When to ask your questions on the Forums?
Jun 5th, 2014, 02:05 AM
#1
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When to ask your questions on the Forums?
Perhaps being philosophical at the moment but it seems to me that across the forums I follow there is an increasing trend towards booking everything before asking anything... OK for the most part I am preaching to the converted but for those who lurk rather than contribute (nothing wrong in that and Lurk is used for want of a better word)..
You decide to come to Ireland,, there are background reasons which are seldom reviled..Your friends and neighbours have been and said it was great... some reasons matter some are less important..
Do a little research of your own,, Check out a few (not just one) travel guides plus check out the forums for itineraries and Trip Reports (read carefully)
Decide the type of trip that suits you... if you like coach tours fine, if you don't want to can't drive fine, if you want to explore the narrowest Borheen in a 4x4 fine (maybe not these days?) basically if you want to drive, drive if you don't, don't.
Planning.. You can do this yourself if you feel comfortable, you can go via an Agency or Travel Agent.. But remember find out the credentials of these people,, (The Shamrock Club? used to insist it's members knew about and had experienced Irish tourism,, now its a buy into type organisation so no credibility?? ) Basically in the same way as you would not employ a plumber to fix your roof don't employ a generalist without speaking to someone who has used them.
(Booking)... Are you ready... Have you asked anyone for independent advice and recommendations? BEFORE you commit..
Review.. This should have been done before you book hence the brackets.. make sure you are happy with what you have (without over planing)
Commit.. Once you are Happy.. and ready..
Lacking eloquence and not being on top form I doubt that everything is covered above,, others please add,, but the whole point is that it's too late to find out something is impossible after you have paid for it..
You decide to come to Ireland,, there are background reasons which are seldom reviled..Your friends and neighbours have been and said it was great... some reasons matter some are less important..
Do a little research of your own,, Check out a few (not just one) travel guides plus check out the forums for itineraries and Trip Reports (read carefully)
Decide the type of trip that suits you... if you like coach tours fine, if you don't want to can't drive fine, if you want to explore the narrowest Borheen in a 4x4 fine (maybe not these days?) basically if you want to drive, drive if you don't, don't.
Planning.. You can do this yourself if you feel comfortable, you can go via an Agency or Travel Agent.. But remember find out the credentials of these people,, (The Shamrock Club? used to insist it's members knew about and had experienced Irish tourism,, now its a buy into type organisation so no credibility?? ) Basically in the same way as you would not employ a plumber to fix your roof don't employ a generalist without speaking to someone who has used them.
(Booking)... Are you ready... Have you asked anyone for independent advice and recommendations? BEFORE you commit..
Review.. This should have been done before you book hence the brackets.. make sure you are happy with what you have (without over planing)
Commit.. Once you are Happy.. and ready..
Lacking eloquence and not being on top form I doubt that everything is covered above,, others please add,, but the whole point is that it's too late to find out something is impossible after you have paid for it..
Jun 5th, 2014, 07:03 AM
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Here's what I said in another forum. Hope the hatchet-wielders aren't following!:
Tony you're being very philosophical lately! I think people want to get the big expenses i.e. airfare and accommodation out of the way first, then decide what to do. It's part human nature, part excitement of going away, part dreading the big spend. People are slowly realising that it's easy nowadays to do some research on t'internet for a day or two before raiding the piggy bank. It'll take time to change old habits though.
Tony you're being very philosophical lately! I think people want to get the big expenses i.e. airfare and accommodation out of the way first, then decide what to do. It's part human nature, part excitement of going away, part dreading the big spend. People are slowly realising that it's easy nowadays to do some research on t'internet for a day or two before raiding the piggy bank. It'll take time to change old habits though.
Jun 5th, 2014, 06:47 PM
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Well said Tony. Whenever I plan a visit to a country, I do exactly what Tony has suggested - read guidebooks, read Trip Reports, read other threads on itineraries, posted on various forums etc. The hardest part, and most important part, is to first decide how many places you are going to sleep in, the number of nights at each place, and the sequence in which you will cover them. This takes the maximum time to decide, and one needs to go through other Trip Reports to decide how much each destination interests you. For what is interesting to one person is not necessarily so to another.
Some people love museums, some hate them. Some people are foodies, and for some eating is a necessary chore. Some like the cities, whereas others prefer the natural beauty of the countryside. Some love beaches, whereas others detest them. To each his own. After all, it is your holiday, and you have to decide what interests you, and where you wish to spend more time.
Once the above research has been done, which takes me a few weeks, and I have a broad tentative itinerary, I start asking questions and opinions on forums. Based on feedback, I fine tune the broad itinerary, and only then do I embark on booking hotels and airfare. Today there are so many choices of good hotels and B&B available, that it is not difficult to find suitable places which require no pre-payment and have a generous cancellation policy. I only select such lodgings, and rule out any place which makes my decision irreversible.
Once the big-ticket items like lodgings and airfares are frozen, you have all the time in the world to do your micro-planning if you so desire; select your restaurants, your outings, your museums and castles, book your day-tours etc. These things never sell out much in advance, and you can take your time doing all this.
Some people love museums, some hate them. Some people are foodies, and for some eating is a necessary chore. Some like the cities, whereas others prefer the natural beauty of the countryside. Some love beaches, whereas others detest them. To each his own. After all, it is your holiday, and you have to decide what interests you, and where you wish to spend more time.
Once the above research has been done, which takes me a few weeks, and I have a broad tentative itinerary, I start asking questions and opinions on forums. Based on feedback, I fine tune the broad itinerary, and only then do I embark on booking hotels and airfare. Today there are so many choices of good hotels and B&B available, that it is not difficult to find suitable places which require no pre-payment and have a generous cancellation policy. I only select such lodgings, and rule out any place which makes my decision irreversible.
Once the big-ticket items like lodgings and airfares are frozen, you have all the time in the world to do your micro-planning if you so desire; select your restaurants, your outings, your museums and castles, book your day-tours etc. These things never sell out much in advance, and you can take your time doing all this.
Jun 6th, 2014, 12:15 AM
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Thank you for the responses..
Scampibear.. TA admin have not responded to my request on Clarification why they removed my 13000th forum post.. I removed the public attack I launched at them before they could..
IMDonehere.. I know what you mean but sometimes you have to try?
suze.. There are lots of folk who read forums and never ask, maybe they are shy, maybe they fear looking silly (which is never the case) but if just one of those people read this and think before they pay,, then its served its purpose.
indiancouple.. Thanks for the thanks, as always unnecessary but appreciated and thank you for your valuable comments also.
Fodors.. Thank you for not removing this as it would have been lost if you were as narrow minded as another well known forum..
Scampibear.. TA admin have not responded to my request on Clarification why they removed my 13000th forum post.. I removed the public attack I launched at them before they could..
IMDonehere.. I know what you mean but sometimes you have to try?
suze.. There are lots of folk who read forums and never ask, maybe they are shy, maybe they fear looking silly (which is never the case) but if just one of those people read this and think before they pay,, then its served its purpose.
indiancouple.. Thanks for the thanks, as always unnecessary but appreciated and thank you for your valuable comments also.
Fodors.. Thank you for not removing this as it would have been lost if you were as narrow minded as another well known forum..
Jun 6th, 2014, 02:17 AM
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First of all, let us all take a moment to congratulate ourselves for being the really superior people we are, who no longer make any travel mistakes, and most of all: We all think alike, so how could we possibly wrong?
I also am amused by the dire warning not to listen to professional travel agents. Of course, listen to us, whom you know absolutely zero about and never will be able to find out! What could possibly go wrong?
Having gotten that off my chest (you can't be the only one Tony allowed to grind an ax here), I want to say I actually thought this thread was about something else.
I thought it was going to be a thread advising people in America that, due to time zone differences, if they posted a question in the Europe forum in the afternoon or evening, the first responses to their question were likely to be from people living in America whose knowledge of European destinations is based on a couple of days they spent jet lagged in the most touristy places several years ago. It is kind of alarming sometimes to see threads where a newbie has asked a question and then, three truly stupid responses later, says "Thanks! That's what I'll do!"
It's funny, but I imagine if the same people were at a baseball game or a crowded train station, it would never occur to them to shout out: "Anybody been to Ireland? Is Dingle worth it?" and then take the first 3 answers from total strangers as a basis for spending thousands of dollars on a foreign trip. But I see people doing that on the internet all the time. And I don't see many people who ought to know better helping them see why they should take these internet answers with a 5lb bag of salt -- maybe because the people giving the answers are the same people who are so certain they are the all-purpose travel authorities who have discovered the Rosetta stone for travel, one size fits all, do it my way or you are somebody I look down my nose at. (Travel is so broadening!)
I also am amused by the dire warning not to listen to professional travel agents. Of course, listen to us, whom you know absolutely zero about and never will be able to find out! What could possibly go wrong?
Having gotten that off my chest (you can't be the only one Tony allowed to grind an ax here), I want to say I actually thought this thread was about something else.
I thought it was going to be a thread advising people in America that, due to time zone differences, if they posted a question in the Europe forum in the afternoon or evening, the first responses to their question were likely to be from people living in America whose knowledge of European destinations is based on a couple of days they spent jet lagged in the most touristy places several years ago. It is kind of alarming sometimes to see threads where a newbie has asked a question and then, three truly stupid responses later, says "Thanks! That's what I'll do!"
It's funny, but I imagine if the same people were at a baseball game or a crowded train station, it would never occur to them to shout out: "Anybody been to Ireland? Is Dingle worth it?" and then take the first 3 answers from total strangers as a basis for spending thousands of dollars on a foreign trip. But I see people doing that on the internet all the time. And I don't see many people who ought to know better helping them see why they should take these internet answers with a 5lb bag of salt -- maybe because the people giving the answers are the same people who are so certain they are the all-purpose travel authorities who have discovered the Rosetta stone for travel, one size fits all, do it my way or you are somebody I look down my nose at. (Travel is so broadening!)
Jun 6th, 2014, 04:09 AM
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Valid input
I was not saying don't listen to, go to, buy from Travel Agents.. Some are really good there are Coordinators who are very good.. The point on plumbers fixing roofs was that whilst they might be more than capable its probably better to go to someone who does that all the time..
Likewise on the mistake front,, but having made that mistake why not warn someone not to do the same?
Also a valid point about the time people ask questions.. Yes many ask in what is the middle of the night "Irish" time some even bump questions within a couple of hours when no response comes back immediately..
Some people say half the fun is in the planning, others are happy to buy a ready made product off the shelf (I have covered the cautions of that previously)
The point of this post is basically Plan and research before getting happy with the plastic..
I was not saying don't listen to, go to, buy from Travel Agents.. Some are really good there are Coordinators who are very good.. The point on plumbers fixing roofs was that whilst they might be more than capable its probably better to go to someone who does that all the time..
Likewise on the mistake front,, but having made that mistake why not warn someone not to do the same?
Also a valid point about the time people ask questions.. Yes many ask in what is the middle of the night "Irish" time some even bump questions within a couple of hours when no response comes back immediately..
Some people say half the fun is in the planning, others are happy to buy a ready made product off the shelf (I have covered the cautions of that previously)
The point of this post is basically Plan and research before getting happy with the plastic..
Jun 6th, 2014, 05:05 PM
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I live in a very touristy state and close to a very well known beach. I don't stay in the hotels and only eat at my fav places so sometimes my advice is horrible. I hate Disney but would never tell people not to go there because not everyone likes the same things as I do.
I do understand people wanting to go kiss that dam blarney stone though I never have. I have been to the top but no way was I going to kiss a stone that hundreds other had that day. I enjoy the grounds and a certain pub. The cliffs of Moher are not my favorite but yes I always go because someone new is with me and they must see them. The view from the water is better. Dingle is beautiful but once is enough. I also don't like B&Bs but some love them. I just have to let others do their thing but will give a little advice if asked. This lady over on the UK board has two days in Edinburgh and wants to take her kids on a mini bus tour for 12 hours. I went crazy on that packed little bus with the worst guide ever. She is determined so let her go. Two days is not enough to see wonderful Edinburgh. They do want affirmation more than information.
I do understand people wanting to go kiss that dam blarney stone though I never have. I have been to the top but no way was I going to kiss a stone that hundreds other had that day. I enjoy the grounds and a certain pub. The cliffs of Moher are not my favorite but yes I always go because someone new is with me and they must see them. The view from the water is better. Dingle is beautiful but once is enough. I also don't like B&Bs but some love them. I just have to let others do their thing but will give a little advice if asked. This lady over on the UK board has two days in Edinburgh and wants to take her kids on a mini bus tour for 12 hours. I went crazy on that packed little bus with the worst guide ever. She is determined so let her go. Two days is not enough to see wonderful Edinburgh. They do want affirmation more than information.
Jun 6th, 2014, 07:02 PM
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With all due respect to the poster asking about two days in Edinburgh, it was suggested TO her that she might want to consider a day tour out on one of her days since their time there coincides with a really crowded city, and she could have trouble seeing some of the major sights.
Jun 7th, 2014, 10:37 AM
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Oh I agree,taking a five year old on a long day's tour bus excursion is not the best of ideas, for the 5 year old AND everyone else on the bus. This particular traveler's adventure has been full of similar plans.
