A travel itinerary can be a hugely important tool for many people who are interested in keeping track of what they’ve done and haven’t done during a trip. It can also cut down on stress, because you already know what you’re doing and when. Plus, if you combine it with a bit of willingness to go with the flow, you can ensure that you’re able to do things spontaneously while also having a general skeleton for the days of travel. Here are four tips for creating your next travel itinerary.

1. Decide on the Most Important Things

The first thing you want to do is decide on the absolute most important things that you want to do on your trip. Try to stick to 1-2 things maximum per day. For example, if you’re going to Paris, you may think of visiting the Eiffel Tower as a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you absolutely want to do no matter what. This would be one of the most important things, indicating that no matter what you have to rearrange, you want to do these things.

2. Decide on Things that you’re Very Interested in Doing

The next tier is things that you’re very interested in doing at some point. These are things that very heavily interest you, enough so that you actively want to do them, but they’re not so important that they’re your top priority. Again using the example of Paris, you may have decided that you want to see the Sainte-Chapelle, as you have a passing interest in architecture. Although it’s not something that you consider a specific reason for why you’re visiting Paris, it’s still something you’ll want to add to the itinerary.

3. Decide on Things That Are Nice, But Not Necessary

The third category is general things that you’re interested in doing, but that won’t upset you if you end up not doing them. This may also include things that you can do in a passing manner. For example, again in Paris, you may be interested in relaxing at the Luxembourg Gardens. While you might want to put this on your itinerary, it’s not something you’ll need to move other things around for, and you might not be too upset if you’re unable to do it.

4. Carve out Time for Daily Necessities

Some elements of your itinerary will just be daily necessities. For example, if you’re staying somewhere longer than a few days, you’ll likely have to shower at least once, and you’re going to need to eat. You can cut down on some of that time by using a food delivery service for some of your meals. If you use a GrubHub promo code for dinner on a few days, for example, you can eat dinner at your hotel room while you’re winding down for the night, ensuring that you don’t have to allocate any extra time for that meal.

Conclusion

These four steps are key to creating the perfect travel itinerary. Start with the absolute most important things that you want to do on your trip, add in the next most-important things, and fill in the gaps with smaller, less important activities, ensuring that you also allow time for your daily necessities. This is the easiest way for you to create your travel itinerary.