Till › Guides
Guide

Vacation countdown ideas: make the wait part of the trip

The best part of a trip can be the weeks before it. A countdown turns waiting into anticipation you can share.

Updated October 28, 2026

Looking forward to a trip is part of the trip. A countdown gives that feeling a shape.

Pick where the countdown lives

  1. A home-screen widget that you see dozens of times a day.
  2. A lock-screen wallpaper. Make one in the countdown wallpaper tool.
  3. A link for the group. The countdown maker creates a full-screen countdown with your title and emoji that you can drop in the group chat.
  4. A shared countdown with your travel partner, so you both see the same number.

Weekly rituals before the trip

  1. Four weeks out: book the one thing that sells out.
  2. Three weeks out: share a list of places you want to see.
  3. Two weeks out: start a packing list and add to it as you think of things.
  4. One week out: check documents, chargers and the weather.
  5. The last night: pack the carry-on and send a photo of the packed bag to the group.

Make it fun

  1. Give the trip a name, like "Lisbon 2027".
  2. Pick a theme. A beach emoji and warm colours make the countdown feel like the destination.
  3. Count different things. Days, weekends, or Fridays left.

FAQ

How do I make a countdown to a trip?

Pick the departure date, add a title and an emoji and put the result on your home screen or share it as a link.

Should I count to the departure or the first day of the trip?

Count to the day you leave. It is the day that changes how you feel.

Can friends see the same countdown?

Yes. Send them the link from the countdown maker, or share a countdown in Till.

Where Till comes in

Keep the trip on your home screen

With Till, the date you are waiting for sits on your home screen and, if you share it, on theirs too.

  • Widgets in several looks, including a flip clock.
  • Share it with the person you are travelling with.
  • Dates that repeat keep counting on their own.
Download on theApp StoreiOS 17 or later

More guides

15 long distance relationship countdown ideas that make the wait shorterDaily rituals, surprises for the last days and DIY countdowns for the wait until you see each other.A long distance countdown widget you both seeHow to put one countdown on both of your iPhones, live on each home screen.12 anniversary countdown ideas for couplesWays to count down to your anniversary, milestones worth marking and small surprises for the last week.Time zones in a long distance relationship: a practical guideFinding overlap, scheduling calls and keeping a daily rhythm when you are hours apart.15 doodle ideas for couples: drawing prompts to sendDrawing prompts for couples and friends, from silly to sweet, and how to send one in seconds.Long-distance relationship statistics 2026Sourced numbers on couples who live apart, how far apart they are, and what research says about how they do.

Countdown tools

Count the days to any date, make a countdown to share, or a wallpaper for your lock screen.

Countdown makerPick the date, give it a name and share the link. It opens as a full-screen countdown on any phone, with no account.CountdownsLive countdowns to the dates people count to most. Pick one for the exact date, the clock to the second and the next few years.Send a doodleMake a link and send it. They open it, draw you something with their finger and send it back. No account, no app.