Planning a trip as a high school student

By Keziah Rutschow, Reporter

I have always loved planning things, from walking with a friend to flying across the country. more trips allow you to learn about budgeting, social skills, education, transportation, and communication. Many see trips as something you have to plan after high school or when you’re an adult, but trips are for everyone of all ages and it’s possible to plan your own as a teenager. I have planned a trip to the United Kingdom in June with afew friends. It’s something that presented itself spontaneously, and I decided to make it happen. So now I’m here to show you how to plan your dream trip as a student!

Step 1: Figure out where you are going

If you don’t know where you are going, you can’t figure out your budget, transportation, and what you want to do. I knew I wanted to go to the United Kingdom but wasn’t sure exactly where. Once I was able to decide on going to London and Glasgow I was able to start building off of that. These specifics will help you plan everything else around where you decide to go.

Step 2: Find who you will go with

Depending on where you are going and who you are, going alone might be easier and give you more independence, but I would recommend finding a good friend or family member to tag along with. It can make trips cheaper, safer, and more enjoyable. I’m currently planning a trip with two other friends, and this gives me the chance to share the memories with someone and have others to rely on.

Step 3: Create a budget

Your budget is usually based on how much money you are willing to spend, what you can spend, and where you plan to go. If you don’t have the money or extra support, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help from others. Saving can take from months to years, so be patient and do your best with what you have. I was very fortunate to have my family help me save up for an 8th-grade trip that ended up getting canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the savings from that trip, I knew I wanted to use it on another trip in the future. I worked side jobs throughout the year, and my parents helped save money monthly.

Step 4: Secure transportation

How are you getting everywhere, and what is available where you are going? Will you take the subway or the bus? This is important to know to help you budget and plan in detail. Almost everywhere has some public transportation, but if you prefer driving or having more personal transportation, you can always look at ubers, rentals, or taxis. Always make sure you know the rules of private transit and consider the expenses of doing so. Check public transportation covid guidelines.

Step 5: Decide on accommodations

Plan to stay with family or friends if you can because it is cheaper and safer. If you don’t have anyone to stay with, your next best option is a hotel, or if you’re staying somewhere for a while, Airbnb is another possible option. Many places require you to be 18 to rent out any space, so make sure to search up policies beforehand!

Step 6: Find activities you want to do

My favorite part about planning trips is that you get to find things you’re interested in and possibly never done before. If you are unsure what you want to do, try looking up things to do in the area or even finding a pair of your best walking shoes and wandering around.

Step 7: Convince those around you

Some are blessed with very supportive friends and family who are down for many ideas. But many people tend to be more hesitant in these situations, especially the younger you are. My best advice is to make some sort of proposition or slide show. This may sound silly, but people appreciate it when you take the time to figure out small details and present them with solid points. A trip across the country may be automatically out of the question, so finding smaller trips could be the best place to start. Whether it’s a camping trip with some friends or a weekend trip to a nearby city, you can always find other things to do while you hopefully continue to convince and save up for your dream trip.

Hopefully, this inspires you to plan a trip for yourself or gives you the courage to try and make your dream trip happen! Planning trips should be fun, not stressful.