So you have decided you are visiting a new city and don’t know how to plan your travel to the new city?
After years of travel, I have realized that whenever we (me and my friends) are traveling to a new city, it’s usually a set of things we always plan for during our travel. It’s like a travel recipe. A formula.
We apply the same formula again and again to every city that we travel to when we plan the trip. It consists of things that we love doing.
Plus the travel “formula” allows us to explore the city a lot more than just going to the touristy spots. Yes, we still do a lot ‘Instagrammable’ tourist locations but it is usually a mix of things when we plan our travel.
If you’re reading this thinking this post will be a comprehensive list of all things to carry, budgeting for a trip, visa and document process, and general prep in order to plan your travel to a city; unfortunately, this is not the article for you.
What will I write in this article is how do I plan my travel to new cities and the set number of things we do in every new city we visit to make travel planning a lot simpler. As I said before, it’s like a travel formula.
So without further ado, here are the five things that we do when we plan our travel to a new city. Here is the checklist –
HOW DO I LIKE TO TRAVEL?
But before I start, I want to explain how I like to travel.
I understand everyone enjoys a different aspect of travel. Everyone has their own style of traveling.
This is true within our group as well.
Some people like adventure sports and some people like to chill at a bar. A few like to shop, while some would find local food markets. Some people are all about that Instagram and a few don’t like to take photos.
Everyone enjoys some part of travel that is personal to them, while some of it is a shared experience.
I reflected on how I travel after watching a video from one of my favorite YouTubers, Iz Harris.
Here is the video where she discusses her travel ‘formula’ whenever she travels with her husband, Johnny and kids, Henry and Ollie.
I realized that I enjoy being near the water. After going through all my photos I realized that whenever I travel, I spend most of my time in or around water.
I also enjoy landscape photography. So, I tend to find photo spots from where I can take a picture of the entire city that I am visiting.
A well-crafted cocktail is another thing I enjoy. This might be pretty evident for some of you if you have read my other articles. So, I tend to find a good bar or speakeasy where I can enjoy a drink.
So I am hoping with this post you will reflect on how you like to travel and I am 100% sure you will see a definite pattern in all your travel plans to date.
Do you understand my drift? Reflect on how you usually travel, find a pattern, and formulate your own recipe to plan for your travel whenever you visit a new city.
But for now, here is my travel plan aka travel formula aka travel checklist aka travel recipe.
#1 – FIND THE BEST CITY VIEW
I love landscape photography. After getting a DSLR, I dabbled in different forms of photography – food, landscape, street, portraits to name a few.
But what got to me was landscape photography and cityscapes.
Landscape photography allows you to get a perspective on your travel. For me, it’s like an entrance to the new city.
I collect skylines. I usually find the best spots from where I can click the skyline of the city and try to visit them during my travel.
This not only allows me to get a good photo of the city for Instagram but also, enjoy an epic view of the city, usually from the top.
These viewpoints or ‘vista’ points are usually after a hike so it adds that hiking element to your travel plan.
If not a hike, they could be a restaurant or a bar.
For example, in Kuala Lumpur, we found the best view on a rooftop bar called the Sky Bar right opposite to the KL tower. We didn’t pay to visit the KL tower, neither did we pay a cover at the Sky Bar.
We just sat in the bar, got a cocktail, and sat opposite to the KL tower, as the sun set in the horizon. Best experience ever!
In Dubrovnik, one of our friends recommended a graffiti park on the outskirts of the city from where we could enjoy the sunset view. Tourists in Dubrovnik, usually flock Mt. Srd which is packed during the sunset, even after paying a hefty fee. We didn’t pay anything, visited an almost empty park, and also got one of the best sunset views!
So do your research when planning your travel and add these viewpoints in your travel plan or bucket list.
I find the viewpoints either by Googling ‘best photo locations in so and so city’ or ‘best skyline view of the city’.
I also research on YouTube and Instagram and see where are people clicking the epic shot. People usually tag the locations in their posts. If not, you can always DM them and ask them about it.
I also search on Pexels and Unsplash which are like free photography sites to see what people are clicking in the city. These are great sites to not only be inspired but also see which angles at a particular spot will give you the best photo.
#2 – BOOK A YACHT OR PLAN A SUNSET CRUISE (IF APPLICABLE)
I love being near water or in the water. And so do all of my friends.
Whenever we are planning a trip to a city with a beach or a river, we tend to charter a yacht or book a sunset cruise online. We usually use AirBnB experiences or just Google for a sunset cruise.
When we went to Puerto Rico, we booked a sunset sailboat experience that went through all the historic sites in the city.
In Budapest, I booked a cruise to see the city in its full glory at night! It was the best part of visiting the city.
I went on the NYC river cruise multiple times over the past 3 years. And each time the experience has been amazing.
A boat cruise allows you to look at the city from a different perspective. You are not part of the city but looking at it from afar. That is amazing. Plus you get to spend some time with your loved ones.
I understand this not be applicable to all the travel plans you have. I mean, not all cities have a river or a sea or an ocean around them.
But whenever it does, I would recommend you definitely try this!
#3 – FIND A SPEAKEASY
I am a sucker for a well-crafted cocktail. I believe that cocktail places define the character of the city.
And speakeasy (read the history of speakeasy bars here) usually does cocktails best. I understand not all cities have a speakeasy but they definitely will have a cocktail bar. If not a cocktail bar, they will definitely have a good bar in the area.
Bars are great places to make new friends in a city and have good conversations!
So, find the best speakeasy or cocktail bars in the city you are visiting.
Make it part of your travel plan. Go chill at the bar after your dinner and trust me, you will have a good experience.
In Malaysia, we found an amazing speakeasy that only served Absinthe but also, Indian snacks as an accompaniment. Indian snacks in Malaysia at a speakeasy!
When we were visiting Budapest, we went to the ‘ruin bar’. Ruin bars are really famous in Budapest and we made a bunch of friends. Ended up coming back to the hotel at 4 am!
Definitely research bars or speakeasy in advance and save them in your Google maps. So as to when you visit the city, you can include them in your travel plan!
#4 – SEARCH FOR THE FOOD THAT THEY DO BEST
This one is an important one.
Find the food that the city does the best. Try it. Eat it!
I am not asking to eat it every day. It might be difficult. But do try their local food or food that is famous in the city. It would be definitely worth it.
Every country and city have their local foods which they do really good, which the locals eat. You might find your next favorite food or cuisine there.
NYC does really good pizza. I mean, NYC does everything good but their pizzas are spectacular. Chicago is known for pizza as well but for its deep-dish pizza.
When we went to Puerto Rico, we tried their mofongo which is a plantain based dish. Absolutely hated it. But we did try it! In Croatia, we tried strukli which Croatian cheesy bread.
And it doesn’t even need to be their own dish. For example, if you go to California you have to try In-n-out burgers. Because they do that the best in California.
So yes, research the best food in the city you are visiting, find the best restaurant known for that food, and add it to your travel plan!
#5 – FIND ONE TOURISTY LOCATION
Have you even visited NYC, if you don’t visit Times Square? What is a Kuala Lumpur trip without a photo in front of the KL Tower?
You need to visit at least one tourist trap whenever you’re visiting a new city.
I am not asking you to visit all the tourist locations and waste hours and hours standing outside the attraction waiting to get in for a period of 2 minutes.
Yes, I am speaking from experience. It happened to me in Chicago Skydeck. For a 2 minute view, we waited for 60 minutes! Ridiculous.
But you got to visit at least one spot whenever planning your travel to a new city. Its a must.
Do your research and find the spot that defines the city you’re visiting. Check it out. Click a photo or two. And GTFO!
So this is my travel formula for planning your travel to any city. Using this formula, you can at least plan a couple of days while adding some other elements in your itinerary doing things that you enjoy.
Also, try creating your own travel recipe and then applying it when you visit a new city. I would love to hear about your travel recipe in the comments section!
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