pixielily

we'll soon be in/around london for 9 days, and looking at our itinerary, i realize that i've got about 1/2 the days planned out, and the others left open, with a list of things we'd like to see & do.

most of the itineraries i've seen posted on this forum are much more structured than mine, which leads me to wonder: DO most of you prefer a highly structured itinerary when travelling, and if so, why?

Patrick

I think you're doing it about right with a 9 day stay. I think that when my time is really limited, like a couple days in a major city, I tend to really structure it all out, arranging things I can do according to location so I can squeeze the most in. (although it still rarely follows the original plan all that closely). But other than having a list of "want to dos" for those unstructured days of yours, I think you'll find they'll plan themselves out.

Bailey

What do I do?
Before a trip I read & read & plan & plan &...you get the idea.....then I come up with a list of 'musts'....I keep it short.
Then when I arrive I go with the flow of the days...if it's raining....maybe an indoor 'must'.
Some things have to be done on certain days....flea markets...art exhibits. food/flower markets etc. But I tried to stay loose & open to new suggestions....maybe an exhibit that I didn't know was on display.

I think it is smart of you to have some days planned & others open.

Here's to a fabulous trip!!!!

Nikki

Fluid. I make a list of things that need to be done at certain times because of reservations or theater tickets, note the opening and closing times for other attractions, and work around the fixed items with whatever we want to do at the time.

Intrepid1

I have yet to read a trip report that said the poster did exactly EVERYTHING they planned on doing and in exactly that order unless it was hardly anything.

More importantly, I'd say you've posted this out of a feeling of some sort of inadequacy about your own planning..BIG mistake IMO...it's your trip: stay confident in your own ability to do it the right way.

SusanP

I agree with Intrepid, you should do what you are comfortable with. I always do a detailed itinerary, guess that's just the way I am. For my Italy trip in Sept, I had thought I wouldn't get quite so detailed, and although I have some days very planned out, I also have some days (mostly in Tuscany, not the cities) with very little planned.

I think the main reasons I like to have an itinerary are:
You see all the things in one area in one day and don't waste time crisscrossing back and forth across the city.
You don't show up at a museum on the day that it's closed.
You don't realize that a shop or museum or church that was on your must-see list was a block away from where you were yesterday.
You don't miss something that requires a reservation.

That said, I never get to everything on my itinerary, and that's OK. Just plan your must-see things as the first thing of the day so you don't miss those.
Have a great trip!

twoflower

Fluid. By which I mean, read, plan and start with a structure, then when you get there go with the flow. The initial structure ensures that subsequent variations are made in full knowledge of what is being sacrificed, thus avoiding regrets later.

ira

Hi P,

I schedule every minute in advance - starting with the most important must see for the day.

Then, when I get there, I do what is possible.

Travelnut

SusanP's middle paragraph is a great example for having an itinerary... I hate conversations like
"what do you want to do?.."
&quot;I dunno - what do <i>you</i> wanna do..?&quot;

Once I have the itinerary designed, I am fine with dropping or adding places as the mood or opportunity arises... I leave a day or two at the end to &quot;catch up&quot; or shop, or wander around getting those photos I missed...

MaureenGP

I think having half of your days planned out for that amount of time in London is just about perfect. That means that you have pinpointed the things you are most anxious to see, while leaving yourself open to take day trips or just wander about a bit.
I tend to be more structured--I had each day of my recent trip to London and Edinburgh planned. But no itinerary goes exactly as you think it will--I changed the day of my visit to Kensington Palace, dropped a few London Walks I had hoped to do, and completely cancelled my plans to visit Althorp due to the high security alert on the Tube that day (it only concerned me as far as getting back to my hotel if there had been an incident that day). I did, however, add more theater when I found the half-price ticket booth on Leicester Square. So, allowing for some flexibility is a good thing.
Despite my planning, I still did not have time to see all the things I want to see in London--I had hoped to find time to return to the British Museum, but my feet gave out, and I have yet to get to Harrod's (maybe a good thing for the pocketbook).
I hope you have a great time--London is a wonderful city, though very pricey....

travelbunny

..Bailey has it right. Fluid. Do your homework before, but have only one must do per day. Then play in by ear BUT with all the info you have stored cerebrally. The check list form of vacation in my mind is a scenario of frustration..you worry about the things you have missed rather than the things you have seen.

Edward2005

I think the best way to do it is to plan everyday as much as possible. You can still be flexible and spontaneous, but your detailed itinerary will let you know the opportunity cost of your spontenaity. For example, you could spend an extra 3 days on the riviera playing with your new Italian girlfriend, but it's going to cost you 3 days in the Alps you had planned.

pixielily

well, my fluid, semi-structured itinerary worked out perfectly. it was exactly as i'd hoped, in that we got to do the things we most wanted to do, with plenty of room for serendipty, which played a major role in the way the trip unfolded.

for the record, it wasn't out of a sense of inadequacy that i asked the original question; it was curiosity, the same quality that makes me love to travel!

i can hardly wait 'til next time, though i do know for certain i'll have LOTS of itinerary questions then, as we plan to see more of the UK, and less of london on our next trip.

LoveItaly

Hello pixielily, like others here I like to have some things planned. But I also like to have free time to move as the spirit moves me. I have known so many people that come back from Europe almost ill with exhaustion as they tried to cram as much as they could into every day and consequently really did not enjoy much of anything.

It is nice to be organized but it is also night to sit down at a cafe and relax, or to have time to stroll through shops and really enjoy looking at the merchandise. To pop into a church, art gallery etc. and enjoy doing so without feeling rushed or nervous about the time.

I am glad to read that your trip turned out perfect. That is wonderful and the way hopefully all our trips will be. Best wishes.