The Ultimate Travel Itinerary Template – Download for Free!
Ready to embark on your next adventure? Whether you're planning a quick weekend getaway or a multi-month journey, I've got you covered with the ultimate travel itinerary template! This customizable template was designed from my personal experience planning an epic 6-week road trip through New Zealand.
Below, you'll find two free downloadable links: one for Microsoft Excel and another via Google Drive, making it easy to access and use. In this post, I’ll walk you through how to use the template step-by-step so you can start planning your dream trip today – whether it's a cross-country road trip, an international vacation, or a city escape.
Get organized, stay on budget, and make sure you don't miss a thing on your next adventure with this simple, effective itinerary tool!
Contents:
The Free Download Links:
Use the links below to access my free travel itinerary template. The button on the left lets you open the document in Google Sheets, a free online spreadsheet tool, perfect if you don't have access to Microsoft Excel. The button on the right allows you to download the template directly for use in Excel. If you encounter any issues with downloading or accessing the template, feel free to contact me, and I'll resolve it as quickly as possible.
The ‘Summary’ Tab:
When you open your new travel itinerary template, you'll land on the ‘Summary’ tab. This section, much like this blog post, is your guide to maximizing the template’s potential. It provides an overview of how to use the document to streamline your trip planning process.
If you'd like to customize the look, you can easily change the color scheme. Simply navigate to the ‘Page Layout’ tab at the top, then select ‘Colors’ on the left-hand side (as shown below). Choose a palette that suits your style, and you're all set! For Google Sheets, go to the ‘Format’ tab then select ‘Themes’ and you can edit the colours from there.
Once you’ve personalized your template, it’s time to dive into planning your next adventure!
The ‘Itinerary’ Tab:
Now for the fun part—planning your trip! This tab is where you can start mapping out your itinerary. I’ve broken the days down by hour—not to over-schedule every moment, but so you can easily slot in activities you’ve pre-booked or know the exact timing for. You’ll find an example below to help you visualize.
The template is set up for a 7-day trip, but if your adventure is longer or shorter, no worries! Simply adjust the table to suit your needs. You can either copy and paste to add more days or weeks, or use the drag-and-drop feature by highlighting the last column and extending it as far as necessary. (I’ve included a step-by-step image below to show how.)
Pro tip: If you're doing a road trip or staying at multiple accommodations, like different campsites each night, I recommend adding an "Accommodation" row at the bottom of the table. You don’t need to include all the details here—just a snapshot of where you’ll be staying each night. You can then add more specific accommodation information on the next page!
The ‘Planning’ Tab:
Now onto the essentials—this section is your go-to for all the important details of your trip. Whether you’ve booked flights, a rental car, or other forms of transportation, this is the perfect spot to store all your booking references and travel details in one convenient place.
The template is fully customizable, so if you’re using trains, buses, or other transport options, you can easily modify the fields to suit your itinerary. Feel free to tweak and tailor it however you need to make sure everything is organized and easily accessible for your trip!
The ‘Checklist’ Tab:
This tab is exactly what it sounds like—a handy checklist! I’ve included a few starter ideas to get you going, but feel free to add anything you need to take care of before your trip. Each item comes with a satisfying little checkbox for you to tick off as you go—there’s nothing more rewarding! (I even add things I’ve already done, just for the joy of checking them off!)
Need more space? You can easily copy and paste, or drag the column down to expand the table. You can even colour-code your tasks based on priority, making it super easy to stay on top of everything!
The ‘Budget’ Tab:
Now for the practical side—tracking your spending! This section is essential for keeping an eye on your trip budget. I’ve included some example categories to help you get started, but feel free to add any expenses as they come up. This way, you can always stay on top of your travel costs.
The default currency is set to GBP, but you can easily change it to your preferred currency. Just highlight the column by clicking on ‘C,’ right-click, and select ‘Format Cells’ from the drop-down menu. In the pop-up window, go to the ‘Numbers’ tab, select ‘Currency’ under the ‘Category’ section, and choose the currency that suits your trip.
To make budgeting even easier, I’ve already inputted a SUM calculation in the ‘Total’ box. As you add expenses, they’ll be automatically tallied. Just be sure to add a new row at the bottom of the table for each new entry to keep the calculation working smoothly!
The ‘Packing’ Tab:
This is one of my favourite tabs—because, yes, I absolutely love checking off boxes! This is where you can create your ultimate packing list. I’ve already set up a few categories to help you get started, but feel free to customize it by adding or removing anything to suit your needs. The items listed are just suggestions, so go ahead and tailor them to fit your trip!
Like the checklist tab, you can colour-code items if that’s more your style—perhaps one colour for things you’ve packed and another for what’s still left to do. Or stick with the classic checkboxes for that unbeatable feeling of satisfaction as you pack!
And there you have it—my simple yet super-effective travel itinerary template, completely free! I’m sharing this because it’s how I love to plan and organize my trips, though I know everyone has their own style.
I’d genuinely love to hear your thoughts! If you’ve downloaded the template, please drop a comment below to let me know how it worked for you, and feel free to suggest any tweaks or improvements. Alternatively, you can always reach out to me directly at lost.with.loz@hotmail.com—I’d be happy to chat!
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