How much or little do you plan for....

Old Aug 15th, 2003, 05:56 PM
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How much or little do you plan for....

How much or little goes into your vacation planning? and how satisfied were you with your vacation?? I ask this question because, i was reading a trip review from a couple who vacationed at Couples Ocho Rios/Negril, and the young lady described in detail her thoughts about each property. She said she would never return to Couples Ocho Rios because it was old, outdated, small beach area, etc. but she loved Negril because it was very modern. It got me to thinking..... I have read many many reviews at this board and others about the above mentioned properties and of course people have mixed reviews, but overall comparing Couples OR to Negril, is like comparing Apples to Oranges. Both resorts are totally different, there is no comparison. They both will and do offer something different to each guest. One is more nostalgic versus the other being more chic. I know this just based on reviews I've read, I have never been to either, but If I had to choose one, it would be Couples OR, because thats what we would prefer over the other. It made me ask the question, how much planning does one do before traveling??? I spend a lot of time at these boards reading, printing reviews, etc. I never base my decisions on brochures, but I do rely on reviews and tips from others, but I always keep in mind that they are personal reviews and opinions.

Do you base your decisions soley on what you find on the web, or do you gather information from friends, family, neighbors as well as the boards. How much faith do you put into your travel agent (if you use one), to pick the right places for you???

Just curious

Thanks for all comments
louise1928 is offline  
Old Aug 15th, 2003, 06:07 PM
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I do a ton of vacation planning. I don't use a travel agent - I do everything: book flights, motels, car rentals, a guided tour if applicable, etc. I read a LOT of guidebooks. Because we take lots of vacations out west where we do a lot of driving, I have to carefully try to estimate driving distances, then make reservations (I'm the type who makes all the motel reservations before we leave - I know some people "wing it", but that'd be too stressful for me!) I find people's ratings of different hotels on-line very helpful. I used to request some info from visitor's bureaus, but find that info is often exaggerated as to how great some places are

I like to ask people's opinions, but I also like to know if they like the same things I do. No sense of asking someone who hates art if a specific art museum is worthwhile. We also like to explore, so staying in one place for a week usually doesn't work for us. (In San Diego it did, but we find we like to see lots of things, and usually requires driving farther afield.)
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Old Aug 15th, 2003, 07:03 PM
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You are so right Karen. It really depends on who you ask. A friend of mine said she did not like Jamaica when she vacationed there, and I said well where did you stau in Jamaica?? and she could only describe to me her experiences at one particular all-inclusive resort where she felt isolated, and I told her maybe you should try it again, and instead do not stay at an all-inclusive...We personally like all-inclusives but others do not, and sometimes they will blame the entire vacation experience on a not so good stay at their chosen resort. I was in a travel agency today and overheard two women complaining about how boring they thought Baltimore Maryland was, but they only mentioned two aspects of it, and that was the harbor and the crab feast. There is a lot more to Baltimore than the harbor, is what I was thinking, but of course I did not say it aloud. LOL!
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Old Aug 16th, 2003, 01:17 PM
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I am one of those wing it types, but do plan way, way ahead. Planning Spring Break '04 trip now. And still planning outer banks trip in Oct. Made first night reservations at Ashville NC but will"wing it on the OBX". I try to estimate gas, food, lodging expenses and driving distances.

planned two years for South Dakota trip this past June but was well worth it.
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Old Aug 16th, 2003, 01:31 PM
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I rely on a variety of things when I plan a vacation - these boards, guidebooks, online city guides, recommendations from friends, etc. I've never used a travel agent because for me researching is part of the fun. I rarely get to a place and say "So, what is there to do here." I show up with a marked up guidebook and a spreadsheet of restaurants and attractions that look interesting to me, and a lose itinerery.
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Old Aug 16th, 2003, 04:39 PM
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J, that is funny! Restaurant spreadsheets! No exploding graph charts okay?

I do a lot of research on an area I've never been to before. I would never show up at a location and wing it because I work too hard for my money to waste it on a vacation.
 
Old Aug 17th, 2003, 06:34 AM
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Never considered my hard earned money wasted by winging it, ok except for Hershey PA. I have been disappointed that I was staying one place with reservations and another looked so much better. Also, I like to take my ime from one place to another. With reservations you have to get there.
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Old Aug 17th, 2003, 06:40 AM
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Hi Louise.. I plan by using guidebooks, internet info and prior experience. My most valuable planning tool is Rand Mcnally Tripmaker Software. Itis great!
You start by selecting a destination and then stopovers and attractions along the way.
I am from the east coast and we do most of our vacations in the west with lots of driving. So Rand McNally does all of the route planning for me and tells me how long it will take based on
different driving speeds for road conditions in the area. It will also give you hotel and attraction info as well as help you to determine the cost of the trip.

I use this mostly as a planning tool. Once we are on the road I refer to it but it is a very flexible guideline. However, many times as we are pulling into our hotel for the night and I check the time given by RM, it is within 10-30 minutes. You can also designate if you prefer to travel interstates or scenic back roads. Some other features RM provides is road maps, a detailed itinerary, and a selection of hotels in the areas you are staying.

Have fun traveling!

Our next trip planned by RM is Boise, Idaho to Sun Valley to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. Can't wait!
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