The heat is here and the Out of Office calendar alerts are already set. It’s summer, girl! If you’re anything like me you might be a last minute planner. Sometimes I’m spontaneous and other times I’m doing so much research that I end up running out of time to book anything at all! The good news is, summer has just begun and there’s plenty of time to take control of your schedule and make travel plans.

Once you’ve decided to take the plunge and actually commit to traveling during the summer months, you’ll need to buckle up and figure out the logistics. In order to get you started I’ve broken down the planning into four different categories: choosing the right dates, booking on the right platforms, finding the perfect location, and mastering the packing list. Because planning is all about strategy, once you’ve mastered these steps, your summer travel plans will become seamless.

Step 1: Pick the Right Date

It’s imperative that you match your work/school/family schedule with the optimal time to travel. Take out your calendar and make note of any birthdays, family reunions, Islamic holidays, work presentations, etc. Then, mark out any federal holidays: Juneteenth, Fourth of July, and Labor Day Weekend (which of course ends summer officially). You will want to avoid travel on those holidays because the prices for everything will be sky high and the crowds will be intense. If you’re traveling internationally, choose early or late August. Your wallet will thank you.

Step 2: Book on the Right Platforms

Booking travel on the right platform can save you a lot of mula. Have you heard of Skyscanner or Kayak? These websites will compare dozens of airline booking websites for you in one click. I personally think it’s better than Google’s travel comparison tool. Experts say flights are cheapest at least six weeks before the departure and that the best day to book is on Tuesdays. 

When it comes to looking for hotels, use VRBO or hotels.com. Avoid platforms with zionist ties like Airbnb or Booking.com. There are plenty of other sites for you to choose from that have better ethics!

Step 3: Pick the Perfect Location

Figuring out where you’re going is the most important part of travel planning! Are you a city person or a country person? Do you like remote places like a village in Cambodia or are you more of an Emily-in-Paris type of girl? Try listing out the experiences you’re looking to have and see which country would best align. Then, do the calculations to see if you can afford the airline ticket, hotel, food, and experiences. 

Step 4: Master the Packing List 

Once you figure out the when, the where, and the what, you need to start packing! My suggestion is to pack light. Bring a few tops and bottoms that you can wear interchangeably. Pack items that don’t need to be dry cleaned or that get wrinkled easily. And of course, make sure you have enough hijabs!

Happy traveling!