Wouldn't it be great if you could just book a few tickets, pack your bag and off you go? Sadly those that take this approach rarely have a fulfilling trip. It is estimated that 70% of backpackers do little or no research before they go. Only choosing instead read the guide book on the plane.

Don't be one of them.

"The planning tools provided on the course gave me the knowledge to knowing what to do and when to do it before I left for my trip. I feel much more confident and better prepared".
Claire Appleby

Travel can be like this

Research in the Sun

Ask yourself...

• What's the purpose of your trip? To see the world, it's a life long ambition or because you made a bet in the pub.
  
• How and where can you gather relevant information about the countries you will be travelling to?
  
• Will you be travelling alone, with a friend or with a group
  
• Are your plans flexible enough to deal with inevitable changes that will happen on the way?
  
• What kind of useful contact numbers and addresses should you take with you?
  
• What about your close friends, family or parents?
  
• What about money? How much do you need and how long will it last?
  

We also work with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (F.C.O.) and there 'know before you go' policy. They provide up to date information on countries which should, and should not be visited. Their site changes daily so, be sure to check it out on a regular basis before and during your trip.

We at Planet Wise believe that preparation is the key to a successful trip and a safe return. So we recommend that travellers spend a sensible amount of time carefully preparing for their adventures. We work closely with Lonely Planet who equips each of our centres with a complete library to help with your planning.

Government guidelines

Maps for route planning

Guide books are invaluable

The Planet Wise team will help you with invaluable advice on how to prepare for independent travel, both mentally and physically. We achieve this by introducing a simple planning tool, which can be used for all the countries you plan to visit; it's called C.H.A.P.S. and stands for.

Cost of living - how long will my money last?
Health and Hygiene - what do I need to do to protect myself?
Activities - what will I be doing when I get there? Am I insured?
Politics - how stable is the country I'm visiting?
Safety- How safe will I be as a tourist whilst on my trip?

With our advice and your research you'll be much better equipped to answer some of the scenarios that we have had to deal with in our time.