You’ve scrimped and saved, and finally got enough money in the bank to pay for that dream holiday. When you’ve worked towards your getaway you don’t want to waste it, and for most holidaymakers, the best way to get the most out of their travels is to create an itinerary.

What’s the secret to creating a great travel itinerary? One that’ll guarantee an enjoyable holiday for all?

We’ve got some travel tips to help you plan the perfect trip every time.

Making plans by Tamas

Get tech savvy

Modern holidaymakers have it so lucky. Mobile apps, websites, social networking, Google Maps, review sites – all have made holiday planning a whole lot easier. Embrace the new technology and check out apps like Itinerary for iPhone that lets you plot routes on maps and add notes, and sites like TripIt where you can use professional looking templates to create the most complex of itineraries and share them easily with family and friends.

Blog it

There are loads of online blogs out there that are packed with just the kind of info you crave when you’re trying to plan your perfect holiday. Check out travel blogs like the one over at Choice Hotels. By following blogs like these you’ll find instant travel guides to a range of destinations, as well as info on the nearest accommodation to attractions you might want to see, and you could even bag yourself a discount rate into the bargain. Wherever you’re headed, search for blogs by people who live in the area and you’ll find up-to-date info about everything from what’s on to where to eat, where to shop to what the latest political news is there.

Be realistic

We know you want to milk your holiday for all it’s worth, but it pays to be realistic in the planning stages. After a long haul flight, and an eight hour time difference, are you really going to want to hike up a mountain, then visit some sea caves, a cathedral, archeological museum and go to the theatre? Make exceptions for times when you know you’re going to be tired, and remember – a holiday is supposed to be relaxing.

Get the timing right

When you’re trying to create a realistic itinerary, getting the timings right – for plane travel, car journeys, or journeys on foot – is key. Try to find existing guides online or travel messageboards like Independent Traveler where you can find out from those in the know just how long the drive from A to Z is really going to take.

Travel itinerary by Dan Barbus

Traveling to some amazing destinations in Europe by train? While the train ride offers advantages, it is wise to keep in mind the precautions and rules of rail travel. Here are some very valuable tips for your experience with eurorail.

Buy and manage the train ticket: Just like air tickets, train fares can and must be purchased in advance. This will allow you time to plan the trip and to enjoy better prices. I also recommend downloading applications for mobile phones and tablets. This offers direct access to the passage, schedules and possible unforeseen changes. Otherwise, do not forget to print all the passages, keeping a backup on the internet, which they can access in case of loss or other mishap.

Validate the train ticket

Depending on the route and the country, there are several ways to validate train tickets (check-in). If you buy the ticket on the internet, I advise you to print the confirmation and present it in the window of the station before each trip. It may also be a good idea to receive the tickets by mail, so you do not forget to check whether they need to be validated. In France, for example, there are some yellow machines in which the path is valid by entering the passage, before taking the train. Anyway, do not forget to stop by the customer service window. If the ticket is not valid, you might be exposed to a fine.

Tags and Luggage

I advise you to label your luggage with your personal data. This in case of loss, but also for safety. In Europe, a suitcase or package in a hallway without labels is considered suspicious and dangerous. Remember that there are no limits as to the weight of the bags. However, avoid traveling with too many packages or bags.

Cheap train tickets in Europe

The fares or train tickets, work very similarly to airfare. With more time in advance, better prices can be found and do not forget to buy tickets at key hours. The price varies according to the time of purchase.

Visa: Please be advised that if you possess a schengen visa, this allows the transit by almost all countries of the European community, but has several exceptions such as Britain.

Keep all this in mind and you are sure to enjoy your train trip through Europe!

We would all like to have the time to sit down and plan every aspect of the family holiday in great detail. The problem is that in reality everyday tasks such as putting the washing on and feeding the kids simply get in the way.

So what is the solution? Read an overview of some of the trips available with Cosmos and choose which one best suits your brood. Then book it, knowing that having secured yourself a package holiday, everything will be taken care of.

Portugal

Portugal has long been a family favourite destination with its great combination of accessible beaches and cultural cities. It has a warm climate all year round and represents good value for money, both in terms of the cost of the holiday, but also on added extras, which means you won’t have to say no to the kids when they want treats.

Fly to Faro and stay at the Clube Praia da Oura Apartments in nearby Albufeira. This part of the Algarve is well set up for families and this also goes for the accommodation. With a beach on the doorstep and a separate pool for younger guests, the kids will have a lot of fun outdoors on their holiday.

Close by you will find the Zoomarine and Montechoro theme parks, which are great if you want to spend some time away from the resort. Taking a trip by horseback at the Albufeira Riding Centre is also bound to be a hit, as is spending the day undertaking watersports or a boat trip.

Goa

You may not have considered taking your kids on holiday to Goa for a number of reasons – the cost being one of them. But there are more deals out there than you might think and the amount the children will learn about the culture when they are out there will be priceless.

Doing such a trip as a package holiday also takes a lot of the stress associated with travelling to India out of the equation. In fact, it will offer the perfect combination of the familiar and relaxing, as well as the new and exciting.

Stay at the Palmarinha Resort in Calungute, North Goa with its extensive swimming pool and pretty beach. There is lots to keep the kids entertained, such as table tennis and a pool table, if you want some time to take advantage of the massages available within the resort.

This is a great option for older kids who like a bit of independence. Then take them out into the bustling city of Panjim to experience its amazing atmosphere. Expect to see wide tree-lined avenues and stunning colonial era buildings.

Florida

Florida is always a hit with the kids due to the wide selection of theme parks on offer. Let them have their fun, but balance these child-orientated days out with trips to other attractions in the Sunshine State.

Take a trip to the Everglades, where the whole family can learn about the unique biodiversity of the area. Alternatively, head to Mount Dora, only 25 miles from Orlando, where a 19th century vibe has been maintained in this pretty little town.

For easy access to the theme parks, stay at the Metropolitan Express, located across the road from Wet ‘n Wild and mere minutes from Universal Orlando. Its rooms are positioned around a central pool, where you can all head to cool off and relax.

One country’s dusty backyard is another country’s dream vacation, according to Google’s 2013 year-in-review list.

Published Tuesday, the Zeitgeist charts reveal the hottest travel destinations by country.

The data is divided into two kinds of lists. The first reflects the “trending” destinations — those that show the greatest growth in searches when compared to last year — while the second shows rankings of topics with the largest total search volumes.

Google is the world’s most popular search engine, with 71% of the global search engine market share.

The roundup yielded some surprising results — Macau was the most searched destination in India this year, for example.

In Australia the top destination was Disneyland, despite the fact that the closest Magical Kingdom is an ocean away in Hong Kong.

London topped the destination searches in the United Arab Emirates, while those in the UK were planning trips to Rome and New York.

More: The world’s best city is …

Zeitgeist also analyzed the top destination wedding and honeymoon searches coming from the United States.

American couples wanted to head to the warm waters of Mexico, Bahamas and Kauai for their weddings, while New Zealand topped their honeymoon searches. Croatia rounded out the top 10 honeymoon list.

Read the full CNN story.