need something? Maybe an ATM, or a grocery store? Or even a bar or restaurant for a quick pit stop? TripIt Pro has even got your back covered here. Give those icons a quick tap, and it’ll calculate where your nearest ones are , and show you on a map.

TripIt Pro: The travel app you won’t want to travel without

My trip to Prague was the first time I’d used TripIt in any capacity, and I just instantly fell in love with it. Even though it’s a paid subscription, which I usually hate, I can see myself subscribing to the Pro features for many years to come. It costs only $49 per year, and it just makes everything so much easier! So many features just blew me away with their usefulness and practicality , just as the flight alerts and baggage carousel info on landing. They’re real time savers, and anything that simplifies the airport experience has to be good. Plus, there’s features such as refunds and alternative flights which I haven’t even had to use yet – judging by the quality of the rest of the app, I have no doubt that they’ll be simple to use and convenient.

But what struck me in particular is how this can be a real life-saver for anxious travellers . A lot of people are completely freaked out by airports, or the thought of getting lost or attacked abroad. My own mother is one of them; my boyfriend generally despises airports even though he loves travelling. TripIt Pro completely eliminates those fears. Neighborhood checks, in-destination navigators, airport maps, lounge access – these are all things with have a massive value to an anxious traveller.

I would recommend it in a heartbeat to anyone who has anxiety, and particularly suffers during the chaos of travel. By smoothing out the hectic events, the unknown, the random elements of travel, you can significantly improve your experience and your life simply by downloading an app.

Give TripIt Pro a try (you can do a 30-day free trial if you’re still not sure), and you’ll never look back!

Disclaimer: the lovely people at TripIt gave me a complimentary copy of the Pro app so I could test it out, but I’ve received no payment for this review. So you can be assured that everything I’ve said here is my honest opinion! Yay!

Enjoyed this review? Want to share it with your loved ones, pals, or arch nemesis? Click those shiny share buttons, or pin the below image to Pinterest!

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10 comments.

I love using Tripit! It’s so great for keeping my whole travel schedule in one place, and for storing notes on all my different destinations. It also makes it SO easy to share my travel itinerary with my Mom, because she always asks for it. The only issue I’ve ever had is that the online version tends to shut down regularly and you lose anything you haven’t saved yet.

thatanxioustraveller

Same with my mother! I’m going to have to download it to her phone, so she can watch my progress next time! 🙂

This was such an insightful article! I have never used this app but I am surely going to give it a try.

Alright, you convinced me 🙂 I downloaded it! Going to play around with the features. I needed a travel organizer. Thanks so much for sharing this app.

This app has so many useful features including unheard baggage carousel location. It seems I have to give it a try! Thanks for sharing!

I have never heard of this app before, but you’ve convinced me for the airport maps and travel alerts alone! That looks soooo useful! 😀

Michelle Stelly

I used to always use this app but I have stopped. It looks like it has been updated with awesome features! I will have to redownload it. 😀

elena nikolova

Interesting I usually use the standard app, but I like the idea of having the airport map on my phone since i always miss some shops I want to check out. 🙂

Jessie Festa

One of my all-time favorite apps! I never travel without it. 🙂

safaritravelplus

It looks like something very useful and worth installing will be trying it out.

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TripIt Review: Final look at the old app in a new era [2024]

From one of the best travel planning apps out there to an outdated and pricey travel planner. If you're wondering if you should use their app for your next trip, you'll definitely want to catch up on what we really think of TripIt. Oh, we also provide better alternatives!

The idea of a vacation after a long term of work or studies can easily excite any traveler. It’s all fun and games until you realize how exhaustive travel planning can be when it comes to scheduling and organizing tasks.

But, here's the good news: We've found these best travel planner apps that can help you create a full-fledged itinerary with just a few taps, so you don’t have to pull your brains out doing it yourself!

TripIt travel planner is one of them. While it's primarily used for business travel, it can be used for vacation travel as well. 

In this article, we are going to review this travel planner and find out whether it delivers what it promises! If you are looking for planning vacation travel, however, we recommend using Pilot , a great travel planner app we built specifically for vacation planning.

Let’s start the review of TripIt with what exactly are they.

What is TripIt?

TripIt is a travel planning app that is designed to create itineraries by integrating all your travel details in one place. It helps travelers organize, manage, and track itineraries in a hassle-free manner. But if you know already, there are other travel apps out there offering similar services. 

So, how does the TripIt app stand out from the crowd?

As a travel planner, TripIt does a bit more than allow you to create itineraries for your favorite destinations. It makes sure you get to your destination on time and enjoy your tour by avoiding obstacles and making use of opportunities on your way. All and other additional useful features, with a pricey premium subscription, unfortunately.

Is the TripIt app worth your time, and should you upgrade to a TripIt pro if you’re an avid traveler? Let’s find out how and if TripIt is worth it!

Is TripIt free?

The short answer is "it depends". 

There are 4 different plans for TripIt depending on your needs. The basic plan is free to use but offers a limited-service of additional features that can benefit frequent travelers. So, how much does TripIt Pro cost?

TripIt Pro costs $49 annually, with per-user license plans for TripIt for teams and up. Below’s a rundown of TripIt’s subscription plans and the features that they offer.

TripIt Subscription Plans

Still not sure if you should get TripIt Pro or just stick to the basic plan? We'll give you a rundown of all the features that is covered in each plan so that you can be well informed before you make the purchase.

The basic plan is free to use. Its features are limited to gathering all travel-related details into an itinerary. It’s recommended for starters or people who don’t travel very often. Here are the features offered in their basic subscription:

• Organized Trip planner + master itinerary
• Cross-platform access
• Auto-import plans straight from your inbox
• Syncs plans onto your calendar
• Group trip planner
• Important travel information
• COVID-19 travel guidance
• Shows Transportation options (includes airport and terminal maps)
• Shows neighborhood safety scores
• Nearby place recommendations
• Tracks and summarizes your travel stats
• Carbon footprint and carbon offsetting options
• Upload up to 3 documents per trip

TripIt Pro:

The paid version costs $49 annually and offers additional features that come in handy for regular travelers. The additional features that you can’t find in the basic subscription include:

• Seats, fares, and points tracker
• Real-time flight alerts
• Check-in reminders + commute times to the airport
• Shows terminal and gate reminders and security wait times
• Airport and terminal/gate navigator
• Country-specific information
• Faster security lines with CLEAR membership
• Travel your rewards program
• Updates friends and family on your travel plans
• Upload up to 25 documents per trip

TripIt for Teams:

The version is great for companies to create and share trip plans related to business trips with their employees. This version is more of a centralized control center for travel operations. 

TripIt for Travel Management Companies:

The specialized version is geared towards travel management companies (TMCs). If you are traveling with one of their partners, you’ll be able to access and change your plans through the TripIt app anytime on any device! You can also access your TMC contact information on the app and contact them for any questions.

What are the Major Features Offered by TripIt?

There are many features that TripIt and TripIt pro offers, but here are the major features that a subscription to TripIt gets you:

• The ability to create multiple itineraries that include all travel-related details from flights, accommodation to car rentals
• Displays interesting travel stats, total carbon emissions of your past flights, neighborhood score, and nearby attractions of places you visit

TripIt Pro has additional paid features that include,

• Flight status, real-time alerts on flight delays, transportation options, and alternative flights 
• Rewards point tracking, seat tracking, and VIP travel benefits to help you save money
• Detailed maps of airports

How Does TripIt Work?

Once a user creates an account on TripIt, it will form itineraries based on confirmation emails regarding flights, accommodation, and other bookings. These details can be gathered automatically by the app from the inbox or manually forwarded to TripIt’s email address by the user. Once done, you can share it with other people, edit it, or sync it with your calendar. 

In order to view your trips, others need to have a TripIt account as well. You can sign up for a 30-day free trial to use Tripit Pro, but you still have to enter your credit card details.

How to send your itinerary to TripIt?

The first step to generating your itinerary from TripIt is to forward all of your bookings to their system. This step is super simple! After booking your flight, hotel, rental, or other tickets and reservations, forward the confirmation email to [email protected] . They will instantly generate or add the reservation or ticket into your own master itinerary.

You can also set up their auto-import email services so that they’ll be able to automatically scan through your emails for any reservation or tickets and add them to your itinerary! Find this feature on the home page of your TripIt app.

How to cancel your TripIt Pro Subscription?

Say you’ve upgraded your TripIt to their TripIt Pro Subscription and are not impressed with the features that come with your subscription. It’s super easy to modify or cancel your subscription. Here are the steps

• Make sure you’re signed in to your account
• Click on your username.
• Go to “Settings”, then “Billing Information”

In this section, you’ll be able to modify your billing information as well as cancel your current subscription to TripIt Pro. TripIt will not offer you a refund of your annual fee, so make sure you cancel your subscription or turn off auto-renewal before the renewal date!

If you’re on the TripIt Pro free trial and would not like to get charged the annual fee, make sure you follow the steps above to cancel your subscription before your free trial ends.

Is TripIt Pro worth it?

If you’re a frequent traveler and would like to have the added benefit of real-time alerts and updates to your travel plans, it’s definitely worth it! 

However, for 49$ a year, the features that come with TripIt Pro subscription does not seem worth it to us. For example, we’ve found that many of the alerts that TripIt sends out are a mere duplicate of alerts airlines sent to travelers. These TripIt alerts can also sometimes be inaccurate, which may lead to frustrations.

There are other alternatives out there that offer more document uploads, group planning, trip updates, and organized itineraries, such as our Pilot travel planning app!

Here's a rundown of all the pros and cons of TripIt in detail.

What We Like About TripIt

Automation .

With the auto-import feature, you have to invest little to no effort to create an itinerary because TripIt will handle most of it. This is an impressive feature for busy professionals who don’t have time to sort emails and send them to TripIt manually.

Convenience 

We think TripIt does a great job in bringing all vital details regarding your trip into one place. You don’t have to go through the hassle of rummaging your bag to find out reservation receipts or scour through emails to retrieve flight information as everything is there in the app. 

Useful Features

TripIt walks an extra mile in certain aspects. Its features like neighborhood safety score help you stay clear of shady areas or be more vigilant when you are touring in cities like Mexico. It also tracks your flights’ carbon footprint and suggests ways to offset them, which is awesome.

Prompt Alerts

For TripIt premium users, the app is really useful when it comes to receiving real-time notifications on flight delays, cancellations, and gate changes – sometimes, even before the airlines! It even alarms users when the departure time is close, so you won’t miss the flight.

Ability to Plan Trips in Groups

You can invite your friends and family members to join TripIt and plan your travel journeys together. Users can share their itineraries with others and grant access to contribute or edit details. It also makes it easy to share important trip-related details with multiple people.

Why TripIt is Outdated

Premium version is expensive.

If you are not a frequent traveler, the TripIt premium version may not be a cost-effective option because the free version is equipped with most of the essential features of a trip planner. In comparison, most more modern travel planning tools, such as Pilot, are a free service.

Too Many (Annoying) Emails

Some users have complained TripIt spamming the inbox with excessive and unnecessary emails about every single update. It can be annoying as the whole purpose of using a travel app is to minimize clutter. But, you can manage it by changing the settings via the desktop app. TripIt is owned by SAP, a large and old company that isn't exactly known for being "customer-centric."

It isn't "fun"

TripIt was built for business travel, not vacation travel, meaning it lacks a lot of features that would have you replacing Google Docs, Spreadsheets, etc. You're frankly still better off using those tools than TripIt in its current iteration (that's why we built Pilot). It can be useful, but there's little delight or fun in using the tool, since it wasn't built for that. 

That's fine if that's what you're looking for, but we believe that travel planning should be a fun experience given the anticipation for your trip!

Issues with Auto-Import 

Although the app works well most of the time, users have encountered some issues where the app has failed to import confirmation details automatically, especially if it’s a small hotel or rental service. In this case, you have to enter the details manually.

Dull and Dated Web Interface

Compared to the mobile version, the web app is particularly outdated. It can certainly shine better with a good upgrade. It can be useful, but it's certainly not "cool". This unfortunately also results in a subpar user experience compared to more modern apps.

Inaccurate Alerts (sometimes)

There tends to be rare inaccuracies related to flight delay alerts and information related to alternative flights. But, this is a small percentage of users. As a rule of thumb, it’s always better to double-check with the airlines regarding these matters – so you won’t miss a flight.

Is TripIt Worth it?

Now for the final question, is TripIt actually any good, and if so, should you pay for their pro subscriptions?

TripIt is a great app if your main concern is having all travel confirmation and reservation details organized in one place, especially with regards to flights.

But, if you are looking for a more modern trip planner that focuses on the “experiences” of your trips like where to go, what to see, and do, then you need a better option. Besides, the antiquated look doesn't really match the excitement of traveling!

I certainly think there are better free options to use than TripIt, so for that instance, We believe that you should not sign up for its pro version unless you're a frequent or business traveler looking for a way to stay organized.

Our Rating: 3.8/5 

• Automated itinerary.
• Convenient all-in-one itinerary
• Cool and useful extra features
• Instant alerts
• Group trip planning is available.
• Expensive premium subscription
• Bland design and user experience
• Very “official”, lacks fun
• Spams emails with notifications.
• Issues with auto-import and inaccurate alerts.

A newer alternative to TripIt

We also didn't think TripIt was enough. That's why we've created our own social trip planner, Pilot!

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• Travel Tips

How To Plan A Trip: An Easy Travel Planning Guide

Published: November 16, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Rodi Kindle

• Plan Your Trip

Introduction

Planning a trip can be both exciting and overwhelming. Whether you’re embarking on a solo adventure, a romantic getaway, or a family vacation, careful planning is crucial to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience. From choosing the perfect destination to booking flights and accommodations, travel planning requires careful consideration of various factors. In this easy travel planning guide, we’ll walk you through the essential steps to plan your trip effectively.

Travel planning allows you to make the most of your time and resources, ensuring that you don’t miss out on any must-visit attractions or experiences. By following these recommendations and tips, you’ll be well-prepared to create a memorable and stress-free travel itinerary.

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or this is your first time planning a trip, this guide will provide you with valuable insights and practical advice to help you make the most out of your travel experience. So, let’s dive into the essential steps of travel planning and get ready for your next adventure!

Step 1: Determine your destination

The first step in planning any trip is deciding on the destination. Consider your interests, preferences, and the type of experience you’re seeking. Do you want to relax on a tropical beach, explore historic landmarks, immerse yourself in a different culture, or embark on an outdoor adventure? Research various destinations and make a list of places that align with your interests.

Factors to consider when choosing a destination include the time of year, weather conditions, and your budget. If you’re traveling during peak tourist season, popular destinations may be crowded and prices for flights and accommodations could be higher. Alternatively, visiting during the off-peak season may offer more affordable options and fewer crowds.

Think about the distance you’re willing to travel and the transportation options available to reach your chosen destination. Consider whether you prefer a domestic or international trip, and take into account any visa requirements or travel restrictions.

Furthermore, take the time to research the safety and political situation of your potential destinations. Check for any travel advisories or warnings issued by your government, and read reviews from other travelers to gain insight into the current state of your desired location.

Ultimately, the choice of your destination should align with your interests, budget, and the kind of experience you’re looking for. Once you have narrowed down your options, you can move on to the next step of the planning process.

Step 2: Set a budget

Setting a budget is an essential step in travel planning as it helps you determine how much you can realistically spend on your trip. Consider your financial situation and allocate funds for transportation, accommodations, meals, activities, and any other expenses that may arise during your journey.

Start by determining how much you are willing to spend overall on your trip. This will give you a rough estimate of how much you can allocate to each aspect of your travel, such as flights, accommodation, and daily expenses.

Research the average costs of your chosen destination to get an idea of how much you need to budget. Take into account the cost of living, transportation, attractions, and dining options in the area. Consider whether you prefer a luxurious or budget-friendly experience, and adjust your budget accordingly.

Be sure to factor in any additional expenses such as travel insurance, visa fees, and transportation to and from the airport. It’s also important to set aside some extra funds for unexpected expenses or emergencies that may arise during your trip.

Consider ways to save money during your trip. Look for deals on flights and accommodations, consider alternative modes of transportation such as buses or trains, and opt for budget-friendly dining options like street food or local eateries.

Keep track of your expenses as you plan and throughout your journey. This will help you stay within your budget and make adjustments if necessary. Use online travel budget calculators or mobile apps to assist you in managing your finances effectively.

Remember, setting a budget allows you to plan your trip within your means and ensures that you can fully enjoy your travel experience without financial stress. So, take the time to assess your expenses and allocate your funds wisely before moving on to the next step of travel planning.

Step 3: Decide on the duration of your trip

Deciding on the duration of your trip is an important step in travel planning as it helps you determine how much time you can allocate to each destination and activity. Consider your schedule, budget, and the attractions you want to explore.

Start by assessing the amount of time you can take off from work or other commitments. Take into account any travel restrictions or visa limitations that may affect the duration of your trip.

If you have a specific destination in mind, research the recommended duration for visiting that location. Some places may require a longer stay to fully experience their culture, attractions, and activities, while others can be explored in a shorter timeframe.

Consider your travel pace and personal preferences. Do you prefer a leisurely trip with plenty of downtime, or do you prefer a fast-paced adventure packed with sightseeing? Factor in travel time and any jet lag that may affect your energy levels upon arrival.

If you plan to visit multiple destinations, allocate sufficient time for each location based on your interests and the activities you wish to engage in. Remember to account for travel time between destinations and consider the feasibility of fitting everything into your desired timeframe.

Keep in mind that a longer trip may require a larger budget due to increased accommodation, dining, and transportation costs. Balance your desire to spend more time in certain locations with the overall cost of your trip.

Once you have determined the duration of your trip, you can move on to the next steps of travel planning, such as researching and gathering information about your chosen destinations and booking flights or transportation.

Remember, the duration of your trip should align with your interests, budget, and available time off. So, take the time to carefully consider these factors to ensure a well-balanced travel experience.

Step 4: Research and gather information about your destination

Researching and gathering information about your destination is a crucial step in travel planning. It allows you to familiarize yourself with the local culture, attractions, customs, and practical information essential for a smooth and enriching travel experience.

Start by reading travel guides, online resources, and blogs to gather insights about your chosen destination. Look for information about popular tourist sites, local customs, transportation options, safety precautions, and visa requirements.

Check out travel forums and social media groups to connect with fellow travelers who have been to your destination. Seek their advice, recommendations, and firsthand experiences to gain valuable insights and tips.

Research the best time to visit your destination. Consider factors such as weather conditions, peak tourist seasons, and any festivals or events that may be happening during your trip. This information will help you plan your itinerary and determine which attractions or activities to prioritize.

Learn about the local culture and customs. Familiarize yourself with local greetings, etiquette, clothing norms, and any specific cultural practices or taboos. This will help you show respect to the local community and avoid any cultural misunderstandings.

Research transportation options within your destination. Find out about public transportation systems, availability of rental cars, and the cost of taxis or ridesharing services. Knowing how to get around will help you save time and money during your trip.

Look for recommendations on accommodations, dining options, and local cuisines. Read reviews and compare prices to find the best options that fit your preferences and budget. Consider the proximity of your accommodation to major attractions and amenities.

Make a list of the top attractions and activities you want to experience. Prioritize them based on your interests and available time. Research entry fees, operating hours, and any restrictions or reservations required for certain attractions.

By conducting thorough research and gathering information about your destination, you’ll be well-prepared to create an itinerary, make informed decisions, and make the most out of your travel experience.

So take the time to delve into the details and immerse yourself in the charm and wonders your chosen destination has to offer.

Step 5: Book flights or transportation

Once you have determined your destination and gathered information about it, it’s time to book your flights or transportation. This step is crucial, as it often affects your budget and can impact the overall logistics of your trip.

If you’re planning to travel by air, start by researching flights to your destination. Use flight comparison websites or online travel agencies to find the best deals and compare prices. Consider factors such as flight duration, layovers, and airline reputation.

Flexibility in your travel dates can help you find cheaper flights. Consider flying during off-peak seasons or on weekdays, as prices tend to be lower during these times. Be sure to book your flights well in advance to secure the best rates.

If you’re traveling by other means of transportation, such as trains, buses, or ferries, research the schedules, fares, and availability. Look for reliable booking platforms or official websites of transportation providers to make your reservations.

Consider the proximity of your accommodation to the airport or transportation hubs. It’s convenient to choose accommodations that offer easy access to public transportation or provide shuttle services to and from the airport.

When booking your flights or transportation, it’s essential to consider travel insurance. Travel insurance provides coverage for unexpected events such as flight cancellations, delays, or medical emergencies. Consider purchasing travel insurance to protect yourself and your investment.

Before finalizing your bookings, double-check the details to ensure accuracy. Verify the departure and arrival dates, times, and terminals. Make note of any luggage restrictions or additional fees that may apply.

Once your flights or transportation are booked, it’s a good idea to set up travel alerts or notifications to stay updated with any changes or delays. Save electronic copies of your itineraries, e-tickets, or reservation confirmations for easy access during your trip.

Booking your flights or transportation early ensures that you have the best options available and allows you to focus on other aspects of your travel planning.

So, take the time to research and make your bookings, ensuring a smooth and seamless journey to your destination.

Step 6: Find accommodation

Finding suitable accommodation is a crucial step in travel planning as it directly impacts your comfort and overall experience during your trip. Here are some steps to help you find the perfect accommodation.

1. Determine your budget: Set a budget for your accommodation. Consider how much you are willing to spend per night and allocate a portion of your overall trip budget to accommodations.

2. Research the options: Use online travel platforms and booking websites to explore various types of accommodations. Consider factors such as location, amenities, and reviews from previous guests.

3. Consider your preferences: Determine the type of accommodation that suits your needs. Options include hotels, hostels, guesthouses, vacation rentals, or even unconventional options such as homestays or house swaps.

4. Location: Consider the location of the accommodation in relation to your planned activities and attractions. It’s convenient to stay in a central location or near public transportation for easy access to the places you want to visit.

5. Read reviews: Take the time to read reviews from previous guests to get an understanding of the quality and service provided by the accommodation. Look out for any common issues or concerns mentioned in the reviews.

6. Compare prices: Compare prices of different accommodations that fit your criteria. Consider any added charges or fees, such as resort fees or taxes, when comparing prices to ensure you are getting the best value for your money.

7. Book in advance: Once you have found the perfect accommodation, book it as soon as possible to secure your reservation. Popular accommodations can fill up quickly, especially during peak seasons.

8. Check the cancellation policy: Before making your reservation, carefully read and understand the cancellation policy of the accommodation. This will help you navigate any potential changes or cancellations in your travel plans.

9. Contact the accommodation: If you have any specific requests or questions, reach out to the accommodation directly. This could include inquiries about special amenities, room preferences, or any other concerns you may have.

10. Confirm your booking: After making your reservation, double-check your booking confirmation for accuracy. Take note of any important information, such as check-in and check-out times or any special instructions given by the accommodation.

By following these steps, you can find the perfect accommodation that meets your needs, budget, and preferences, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable stay during your trip.

So take the time to explore your options and secure your ideal accommodation in advance.

Step 7: Create an itinerary

Creating an itinerary is an essential step in travel planning as it helps you organize your time, prioritize your activities, and make the most out of your trip. Here’s how to create an effective itinerary:

1. Identify your must-see attractions: Make a list of the top attractions or activities you don’t want to miss in your chosen destination. Research their opening hours, ticket prices, and any specific requirements.

2. Consider time and logistics: Take into account the duration of your trip and the time it takes to travel between attractions. Be realistic about how many activities you can fit into each day, allowing for breaks and downtime.

3. Prioritize your interests: Determine your main areas of interest – whether it’s historical sites, museums, outdoor activities, or cultural experiences. Allocate more time for the activities or attractions that align with your interests.

4. Plan for flexibility: While it’s important to have a schedule, leave room for spontaneity and unexpected discoveries. It’s impossible to predict everything, so allow yourself time to explore and embrace new experiences.

5. Group activities by proximity: Cluster activities or attractions that are located close to each other. This will help you maximize your time and reduce travel time between destinations.

6. Consider the local culture: Take into account any cultural or religious practices that may affect the opening hours or availability of certain attractions. Plan your itinerary accordingly to make the most of your visit.

7. Explore local cuisine: Include time for trying local dishes and exploring different dining options. Research popular local foods or restaurants in each area you plan to visit and add them to your itinerary.

8. Pace yourself: Avoid overloading your itinerary with too many activities in a short amount of time. Give yourself time to relax and enjoy the surroundings. Remember, quality experiences are better than rushing through a long list of attractions.

9. Utilize travel apps and resources: Make use of travel apps or websites that offer itinerary planning tools or suggestions for your destination. These resources can help you create a well-structured and efficient itinerary.

10. Be mindful of your energy levels: Take into consideration your own energy levels and travel preferences. Avoid cramming too many strenuous activities in a row, and allow for rest or leisurely exploration.

Remember that an itinerary is a tool to guide you, but it’s okay to deviate from the plan if you discover new opportunities or if unexpected circumstances arise. Flexibility and spontaneity can lead to unexpected joy and memorable experiences.

So, take the time to create a thoughtful and well-balanced itinerary that allows you to fully enjoy your trip and make the most out of your chosen destination.

Step 8: Pack your bags

Packing your bags is a crucial step in travel planning, ensuring that you have everything you need for a comfortable and enjoyable trip. Here’s how to pack efficiently:

1. Make a packing list: Create a comprehensive packing list to ensure you don’t forget any essentials. Include clothing, toiletries, travel documents, electronics, and any other items you may need.

2. Check the weather: Research the weather conditions of your destination during the time of your visit. Pack appropriate clothing and accessories, such as jackets, hats, or sunscreen, to suit the climate.

3. Pack versatile clothing: Opt for clothing items that can be mixed and matched easily. Choose neutral colors and versatile pieces that can be dressed up or down to maximize outfit options while minimizing luggage weight.

4. Consider local customs: Take into account the cultural or dress norms of your destination. Pack appropriate clothing that respects local customs, especially if you plan to visit religious sites or conservative areas.

5. Pack travel-sized toiletries: To save space and comply with carry-on restrictions, transfer your toiletries into travel-sized containers. Remember to adhere to airline regulations regarding liquid quantities.

6. Organize your belongings: Use packing cubes or separate bags to categorize and organize your clothes and belongings. This will not only keep your suitcase tidy but also make it easier to find what you need during your trip.

7. Keep important documents together: Gather all your travel documents, including passports, tickets, accommodation reservations, and any necessary visas. Keep them in a secure and easily accessible place.

8. Pack essential electronics: Bring along the necessary electronics for your trip, such as smartphones, cameras, chargers, and adapters. Consider the voltage requirements of your destination and pack the appropriate adapters.

9. Don’t forget medication and first aid: If you take any prescription medications, ensure that you have an ample supply for the duration of your trip. Pack a basic first aid kit with essentials like band-aids, pain relievers, and any necessary medications.

10. Travel with essential valuables: Keep your valuable items, such as cash, credit cards, and jewelry, in a secure bag or pouch that you can carry with you at all times. Consider using a money belt or a hidden travel wallet for added security.

Remember to pack light and avoid overpacking, as it can be cumbersome and may incur additional luggage fees. Consider doing a trial pack beforehand to ensure that everything fits and that your luggage is within weight restrictions.

By following these packing tips, you’ll be well-prepared for your trip, ensuring that you have everything you need while avoiding the stress of overpacking. So, pack smart and travel with convenience and peace of mind.

Step 9: Plan your meals and dining options

Planning your meals and dining options is an important step in travel planning, especially if you’re a food lover or have specific dietary requirements. Here’s how to make the most of your culinary experiences during your trip:

1. Research local cuisine: Familiarize yourself with the local cuisine of your destination. Look for signature dishes, traditional specialties, and popular food markets or street food scenes. Researching local cuisine beforehand allows you to anticipate and embrace the flavors of your chosen destination.

2. Make a dining wish list: Create a list of restaurants, cafes, or food stalls that you’re interested in trying. Read reviews, consult travel guides, or seek recommendations from locals and fellow travelers. Prioritize your list based on your preferences and budget.

3. Consider dietary restrictions: If you have specific dietary restrictions or allergies, research restaurants or eateries that cater to your needs. Look for places with gluten-free, vegetarian, or vegan options, and ensure that you communicate your dietary requirements clearly when ordering.

4. Explore local markets: Visit local markets or supermarkets to immerse yourself in the food culture of your destination. Purchase fresh ingredients, local produce, or unique snacks to enjoy during your trip. It’s a great way to experience the local lifestyle and culinary offerings.

5. Learn basic phrases: If you’re traveling to a destination with a different language, learn basic phrases related to dining, such as “hello,” “thank you,” and “menu.” This will help you communicate your preferences and dietary needs to restaurant staff.

6. Embrace street food: Street food can offer some of the most authentic and delicious culinary experiences. Research popular street food markets or vendors in your destination. Follow local recommendations and observe cleanliness and hygiene practices when selecting street food options.

7. Be open to culinary adventures: Don’t be afraid to try new dishes or flavors. Push yourself outside your comfort zone and embrace new culinary experiences. You may discover unexpected favorites and create memorable food memories.

8. Consider meal timings: Take into account local dining customs and meal timings. Some cultures have specific meal times, such as a siesta or late-night dining. Adjust your plans accordingly to ensure you don’t miss out on local dining experiences.

9. Allow for spontaneity: While it’s good to have a plan, allow room for spontaneous dining experiences. Leave a few empty meal slots or explore local recommendations from friendly locals or fellow travelers you meet along the way.

10. Stay hydrated and practice food safety: Drink plenty of water, especially in warmer climates, and be mindful of food safety practices. Wash your hands regularly, opt for bottled water in areas with unsafe tap water, and choose restaurants or street food vendors with a good reputation for cleanliness.

By planning your meals and dining options in advance, you can truly savor the flavors and culinary delights of your destination. So, research, embrace, and indulge in the local food scene during your trip.

Step 10: Prepare necessary travel documents

Preparing the necessary travel documents is a crucial step in ensuring a smooth and hassle-free trip. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Check your passport: Ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your planned travel dates. If it’s expiring soon, renew it well in advance to avoid any last-minute complications.

2. Apply for visas: Research the visa requirements of your destination country. Check if you need a visa and apply for it early to allow sufficient processing time. Follow the instructions provided by the consulate or embassy and submit all required documents.

3. Organize travel insurance: Travel insurance provides crucial coverage in case of medical emergencies, trip cancellations, or lost belongings. Research and purchase a travel insurance policy that suits your needs and provides adequate coverage for the duration of your trip.

4. Make copies of important documents: Make photocopies or take pictures of your passport, visa, travel insurance, and other important documents. Leave copies with a trusted person at home and keep digital copies accessible while traveling.

5. Check entry requirements: Research and familiarize yourself with the entry requirements of your destination. Check if you need to present return tickets, proof of accommodation, or other supporting documents upon arrival.

6. Research health and vaccination requirements: Check if there are any specific health requirements or vaccination recommendations for your destination. Consult your healthcare provider or a travel clinic to ensure that you are up to date on any necessary vaccinations.

7. Register with your embassy: Consider registering with your home country’s embassy or consulate at your destination. This allows them to provide assistance or contact you in case of emergencies or unexpected situations.

8. Check travel advisories: Stay updated with any travel advisories or warnings issued by your government for your destination. Adjust your travel plans accordingly and be aware of any safety or security concerns.

9. Prepare a travel wallet: Organize all your travel documents in a secure travel wallet or folder. This makes it easy to access them when needed and helps keep them safe and organized throughout your journey.

10. Share your itinerary: Inform a trusted family member or friend about your travel plans. Share your itinerary, contact details, and any important information with them. In case of emergencies, they will know how to reach you and provide necessary assistance.

By preparing and ensuring that you have all the necessary travel documents in order, you can travel with peace of mind and avoid any potential complications or delays. So, take the time to check and organize your travel documents prior to your departure.

Step 11: Make necessary reservations and bookings

Making necessary reservations and bookings is an important step in travel planning to secure accommodations, activities, and transportation during your trip. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Book accommodations: Based on your research and preferences, make reservations for your accommodations in advance. Consider factors such as location, amenities, and budget. Popular accommodations can fill up quickly, so ensure you book early to secure your desired options.

2. Reserve transportation: If you plan to use public transportation or rent a car at your destination, make any necessary reservations in advance. Look for deals or discounts and ensure your transportation arrangements align with your itinerary.

3. Purchase attraction tickets: For popular attractions, consider purchasing tickets in advance to skip the long lines and secure your entry. Many attractions offer timed entry or online ticket options that allow for a more seamless experience.

4. Arrange for guided tours: If you’re interested in guided tours or activities, book them in advance to secure your spot. This allows you to plan your itinerary more effectively and ensures availability for popular tours or experiences.

5. Reserve dining options: If you have specific restaurants or dining experiences in mind, make reservations ahead of time, especially for popular or highly sought-after establishments. Booking in advance guarantees you a table and avoids disappointment.

6. Consider transportation between locations: If you plan to visit multiple destinations during your trip, book transportation tickets or passes between locations. This could include flights, train tickets, or intercity bus passes.

7. Research and book special experiences: If you’re interested in unique experiences such as cooking classes, adventure activities, or cultural performances, research and make the necessary bookings in advance. These experiences often have limited availability.

8. Check cancellation policies: Before finalizing any bookings, make sure to review the cancellation policies. Life is unpredictable, and having flexibility in your reservations can be beneficial in case of any unforeseen changes in your travel plans.

9. Stay organized: Keep a record of all your reservations, confirmations, and receipts in a centralized place for easy reference. This helps ensure a smooth travel experience and allows you to stay organized throughout your trip.

10. Double-check details: Before your departure, double-check all your reservations and bookings to ensure accuracy. Confirm dates, times, and any specific instructions provided by the service providers.

By making necessary reservations and bookings in advance, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your important travel components are secured, allowing you to focus on enjoying your trip to the fullest.

So take the time to plan and make your necessary reservations, ensuring a well-prepared and smooth travel experience.

Step 12: Plan for transportation at your destination

Planning for transportation at your destination is an important step in travel planning to ensure smooth and convenient travel within the area. Here’s how to navigate transportation options effectively:

1. Research transportation options: Familiarize yourself with the available transportation options at your destination. This may include public transportation systems such as buses, trains, or trams, as well as taxi services, ridesharing apps, or bike-sharing programs.

2. Learn about local public transportation: Understand the local public transportation system, including routes, schedules, and fares. Study maps of subway or bus routes and identify key stops or interchanges that will be relevant to your itinerary.

3. Consider purchasing travel passes or cards: Depending on your length of stay and anticipated usage, determine if it’s worth purchasing travel passes or cards that offer unlimited or discounted rides on public transportation. These passes can save you time and money.

4. Plan for airport transfers: If you’re arriving at an airport, research and decide on the most convenient mode of transportation to your accommodation. Options may include airport shuttles, public transit, or pre-arranged private transfers.

5. Check for ridesharing or taxi services: If you prefer more flexibility or convenience, look into ridesharing apps or taxi services available at your destination. Check if they are widely used and reliable for getting around.

6. Consider walking or cycling: Depending on the location and infrastructure, walking or cycling may be a feasible and enjoyable mode of transportation for shorter distances. Research pedestrian-friendly areas and bike rental options if applicable.

7. Navigate driving regulations: If you plan to rent a car at your destination, familiarize yourself with local driving regulations, including license requirements, traffic rules, and parking availability. Research and book car rentals in advance to secure the best rates.

8. Stay informed about disruptions or closures: Check for any planned closures or disruptions to public transportation routes or services during your travel dates. Stay updated through official transport authority websites or mobile apps to avoid any inconvenience.

9. Embrace local culture and etiquette: Be respectful of the local culture and etiquette when using public transportation. Familiarize yourself with any unwritten rules, such as offering seats to elderly or pregnant passengers, and follow local customs for purchasing tickets or validating passes.

10. Stay safe and be aware of scams: Use trusted transportation services and be cautious of potential scams. Avoid unlicensed taxis, be mindful of your belongings, and stay vigilant while using public transportation, especially in crowded areas.

By planning for transportation at your destination, you’ll be able to navigate the area efficiently and maximize your time exploring the attractions. So, research your options, consider convenience and cost-effectiveness, and choose the transportation modes that best suit your needs.

Step 13: Research local customs and etiquette

Researching the local customs and etiquette of your destination is an important step in travel planning. Understanding and respecting the cultural norms of the place you’re visiting can enhance your travel experience and help you connect with the local community. Here’s what you should do:

1. Learn basic greetings: Familiarize yourself with common greetings and phrases in the local language. Learning to say “hello,” “thank you,” and “excuse me” shows respect and can help break the ice in your interactions with locals.

2. Dress appropriately: Respect the local dress code and customs. In some cultures, modest attire is expected, especially when visiting religious sites or conservative areas. Research the clothing norms and pack accordingly to avoid any unintended cultural offense.

3. Respect religious customs: If your destination has religious traditions, familiarize yourself with the customs and practices related to them. Follow any dress codes or guidelines when visiting religious sites, and be mindful of appropriate behavior and photography restrictions.

4. Observe local customs and traditions: Familiarize yourself with local customs and traditions, such as greetings, gestures, or table manners. Understanding and respecting these cultural nuances can enrich your interactions with locals and demonstrate your appreciation for their way of life.

5. Be aware of gestures and body language: Gestures and body language can vary across cultures and may have different meanings or interpretations. Research common gestures to avoid any unintentional misunderstandings or offense. When in doubt, observe and follow the lead of locals.

6. Respect personal space: Different countries and cultures have varying concepts of personal space. Be mindful of personal boundaries and avoid unnecessary physical contact unless it’s customary or welcomed in the local culture.

7. Follow local dining etiquette: If you plan to dine at local restaurants or with locals, be aware of proper dining etiquette. Pay attention to table manners, serving customs, and any specific traditions, such as tasting a dish before adding seasoning.

8. Know appropriate tipping practices: Research the tipping customs of your destination. In some countries, tipping is expected, while in others, it may not be common practice. Understand the appropriate amount and the preferred method of giving tips.

9. Respect local customs and traditions: Be mindful of and respect local customs, festivals, and traditions. Familiarize yourself with any practices or events happening during your visit, and observe them respectfully, even if you don’t fully understand them.

10. Smile and be polite: A friendly demeanor, a smile, and basic politeness can go a long way in any culture. Approach interactions with locals with an open and respectful attitude, and be open to learning from their customs and traditions.

By researching and embracing the local customs and etiquette, you can show respect for the local culture, connect with the community, and create meaningful experiences during your trip.

So take the time to learn and appreciate the customs of your destination, and enjoy your journey with cultural sensitivity and understanding.

Step 14: Make a checklist of essentials to bring

Making a checklist of essentials to bring is a crucial step in travel planning to ensure you have everything you need for a comfortable and stress-free trip. Here’s how to create a comprehensive checklist:

1. Travel documents: Include your passport, visa, travel insurance documents, identification cards, and any necessary permits or licenses for your destination.

2. Money and cards: Bring sufficient cash in the local currency and consider carrying a mix of payment options, such as credit cards, debit cards, or a travel money card. Don’t forget to notify your bank and credit card companies of your travel plans to avoid any issues with your cards.

3. Medications and prescriptions: Pack any necessary medications, along with copies of prescriptions or doctor’s notes. If you have specific medical conditions, consider wearing a medical ID bracelet or carrying relevant medical information in case of emergencies.

4. First aid kit: Include a basic first aid kit with items such as adhesive bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, antihistamines, and any special prescriptions or medical supplies you may need.

5. Clothing and accessories: Pack clothing suitable for the climate and activities at your destination. Include underwear, socks, comfortable shoes, weather-appropriate attire, swimwear, and any specialized gear required for activities such as hiking or skiing.

6. Toiletries and personal care items: Bring travel-sized toiletries, including toothbrush and toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, soap or body wash, moisturizer, sunscreen, and any essential personal care items you use on a daily basis.

7. Electronics and chargers: Don’t forget your essential electronics, such as phone, laptop or tablet, camera, chargers, adapters, and power banks. Consider bringing a portable Wi-Fi device or SIM card if you need internet access on the go.

8. Travel accessories: Include a travel adapter, travel pillow, lightweight towel, reusable water bottle, earplugs, eye mask, and any other accessories that enhance your comfort during the journey.

9. Entertainment and reading materials: Pack books, magazines, or e-readers to keep you entertained during travel or downtime. Don’t forget to bring headphones or earphones for listening to music or watching movies.

10. Miscellaneous items: Consider items such as a travel lock, a universal sink plug, a portable umbrella, a reusable shopping bag, a pen and notepad, and any other personal items that you find essential or useful in your day-to-day routine.

Remember to tailor your checklist based on your specific needs, the nature of your trip, and the destination you’re visiting. Keep in mind any restrictions or guidelines in place for carry-on luggage or liquids when packing.

By using a checklist, you can ensure that you have all the essentials you need for a comfortable and organized trip. So take the time to create a comprehensive checklist, double-check it before departure, and enjoy a worry-free journey.

Step 15: Ensure travel safety and security

Ensuring travel safety and security is a vital step in travel planning to protect yourself and your belongings during your trip. Here’s what you should do:

1. Research the destination: Familiarize yourself with local safety and security conditions of your destination. Check travel advisories or warnings issued by your government, stay updated on current events, and be aware of any potential risks or concerns.

2. Secure your accommodations: Choose accommodations in safe areas and research their security measures. Consider factors such as secure locks, in-room safes, and 24/7 reception or security staff.

3. Protect your belongings: Take precautions to protect your belongings from theft or loss. Use luggage locks, carry a theft-proof bag, and be mindful of your surroundings. Avoid displaying expensive items and keep your valuables secured in a hotel safe or a hidden travel wallet.

4. Use reliable transportation: Opt for licensed transportation services and be cautious when using public transportation, especially in unfamiliar areas. Research reputable taxi companies or use ridesharing apps that have a reliable track record.

5. Stay connected: Ensure you have a way to stay connected with family, friends, or emergency contacts during your trip. Share your itinerary with a trusted person and keep them updated about your whereabouts.

6. Register with your embassy: Consider registering with your home country’s embassy or consulate at your destination. By doing so, they can provide you with important updates or assistance in case of emergencies or unexpected situations.

7. Practice caution with strangers: Be cautious when interacting with strangers and avoid sharing personal information or details about your travel plans. Use common sense and trust your instincts when approached by unfamiliar individuals.

8. Use secure Wi-Fi connections: Be cautious when using public Wi-Fi networks, especially for accessing personal accounts or making financial transactions. Whenever possible, connect to secure and password-protected networks or use a trusted virtual private network (VPN) for added security.

9. Stay informed about local laws: Research and familiarize yourself with the local laws and regulations of your destination. Be respectful of local customs, traditions, and social norms to avoid unintentional offenses or legal issues.

10. Purchase travel insurance: Travel insurance is essential for protecting yourself against unforeseen events or emergencies. Make sure your insurance policy provides coverage for medical expenses, trip cancellations, and lost or stolen belongings.

Always prioritize your personal safety and security during your travels. Stay alert, be aware of your surroundings, and take necessary precautions to mitigate risks. Remember, being proactive and prepared can greatly contribute to a safe and enjoyable travel experience.

So, take the time to ensure travel safety and security, and embark on your journey with confidence and peace of mind.

Step 16: Enjoy your trip!

After all the planning and preparations, it’s finally time to embark on your much-awaited trip! Here are some tips to help you make the most of your travel experience:

1. Embrace the adventure: Approach your trip with an open mind and a spirit of adventure. Embrace new experiences, try local cuisine, and immerse yourself in the local culture.

2. Stay flexible: Despite careful planning, unexpected situations may arise. Stay flexible and adapt to any changes or detours that come your way. Sometimes, the most memorable experiences happen when plans change.

3. Engage with the locals: Interact with the locals and learn about their customs, traditions, and way of life. Engaging with the local community can provide unique insights and create meaningful connections.

4. Seek off-the-beaten-path experiences: While popular tourist attractions are worth visiting, don’t be afraid to explore lesser-known places or hidden gems. You may stumble upon hidden treasures and have a more authentic experience.

5. Take breaks and relax: Travel can be exhilarating but also exhausting. Allow yourself time to rest and relax. Take breaks from sightseeing, enjoy leisurely meals, and recharge to fully appreciate your journey.

6. Capture memories: Take photos, keep a travel journal, or create videos to capture the memories of your trip. These mementos will allow you to relive your experiences and share them with others.

7. Try new activities: Step out of your comfort zone and try new activities that are unique to your destination. Whether it’s learning to surf, taking a cooking class, or going on a thrilling adventure, these experiences can create lifelong memories.

8. Stay mindful and respectful: Remember to be respectful of the local customs, traditions, and environment. Practice responsible tourism, minimize your impact on the environment, and leave a positive impression wherever you go.

9. Stay present in the moment: Put away your devices and take time to fully experience your surroundings. Be present in the moment, savor the sights, sounds, and flavors around you, and create meaningful connections with the places you visit.

10. Embrace the unexpected: Travel is full of surprises and the unexpected. Embrace and appreciate the unexpected moments or detours that come your way, as these can often lead to the most incredible and memorable experiences.

Remember, the purpose of your trip is to enjoy, relax, and create lifelong memories. So, be open to new experiences, embrace the unknown, and allow yourself to fully enjoy the journey.

Wishing you a fantastic trip filled with exploration, adventure, and unforgettable moments!

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Planning a Trip to Japan: DOs & DON’Ts (2024)

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This post is based on an amazing guide our friend Amy Dunn-Cham compiled us full of her Japan tips on how to plan a trip to Japan years ago. We have since visited Japan five times and update this post regularly with what we’ve learnt.

Ah Japan, irasshaimase! Welcome to the land where everything just works. The land of convenience, the land of delicious food, paradox, naked strangers, and where respect permeates through every part of society and culture.

In Japan the food can be described as clean and minimalist, but never simple, which probably sums up Japan as a whole. It’s a place that both lives up to, and out does, any expectation you have upon arrival.

Uh-huh, they have the fastest, sleekest, most efficient trains (ever!), but they still have paper posters pegged up on their Tokyo subway. Yeah, they have amazing futuristic architecture, but they also have countless traditional wooden buildings in amongst it all. 

Yes, they have the busiest people crossing in the world (Shibuya), but at no point is it ever chaotic, no need for anyone to bang on a cab screaming, “Hey, I’m walking here!”. 

Yes, they have scores of scarily trendy, funkily clad young people who like to cosplay on weekends, but they also have evening family outings to sentos (public bathhouses).

In this Japan travel guide, we’ll help you make sense of it all and share our best tips for planning a trip to Japan.

2024 Update: No Japan Travel Restrictions

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Japan reopened to independent international tourists on 11 October 2022.

Remaining restrictions were dropped on 29 April 2023, so visitors no longer need to show proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test.

The government also dropped the indoor masking recommendation. Many Japanese people still wear masks (on our late 2023 trip, I’d say about 30-40% of people wore them), but you are unlikely to be required to.

With the yen at the lowest it has been for decades, now is a great time to travel to Japan.

Health care is expensive in Japan, so I highly recommend purchasing travel insurance that covers Covid-19 medical expenses.  SafetyWing Insurance  is an excellent budget option, especially for travellers on longer trips and families (as children under 10 are free). It’s available worldwide.

If you want a more comprehensive policy with cancellation cover, check out Heymondo travel insurance , which we used on our last Japan trip (it came in handy when Simon broke his foot!). It’s also available worldwide and offers 5% off for our readers.

Back to Contents

We’ve visited Japan in all four seasons and don’t think there’s a bad time to go. 

In winter , it’s chilly and gardens are a bit bare, but crowds are lower, you’ll find great deals on accommodation, and you’ll really appreciate those onsens (hot springs). You can also go skiing or snowboarding and have the best chance of seeing snow-capped Mount Fuji.  

In summer , it is steaming hot and humid (and June is the rainiest month), but there are fewer foreign tourists around and lots of local festivals to enjoy. It’s also the best time to visit the many beaches and the only time you can climb Mount Fuji. 

The most popular and best overall times to visit Japan are spring (March-April) and autumn (October – early December). This is when you can enjoy the gorgeous cherry blossoms (sakura) or autumn leaves (koyo). It’s more crowded and expensive, but the weather can be ideal and it is just stunning. 

See our guide to visiting the Kyoto cherry blossoms for more information on the popular sakura season. 

On our recent autumn trip, we had warm weather (up to 77ºF/25ºC) with very little rain from October until mid-November, when the temperature in Kyoto suddenly plummeted ahead of the leaves turning colour.

Shoulder seasons May and late-September/early October  are also good times to visit with warm weather and lower crowds.

Two times of year I would avoid for a vacation to Japan are:

Golden Week in early May – In 2024, Golden Week is from 27 April – 6 May. This is a series of national holidays so many Japanese travel domestically, trains and hotels book up, and popular spots will be extra crowded.

New Year – Late December to early January. This is also a busy time with local travellers and most businesses close for up to four days.

How long do you need in Japan? As long as possible!

There is so much to see—we have spent months in the country and still have a long bucket list.

For first time visitors, I recommend visiting Japan for two weeks. This is enough time to see some highlights—Tokyo, Kyoto, and one or two smaller destinations. See our Japan two week itinerary for suggestions.

A week is the minimum time I recommend for a Japan trip. For a more relaxed Japan vacation, spend the whole week in Tokyo or Kyoto and take day trips. Or if you don’t mind rushing about, visit both major cities with an overnight stop on the way (such as Hakone).

Read our guide on the best places to visit in Japan to decide where interests you most and come up with an itinerary. You’ll find some suggestions at the end of this guide.

Watch this video for Japan trip ideas.

• Check if you need a visa . Visa-free travel is possible for citizens of 68 countries for stays of up to 90 days (including US, UK, Canada, Australia and the EU). Do have a return or onward flight out of the country as they may grill you upon arrival. It was the nicest immigration interrogation we’ve ever had, though.
• Purchase your Japanese Rail Pass exchange order before you travel to Japan (if needed, more on that later).
• Learn some Japanese —numbers are especially useful! While you can get by with Google Translate, it’s much more fun to learn some Japanese (which isn’t as hard as you might think) and locals really appreciate it. We are currently learning with the comprehensive Rocket Japanese online course , which includes audio lessons with natural dialogue, grammar and culture tips, and voice recognition to test your pronunciation. It’s a little pricey but unlike most subscription-based courses, you get lifetime access and discounts are often available.
• Get an International Driving Permit . You’ll need this for go-karting on the real Tokyo roads dressed as your favourite character. Insanity but one of the most fun things we’ve done in Japan.
• Arrange travel insurance. Healthcare is expensive in Japan, so make sure you are covered in case the worst happens. We’ve used and recommend Heymondo and  SafetyWing (both available worldwide). 

• Apply for a Mastercard credit or debit card – If you don’t already have one. Some Japanese websites don’t work with Visa so it’s good to have a backup. We used a Starling Bank debit card (UK only), which has free international transactions and cash withdrawals.
• Walk as much as possible – You will walk a lot in Japan cities so it helps to get some training in beforehand (and wear in some comfy shoes).
• Practice using chopsticks – You’ll need them to eat in almost every restaurant (curry is the exception as it’s eaten with a spoon). Getting used to sitting on the floor is a good idea for some restaurants and experiences too.

• Buy a pre-paid transport IC card  for local trains, metro and buses. You just tap on and off and don’t have to worry about buying a ticket. In Kyoto and Osaka, it’ll be an ICOCA card, and in Tokyo, it’s a Suica or Pasmo, but you can use any of the cards all over the country. Physical cards are currently in short supply (due to a chip shortage), so I recommend adding Suica to Apple Wallet on your phone or watch. Visa doesn’t work as a payment method so use Apple Pay, Mastercard, or American Express to top up. We just tapped on transport with our Apple watch and didn’t even need to open the app. Unfortunately, this doesn’t work for Android phones bought outside Japan.
• Set up an Airalo eSIM – You’ll want affordable data on your phone as having access to maps and Google Translate makes life so much easier. A digital eSIM is simple to set up before you arrive and prices at Airalo start at just US$4.50. We used it on our last Japan trip and it worked great. If your phone doesn’t support eSIMs, you can buy a physical Umobile SIM from a vending machine at Tokyo Narita Airport (make sure your phone is unlocked).
• Sign up to the Timeout Tokyo newsletter – To learn about special events during your stay.

• Buy tickets for Ghibli Museum and Ghibli Park – If you are a Studio Ghibli fan, you might want to visit the museum in Tokyo or new park in Nagoya. It’s essential to book ahead. See below for details.
• Research what else to book in advance – Many attractions and restaurants in Japan require advance booking so decide what’s important to you (ideally at least three months ahead) and set reminders for when bookings are available. At the end of this post you can see the timescale for what we booked for our latest trip.

• Consider a Japan Rail Pass . The luxury of shinkansen (bullet train) hopping is exhilarating. No need to book seats in advance, just choose a train, wave your pass and hop on. These passes are only available to foreigners and you can order online from  JRailPass.com . Read our guide to whether a Japan Rail Pass is worth it for everything you need to know after the price increase in October 2023 (it’s still worth it for some trips if you are travelling a lot).

• Bow if you are being bowed to . If you can manage it too, don’t turn your back upon exit. Don’t overdo it though or you’ll be a total gaijin , no need to bow to the supermarket checkout person!
• Pre-book accommodation. Wise anyway as the more affordable accommodation fills up fast, but also in line with the whole respect thing, Japanese people like to be prepared for your arrival.  So don’t just randomly rock up at a ryokan for the night! Booking.com is our favourite site for finding hotels and guesthouses, and we also use AirBnb and Vrbo  to find apartments in the big cities (which are often cheaper than hotels). See our Japan accommodation guide for recommendations.

• Go onsening! You might want to skip this in summer as hot doesn’t even come close to describing the water temperatures! But soaking in a hot spring is one of the most typical things to do in Japan and is ultra relaxing once you get over your fears of public nudity (yep, no clothes allowed!). Best of all, visit an onsen town where you can onsen-hop dressed in a kimono. See our Kinosaki Onsen travel guide for details on this lovely onsen town as well as hot spring etiquette. 

• Stay in a ryokan (traditional inn). Pricey but worth it for at least a night or two for the unique experience and the amazing meals that are often included in the room rates (and many can cater for vegetarians/vegans). Our favourite ryokan is Tsukihitei in Nara, so traditional and with a magical forest setting. We also loved our private bath overlooking the scarlet maple trees at Nanzenji Ryokan Yachiyo in Kyoto (book a suite not a standard room). More budget-friendly options are Hotel Musashiya in Hakone, where our room and onsen had a view of Lake Ashi, and Morizuya Ryokan in Kinosaki Onsen, which is perfect for onsen-hopping.
• Stay in a traditional tatami mat room.  If you can’t stay in a ryokan, a much cheaper way to stay in one is a traditional room in K’s House hostels—they have branches in Hakone  (with onsen), Kyoto , Izu Peninsula (in a 100-year-old building with onsen), and all over the country. We never had a bad experience with this hostel chain in our budget travel days.

• Appreciate the zen-like calm on all modes of transport – no need for quiet only carriages here! Just remember that it’s rude to speak on your phone on trains in Japan.
• Use Google Translate . Many people don’t speak English, so the Google Translate app is helpful for communicating. Write what you want to say in English then show the Japanese translation to the person. Even more impressive is the feature to translate images—point your camera at a sign, menu, or food label and it translates the text instantly. It’s not perfect but when it works, it’s brilliant.
• Translate websites too – Many Japanese websites (especially restaurants) are only in Japanese so using Chrome or Safari, refresh the page and select the English option at the top. On Safari on my iPhone, I tend to select a block of text and tap translate from the popup.
• See some sumo . If you’re lucky enough to be in the country when one of the sumo tournaments is on, go! The pre/ post game rituals are fascinating to watch. If you aren’t there during a tournament, you can see a practice session at a sumo stable in Tokyo . It was one of our favourite experiences in Japan—it felt like such an honour to see these huge, impressive sumotori training so close.
• Expect bursts of freakery!

• Get your paper fortune at a Japanese Buddhist temple. Okay, we cheated and got an English one at the Golden Pavilion (see our guide on the best things do to in Kyoto ), but what the hell! You can also get one at the gorgeous Sensoji Temple in Tokyo . 
• Love the Japanese for their never-ending capacity to help you out , and they won’t stop until they do!
• Read these Japan books before you visit for a greater understanding of this weird and wonderful culture. 
• Have some sushi – Sushi is the essence of Japan, plus sushi-train/ sushi stand up bars are so much fun watching the chefs take your order, and all shout in unison, “samon!” or “tamago!” etc. Vegetarian sushi isn’t very common, but we did find some—see our vegetarian Japanese food guide .

• Appreciate the plastic food models as works of art!
• Pack slip-on shoes. You’ll be taking your shoes on and off a lot in temples and restaurants. I wear the comfy ballet flats Allbirds Tree Breezers in warmer weather and Allbirds Wool Runner sneakers (for men and women) in cooler weather—they keep your feet cosy but can be worn without socks and easily slipped off without untying the laces. See my detailed Allbirds review .
• Shop at the 100 Yen shops.  Like pound shops BUT BETTER! Daiso is a great one.
• Play in the arcades dotted around cities, the taiko drum game rocks! 
• Make use of the many vending machines EVERYWHERE . You will never go thirsty in Japan that’s for sure.  You can even get hot coffee…in a can! (Simon’s saviour when we had early morning trains to catch.) In fact, you can get friggin’ anything from vending machines from cheap 100 yen sake (yuk!) to hot chips (not surprisingly we did not try!) and SIM cards. In Tokyo you can use your Suica transport card to pay. 
• Press random buttons on the panel next to you on the loo . It will make you giggle ;o)!  Also, if it’s cold then appreciate the absolute miracle of heated toilet seats.
• Fall in love with seeing toriis (shrine gates) everywhere , especially small red ones in rows behind each other. Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto is our favourite (but go early as it’s popular). 
• Love and appreciate the beautiful presentation of absolutely everything from the amazing architecture to the way bento boxes are wrapped in a napkin tied in a knot just so, to amazing manhole covers!
• Pack light.  It will be much easier to hop on and off trains while travelling around Japan if you pack light, and hotels have limited storage space for luggage. Best of all, travel with just carry-on luggage . The Away Bigger Carry-On was perfect for our trip and fit overhead in trains.

• Consider luggage shipping – We haven’t used this yet, but if you have large luggage, it’s common to send it between hotels (it takes a day, so pack essentials in an overnight bag).
• Withdraw cash from 7-11 ATMs.  They are the most reliable no-fee option for international cards and can be found everywhere. Make sure you always have cash on hand as many places don’t accept credit cards (although this is improving). Note that some 7-11 ATMs in popular spots (the airport, Gion), do now charge, so try to withdraw in less touristy areas.
• Use Navitime to check train times and prices (and to work out if a Japan Rail Pass is worth it for your itinerary ).
• Visit BIC Camera if you need any kind of electronics. These massive stores have everything you could imagine. Take your passport if you are making a large purchase (over 5000 yen) and get it tax free. I bought a camera here and ended up getting lots of extra discounts and free accessories. It’s also a good place to buy a SIM card if you didn’t pick one up at the airport.

DON’T:

• Rent a car – For most visitors the best way to travel Japan is by train. Elsewhere we love road trips, but renting a car in Japan is just not worth the hassle unless you are travelling far off the beaten track.
• Open the door if taking a taxi. They are either automated or the driver will open it for you. It’s also a good idea to have your destination’s address written down in Japanese to show the driver as most don’t speak English.
• Feel bad if you need to take a break from Japanese food – Japan isn’t always an easy destination and indulging in a comfort meal can be restorative (we’ve had some excellent pizza in Japan).

• Forget to check opening hours – Japanese restaurants aren’t usually open all day and both restaurants and attractions usually have a last order/entry 30 to 60 minutes before closing.
• Go whizzing around the country too much. It can save energy to base yourself in one place and take day trips as we did in Kyoto and Okayama .
• Wear holey socks. You’ll only be embarrassing yourself when you take your shoes on/ off constantly!
• Go into an onsen without washing first , that’s just dirty dude!  Also, don’t go into the bathing area with a towel wrapped around you, you’ll just look stupid. Embrace the nudity! Everyone’s naked so no-one cares. My Kinosaki Onsen guide has more etiquette tips for newbies.

Japan is a popular destination and many hotels, restaurants, and attractions book up in advance. While you can still have a wonderful last-minute trip, it’s worth researching what you’d like to do months in advance to see what needs reservations.

On our most recent trip to Japan (in the busy autumn October/November season), this is what we booked ahead:

5 Months Before

• Flights – This is personal preference and earlier or later could also work. Tokyo Narita (NRT), Tokyo Haneda (HND), or Kansai International Airport in Osaka (KIX) are all good options to fly in to.
• Accommodation – Ryokans and hotels in smaller towns are most important to book ahead. Some hotels don’t take bookings more than 3 or 6 months in advance, though. We used Booking.com and almost all had free cancellation.

4 Months Before

• Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta – Our favourite place to stay in Japan is right inside the best Disney park in the world. Rooms go on sale 4 months in advance at 11am JST and sell out in minutes, so it’s essential to do some practice runs.

3 Months Before

• Harry Potter Studio Tour, Tokyo – We booked 7 weeks in advance and only got an afternoon slot, so earlier is a good idea. Check Klook and the Warner Bros Studio Tour website as they have different availability.

2 Months Before

• Ghibli Park , Nagoya – Tickets go on sale on the 10th of the month at 2pm JST for 2 months later (it changed recently from 3 months). So May tickets will be on sale on 10 March. These sell out quickly, so be prepared.
• Teamlab Planets , Tokyo – Book early if you want a specific time for this interactive digital art exhibition (we wanted the first slot). We booked on Get Your Guide . The new TeamLab Borderless is also selling out fast (tickets available on Klook or direct ).
• Some Restaurants – We booked Monk in Kyoto exactly 2 months in advance at 12pm JST (after five attempts) and Shigetsu in Kyoto (as we were visiting during peak autumn colour). Creating a Tablecheck account is a good idea as quite a few restaurants use it for bookings.
• Saihoji (Moss Temple) , Kyoto – It’s expensive and might not be a priority with limited time in Kyoto, but it’s our favourite temple. Reservations open 2 months in advance.
• Universal Studios Japan Express Passes – These are essential to skip the lines at this very busy park in Osaka, and they do sell out. We bought the Express Pass 7 – Backdrop and Spiderman on Klook (much easier than the official site which is in Japanese only). We bought our USJ entrance tickets on Klook at the same time. See our Universal Studios Japan guide for more tips.

1 Month Before

• Ghibli Museum , Tokyo – Available at 10am JST on the 10th of each month for the following month.
• Shibuya Sky , Tokyo – Bookings open 4 weeks in advance at midnight Japan time. Book fairly soon after that to get the peak slot (one hour before sunset).
• Tours – I booked a sumo stable visit (highly recommended) and Shinjuku bar hopping tour in Tokyo. Go-karting is another fun option we’ve done before. I used Get Your Guide for most tours. Klook is a good option for tickets and attractions too.
• Tea Ceremony Ju-an , Kyoto – Learn the traditions of tea in a temple. One of the highlights of our trip.
• Sakurai Tea Experience , Tokyo – If you love green tea, don’t miss the tea tasting at this modern tea room.
• More Restaurants – I booked Saido in Tokyo, Uzu Vegan Ramen in Kyoto (reservations essential), and Ristorante di Canaletto at DisneySea (one month in advance at 10am JST exactly).
• Tokyo DisneySea and Disneyland tickets – I booked on Klook. The parks probably won’t sell out, but we didn’t want to take the chance.
• Japan Rail Pass – If you decide to get one, allow plenty of time for your exchange order to arrive by post, just in case (you activate it on arrival).

2 Weeks Before

• Shinkansen Train Seat Reservations – We used the SmartEx website , which can be difficult to set up (use a Mastercard and keep trying to authenticate the payment method) but very handy. When booking a train from Tokyo to Kyoto, choose a seat on the right side of the train for Mt Fuji views (if clear). If you have large suitcases, you’ll also need to make an oversized baggage reservation .
• Airport Taxi Pickup – From Narita Airport we get the Narita Express train, but from Haneda Airport (which is closer to central Tokyo), we prefer a taxi for ease. We booked this Haneda airport pickup on Klook .
• More Tours and Restaurants – Book any more priorities as you finalise your itinerary.

Japan has so much to offer but here are a few places to get you started.

• Tokyo – The best of modern Japan. This huge city has incredible food, diverse neighbourhoods, and some unique experiences. Try these cool things to do in Tokyo and enjoy the best vegetarian restaurants in Tokyo . 
• Kyoto – The best of traditional Japan with many stunning temples to explore . Read the best things to do in Kyoto .
• Takayama – A smaller, quieter alternative for traditional Japan with a beautiful historic centre of preserved wooden houses. 
• Hakone – For the chance to see Mount Fuji, mountain scenery, lakes, onsens, and fun transport options (cable cars and pirate ships!). 
• Kawaguchiko – Even better views of Mount Fuji at Lake Kawaguchiko . 
• Nikko – Stunning temples in the forest. Could be visited as a day trip from Tokyo. 
• Hiroshima – Visit the moving peace memorial that commemorates the atomic bombing and don’t miss nearby Miyajima Island. 

See our Japan 2 Week Itinerary for a detailed guide to visiting many of these places including things to do, transport, and where to stay and eat.

Or our guide to the best places to go in Japan has more ideas.

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166 Comments

Thank you for the lovely Japan Blogs – it is making our travel planning fun! It would be really helpful to understand the areas to stay in within the cities, especially first time travelers to Japan.

Reply ↓

Thanks JK! Our Kyoto guide has tips on the best area to stay (Gion or downtown) and in Tokyo, we recommend Shinjuku for first time visitors. Enjoy Japan!

Wow, an amazing blog, Erin. This is helping us so much plan our trip. It is great to see you updating it regularly too. It’s becoming a daily read.

Kind regards,

Thanks so much for this post! As is often the case I am following you around the world and now I’m going to Japan. Look forward to reading everything you’ve written on it!

Good to hear you are going to Japan, Ruth! I hope you enjoy it as much as we always do!

We are a very active retired couple and love exploring different cultures, sights, and exploring nature. We are planning on going to Japan for the first time for 3 -4 weeks, around the third week or so in Sept to mid October or later. We will travel with just carry on luggage and backpacks. We love touring on our own, or booking individual tours at the different places. We are open to basing in Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima(?) plus other places and doing day trips from these places. What would be a good itinerary for our 21+ day trip? Thanks so much! We love your website! Bunny

Hi, I lost my comment somewhere on your blog 😅 So, me and my partner are going to Japan for 4-6 weeks in sept/october. We want to travel in a slow pace and want to visit Tokyo, Kyoto, hiking around Kiso Valley (and Kumano Kodo?), Nagano, Kanazawa? We also want to explore some nice nature, visit onsen, sleep at a roykan etc. Hokkaido would be cool but i don’t know if we will have time with that. Do you have any tips where we must go? I think our plan is to be at least 7 days each in Kyoto and Tokyo, we want to stay for minimum 2 nights at each place. Would you recommend to start in Tokyo? Is it worth to start a week in a busy town with jetlag? Should we go somewhere else (where?) for a nice start on the vacation?

Thank you! /Johanna

Hi Johanna!

I’m planning a solo trip from ~May 21-June 21, but i’m worried i’ll hit the rainy season and humidity. What to you advise? I’m limited to May 21st as my earliest trip start date due to school!

I think it makes sense to start with Tokyo if that’s where you are flying in to. That way you don’t have to worry about travelling elsewhere and you have enough time there that you can plan for the first few days to be pretty relaxed – wander some neighbourhoods, eat etc.

Sounds like you have plenty of time to do everything you want. You could easily use that time in central Japan, but you could add in Hokkaido if you really wanted (we still haven’t made it there). Enjoy!

Hi Erin, is it advisable to visit Lake Kawaguchiko in November? And, do you think it is possible to do a day trip to Lake Kawaguchiko having Tokyo as the base?

We haven’t been in November but we definitely would. You will likely see the autumn colours too (generally peak around mid-Nov), which would be beautiful.

It will likely be colder than Tokyo, but as long as you are prepared with warm clothes it should be enjoyable.

And yes, it is possible as a day trip from Tokyo – many people go by train or on bus tours. Just be aware that Mt Fuji is often hidden in cloud, so if you stay overnight you increase your chances to see it. But you could also try to choose a clear day for your day trip. Enjoy!

Our Lake Kawaguchiko travel guide has more details.

Thank you for creating this! I’m making my way through reading all of your posts. I will be visiting Japan for 14 days for the first weeks in April with my husband, a 7 year old, 10 year old and my two of my adult siblings. We’ll be a big group but I’m very excited as this is my first time and have always dreamed of going. Wondering if you have any advice for the younger kids or any kid entertainment? Thanks again!

Travelling with kids isn’t our area of expertise so I don’t have any specific recommendations except for Tokyo Disney, which we love. Tokyo DisneySea is our favourite park—it’s the only one in the world and has plenty to offer for kids and adults. Enjoy!

Absolutely love this perspective on travel! It beautifully captures the essence of what it means to explore the world. Travel isn’t just about ticking off destinations; it’s about slowing down, immersing yourself in new cultures, savoring moments, and absorbing the rich tapestry of life that the world has to offer. 🌍✈️🌏

Thank you so much for this! I have started notes and saved the page so that I can come back and check out all the links. :) I am wanting to take my 14 (would be 15 then) daughter alone (we do girl’s trips every year without dad) to Japan. She loves all things Cherry Blossoms! We try and do her spring break time (next year will be the first week of April), but I am concerned about that being too short of time period. Could we do it? If that is all the time you had, would you have a ‘base in Tokyo and then do some excursions from there (which is how we like to travel)? I am also worried about the language barrier and us being able to navigate since sometimes Google translate will not work. Thanks again!

Hi Jennifer, With one week I would focus on Kyoto, which is a better location for cherry blossoms and also has so many beautiful temples and gardens. It’s more traditional Japan (although there is a modern part too). Ideally, you’d fly into Kansai Airport which is closest.

If you have to fly into Tokyo, you could spend a few nights there before taking the shinkansen train to Kyoto (the quickest one is just over 2 hours).

If you really want to see the more modern side of Japan or don’t want to take the train, then Tokyo would be a great base. You can still see plenty of cherry blossoms there.

We don’t speak Japanese (although we are trying to learn this year) and have always managed. The Japanese are very helpful and will always try to help you out, even with a language barrier. And there are an increasing number of signs in English. Just make sure you have data on your phone as Google Translate and Maps are super helpful (you can download Japanese offline in Translate too).

Be sure to book accommodation far in advance for the cherry blossom season (ideally 6 months+).

Enjoy Japan! Erin

Hi Erin, My husband & I are travelling to Japan in August as he is competing in the world masters swimming competition. We have to be in Fukuoka for the competition and then he have 9 days to explore the country ending up in Tokyo for our flight home. Could you advise what we should do at this time of year. Do you think it is sensible to base ourselves in Kyoto and then take daily trips from there using the JR Pass, (do you recommend we get the Green pass). Your advise would be greatly appreciated. Thanking you in advance.Pia

Hi Pia, that’s exciting!

If you don’t want to move around too much then I do think Kyoto is a great base. There’s so much to do (including festivals in August) and lots of possible day trips. You could finish up with a couple of nights in Tokyo.

If you want to add some extra places you could stop in Hiroshima on the way to Kyoto for the peace memorial and nearby Miyajima Island. It’s a quick journey on the bullet train from Fukuoka.

You’ll need to work out your route first to see whether a rail pass is worth it. It probably won’t be worth it for day trips but could work out worthwhile including the shinkansen up from Fukuoka and on to Tokyo.

We’ve never used a green pass but if you want a bit more space you could consider it.

Also bear in mind that around the Obon holiday (13-16 August) the trains will be busier than usual so book your seat in advance.

Enjoy Japan!

Hi Erin – great post, thanks for your comprehensive insight! My partner and I are heading to Tokyo for NYE and planning on heading from there to Kyoto around the 2nd for a couple of nights. I understand that Japan can be very quiet during the first week of January. Do you have any experience travelling at this time? If so, do you have any suggestions about how to make the most of the trip while the country is a bit quieter? Thanks in advance :)

Hi Sarah, We haven’t been to Japan at New Year. The important thing to bear in mind is that many businesses will be closed on some or all days between 29 Dec and 4 Jan. So make sure you look at the hours of any restaurants and attractions you want to visit and work around them.

I think Kyoto will be lovely at a quieter time of year especially as it does get so busy. There are so many temples and shrines to explore and they stay open over NY. Enjoy!

Wonderful website and tips. I know one of your dont´s is rent a car, but we are hoping to visit Shirakawa-go, Gokayama and Takayama, and have found no easy way to get there from Tokyo or Kyoto on train. Do you have any recommendation on how to do that?

Many many thanks¡

Hi Natalia. You can get to Takayama from Kyoto or Tokyo easily by changing trains in Nagoya. The journey from Nagoya to Takayama is beautiful.

The other villages can be reached by bus from Takayama (Shirakawa-go is easiest), but yes, a car would give you more flexibility to explore the countryside around here.

Maybe look into renting a car for a few days in Takayama? Just remember you’ll need an international driving licence, which you’ll need to get in your home country.

While a car could be useful in the countryside, I wouldn’t want to drive in the cities and the train between cities is probably quicker.

I’ve written a bit about Takayama in our 2 week itinerary: https://www.neverendingvoyage.com/japan-2-week-itinerary/

Have a wonderful trip to Japan! Erin

Hello Enrin, your tips makes me very enthousiatic to plan a 4week trip to Japan. Is that a good way to tour? (Will be half september-half oktober).

forgot to say ;-) we plan to travel with a campervan: is that a good way to tour?

That’s a great time to visit and a nice amount of time to explore. I don’t think a campervan or any rental car is the best way to travel though. Driving (and finding parking) in the cities is a challenge and it’s much easier to travel by train.

A campervan would only be advisable if you want to focus on rural areas like Hokkaido.

Remember you’ll need an international driving licence, which you’ll need to get in your home country.

Hello Great Blog. full of advices How do you suggest to travel the “alps” from Kanazawa that one can reach by train to takayama and around ? would that be the place where you rent a car?

You can visit places like Kamikochi by bus from Takayama so a car isn’t essential.

Hi Erin, would like to ask is hiring tour guide better or do it yourself to see all nice place in Japan?

It depends how you prefer to travel. I definitely think it’s possible to travel by yourself. A compromise might be to hire a guide for a day (or join a tour) in Kyoto and/or Tokyo.

Good Day Erin. Just doing beginning research for our yearly trip this year, and we are considering Japan. Your excellent article is the first I started with. We like to spend minimum of 2 weeks, usually longer at our destination. You suggest that using public transportation throughout the country and not to rent a car. My husand and I are seniors. My husband has difficulty (pain) after walking a short distance (100 yards). Would this destination be a wise choice for us? Before going further in my research an answer to this question is most appreciated. Regards

Hi Diane, yes, trains are definitely the best way to visit Japan’s cities. You could hire a private driver for day tours within places like Kyoto, though, which could minimise the need to walk as much when sightseeing.

It would probably be best to minimise the places you visit (such as Tokyo and Kyoto or even just Kyoto) as train stations are quite large and do involve walking. If you fly into Kansai airport you could take a taxi to Kyoto and see a lot based there.

Perhaps renting a wheelchair is worth considering. There is also an overnight luggage delivery service where you can send your bags between hotels to make train travel easier.

As we don’t have any experience of travelling Japan with mobility issues, I would look for advice from those who have. Here’s one post that might be useful: https://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quereadisplay.html?0+132386

Diane: As someone who recently travelled to Japan having had double knee replacement surgery less than 12 months previously, I can offer a little insight! While I agree that travelling by train is a fantastic way to get around Japan (I covered a LOT of miles!) you should be aware that not all train stations have lifts or escalators. Many stations in Tokyo have quite long flights of stairs which can be a challenge to anyone less able or in pain, especially when you have luggage. Even when there is a lift, it’s typically right at the end of the platform (often the “wrong” end for where you want to be), so I would do some research before deciding how much urban train travel you will do; it’s less of an issue when taking the shinkansen to cover a reasonable distance. I much prefer trains to coaches, but I did use buses in places and that was fine. On the topic of car hire, I probably wouldn’t bother myself but I know someone who travels widely across Japan with a couple of kids and she swears by it, not least because they can easily reach locations that would otherwise be a hassle to get to. She doesn’t use one in the cities though. Lastly, I don’t think you should be put off going to Japan – it’s an amazing country and I found everyone to be unfailingly helpful. No problem is insurmountable!

Thank you so much for sharing your experience, Sue.

Hello Erin,

Would you recommend visiting Jaoan with a 1.5 year old? Do the onsens have babysitters?

We don’t have any experience travelling with kids but our friends took their toddler and loved it. The onsens don’t have babysitters as far as I know.

Thank so much for all the amazing info! Heading to Japan in June for two weeks with my daughter. It’s especially wonderful to know there are some great vegan/vegetarian options.

Hi Erin… I stumbled onto your website as I’ve started looking into planning for a trip in 2024 for my daughter’s High school Senior trip. Is Mid June a good time weather wise? Super hot? Also, are there food/restaurants that are gluten free for Celiacs? You mentioned beaches are those places more expensive than the cities? I will check out all your links too. TY for all the info, this will truly help.

It will be hot but if that’s the only time you can go, I wouldn’t let it stop you and it’s cooler than July and August.

I don’t have any experience being gluten free in Japan but our friend has written this guide: https://www.legalnomads.com/gluten-free/japan/

Beaches shouldn’t be more expensive than the cities but it depends where you go. We haven’t spent much time at the beaches.

Have a wonderful trip!

hi Erin, lovely website with a lot of good information. Do you list of places to visit / see – for a 4 week trip. We wanted to do the North part of the country as well. thanks for any tips and help. We are vegetarians as well but saw that you all managed to get delicious looking vegetarian food : ).

We haven’t actually made it very far north as there’s always so much to do in the central part. See our guide to the best places to visit in Japan for our favourite places: https://www.neverendingvoyage.com/best-places-to-visit-in-japan/

And yes, vegetarian food in Japan is great if you plan in advance (use the Happy Cow app).

Thanks for the info Erin. Cultural.differences are amusing at least.

Thank you so much for this guide Erin! It’s really helpful. I’m planning a 2-3 week trip to Japan around September. However, I’ve read and seen a lot of people saying to avoid this time of year due to typhoon season. Would you recommend visiting Japan around this time despite the typhoons that might hit?

We’ve been in September and enjoyed it. We did get some rain but nothing that disrupted our trip. I wouldn’t let it stop you visiting.

Hello Erin! Great information. Thank you! What percentage of small businesses (resturants, clubs, rooms, etc) are open this month (March)? What percentage may be open in May? Should I wait until September to experience Japan? Take care,

Everything should be open now so any month this year is good to visit!

How easy is it to navigate in Tokyo and Kyoto with a group of 8? We’re concerned about everything from attractions to train travel to being able to eat together. This is a trip to celebrate our friends’ 40th birthday and logistics just seem to be overwhelming!

Hi Laurie We’ve only visited Japan as a couple, but I’d say it might be a bit challenging in a big group. Many restaurants are quite small and trains can be crowded (although you can book seats together for the longer trip between Kyoto and Tokyo).

I’m sure it would be possible if you plan in advance (book some restaurants etc) and maybe break into smaller groups for some of the time. Perhaps discuss what everyone definitely wants to do and do those things together, but then have some time doing your own thing.

Good luck with it and enjoy Japan!

I’ll be visiting Japan for 10 days in March! Could you give me a little insight on the paying methods there? How much cash should I bring/have on hand? Do they mostly accept cash or do most places accept credit cards?

Thanks in advance!

Hi Susan When we visited Japan previously we needed cash for most places. We just withdrew from an ATM (the ones at 7-11 were most reliable for foreign cards) when needed so we didn’t exchange any cash in advance. Just make sure you use a card that doesn’t charge international transaction fees (this will depend which country you are from).

But I have heard that since Covid more places accept credit cards and contactless payment methods, so I’m really hoping there’s less of a need for cash now. I would still recommend always having some with you just in case.

Hello . I want to visit Japan with my 13 year old granddaughter in June. I have never been in Japan, but have traveled widely. We plan to visit Kyoto and its environs mostly but want to spend couple days in Tokyo. We do not speak Japanese but will find a way to learn some. We are coming from the US, but my home country is Finland (very Japan friendly :)). We definitely want to get bullet train passes and need to learn about cell phone communication. And we are both into adventure and are looking forward to seeing Japan. Thank you for any advice you can give us.

I plan to visit Japan soon, spiritualy a home I have never been to yet. This is due to my work and my partners need for beach and sun. I’m hoping I can convince her soon to travel with me there. Or it’s over… the Japanese have a way of life with nature that we miss here in the UK….. I have so much respect for the people of Japan. We could learn a thing or two….. I plan to beg konami tsukamoto to mentor me in order I can preserve British trees as she does her native species…… much respect.

Excellent post Erin. You’ve included some great examples of things specific to Japan that it would be great to know in advance for new travellers.

I especially liked your recommendation not to try and cram too much in and whiz around the country. This is a common mistake people make when visiting Japan. Also, not wearing socks with holes in! Once you’ve done this in Japan, you’ll never do it again LOL!

Also, an upvote for your suggestion to visit Takayama – a wonderful place that has a charming historical district that’s like stepping back in time.

Good information given u

I’m doing a project on Japan for school, your posts on Japan were all SUPER helpful- thank you so much!

Glad it helped!

Hello We are looking to travel to Tokyo with out 2 year old in October. We were told that we would need to book travel guides for us to have a visa to enter in Japan. As great as that all sounds, it’s also more then we intend to spend for our trip. How true is needing the visa to enter Japan? Should we do a tour guide for a couple days? If that is allowed.

Hi Vee, As things currently stand, Japan’s borders are still closed to independent travellers. You can only enter the country as part of a package tour that is very restrictive (you can’t do any exploring alone), and, yes, it would be expensive. You would need a guide for the whole trip.

There is a chance borders will reopen by October but really there’s no way of knowing right now. If you decide to go ahead and book in the hope they do reopen, I would make sure everything has free cancellation.

So I’m trying to plan a trip to Japan with my family next year July (4kids) but I keep hearing super expensive, anyways nanny suggestions on where or how to plan n book.? Also my chance do you have any info on Tokyo Disneyland?

yes, japan can be quite expensive but if you plan your stay well and get a rail pass if you’re hopping between cities then you should be able to manage it :)

Should we rent a car or is public transportation the preferred mode of transportation for tourists?

Public transport is easier to deal with. I wouldn’t rent a car unless you are going somewhere remote.

Is it better to custom plan everything? Like book 2-3 week stay and go whichever places we want to visit ourselves or get a package that offer planned trips?

I think it’s best to book everything yourself, but it really depends on how much experience you have travelling and how much time you have to plan it all.

I’m going to Shinjuku. Next year in June this has really helped thank you

This helped so much, im going to Japan in 2 years with my dad (to film a documentary) and this helped so much

Thanks Lillee and have a great trip!

I’d love all the great tips, but should add make sure that you keep eyed out on your train timetable…I’d went to the Takayama Festival and didn’t watch my time. I’d miss my train and got stuck in Nagoya for six half hours trying to get back to Asakusa. (Never again?)…watch your JR Rail or Metro timetable. Japan trains are on point.

Oh no, what a nightmare!

Bravo, your article full of good advice with beautiful pictures. A small precision for foreigners who wish to drive in Japan, they have to translate their driving license at a JAF center.

Now this I call a detailed guide! We are hoping to visit Japan next year so I am gathering all the info I can before I start any serious planning. This post was really helpful!

Thanks Julia! Good luck with your planning!

Hi thanks for sharing this Me & my nephew are planning to visit japan for the 1st time this September can you pls recommend any place to stay or eat and should we do tour or should we go on our own ? We kinda nervous abt the trip .

You should be fine without a tour. The train system is very comfortable and efficient and if you buy a rail pass, you don’t even have to worry about buying tickets for each trip. If you ever get confused, the Japanese are very friendly and will help you out.

Here are a few posts that should give you some ideas on where to go with accommodation and restaurant recommendations: https://www.neverendingvoyage.com/japan-2-week-itinerary/ https://www.neverendingvoyage.com/best-places-to-visit-in-japan/

Good luck and enjoy!

Wonderful and very Insightful Information.

I am a solo traveler from India, planning to travel to Japan for this first time, this summer for about 7-8 nights (June’2020), do you recommend going through some tour company or going on my own. How difficult is managing through Japan, without any knowing any Japaneses. Would you have a recommendation for a tour company.

I think Japan is fairly easy to manage without a tour company. The trains are a great way to travel and with a rail pass you don’t even need to worry about buying a ticket each time.

It helps to buy a local SIM card so you can use Google Translate on your phone. The Japanese are also usually very helpful even if they only speak a little English. We only speak a few words of Japanese are always manage fine.

Hello Erin, this is very useful. Thank you for sharing. Can you suggest us an 8 days itinerary for Japan. We’re visiting Japan for the first time and wish to enjoy the natural beauty and culture.

I would probably just focus on Kyoto and Tokyo in that time, perhaps with some day trips. Enjoy!

Hi! I’ve already been to Japan 2 times in the summer. The first time I visited Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and the Island of Shôdoshima. The second time I browsed a bit more around Tokyo and in the countryside (mainly in the Gunma prefecture – gorgeous landscapes!). I am going back in February. Two places I will visit for sure are Yokohama (first stop) and Sendai (2nd stop). And I and am wondering if there are “musts” I should not miss at that time of year (are snow festivals worth it? Or anything else?) and if it would be worth it to go as far south as Hiroshima? I should have about 12 days for Sendai onwards. I haven’t decided yet if I am going to fly back to Canada out of Tokyo (I could fly out from elsewhere too). Many thanks for your help and for sharing all of this! You’re doing a tremendous job!

Honestly this guide is incredible. I’ve booked marked this as I’m currently planning my things to do for March/April 2020! Any website booking recommendations?

Thanks Alyssa! Spring is such a lovely time in Japan.

Do you mean websites for booking accommodation or tours? We use Booking.com for hotels, Airbnb for apartments (in the big cities like Tokyo), and Voyagin for tours. You might find this post helpful: https://www.neverendingvoyage.com/things-to-do-in-japan/

Good afternoon! I’m planning a 1-month trip to japan in two years and would like to know how much money you think I should save up. I already have the places I wanna visit in mind and would just like some bit of info.

Thank you. :)

That’s a difficult question to answer as it depends so much on your travel style. Do you want to stay in hostels or fancy ryokan or a mix of both? Do you want to do expensive tours and activities or are you happy just wandering? Are you happy with cheap ramen or do you want to try a pricey kaiseki meal?

As a rough idea, on this two week itinerary ( https://www.neverendingvoyage.com/japan-2-week-itinerary/ ) we spent about US$120 per person a day which I’d say is a mid-range budget. There is more info in the itinerary post.

“Well there it is” I shouted as I scrolled through this fantastic information resource. An superb honest, unbiased view and answer to all, yes all, my questions. Except one…. Did you get to visit Okinawa? I desperate to get there… I will have 3-4 weeks….

Thank you so much Brian!

Unfortunately, we haven’t visited Okinawa yet. You’ll have plenty of time to add on a flight down there though. Enjoy Japan!

Awesome post! Thanks for sharing the knowledge and keep up the good work.

Thanks Brian!

Those photos of the dog pulling the mans underpants!?! My child was looking at this with me and now he is scarred for life!

Oh dear! You do find some very strange things in Japan.

I really enjoyed the detail you gave on your trip to Japan! This is 100% helpful as someone planning a trip there for the first time.

Thanks and enjoy Japan!

Hi Erin, thank you for taking the time to put all this great info together. One question I have is in regards to Takayama. Did you like it more than Kanazawa and Shirakawa-go, if you went? We originally planned to stop for a night in each place, however, because of availability in Shirakawa-go, we had to switch up our itinerary a little bit. To adjust, we have considered skipping Takayama and just doing Kanazawa and Shirakawa-go, but this makes me think twice. We also have the option of leaving Tokyo a day early (currently booked for 4 full days there) to keep all 3 places in the line-up. Would love to hear your input! Thank you!

I did like Takayama more than Kanazawa. It’s smaller and cuter and is surrounded by countryside. But then I do prefer small towns to big cities so it depends on your preferences. If you can fit it in I would.

We didn’t visit Shirakawa-go in the end. We were thinking of visiting as a day trip on the way between Takayama and Kanazawa but it would have meant having to use buses rather than take the train which we prefer (and we had a rail pass). If we had had time for a night’s stay there it would have been better I think.

Whatever you choose you’ll have an amazing time though!

Thank you so much for your post! It’s incredibly informative :)

I have one question, I am a woman traveling alone is there anything I need to consider? I have heard that Japan is a safe country, as you have the real-life experience, I’d love to hear what you think!

Thank you for your time, and excellent blog post!

I don’t think you need to worry – Japan is a very safe country. Have a great trip!

Nice list, and pretty accurate- thanks for sharing all the info!

I have to say though- DO try non-Japanese food. Things off the top of my head: bread from the local bakeries, 600¥ cake from fancy department stores, Starbucks (the seasonal things!). Pork buns in Yokohama, Pirozhki in Kamakura… The list is endless. Of course eat all the Japanese food too, because it’s amazing too.

But, I’m also so sorry you had such a bad experience (I’ve been there too)! The size of the nan though? Oh-my-god, right? :)

I do think non-Japanese food has improved a lot in recent years. We had some fantastic Italian food on our last trip (as vegetarians it’s a good backup option for us!).

Which places do you wish you would have stayed longer?

Kyoto (even though we had three weeks there!) and Tokyo.

Great list! It’s made me even more excited to get to Japan now!

I love saying ‘moshi moshi’ – i used to hear it when I worked in an international call centre – it’s so much better than plain old ‘hello’!

Excellent post – interesting, funny and very informative! Currently planning my Japan trip, this was a lot of help :)

Have an amazing trip to Japan!

I am visiting my daughter in Singapore and on the way back to the US my wife and I are visiting Japan (3Jun-8Jun). It is only for 5 days so unfortunately our time there will be very short. Originally I wanted to climb Fuji but the guided trip company I emailed claimed they only had a 1 day guided trips and crampons were required. Although we love to hike this may be too much for such a short trip. If anyone has hiked Fuji in crampons in 1 day I would love to hear about the experience. I still want to see Fuji up close, Kyoto, old family member used to live in Nagoya so would like to stop by there and perhaps Hakone. I just started looking for any special events that take place in the first week of June. Looking forward to this trip and a longer one next time.

Hi there :) Loved your post. I’m from Portugal but I’m a Japan fan. Went to Tokyo las year on March but this time I’m planning on 3 weeks travel around Japan. Can you help me? I already have the places to visti but I need help spliting the time… Oh and if yo see any of the plaes below that arenot woth to visit or less mportant please I’d aprreciate if you tell me: – Chiba – Nikko – Nagano and Matsumoto – Kawagoe – Kanagawa – Mt. Fuji (just planning on going near to have a view – Lake Kawaguchiko) – Magome – Takayama – Nagoya – Kyoto – Nara – Osak – Himeji – Hiroshima – Miyajima – Tokyo (and surroundings)

Thank you so much if you can help me.

Kind regards

Hi guys! I’m planning a trip to Japan in January with mum (I know it’s cold over there, but that’s the only break we’ve got!). We’re planning for a stay for around 8 days, any tips on where to go? I heard that an ideal short trip will consist of arriving at Tokyo and departing at Osaka, is that true? I really don’t know much about Japan so any advice is appreciated!

I would focus on Kyoto and Tokyo and take the train between them. Maybe include a day in Osaka if you can get a flight out from there.

We’ve written lots more about Japan: http://www.neverendingvoyage.com/japan-round-up/

Good advice. I hope to use this on my up come trip.

This is a great post! It is very helpful. I am planning to go to Tokyo this June. I will be staying in Shibuya/Shinjuku area. I don’t know which hotel to stay in and where to go first. Do you have any advice for the first time traveler? Thank you very much! :)

I am planning a trip in March 2015. Reading your website has got me extra excited already

Hi Matthew, I’m planning to travel to Japan at the beginning of March 2015 as well. If you got any great idea, we can discuss. Thanks

I am planning a trip to Kyoto to see where Reiki was started, your insights are great. Thank you

Are you house sitting for a friend or do you use a website to find/sign up for sitting jobs?

We used mindmyhouse.com

Hi guys, great blogs-thank you for sharing it. We’re planning to do a trip in December 2013 14-27/12.

Could you advise which cities we should visit using the shinkansen. We have 14 days to spend with the first 3 days in Tokyo, so it’ll leave us with 11 days in other cities.

I am confused with the the shinkansen map and which one we should take and which cities we can visit that is on the way. We are targetting to return to Tokyo on the last 3 days to do some shopping.

It is basically that 8 days, we need to use to the cities that can be visited using the shinkansen line.

Thank you in advance for your help

Hi Hemmy. I wrote up an itinerary I followed with a one-week JR Pass that might be of some help. It includes other useful tips for planning as well. Find it at:

http://www.lengthytravel.com/saving-on-travel-in-japan-with-a-jr-rail-pass-my-itinerary-tips-and-cost-savings/

Hi Jeff, thank you for your prompt reply. I really appreciate it. You’re really helpful

This site is really helpful about Japan and shows a route map: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2018.html

I would definitely recommend Kyoto and probably Hiroshima as well. These are the details of where we visited: http://www.neverendingvoyage.com/japan-round-up/ .

Have a great trip!

Hi I was wondering if you could help. Basically I want to pay my mum and dad back for being such brilliant parents and helping me bring up my little boy. My dad went to Japan about 40 yrs ago he has always wanted to go back. I want to plan a surprise trip next year to Japan. I’m planning about 10 or 14 days away but not too much travelling maybe a few days in 3 places and ending up in Tokyo for 4 days to finish . Can you recommend anywhere that would be a must. I am completely lost as am not familiar with hotels or places etc. Any help would be brilliant Thanks nadya :)

It really depends what you are interested in but I’d definitely recommend Kyoto as well as Tokyo. Have a read through our Japan posts and see what you like the sound of. Good luck with it.

Thanks had a look and they’re into history so definitely Kyoto . Cheers for ur help Nadya

I going to Japan next year and through out my researches I always came across those dos an don’ts and I have to say this is really nice and short one but has a lot of information in it, which is something I really like! Keep up the good work ;D

Thanks and have a great trip.

Hello, i am starting a trip around the world in february. I start in Tokio and end in Canada in december. How many days do i need to see Tokyo and are there some real good hidden secrets? Gr. Bert

That’s a difficult question. There is so much to do in Tokyo you could spend a few days or months. We didn’t spend that much time there so can’t really advise.

Hello, with one of your Dos its not mushy mushy its moshi moshi aka (もしもし). I’ve been leaning japanese for about 9 years now i was wondering id you could correct it please

ありがとうございます　（＾＿＾）

Done. Thanks for letting us know.

Your topic is amazing, I learned a lot but can you tell me what money should i required for 1 month to travel in Japan.

It’s hard to say but you can see our budget post for an idea of what we spent: http://www.neverendingvoyage.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-travel-in-japan/

Very nice and interesting article plus points. Japan is a place I really have wanted to go forever!

I am planning a 10 day trip with my two teenage girls. We really want to see Tokyo well. I keep hearing about Kyoto is it worth seeing, it seems far from Tokyo (8hrs) and expensive to get to?

I don’t think it’s that far if you get the bullet train. You can look up train times and prices on this website: http://www.hyperdia.com/ . You might also want to consider a rail pass if you are planning to visit other places. Compare the prices on that site with the rail pass.

Great Post. I lived in Japan for a few years and loved it. I would suggest going to any matsuri (festival) that are going on during your stay. There is lots of culture to be seen at those events. Plus there is good food. Depending on the location you’re at in Japan, during August or September, there are festivals for Obon.

In the planning stages for 9 days in Japan during June 2012 (flights booked). Can anyone help me with how long to see Hiroshima/Miyajima and whether we should base in Osaka or Kyoto to do the Osaka / Kyoto / Nara and possibly Takayama?

Hi Leonie, Two days would be enough for Hiroshima/Miyajima. I would chose Kyoto as a base as we much preferred it to Osaka and there’s more to see there. You can easily visit Osaka and Nara as day trips. We didn’t go to Takayama but it is quite a bit further away so it’s up to you how much you want to rush around. You could definitely find enough to do in Kyoto with a week.

Very useful! I wish I could go soon!!! Do you recommend any specific time in the year?

We were there in summer which suited us as we like hot weather. It is more scenic in the spring or autumn as you have the cherry blossoms or autumn leaves. The spring is peak season though. My friend went in the winter and loved it as the snow is beautiful, you can ski, and you can warm up in onsens (it was too hot for those when we were there). It really depends what you are looking for but anytime has something to offer.

I think Japan is going to be my next trip abroad, and this list is extremely helpful. I love that it addresses those smaller opportunities and moments and not just the big sites to see. Bookmarking right now!

Glad you found it helpful. Yes, for us travel is always more than just about the big sites. So far we are really enjoying Japan and soaking up the cultural differences.

Oh I forgot one of the highlights of Kyoto (besides the monkey park) is a trip on a little train that takes you outside of Kyoto and up into the mountains to Kurama and Kibune. You can then do a walk up over the hills from one village through to one of the big shrines at the other village. There are onsens at the end to rest in. A really lovely walk out in the countryside and the train trip is so much fun.

Sounds wonderful!

We stayed in Kyoto in 2008 for a week and went back there last year for a quick day during a week long trip to Osaka. The best thing about Kyoto is it’s location to other places for day trips – Osaka, Nara, Kobe, Himiji (although the castle is covered in scaffolding). You can get a cheaper Kansai Japan rail pass for four days (about $80?) to get to all these places.

Make sure you get to the Nishiki Market for fresh food – our post at is a big band width one with loads of pictures and we have more posts on our trip last year. Also, the rice burger at MOS burger is vegetarian and yum.

We will be in Tokyo from Sep 23 for a week of exploring Tokyo and surrounds. Thanks for the onsen tips nearby, will be looking for some there.

Thanks for all your tips Alison. Your post on the Nishiki market is fantastic – we will definitely visit although I’m not sure I’ll know what most of the things are! Looks like we’ll be in Tokyo around the same time as you!

Oh yeah, JTB (Japan Travel Bureau) has an excellent series of booklets on different topics. Unfortunately, they don’t seem to have Kindle versions, but probably worth the price to pick up one or two. For example: http://www.amazon.com/Look-into-Japan-Your-Pocket/dp/4533013813/ref=pd_sim_b_1

I love Kyoto though it has been years since I was in Japan and longer since I was specifically in Kyoto. My recollection is that it was easier to find English speakers there, though I tend to agree the not speaking the local language is harder in Japan than many places. To make up for that though, the people are probably more willing to be helpful than anywhere else I have ever traveled. Anyway, the number of incredible temples in Kyoto is impressive. Also, if you will be there for the fall foliage (Kouyou in Japanese) you will indeed be fortunate as it is incredible in Kyoto.

I would also point out that Japan is definitely one of the safest places in the world to visit.

Also worth mentioning is that Japan is a country where many towns and cities are famous for something very specific (knives, a certain type of food, pottery, etc.) so always try to find out what a place you are visiting is famous for.

I can’t recall how far away it is from Kyoto, but I think not too far is a place called Takayama which is one of my favorites. Especially if you can make it to the Fall festival which is one of the most impressive festivals in all of Japan, though there are many all around the country and throughout the year. Good festival street food is always available too, though I can’t recall if any of it is vegetarian friendly.

Many famous things in Japan come in 3s – 3 famous gardens, 3 famous shrines, etc. One of the 3 famous shrines is Ise Jingu which is a bit south of Nagoya and one of my favorites if you get a chance to see it. Nara is also quite special and not too far from Kyoto.

Speaking of food, you’ll have no trouble satisfying a sweet tooth as there are many good bakeries to be found, especially in the train stations. And, a popular chain of restaurants called Mister Donut is good and ubiquitous. You may also be surprised by how many people get a quick meal at the local convenience store.

If I think of anything else I’ll add it later. Ganbatte ne! (“good luck”)

Thanks so much for the advice Jeff! Unfortunately we are only in Japan until the end of September so I think we’ll miss the foliage. I had been considering Takayama though so glad to hear you like it.

Great post and very informative. The Japan Rail pass is a must if you plan to to a lot of traveling and the 100 yen shops are great for souvenirs.

Japan Australia

Am really hoping to make it to Japan sometime in the next 12 months – bookmarking this!

Hopefully we’ll have lots more posts about Japan when we get there next month.

Hi, it’s Mariko, came to check out your blog. Interesting article but I can’t keep my mouth shut on a few things. Please DO try non-Japanese food in Kyoto… we have such a great selection of Brazilian, Nepalese, Indian, Thai, Chinese, Italian restaurants it would be a shame if you stuck to only Japanese food. Also, Kyoto is probably the vegetarian capital of Japan if there ever was one. There are a lot of veggie and vegan places as well as a special kind of buddhist vegan meal that you have to pre-book, but is very nice.

A lot of people speak English here (not necessarily GOOD English, but…) . Almost everywhere in Japan there are English translations of Japanese signs (subway, trains, buses etc. ).

….I swear I’m not a jerk! I just want your information (and the info for anyone else who reads this) to be up to date. Don’t hate me, Amy!

It sounds like Kyoto is a lot more cosmopolitan than other parts of Japan. We are really looking forward to trying the vegetarian food, especially the Buddhist meals.

Thanks for your comment and of course you’re not being a jerk, :o)! The post is based on our 3 week experiences in Japan so obviously would never be definitive in anyway. I’m sure that other non-japanese food is great (apart from the Indian curry we had in Fukuoka!) but I guess my point for fellow travellers is that Japanese food is so delicious why waste your stomach and yen on other food during your stay!

I’m sure too that many people do speak english, in our encounters this was rare even in Tokyo, but again Japanese is such a beautiful language why not go ahead and dive in and try to speak it!

Lastly too, in our 3 weeks there were indeed occasional english transport signage to be found, but we also had many experiences standing at a bus/ subway terminals not having any clue as to where to go or what to pay. Again though, this isn’t a bad thing, sometimes the best thing about being intrepid travellers is being able to figure things out!

I certainly don’t hate you (!), in fact I apologise if you found anything in the article to be of offence. I certainly did not mean to, and again after only 3 weeks in your amazing country, the list was only ever meant to be a broad guide to anyone else going to visit.

All the best,

Totally agree about the non-Japanese food!! I loved Japanese pizza so much I would go back just for that :D

Awesome Amy my husband and I who have never been overseas before have chosen Japan as our first overseas destination for our honeymoon and soaking up any information we can get ?

Glad everyone likes the post! Love your story too Erin! I remember our friend Noriko said that, after living in Manchester for awhile, she was glad to return to her homeland of convenience!

Oh, how I want to see Kyoto! Bamboo grove, old temples, aaaah…

I know about this website: http://www.vegietokyo.com/info4vegie/articles/article2.html Though it’s for Tokyo mostly. Hope it’s helpful :) Have fun on your trip!

Thanks for that – the article is really useful.

100 Yen shops are soooooo brilliant. Get some tabbi socks too. Shinkansen, though expensive, are so worth it – you can travel vast distances so quickly and it is a breath of fresh air to use any Japanese public transportation after the British version! Gavin and I were due at Tokyo airport one cold wintery day. Woke up at 4.30am to catch our bus to Tokyo (4 hours away) to find snow knee deep. Freaked out, how would we get to Tokyo now? Needn’t have worried – Japanese workers were all out clearing the roads and our bus rolled in right on time.

Really good post, Amy you sure squeezed a lot into your 3 weeks! Erin x

I love that story! I can’t wait to try the bullet trains and enjoy everything being super-efficient and on time.

Really great posts, I have been to Japan several times and you are spot on!

Oh I love Japan so much and I haven’t even been there yet! This is a great list – it solidified everything I was thinking about our upcoming trip to Japan. My 3 years of Japan in college might finally pay off…haha.

I’m excited to hear about your 3 weeks in Kyoto too!

When will you be in Japan Ashley? We can’t wait for our trip too. Kyoto seems like the perfect place to base ourselves.

Won’t be there until January! But super excited cause I’ve wanted to visit fooooorever.

Great tips! Thanks for sharing!

GREAT post – you’ve got a little bit of everything here =) Let me know if you need any ideas on Tokyo – I spent about 10 days in and around that area last year =)

Any highlights of your trip in Japan that you can share would be much appreciated!

Toni, I am going to Japan for 10 days at the end of June. Can you give me the scoop of MUST SEE sites that you really liked?

I DO :) would love some recommendations if still relevant

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A first-timer's guide to Olympic National Park, Washington

Apr 16, 2024 • 8 min read

Welcome to Olympic National Park, one of the wettest places in the US! © benedek / Getty Images

Green is the overwhelming color on Washington 's Olympic Peninsula .

From dazzling emerald to muted pine, you’ll detect a hundred different shades of it in the wet, mossy confines of the Lower 48’s most north-westerly  national park where 1000-year-old trees guard the finest tract of old growth rainforest in the US. The Olympics is also home to a small ski station, the majestic Roosevelt elk, regular deluges of precipitation and a dark, eerie sylvian environment that has inspired a mini library of vampire books.

Playing a noble supporting act are a muddle of heavily glaciated mountains, a trio of handsome “parkitecture” lodges and a couple of rustic hot springs. In a separate strip of land added in 1953, the Olympics also includes the wildest slice of US coastline outside Alaska.

Come here if you like rock-hopping on stormy beaches, paddling across windy lakes and hiking beneath drippy trees with just bears and rutting elk for company.

When should I go to Olympic National Park?

Welcome to one of the wettest places in the US! Rain, and its avoidance, is a primary consideration for most visitors. The Hoh Rainforest gets nearly 130in of precipitation a year. Summer, between May and September, is the driest time with July logging an average of only nine rainy days. This is also when most of the park’s facilities are open, from campgrounds to ranger-led hikes.

The winter season usually runs from late-November to late-March with snow activities centered around the small ski station at Hurricane Ridge.

If you hate crowds, January is the quietest (and wettest) month, while August (with over half a million visitors) is the busiest. Prices don’t fluctuate much in the park itself. In the surrounding communities, winter and the spring/fall shoulder seasons work out slightly cheaper.

Planning a trip to Washington State? Here's our seasonal guide

How much time should I spend in Olympic National Park?

You could easily spend four or five days working your way around Hwy 101, the Olympics’ unofficial ring-road with overnight stops in Port Angeles, Lake Crescent, Forks and Lake Quinault. If you’re planning on penetrating the park’s extensive backcountry on longer hikes along the coast or in the roadless interior, bank on putting aside a week – or even two.

Is it easy to get in and around Olympic National Park?

Getting to the park is relatively easy due to its proximity to Seattle . It’s just over 2 hours by car from the “Emerald City” to the eastern park entrance at Staircase and 2.5 hours to Port Angeles in the north. Seatac, 15 miles south of downtown Seattle, is the nearest airport.

It’s relatively easy to travel to Port Angeles direct from Victoria on Vancouver Island in Canada . The  Black Ball car ferry runs four times a day in either direction in the summer (and twice in the winter). The journey time is 1.5 hours.

The park is encircled by well-maintained Hwy 101 (a state “Scenic Highway”) with several more paved roads penetrating the interior where they dead-end at Hurricane Ridge, Hoh Rainforest, Lake Quinault, Sol Duc hot springs and Staircase.

While public buses exist, they are slow and discontinuous. You’ll need to change buses between the different counties of Clallam, Jefferson, Mason and Gray’s Harbor.

Top things to do in Olympic National Park

Appreciate ancient trees in the hoh rainforest.

For one of the most quintessential park experiences, take a deep dive into the greenest, wettest, and oldest temperate rainforest in North America. Hoh with its giant trees draped in spongy moss is what makes the Olympics unique, a temperate “jungle” of geriatric foliage that’s humming with wildlife. The area has its own visitor center and several short interpretive trails, including the 1.25-mile Hall of Moss trail. Rangers arrange nature walks and talks in summer.

Observe the forces of nature on Ruby Beach

First designated in 1938, the Olympics was extended in 1953 to include a narrow coastal strip that stretches from Ozette in the north down to Kalaloch in the south. Of the coast’s stormy collection of beaches, Ruby Beach , characterized by its bruised clouds, eroded sea stacks, and piles of washed-up tree logs, is the easiest to reach from Hwy 101.   

Climb a rugged path up Mt Storm King

Arguably the park’s most rewarding day-hike is the 4.1-mile round-trip climb to the top of Mt Storm King, whose narrow craggy summit towers grandly above the timberline overlooking the blue-green waters of Lake Crescent and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The trail starts from a lakeside ranger station and ascends steeply through forest for just under 2 miles with the last section necessitating a challenging scramble over rough rock with ropes provided for assistance. It’s well worth the sweat.

Feel the wind in your hair at Hurricane Ridge

The most-visited park enclave is, not coincidentally, the nearest to the urban hub of Port Angeles. Hurricane Ridge is home to a small family-orientated ski station (a rarity in US national parks), windy roadside lookouts, flower meadows, mountain goats and superb views into the park’s uninhabited interior. Trails, both short and long, penetrate the subalpine surroundings.

Soak in hot springs at Sol Duc

The most accessible and developed of the park’s hot springs, Sol Duc sits at the end of a 14-mile-long approach road and funnels its recuperative waters into a quartet of tiled outdoor pools. Massage is also available and, if you’re truly besotted, there’s a rustic cabin resort, campground and restaurant dabbling in Northwest cuisine. A handful of trails embellish the area incorporating bubbling creeks, a pretty lake and a waterfall.

Want more national parks? Here's our guide to Washington's very best

My favorite thing to do in Olympic National Park

The Quinault Valley is one of several road accessible enclaves in the park’s interior and one of my favorite places to linger for a day or three. The area is anchored by a rippling lake upon whose shores stands the handsome  Quinault lodge , a historic hotel built in rustic “parkitecture” style in the 1920s, a good decade before the national park was created.

I like Quinault because it offers a litany of indoor and outdoor things to do depending on your mood and how energetic or lazy you feel. This is an ideal base for embarking on long- and short-distance hikes, admiring giant trees, kayaking on the adjacent lake or merely relaxing in a well-worn leather armchair beside the lodge’s spirit-reviving fire.

How much money do I need for Olympic National Park?

In common with many national parks, you can expect the prices for items such as food to be a little more expensive than the surrounding towns, plus there are fewer options to find cheap substitutes. Balancing things out, many of the park’s outdoor activities – including hiking, wild swimming and wildlife-watching – are free or almost free.

A guide to daily costs

• Park entrance fee: $15–30
• Campground per night: $15–24
• Basic room for two: $150–250
• Kayak rental (4 hours): $45
• Hot springs entrance fee: $18
• Public transport ticket: free–$10 (70-mile journey)
• Coffee: $3–4
• Dinner entrée at Lake Quinault Lodge: $26–48

Frequently asked questions

How unpredictable is the weather.

The weather is always fickle in this neck of the woods. Dress in layers, particularly in the mountains and bring a waterproof jacket and leggings.

Are there any rainy-day activities in the area?

Located just outside the national park boundary in Neah Bay, the  Makah Museum is well worth an hour or two of your time, offering an unparalleled glimpse into one of the oldest and best studied Native American archaeological sites in the US.

Is there a park visitor center?

The park’s main visitor center is situated on the southern edge of Port Angeles and is open daily year-round. There’s a Wilderness Information Center next door. There’s another visitor center in the Hoh Rainforest with more limited off-season hours. The visitor center at Hurricane Ridge burned down in 2023.

Where is the main park entrance?

The park has numerous entry points. The most popular and convenient is the “Heart O’ the Hills” entrance 5 miles south of the main Port Angeles visitor center on Hurricane Ridge Road.  

Other entrances to the park’s interior are located at Sol Duc, the Hoh Rainforest and Lake Quinault. All these places have ranger stations and lodge/cabin accommodations. Staircase is the main entrance to the park from the east and has its own ranger station.

There are three entrances to the park’s separated coastal strip, namely at Ozette, Mora and (the most popular) Kalaloch . All have ranger stations. Kalaloch also has a lodge.

What’s the deal with camping?

There are 14 front-country campgrounds in the park; half take reservations, the other half are first-come-first-served. Five campgrounds are suitable for tents only, and two have electrical hook-ups and water. Reservations can be made at  recreation.gov .   

Backcountry campers must purchase a permit for $6 and subsequently pay $8 per person per night. Sites must be booked in advance on recreation.gov. There are 120 backcountry campgrounds in the park, each able to accommodate between six and 12 people.

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Pair these L.A. road trips with a hike and a lunch

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In April 2020 — only a month or so into the COVID-19 pandemic — my wife and I were running out of things to do. The novelty of Zoom calls with friends was wearing off. We’d watched lots of movies and TV. We were itching to get out of our apartment, but with the virus still raging, we couldn’t risk being around other people. Then we had an idea: Why not go for a drive?

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For our first trip, we drove the length of Little Tujunga Canyon Road in the Angeles National Forest. After that, we were hooked. In the ensuing months, we crisscrossed the Santa Monica Mountains and made trips into Los Padres National Forest and beyond.

My wife bought me a California road atlas, and it became part of our scenic drive ritual: We’d consult its pages for inspiration, looking for two-lane roads and state highways that squiggled through mountain ranges or meandered through deserts. After returning home, I’d highlight our route. Four years after our first drive, the atlas is full of highlights documenting our travels — and there’s still a lifetime’s worth of backroads we haven’t covered yet.

No matter where we go, each drive gives me a deeper appreciation for the incredible range of landscapes in Southern California. And these journeys have led to many rewarding discoveries, from out-of-the-way diners to new trailheads for hiking and biking.

If you’re tired of visiting the same places, it’s time to hit the road. These two trips — all within a three-hour drive of the city — will get you started.

Los Padres National Forest and Carrizo Plain National Monument This route traverses winding mountain roads through Los Padres and spits you out near the southern entrance to Carrizo Plain — a vast preserve of native grassland and a hotspot for wildflowers (at least on some years ) and birdwatching . From Interstate 5, take Exit 205 and head west on Frazier Mountain Park Road. This two-lane road changes names several times as it ascends into the San Emigdio Mountains, passing forested slopes and epic canyon views along the way.

After about 42 miles, you’ll meet California 166. Take a right here and then a left on Soda Lake Road to enter Carrizo Plain National Monument. Drive northwest for 35 miles to the parking lot for the Soda Lake Trail, a short boardwalk that gets you up close to the park’s salt-crusted lake. If you plan ahead, you can also book a guided tour of Painted Rock, a sandstone outcrop with Native American rock art.

Hungry? Head back the way you came, take a right on California 166, and drive west 15 miles to the Cuyama Buckhorn , a renovated ’50s motel, restaurant and bar. The eatery’s Santa Maria-style tri-tip is superb, and if you grab a room, you can turn this scenic drive into a full weekend escape .

Volcan Mountain and Julian This route will take you to Julian , a mountain town famous for its apple orchards and delicious pies. From Interstate 15, take Exit 58 for California 79. Take a right on Pechanga Parkway and head south. The road becomes Pala Temecula Road and emerges into a wide canyon with mountains towering on either side. Take a left at Pala Mission Road and continue east on California 76, which hugs the San Luis Rey River before ascending more than 1,000 feet up a chaparral-covered ridgeline.

After some hairpin turns, the road levels off and skirts Lake Henshaw, a picturesque reservoir. Take a right on California 79, and after 10 miles, take a left on Wynola Road. Follow that road for about 3.5 miles, then take a left on Farmer Road to arrive at Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve. Stretch your legs on the Five Oaks Trail , a 1.2-mile path that ascends the western flank of Volcan Mountain and offers sweeping views of the orchards below.

With your appetite revved up, head south on Farmer Road into Julian and make a stop at the Julian Pie Co . Grab a well-deserved slice of apple pie and some apple cider and rest your feet at a picnic table while you chow down.

3 things to do

1. Race plankton in Manhattan Beach In celebration of Earth Day, the Roundhouse Aquarium will hold a day full of educational activities inside and outside its facilities. Highlights include dolphin spotting, a fish feeding, crafts, games, a “shark shack” and, yes, plankton racing. The festivities kick off at 10:30 a.m. Saturday and go until 4 p.m. The event is free, but be sure to register ahead of time at roundhouseaquarium.org .

2. Go gardening in San Pedro Give back to the land by planting native species, removing weeds, mulching and watering the White Point Nature Preserve’s garden with the folks at Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy. You’ll also have the chance to enter a raffle and take a guided nature walk. As a bonus, refreshments will be provided by Starbucks to keep you cool and hydrated. The three-hour event begins at 9 a.m. Saturday. All volunteers under age 16 should be accompanied by an adult, and all volunteers under age 18 must have a parent or guardian sign a waiver at the event. Register at pvplc.com .

3. Stretch your legs on Venice Boulevard CicLAvia is back. And this time it’s shutting down a 5.75-mile stretch of Venice Boulevard that connects Palms, Mar Vista and Venice Beach for walkers, joggers, bikers, roller skaters, unicyclers, penny-farthings, pogo sticks — anything as long as it’s completely powered by humans. There will be three local hubs along the route where you’ll be able to partake in family-friendly activities, pump air into your bike’s tires, refill your water bottle and use the restroom. Be sure to reference CicLAvia’s digital map so you can scope out the local businesses you’d like to visit along the way. It all takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. For more information about the event and the area it covers, visit ciclavia.org .

The must-read

The Klamath River in Northern California has turned brown and muddy, but that’s a good thing. As Times writer Ian James reports , it’s a side effect of the largest dam removal project in history, which aims to restore the river to its natural state. Four dams are being removed along the Klamath, and the river is passing freely through tunnels in three of them, draining reservoirs and churning up an estimated 2.3 million tons of sediment that had settled along the bottom of those man-made lakes. Although the turbid water might look ugly, restoration advocates and tribal leaders see it as a sign of healing. The muck is passing out of the Klamath, and new life — everything from salmon heading upstream to native plant seedlings along the riverbanks — will soon take its place.

Happy adventuring,

Want to try birding but don’t have binoculars? Head to the Audubon Center in Ernest E. Debs Regional Park. The center is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, and you can borrow a free pair of binoculars (as well as a birding guide, backpack and other gear) to help you spot the 140 species of birds that call the park home.

For more insider tips on Southern California’s beaches, trails and parks, check out past editions of The Wild . And to view this newsletter in your browser, click here .

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Michael Charboneau is a freelance writer covering gear and the outdoors, and he’ll be writing The Wild newsletter for the next few months. He has written for a variety of publications, including Men’s Journal, Runner’s World and InsideHook, and he lives in West L.A. When he’s not writing, he can be found running, hiking and biking around Los Angeles and its mountains.

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海外観光情報マガジン│Trip it Easy

今年は最長10連休！2024年gw海外旅行人気ランキングbest10, ベトナム旅行の費用はどのくらい必要？日本との物価の違いについても解説, ハネムーンとは？ハネムーンの決め方から人気のエリアをご紹介.

今年のゴールデンウィーク（GW）、旅行や観光の予定はお決まりですか？ すでに旅行の予定を決めていて心躍っている方も多いと思います。 そこで、この記事では今年のゴールデンウィーク人気旅行先ランキングをまとめました。 ※出典：2024年4月4日発表、2024年3月25日時点でのHIS予約動向 2024年のゴールデンウィークは？ 2024年のゴールデンウィークは、4月30日（火）～5月2日（木）を休めれ […]

• ハネムーン , 新婚旅行 ,

ハネムーン手配前に確認！パスポート名前変更の疑問を解消

婚姻届を提出して姓や本籍が変わると、さまざまな変更手続きが必要になります。 その中のひとつが「パスポート」 特にハネムーン（新婚旅行）で海外旅行を検討している場合は、注意が必要です。 パスポートの名前（ローマ字）と予約した航空券の名前が異なると、飛行機に搭乗できないという事態につながります。 この記事では結婚で姓と本籍が変わったときの、パスポートの変更事項について、どのようにすればいいのかをご紹介 […]

ハネムーンとは？ ハネムーンの由来は諸説ありますが、英語の「honey（はちみつ）」＋「moon（月）」が語源と言われています。「蜜のように甘い時期」といった意味からこのように言われているとか。 一般的には、結婚式の後に行く旅行をハネムーンと呼ぶことが多く、「新婚旅行」と同じ用途で使われ、結婚後夫婦で初めて行く特別な旅行のことを指します。 普段の旅行より長めの日程だったり、日頃なかなか手の届かない […]

ハノイ観光なら外せない！ハロン湾とバッチャン村

女子旅でも特に人気の高い、東南アジア・ベトナム。 魅力的なベトナムの観光スポットは実に多いのですが、短期間でも満喫できるベトナムのおすすめスポットはどこ？ この記事では世界自然遺産にも登録されている「ハロン湾」と「バッチャン村」をご紹介します。 ベトナム旅行のための知識と楽しむコツ まずはベトナムの特徴について説明します。 地図をご覧いただくとわかりますが、ベトナムは南北に細長く伸びた国土が特徴で […]

台湾1泊2日弾丸ツアー！グルメなおすすめコースはこれ！

日本人の女性にも大人気の台湾。おいしい食べ物のジャンルが幅広く、日本語の通じるお店も多く、おしゃれなカフェやかわいい雑貨店なども増えています。そんな台湾の魅力はなんといっても「近くて旅費が安く済むこと」。最近では土日の休みを利用して1泊2日の台湾弾丸ツアーを組む女性も少なくありません。 実際に1泊2日の弾丸で台湾旅行に行ってきたライターさんの例を振り返りながら、おすすめ定番コースをご紹介します。 […]

台北（台湾）で女子旅ならココ！現地ガイドに聞いてみた

成田空港から直行便でたった3時間40分で行ける海外。台北は台湾の中心的大都市で人口270万人と大阪市とほぼ同じ人口です。小売りやサービス業、通信が世界的な規模で発展しているため何不自由なく過ごすことができ、初めての海外旅行や、女子旅、母娘（おやこ）旅、姉妹旅と、女性に人気の旅行先でもあります。今回はそんな台北（台湾）の魅力をバリエーション豊かに紹介してくれる、りんこさんに取材させていただきました。 […]

台中の宮原眼科は、台湾で絶大な人気を誇るインスタスポット【台湾】

台中にある宮原眼科は、いまや台湾を訪れる日本人観光客にとって絶対押さえておきたいスイーツ店。 台北から気軽に日帰りができ、台湾屈指のインスタ映えスポットとあって、ここ数年で人気がうなぎ上り状態になっています。 趣きある外観から一歩足を踏み入れると、目の前にハリーポッターの映画のようなファンタジックな空間が広がり、フロアには美味しいスイーツやアイスクリームの数々が。 世界中の女性が憧れるインスタ映え […]

台湾で小籠包を満喫するなら「鼎泰豊（ディンタイフォン）」に行かない手はない！

ホクホクの湯気に包まれながら登場する小籠包は、台湾に訪れたなら必ず食べたい人気料理。小籠包の老舗、「鼎泰豊」が台北から世界中に支店を展開したことで、日本でも小籠包は身近な存在になりました。 鼎泰豊はじめ台北には小籠包の有名店が多く、それぞれのお店で作られる小籠包は趣向が凝らされたものばかり。鼎泰豊ほか、台北にある小籠包を食べ比べしつつ、縁結びスポットを訪ねたり、B級グルメを食べたり、最後は小籠包の […]

台北へ週末は女子旅！chapter 3 旅行はプランで90%決まる!?編

１．台北旅行のプランを考えよう まずは、台北（台湾）で「したいこと」を旅を一緒に楽しむメンバーで相談をしましょう。あれもこれもとなりがちですが、リストアップをして優先順位を付けていくと良いでしょう。今回は２泊３日を想定していますので、正味２日間となります。ランチは３回、ディナーは２回です。この限られた回数で、いかに台北（台湾）を満喫するか！ 事前のプランが全てのカギを握ります。 前回の記事では、台 […]

台北へ週末は女子旅！chapter 2 ツアー予約編

観光のついていない女子旅向き海外ツアーを見つける では、観光のついていない海外ツアーの探し方をご紹介します。今回は東京在住の女友達3人で台北（台湾）へ土日を含む3日間を使って3か月後の11月に女子旅を実現するという計画です。 1.検索条件を入れてリストを出す HISの海外ツアーサイトTOP（https://e.his-j.com/trip/ciao/search/02A_10/）を見てみると、地図 […]

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This Genius Trick Helps Overpackers Like Myself Get ‘Extra Space’ in Their Suitcases — and It's Only $29 at Amazon

The world needs to know about this travel bag hack.

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

Travel + Leisure / Daisy Rodriguez

It may seem counterintuitive to tell you to pack an extra item to ensure that you have room in your carry-on for trip purchases, but trust me now and thank me later. As a frequent flier, I love traveling with only a carry-on . But sometimes, especially on trips to urban destinations, leaving room for my souvenirs isn't possible. That's why I always pack Wandf’s Foldable Duffel ; it's become my go-to hack for freeing up space in my suitcase. 

For my return flight, I like to throw all of my dirty laundry into the packable duffel bag and check it, and reserve the newfound space in my roller bag for all of my precious new purchases. That's why I call it my overflow or backup bag. But when I'm embarking on my trip, I fold it up neatly and tightly to easily stash it in my carry-on and stay within the allotted two-bag minimum on most airlines. 

Wandf Foldable Duffel Bag

The Wandf Foldable Duffel is available in four sizes, 24 inches, 28 inches, 32 inches, or 36 inches, so shoppers have their choice of carrying capacity to best accommodate their trip length and the amount of clothes that they've packed. Thanks to its handy compression capabilities, the bag can fold into itself and shrink down to as little as 10.5 inches by 2.9 inches. At this size, it takes up no more room than a beanie, folded rain jacket, or small purse would. And, its exceptional packability offers some give to smush even more under the approved weight of a carry-on suitcase or another item.

Though the water-resistant nylon material is durable, it is still very lightweight, which is why it's worth noting that this duffel bag shouldn’t really be used for any prized possessions or breakables, but it certainly offers plenty of space for clothing or miscellaneous (and soft) items. In fact, one Amazon reviewer said that she used hers to fit her “large Coleman sleeping bag" after deeming the "original stuff bag" that it came with to be "useless." She raved, "I found this foldable duffle bag and it totally fit the bill." 

For extra packing space, the large foldable duffel bag is outfitted with a dedicated shoe compartment (which you can use to squeeze in extra items), one interior zippered pocket, and one exterior zippered pocket, as well as an adjustable, detachable padded shoulder strap should you decide to carry it crossbody style; the convenient sleeve on the back allows the duffel to slide over your suitcase handles when you're on the move. Additionally, the top carrying handles make it easy to grab off of a moving baggage claim carousel, as well as when you're loading it in and out of your car or into and out of the plane's overhead bin.

When I purchased mine, I didn't realize how much I'd be using it, so I opted for the non-flashy gray version , but the Wandf Foldable Duffel comes in up to 12 different colors depending on the size that you opt for. Bolder hues like the fuchsia pink and lime green ones may be more easily recognizable on the luggage carousel if losing it is a concern.

In addition to being won over by its vast range of colors, Amazon shoppers have taken to the review section to praise the Wandf Foldable Duffel 's spaciousness, versatility, and packability. As of right now, it's racked up more than 4,000 five-star ratings from customers, one of whom shared that it "saved my trip to Asia as I bought a lot of miscellaneous goods and had no room in my suitcase to carry back to the Americas." They also added, "The material is tough enough to not rip as the bag was full to the brim when I brought it back and hauled it everywhere I went.”

And according to another traveler , it fits under most plane seats should you use it as a personal bag or an extra carry-on. Similarly, a third shopper highlighted that "the durable, good-looking bag expanded nicely and worked out really well as a second piece of luggage." And a final buyer said that they were "able to fit everything I wanted, plus I had extra space." 

If you’re a notorious overpacker and know that you won't have room for shopping once you shut that suitcase before your outbound flight, take a cue from my travel book and grab the Wandf Foldable Duffel . Or, keep scrolling to see some of the other top-rated packable duffels that are winning over Amazon shoppers. 

More Duffel Bags at Amazon: 

Bago foldable duffel bag with shoe compartment, gonex large foldable travel duffle bag, legend foldable travel duffle bag, redcamp foldable travel bag .

At the time of publishing, the price started at $29. 

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Find the best credit card for you

5 best credit cards that offer pre-approval or pre-qualification in 2024, pre-approval doesn't guarantee approval, but it can help you avoid an unnecessary hard pull on your credit..

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

When you apply for a credit card, the issuer performs what is known as a hard pull or hard inquiry , which shows up on your credit report. Hard pulls temporarily lower your credit score, which isn't the end of the world, but it's better to avoid racking up unnecessary hard inquiries since they can remain on your credit report for up to two years. One way to do this is by going through a card issuer's pre-approval or pre-qualification process before applying.

Getting a pre-approved offer for a credit card doesn't guarantee you'll be approved, but it can give you a better idea of your approval odds with no hard inquiry. There is no impact to your credit score until you formally apply.

Not every card issuer offers pre-approvals. Below, CNBC Select details the top credit cards that generally offer pre-approval or pre-qualification and how they work. (See our methodology for more information on how we made this list.)

Best credit cards for pre-approval

• Best for no annual fee: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
• Best for balance transfers: Citi Double Cash® Card
• Best for travel rewards: American Express® Gold Card
• Best for cash-back:   Discover it® Cash Back
• Best for premium perks: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (see rates & fees )

Best for no annual fee

Wells fargo active cash® card.

Unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate

Regular APR

20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

Balance transfer fee

3% intro for 120 days from account opening then BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5

Foreign transaction fee

Credit needed.

Excellent/Good

See rates and fees , terms apply.

• Unlimited cash rewards
• $200 cash rewards welcome bonus
• No annual fee
• Introductory APR period for first 15 months
• Access to Visa Signature® Concierge
• Get up to $600 cell phone protection (subject to a $25 deductible)
• 3% fee charged on foreign transactions

Who's this for? The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card (see rates and fees ) is a jack of all trades, with an easy-to-earn welcome bonus , generous intro-APR offer and a lucrative flat-rate rewards structure — all for no annual fee .

Standout benefits: This card earns unlimited 2% cash rewards on every purchase. This simple cash-reward rate takes the headaches out of maximizing the return you get on your credit card spending.

Wells Fargo pre-approval process: Fill out this Wells Fargo pre-qualification form with your name, address and the last four digits of your Social Security Number (SSN). If you have a Wells Fargo online account, you can log in to expedite the process.

[ Jump to more details ]

Best for balance transfers

Citi double cash® card.

Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24

Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.

0% for the first 18 months on balance transfers; N/A for purchases

19.24% - 29.24% variable

For balance transfers completed within 4 months of account opening, an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies; after that, a balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies

Fair/Good/Excellent

Read our Citi Double Cash® Card review.

• 2% cash back on all eligible purchases
• Simple cash-back program that doesn't require activation or spending caps
• One of the longest intro periods for balance transfers at 18 months
• 3% fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
• Estimated rewards earned after 1 year:  $443
• Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $2,213

Who's this for? The Citi Double Cash® Card is ideal for those seeking a strong introductory APR offer for balance transfers and still want to earn valuable rewards.

Standout benefits: Eligible balance transfers qualify for an intro 0% APR for the first 18 months, then a variable 19.24% to 29.24% APR applies. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer completed in the first four months ($5 minimum). The standard balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies thereafter.

Citi pre-approval process: See what Citi credit card offers you're pre-qualified for with this form . Enter your name, email, address and the last four digits of your SSN.

Best for travel rewards

American express® gold card.

4X Membership Rewards® points at Restaurants (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 1X points on all other purchases

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

Not applicable

See Pay Over Time APR

Read our American Express® Gold Card review .

• Up to $120 dining credit annually ($10 a month) for purchases made with Grubhub, Goldbelly and other eligible restaurants (after a one-time enrollment)
• Up to $120 Uber Cash annually ($10 a month) for U.S. Uber Eats orders and U.S. Uber rides (card must be added to Uber app to receive the Uber Cash benefit)
• Strong rewards program with 4X points earned at restaurants and 3X points earned on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com
• Baggage insurance plan covers up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage that is damaged, lost or stolen
• No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
• No introductory APR period
• $250 annual fee
• Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $1,074
• Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $2,969

Rewards totals incorporate the points earned from the welcome bonus

Who's this for? The American Express® Gold Card is great for earning travel rewards thanks to its generous bonuses on common spending categories like dining and groceries.

Standout benefits: Cardholders get up to $120 in annual dining credit (up to $10 per month at Grubhub , Goldbelly, The Cheesecake Factory and other participating restaurants; enrollment is required) and up to $120 in Uber Cash ($10 per month) to put toward rides in the U.S. and dining via Uber Eats (you must add your Amex Gold Card as a payment method in the Uber app to enroll).

American Express pre-approval process: See what American Express card offers you may be eligible for by filling out this form with your name, address, last four digits of your SSN and your annual income. If you already have an Amex account, you may need to open the form in incognito mode or clear your browser's cache to access the page.

Best for cash-back

Discover it® cash back.

Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases-automatically.

Discover will match all the cash back earned for all new cardmembers at the end of your first year.

0% for 15 months on purchases

17.24% to 28.24% Variable

3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*

Good / Excellent

* See rates and fees , terms apply.

Read our Discover it® Cash Back review.

• Cash-back program
• Generous welcome bonus
• Cash-back categories must be activated each quarter
• Cash-back program limits earnings: Enroll every quarter to earn 5% cash back in various categories on up to $1,500 in quarterly purchases, then 1%

Who's this for? The Discover it® Cash Back is a relatively easy-to-get cash-back card with no annual fee and useful rotating bonus categories .

Standout benefits: This card has a unique welcome offer that can supercharge your cash-back earnings. Discover will match the cash back new cardholders earn in the first year. So, purchases that qualify for 5% cash back would effectively earn 10% back in your first year. Plus, the card has no foreign transaction fees.

Discover pre-approval process: Fill out this Discover credit card pre-approval form with your name, address, date of birth, housing payment, student status and gross income to see what offers you're eligible for. If you don't qualify for an unsecured card, you may want to consider a secured credit card such as the Discover it® Secured Card which doesn't require a credit score.

Best for premium perks

Capital one venture x rewards credit card.

Unlimited 2X miles on all eligible purchases, and 5 Miles per dollar on flights and 10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booked via Capital One Travel portal

Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening

19.99% - 29.99% variable APR

$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you

Foreign transaction fees

Read our Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card review.

• Large welcome bonus
• No foreign transaction fees
• Up to $100 statement credits for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• High annual fee
• No introductory 0% APR period

Who's this for? The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is geared towards those seeking luxury benefits like airport lounge access, annual travel credits, various travel and shopping protections and more.

Standout benefits: Every year, Capital One Venture X Card members receive up to $300 in travel credits for bookings made through Capital One Travel and 10,000-anniversary bonus miles (worth $100 in travel). Those two benefits alone can offset the card's $395 annual fee (see rates and fees ).

Capital One pre-approval process: You can see what Capital One cards you're pre-approved for by filling out this form . You'll need to enter your name, address, email address, phone number, employment status, education, income, housing payment, date of birth, SSN and what type of bank accounts you have.

More on our top credit cards that offer pre-approval or pre-qualification

The  Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card  is a no annual fee card that can help you earn cash rewards, while enjoying various money-saving benefits.

• Unlimited 2% cash rewards on all purchases

Earn $200 in cash rewards after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months of account opening.

Notable perks

Cardholders can take advantage of cell phone insurance when they pay their monthly bill with the card. This insurance covers damage, theft and loss of a cell phone and has a $25 deductible. You can be reimbursed for up to two claims per 12 months and up to $600 per claim.

Cardholders can also save on interest with the card's intro-APR offer. Purchases and eligible balance transfers qualify for an intro 0% APR for 15 months. then a variable 20.24%, 25.24% or 29.99% applies. To qualify for the intro APR, balance transfers must be completed within 120 days of opening the account. There is an intro balance transfer fee , and for the first 120 days you'll pay 3% of the amount of each transfer ($5 minimum). After the intro period, the balance transfer fee increases to 5% of the amount of each transfer ($5 minimum).

[ Return to card summary ]

The Citi Double Cash® Card is a cash-back credit card , but it earns cash back in the form of Citi ThankYou points , which which can be redeemed in lots of ways, including the option to transfer them to travel partners.

• 5% total cash back on Citi travel bookings (through Dec. 31, 2024)
• 2% cash back on all purchases: 1% back when you buy and 1% back as you pay

Earn a $200 cash bonus after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.

The ThankYou® points can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards and travel at a rate of one cent per point. Cardholders also have access to a small number of Citi's travel partners, including Wyndham, Choice and JetBlue. If you have a Citi card that enables full transfers, such as the Citi Premier® Card , you can combine the points you earn with your Double Cash and then transfer those points to all of Citi's partner hotel and airline loyalty programs.

There are also several special cardmember programs, including Citi Entertainment℠, which gives cardholders first access to purchase tickets for thousands of concerts and events. The card also provides access to Citi® Identity Theft Solutions, a service that will help you if you're a victim of identity theft.

The American Express® Gold Card is a travel rewards card with a long list of benefits that can easily make the annual fee worth paying (see rates and fees ). Plus, the Amex Membership Rewards points you earn with this card are some of the most valuable travel points out there since they can be transferred to a variety of airline or hotel partners.

• 4X points at restaurants (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.)
• 4X points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X)
• 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on Amextravel.com
• 1X points on all other purchases

Earn 60,000 points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership.

$250 (see rates and fees )

Cardholders receive up to $120 in dining credit per year ($10 per month) at participating partners and up to $120 in Uber Cash per year ($10 per month) after you add your Amex Gold Card as a payment method in the Uber app. The card also offers no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees ), baggage insurance, rental car coverage (secondary), extended warranty, purchase protection and trip delay insurance .

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.

Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

The Discover it® Cash Back is a no-annual-fee cash-back rewards card that allows you to earn a generous 5% back on rotating spending categories.

• 5% cash back on the first $1,500 in purchases in rotating categories each quarter (when you activate), then 1% cash back. Check out Discover's 5% cash-back calendar .
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Discover will match the cash back you earn at the end of the first year.

New card members receive an intro 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and eligible balance transfers, then a variable 17.24% to 28.24% applies. An intro balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount you transfer applies to eligible transfers. The standard transfer fee on future balance transfers is up to 5% of the amount of each transfer. (See rates and fees )

The card charges $0 in  foreign transaction fees , which can save you money when traveling abroad.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees ) is a premium credit card with a straightforward rewards structure, a long list of benefits and a lower annual fee than other high-end cards with similar features.

• 10X miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel portal
• 5X miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel
• 5X miles on Capital One Entertainment purchases (through Dec. 31, 2025)
• 2X miles on all other purchases

Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

In addition to the annual $300 Capital One Travel credit and 10,000 anniversary bonus miles, the Capital One Venture X Card comes with airport lounge access for the primary cardholder and authorized users. One great feature of this card is that you can add up to four authorized users for free and each cardholder gets access to Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges and Capital One Lounges .

Other benefits include:

• Hertz Presidents Circle status (enrollment required)
• Global Entry/TSA PreCheck® application fee credit (worth up to $100)
• Cell phone protection
• Visa Infinite Concierge
• Rental car collision damage waiver (primary)
• Trip cancellation and interruption coverage
• Trip delay reimbursement
• Lost luggage reimbursement
• Extended warranty protection
• Return protection
• Purchase security

What's the difference between a pre-approval and a pre-qualification?

The terms pre-approval and pre-qualification both refer to the card issuers' pre-screening process that can help you determine whether you'll qualify for a credit card without a hard pull on your credit reports. Prequalified offers are typically initiated by consumers who want to check their approval odds, while preapproved offers are generally unsolicited offers from card issuers.

Does pre-approval or pre-qualification result in a hard credit pull?

Most credit card pre-approvals do not result in a hard pull of your credit. Some issuers require a Social Security Number (SSN) or the last four digits of your SSN to process a pre-approval, but this is generally done to verify your identity and shouldn't result in a credit check unless otherwise stated.

Does pre-approval guarantee approval?

If you qualify for a pre-approved credit card or receive a pre-screened offer in the mail, that does not guarantee you'll be approved. Your credit score, income and history with the card issuers are all taken into account, but won't be fully reviewed unless you submit a traditional card application.

Bottom line

Getting a pre-approved, pre-qualified or pre-screened credit card offer doesn't guarantee you'll get approved for the card if you apply. However, seeing whether you're pre-approved for a card offer is easy and typically doesn't require a hard credit pull. So it doesn't hurt to explore what offers you may qualify for.

Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox.  Sign up here .

Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card   article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card   products .  While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See  our methodology  for more information on how we choose the best business credit cards for LLCs.

Our methodology

To determine which business cards offer the best value and pre-approval, CNBC Select analyzed the most popular credit cards available to U.S. consumers that also had a publicly available pre-approval or pre-qualification process at the time of writing. We compared each card on a range of features, including the annual fee, employee card fee, rewards, welcome bonus, introductory and standard APR and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks, the application process and how easy it is to redeem points.

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of  credit cards ,  banking  and  money , and follow us on  TikTok ,  Facebook ,  Instagram  and  Twitter  to stay up to date.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click  here .

For rates and fees of the   Discover it® Cash Back, click here .

For rates and fees of the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, click here .

• 5 things to avoid if you’re applying for a mortgage Kelsey Neubauer
• Best sole proprietorship business credit cards Jason Stauffer
• This is the best budgeting app to help investors track their money Jasmin Suknanan

Protect Your Trip »

The 6 best beach tents of 2024, according to reviews.

The best beach tents are lightweight and easy to use.

The Best Beach Tents

Courtesy of Shibumi Shade

Sunscreen, sunglasses and hats all provide protection from the sun's harmful rays, but if you're looking for more coverage, it's time to consider a beach tent.

A tent, canopy or shade doesn't have to be a bulky addition to your beach packing list , either. Many beach tents are lightweight and surprisingly easy to set up and take down. Based on our own experiences as well as recent consumer reviews, these are the best beach tents.

Best Overall: Pacific Breeze Easy Setup Beach Tent

• Jump to features and traveler insights ↓

Best Baby: Sunba Youth Beach Shade

Best family: otentik beach sunshade – family, best pop-up: whitefang deluxe xl pop up beach tent, best canopy: qipi beach cabana, best shade: shibumi shade.

(Note: Prices and availability were accurate at the time of publication; they may fluctuate due to demand and other factors.)

Courtesy of Pacific Breeze

What sets this tent apart:  The Pacific Breeze Easy Setup Beach Tent is our top pick thanks to its lightweight, pop-up design. The tent opens in seconds and can be fully assembled in five minutes or less. It's also easy to take down and, even if not rolled up perfectly, still manages to fit into the included carry bag (at 40 x 5 x 5 inches).

The polyester exterior is water-repellent and breathable, with large windows for ventilation. Inside, there are pockets for protecting your phone and storing other items such as sunscreen. For more space, consider the extra-large version of this tent, with an extendable floor and shelter for up to four people.

What our editors say:

The Pacific Breeze beach tent is surprisingly lightweight considering its size. It's also convenient for outings beyond the beach.  – Amanda Norcross , Senior Content & SEO Strategist

Price: $59.99 or less

Courtesy of Sunba Youth

What sets this tent apart:  The pop-up design of this lightweight baby tent makes it quick and easy to assemble – a godsend when traveling with little ones . The silver-coated fabric provides UPF 50+ protection from the sun, and the breathable polyester plus a mesh window provide plenty of ventilation. Available in blue and green, the tent also offers a zippered door for privacy (think: feedings and nap time).

Travelers appreciate:  Parents love the portability and compactness of this baby beach tent, noting that it offers plenty of space without being too big.

Price:  $35.99 or less

Courtesy of Otentik

What sets this tent apart: The large version of the Otentik Beach Sunshade (also referred to as the family size) provides UPF 50 protection for large groups. Crafted with a stretchy microfiber-Lycra fabric blend that makes it easy to set up, the giant shade is supported by four poles and heavy-duty sand bags. This water-resistant shade is available in a variety of colors.

Travelers appreciate: "Every time we are on the beach with this tent, people walk up to ask what it is," says Terry Ward , a Florida-based travel journalist and writer who lives in Tampa. "The design is just so simple and smart."

Price: $109 or less

Tips on Trips and Expert Picks

Travel tips, vacation ideas and more to make your next vacation stellar.

What sets this tent apart:  The WhiteFang Deluxe XL Pop Up Beach Tent practically assembles itself. A grab-and-pull function allows the tent to assemble in seconds; after that, you just snap some of the legs in place (then secure the tent with the included sand bags and stakes, of course). When it's time to pack up for the day, the tent easily folds into itself and can be stored in an included bag.

In addition to UV protection, this pop-up tent features three roll-up openings for airflow, as well as an extended floor that doubles as a door and attaches with a fabric fastener. The waterproof tent is available in five colors, including mint green and light blue.

Travelers appreciate:  Recent reviewers rave about this tent, noting how sturdy it is. Even on windy beach days, they say the tent hasn't budged thanks to the attached sand bags.

Price: $79.99 or less

What sets this tent apart:  For a canopy-style tent, we recommend the Qipi Beach Cabana. The fabric of this tent – which is available in nine different prints – offers UPF 50+ sun protection. It's also waterproof.

The Qipi Beach Cabana features storage pockets on the interior corners and comes with an attachable side wall for additional coverage from the sun. It's easy to assemble and take down with just two pieces: an umbrella and an extension pole, which can be placed in an included carry bag.

Travelers appreciate:  Owners of this beach tent say the canopy is stable in the wind and can easily be set up or taken down by one person.

Price: $120.99 or less

What sets this tent apart: The Shibumi Shade is increasingly popular for its unique design, which works with the wind instead of against it. The nonrigid canopy needs a minimum of just 3 mph winds to float in the breeze.

The tent offers UPF 50+ protection from UV rays. About 40% of the fabric is made from ocean-bound recycled bottles, and the shade is sewn in the U.S. While the original Shibumi Shade works well for families, a newer version – the Shibumi Shade Mini – is perfect for solo travelers and couples .

Travelers appreciate:  Recent buyers praise everything about the Shibumi Shade, from its lightweight yet sturdy build to its quick and easy setup.

Price: $290 or less

Frequently Asked Questions

The fabric of some beach tents is waterproof, which means that even if you get caught in a downpour, water won't be able to pass through the fabric. Note that this is only true for beach tents that can be fully enclosed. By design, a beach canopy (like the Qipi Beach Cabana ) or the Shibumi Shade cannot be waterproof.

Other beach tents have a water-repellent fabric – which means it's not easily penetrated by water – or a water-resistant fabric, which means you can expect at least some water to pass through).

The best beach tents come with sand bags and stakes that help secure them in place, and it's especially important to fill the sand bags to capacity. Additionally, you can place your cooler , beach bag and any heavier items inside the tent to weigh it down.

An increasing number of beaches are imposing size restrictions on beach tents or banning them altogether. This is because lifeguards have cited them as a safety hazard – having to navigate a sea of tents can delay their responses to emergencies. Large tents can also block views of the ocean and make a day at the beach less enjoyable for other travelers. Small beach tents for children are typically an exception, however. Be sure to check local ordinances before heading to the beach with your tent.

Tents are permitted in carry-on and checked luggage, per the TSA. However, any tent stakes or poles must be placed in checked bags .

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Amanda Norcross   has used the Pacific Breeze Easy Setup Beach Tent for the past three summers and appreciates the tent for its low-maintenance and durability. For this article, she consulted other travel expert opinions and consumer reviews to determine the best beach tents.

You might also be interested in:

• The Best Beach Chairs
• The Best Beach Wagons
• The Best Beach Blankets
• The Best Family Beach Vacations

Cheap Beach Vacations

Tags: Travel , Travel Gear , Beach Vacations , Family Vacations

World's Best Places To Visit

• # 1 South Island, New Zealand
• # 4 Bora Bora

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4 Easy Ways to Pack Like a Minimalist

By Amanda Wowk

October 20, 2021

Travel Tips

What many packing guides leave out is the fundamental advice to pack with intention. That is, pack based on what you’ll need for the specific trip you’re taking—and ignore those just-in-case items that call to you from your closet but you never end up wearing. 

And I get it—it’s easy to throw in a few more pairs of shoes or an extra jacket if you have the suitcase space. But what that does is add to the time you’ll have to spend styling your outfit of the day, when you could be spending that time actually enjoying your day. 

Here are four easy steps to take to pack for your next trip like a minimalist. 

1. Make a packing list 

Before you start tearing your closet apart, sit down and list out what you have planned during your upcoming trip. Fancy dinner with a friend? Morning workout before a conference? Getting clear on your plans and goals will help streamline what you need to bring with you. 

Then, make a list of:

• What you’ll need to wear for planned activities
• What you’ll need to dress appropriately for the climate
• What you’ll need to adhere to a dress code or local etiquette

Supplemental reading: How to Pack a Week’s Worth of Clothing in Your Carry-On

2. Create a capsule wardrobe

For those who are unfamiliar, a capsule wardrobe is generally composed of a few essentials that can then be mixed and matched with other (seasonal) clothing items. 

To create a capsule wardrobe for an upcoming trip , start by pulling mostly neutral items from your closet. Depending on the length of your trip, you might be able to get away with taking one staple item each—i.e., one pair of pants, one blazer, one pair of shoes—and mixing and matching those neutral staples with various tops and accessories each day. 

Creating a capsule wardrobe also helps take the mystery out of what to wear on your trips going forward. Knowing your staples will reduce planning and packing time, and make styling your outfits on the go easy—freeing up your time to focus on what’s most important: spending quality time with your family and friends, taking time for yourself, or preparing for a client meeting (should you be traveling for business). 

3. Maximize your suitcase space 

Now, to get packing. First, rolling is the new folding—not only does rolling maximize your carry-on space, it also reduces wrinkles by keeping clothes in place. Pack your largest wardrobe items first, bearing in mind what items you may not need until the end of your trip, as those should go in first.

After you’ve packed your capsule wardrobe in your suitcase, place any smaller items into any open pockets of space, such as shoes (a great place to store socks!) and so on. This also serves to add an extra layer of protection for fragile items. 

Also, keep your chargers, extra headphones, and any other wires rolled up and placed in a spare sunglasses case. This way, they’re easy to access and small enough to transfer from your suitcase to a purse or backpack once you’re back on the ground.

Finally, be sure to put anything that you need to easily access on top—or better yet, in your personal item—so you don’t have to rummage around mid-flight (if you packed a carry-on bag ) or once you reach your destination (if you checked your bag).

Read more: 5 Tips for Packing Toiletries

4. Plan to wash the essentials for maximum re-wearability 

So you’ve pared down your wardrobe to the bare essentials—well done! But, you’re going on a two-week trip, and you know you’re going to need to wash (in order to re-wear) some items, like leggings or undergarments. 

That’s where a bit of laundry detergent comes in. Pack a travel-size detergent in your suitcase. Then, you can easily hand wash any of the essentials you feel need a little TLC during your trip. 

Tip: No laundry detergent? No problem? Leverage TripIt’s Nearby Places feature to locate a convenience store near you to pick up what you need.

Planning to need to wash more than a couple items or booking a longer stay? Look for a vacation rental that offers a washer and dryer in-unit. Many hotels offer laundering services, as well (though the prices aren’t as nice as doing it yourself).

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About the Author

Amanda Wowk

Amanda Wowk is a freelance writer, founder of Amanda Wowk Creative — a content writing services company — and avid traveler. Her experience spans the travel industry, supporting clients in travel tech, luxury travel, and consumer brands. When she's not helping clients tell their stories, Amanda writes about her own experiences to inspire others to travel as far, wide, and frequently as possible.

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Democrats Hammer a Simple Attack on Abortion: Donald Trump Did This

The party is unifying around a blunt message that Vice President Kamala Harris pushed for privately ahead of her Friday trip to Arizona, where Democrats hope to keep Republicans reeling.

• Share full article

By Lisa Lerer ,  Reid J. Epstein and Nicholas Nehamas

In a meeting with her staff last week, Vice President Kamala Harris offered a prediction: Former President Donald J. Trump would not support a national abortion ban. Instead, she said, he would take a position that would muddy the waters on an issue that she believed could be deeply damaging for his campaign.

We need to make him own this, she told her aides.

Days later, as rumors circulated that a court ruling was coming on Arizona’s abortion ban, Ms. Harris instructed that an event in Tucson about student loans should instead focus on abortion rights, according to three Democratic officials familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the internal deliberations.

On Tuesday, Arizona’s top court upheld an 1864 law that bans nearly all abortions . And on Friday, before more than 100 abortion rights activists and supporters, Ms. Harris plans to deliver a simple message: Blame Donald Trump.

From campaigns for state legislatures to the race for the White House, Democrats have unified around a central message of protecting what remains of abortion access in the United States, along with the availability of long-established reproductive health measures like contraception and fertility treatments.

The Democratic effort underscores how the 2022 Supreme Court decision ending federal abortion rights remade American politics. Four years ago, Joseph R. Biden Jr. rarely mentioned abortion rights in his general-election campaign, fearing the issue could alienate moderate voters and would not sufficiently energize his base. Now, after the fall of Roe v. Wade, abortion rights are a centerpiece of his re-election bid, the first time that an American presidential campaign has focused so intensely on women’s reproductive health.

After largely abandoning an effort to brand economic progress under the banner of Bidenomics , the president’s team has found a simpler, easier-to-understand slogan to use wherever states are restricting abortion.

“Donald Trump did this,” reads the closing shot of one of the campaign’s new advertisements about abortion.

That message, Democrats say, has been supercharged by the Arizona abortion decision. The state is only the most prominent of dozens where abortion is likely to remain front and center in November, between continued bans on the procedure, a steady drumbeat of legal rulings and painful personal stories of women affected by the restrictions, and ballot measures asking voters whether to expand rights and access.

“The more and more we see these examples, the more and more people are like: ‘Oh God, that could happen to my family. That could happen to someone I love,’” said Jennifer O’Malley Dillon, the chairwoman of Mr. Biden’s campaign. “We believe now when fundamental rights are taken away, it is not an issue people are going to forget.”

This week, Democrats have rallied around abortion rights in races from coast to coast. In Florida, former Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who is running for the Senate, began a “ Florida Freedom Tour ” after a decision by the Florida Supreme Court last week allowing a six-week abortion ban. In North Carolina, two women who experienced life-threatening complications after being denied abortions in their home states appeared at Biden campaign events.

Spanish-language signs erected in Phoenix and Tempe blamed Mr. Trump for the Arizona ban, and billboards in swing House districts from California to Texas accused Republicans of voting against treatments like in vitro fertilization. And in Arizona, the Biden campaign announced a “seven-figure investment” in ads focused on reproductive rights.

Much more is scheduled for the coming weeks. The Biden campaign is sketching out plans to campaign around notable — and some far less known — anniversaries over the next two months.

In May, it plans to mark the leak of a draft of the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe and the anniversary of a Nebraska ban on abortion at 12 weeks . June will bring the anniversaries of the 1965 Supreme Court decision in Griswold v. Connecticut, which legalized contraception for married couples, and of the ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that ended a constitutional right to abortion.

Biden campaign aides believe the issue could sway the presidential race in their favor not only in Arizona but also in North Carolina, which a Democrat last won in 2008. Even Florida could possibly be in play, they suggest, despite its recent shift to the right.

Abortion bans in places like Florida could have national ramifications, Biden campaign aides say. Florida and Arizona are not perceived to be as socially conservative as some of the Southern states that enacted bans on the procedure before the Supreme Court ruling, these aides argue, and their tightening restrictions will help illustrate the widespread impact of the court’s decision.

“Folks are keenly aware that it may be Arizona today, but in an election or two, it could come to your neighborhood,” said Lt. Gov. Austin Davis of Pennsylvania, a Democrat. “It is very much something that I hear on the road and that people come up and talk about.”

Not everyone agrees: Some within the Biden campaign worry that focusing on abortion could lead it to neglect other issues on which the president is struggling more for approval, including inflation, immigration and — this week — student loan debt .

Molly Murphy, a Biden pollster, said abortion rights were particularly motivating for younger voters, whom Mr. Biden has struggled to energize. But she said the issue resonated far beyond them, reaching much of the party’s voting base, including white women without college degrees, Latino women and suburban swing voters.

“I think we actually can’t talk about it enough,” she said. “I’ve actually not seen any group where it just falls flat.”

Polls have shown that a broad majority of voters believe abortion should be entirely or mostly legal and that more voters trust Mr. Biden than Mr. Trump on the issue. Twelve percent of voters in a recent survey by KFF , a nonprofit group focused on health policy, said abortion was the “most important issue” in their 2024 vote. That is a significant shift from 2020 , when a larger share of self-described “pro-life” voters were more likely to say the issue was important to their vote than self-described “pro-choice” voters.

On Wednesday, Mr. Trump distanced himself from the Arizona law and speculated that Florida’s six-week ban was “ probably, maybe going to change .” He continued to defend the position he had taken in a video statement on Monday, when he said that abortion laws should be left to the states .

Yet Democrats believe Mr. Trump will not be able to outrun blame for appointing the three Supreme Court justices who helped overturn Roe — a ruling he often highlights as a major accomplishment of his presidency. Democrats are also leveraging this strategy against other Republican candidates by pointing to their past support for legislation that would curtail or even eradicate abortion rights.

“It’s gone from an abstract concern that women might lose their right to make their own health care decisions to reality” that they have already lost it, said Josh Stein, the Democratic nominee for governor in North Carolina, which enacted a 12-week abortion ban last year . “When you compound it with the fact that we are now the southernmost state in which abortion remains lawful, it becomes all the more concerning.”

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has identified 18 competitive races in states where measures expanding abortion rights are likely to appear on the ballot in November. There also are at least five competitive Senate races in states where advocates are working to place abortion questions on the November ballot — including Florida, where Mr. Trump lives. On Wednesday, he dodged a question about how he would vote on the issue.

“Democrats can run on a unifying message from state legislative races to the Senate to the presidential campaign,” said Ben Wikler, the chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, who helped liberals win a critical State Supreme Court election last year. “It creates the possibility of a surround-sound campaign.”

Many Democrats believe their most powerful message comes from the women directly affected by the state bans. Democratic strategists from the Biden campaign and for congressional candidates anticipate featuring more accounts of women delivering heart-rending accounts of losing their pregnancies and facing dire medical consequences when they were denied abortion care.

Even some Democratic candidates have begun sharing stories about their own abortions that would have been considered too politically charged even just two years ago. On Thursday, Lucia Báez-Geller, a Democrat running for Congress in a South Florida district held by a Republican, wrote about her decision to end a nonviable pregnancy at 12 weeks in an opinion essay published in The Miami Herald . Under the six-week ban, which is expected to go into effect by May 1, such a procedure would become harder, if not impossible, to receive.

“There is definitely heightened attention around this, and I just feel that my story is one of many,” Ms. Báez-Geller said in an interview. “And I think my story is going to pale in comparison to the stories that we’re going to hear when this ban goes into effect.”

Michael Gold contributed reporting.

Lisa Lerer is a national political reporter for The Times, based in New York. She has covered American politics for nearly two decades. More about Lisa Lerer

Reid J. Epstein covers campaigns and elections from Washington. Before joining The Times in 2019, he worked at The Wall Street Journal, Politico, Newsday and The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. More about Reid J. Epstein

Nicholas Nehamas is a Times political reporter covering the re-election campaign of President Biden. More about Nicholas Nehamas

NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

It was a once in a lifetime trip, but Harry never came home

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‘It was raw, it was horrible and it still hits me at the core now’ says Archie Cobb, 25.

Seven years ago, Archie’s childhood friend Harry Corbett killed himself while he was backpacking in Vietnam, a trip to celebrate finishing school .

Harry was head boy, captain of the rugby team and had secured a place at Swansea University after excelling in his A levels. ‘Everyone looked at him and went, that’s what I want to be,’ Archie, who lives in London , tells Metro.co.uk.

His dad, David Corbett, said Harry was ‘loved by all who knew him’ and ‘his enthusiasm inspired others to believe and attain more.’

But while it seemed like the 19-year-old had the world at his feet, he was privately struggling with his mental health .

‘I suppose signs were there…’ says Archie. ‘But at the time, I just dismissed it because he didn’t make a big deal out of it. He might have a bit of a low one night but then the next day he went back to his happy, chirpy self.’

After a seemingly-trivial argument with one of the group, Harry left the boat cabin they were staying in and never came back. Vietnamese police found his body and notified his friends, who returned home ‘broken’ by the tragic loss.

It’s an event that has shaped the lives of Archie and those who knew Harry ever since, teaching the tech consultant the importance of reaching out if he’s struggling and being open about his feelings as a result.

The year after their friend’s death, Harry’s family and friends organised a commemorative charity rugby tournament, The Great 8 (Harry’s shirt number), beginning an annual tradition of celebrating his life through fundraising and physical ‘challenges’.

‘They’re to keep his memory going, but also put myself through a bit of pain to try and relate to the mental health issues that people face in a sense,’ says Archie

Having previously done a 106km ultra marathon and a press up challenge, Archie decided to mark the most recent anniversary of Harry’s suicide with something particularly unique. On March 17, Archie attempted to break a world record in his friend’s honour.

Although a record exists for running through all the locations featured on the Monopoly board, their route wasn’t in order. Instead, Archie wanted to pass through each spot exactly as it appears on the board, from Old Kent Road to Mayfair.

It took around six hours ‘moving time’ or over seven hours including breaks across 60km (a poignant number given Movember’s latest campaign highlights the 60 men lost to suicide every hour around the world), with Archie travelling from Lambeth North to Whitechapel before doing several laps of Central London.

The London Monopoly locations Archie ran to (in order)

• Old Kent Road
• Whitechapel Road
• King’s Cross Station
• The Angel, Islington
• Euston Road
• Pentonville Road
• Northumberland Avenue
• Marylebone Station
• Great Marlborough Street
• Vine Street
• Fleet Street
• Trafalgar Square
• Fenchurch Street Station
• Leicester Square
• Coventry Street
• Regent Street
• Oxford Street
• Bond Street
• Liverpool Street Station

Alongside drawing in a crowd of people who turned up to support Archie or run stints with him, the stunt raised over £2,000 for Movember, which will support the delivery of mental health literacy training to a parent, coach or volunteer in a community sporting club – and the total is still growing .

‘Part of what made the event amazing was the dedication of people to also put themselves through some physical kind of strain,’ says Archie. ‘And it all got very emotional at the end. I did a speech and I caught on video a few people crying, so I think I must have said something right.’

He continues: ‘Surrounded by amazing people, I felt the weight of their support, the warmth of their encouragement and a surge of emotions. And let me tell you, when I was taken out by a stranger at 56 kilometres, it wasn’t my legs that got me back up. It was the realisation that my struggle pales in comparison to those battling their inner demons every day.’

https://www.instagram.com/p/C4x5bENobIs/?hl=en

Next year, Archie is considering something even bigger to commemorate Harry, and he has a Three Peaks Challenge coming up in May. He’s also ‘eyeing up an Iron Man’.

Now, though, he’s taking a well-earned rest and waiting for Guinness to decide whether he’s created a new world record: the Records Management Team arecurrently assessing the evidence Archie has submitted and will judge whether his application is ‘significantly different’ enough from the existing record, which could take months.

But while Archie is excited at the prospect of receiving that coveted certificate, his main goal is to change the stereotype of men talking about mental health .

‘By doing these tough challenges, and raising awareness, it’s trying to break that stigma. If me and my friends and all those people that came on the run are starting to open up and tell their stories, that instantly makes the conversation so much easier for someone who needs to tell that story.’

He also highlights the importance of checking in with loved ones , adding: ‘It’s as easy as literally dropping a text and saying, “talk to me, how are you actually feeling?” Then if someone replies “good” or “fine”, ask that second follow-up question – that’s a big thing I’ve learned.

‘Whoever it is, no matter the personality and no matter how comfortable you think they are, everyone’s got something going on. So check in with them. Make sure they’re okay.’

Need support?

For emotional support you can call the  Samaritans  24-hour helpline on  116 123 , email  [email protected] , visit a Samaritans branch in person  or go to   the Samaritans website .

If you’re a young person, or concerned about a young person, you can also contact  PAPYRUS  Prevention of Young Suicide UK. Their  HOPELINK  digital support platform is open 24/7, or you can call  0800 068 4141 , text  07860039967  or email:  [email protected]  between the hours of 9am and midnight.

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On the train to London Bridge on April 10, I complimented your ‘Please…

Dark curls and a white top (possibly uniform). We sat together on the…

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