orangetravelcat

Alot of posters ask if there is "enough to do" to fill x amount of days in a particular place. Does everyone feel like they must be doing something every minute of the day? I have to admit that we like to take afternoon naps while on vacation, or just enjoy sitting around on a porch, taking in some afternoon sun.

cd

orangetravelcat
We are not evening people at all. We do like a full day of exploring, adventure, whatever and then a nice dinner and home to our accomodations where we relax with a couple glasses of wine on the patio or porch, watch the news, maybe a movie and asleep early. But you know, it's your vacation so whatever is vacation to you is what it should be!

sallyjane3

What an apropos name for someone who likes naps and afternoon sun! I rarely plan an itinerary; I love to walk the neighborhoods of the cities I visit, sit in a little cafe and people watch...and listen!... and visit with the locals. I like learning about the city that way, whether it's San Francisco or Paris. In fact, I rarely wear a watch....

Pegontheroad

Absolutely not! When I read Rick Steves guides and see what he suggests jamming into a day, I become weary and have to lie down for a nap.

We like to stop a lot and drink coffee or wine or whatever's there and just watch the world go by.

Left to my own devices, I'd just sit in a sidewalk cafe and read.

Gekko

The "check the box" mentality is self-defeating.

Some of the NYC itineraries I see posted on this forum are ridiculous beyond words. I generally don't bother to respond to tourists with that attitude.

marilynl

No, not at all. We have always been the leisurely sort of traveler, even when younger: see one sight a day and allow plenty of time for soaking up the atmosphere and just wandering. That is probably why I also like to stay somewhere nice! People who claim they will never be in their room astound me: they must never need a nap after lunch, or to spend an evening reading to unwind.

wontan

I'll admit it: yes--I'm "one of those people" who has to go go go.

My husband and I have been on many trips together. We've taken ones with no itinerary in mind, with the goal of sleeping in and taking it easy. Honestly, we ended up bored and sad when we got home about all the things we missed.

Nothing against naps on vacation, but I'd rather sleep at home.

frugaltraveler

I agree with Wontan...I want to see it all and sleep at home, of course I have this problem of being so excited to be traveling that I can't sleep ..

RichinPA

I feel this answer depends tremendously on the vacationers employment status.

I work hard all week and I want my vacations to be as relaxing as possible. I also tailor my vacations to reflect this. We go back to Kauai, Hawaii about every other year, so the place is second home and I don't feel the need to see and do everything.

When I go someplace new, I still like to see as much as is efficiently possible. I do not cram too much into a day or week and always allow time to unwind.

But it is all personal preference.

LoveItaly

No orangetravelcat, I don't feel the need to have every moment filled with activity. However I do love walking and at times I just love strolling around various neighborhoods and I enjoy "people watching". I love cafes and relaxing with a good meal or a glass of wine or whatever.

I certainly enjoy seeing various sites and sights but I also enjoy just soaking in the atmosphere. I never come home exhausted as some of my friends do. An afternoon nap for an hour can be delightful. Soaking in the afternoon sun, priceless!

It is important to travel the way it works for you without any regard as to how other people travel.

toedtoes

While I don't feel that every minute of every day has to be filled with activity, I also don't want to spend 3 days sitting around my hotel room "chilling". So, I've found a formula that works well for me.

Most sights and activities have a "minimum time" listed (in guidebooks or on their websites, etc.). I use these to figure out how many hours of "sightseeing" I will be doing in a town.

I know for me that I want about 9-10 hours in my hotel room each night (sleeping and relaxing). I add an hour for getting up in the morning and settling in at night, and 2 hours for meal breaks (I'm a simple diner).

That means that I have 10 hours of available time each day to fit in sightseeing and travel time between each place and anything else.

So, if the sights and activities combined take a minimum 20 hours according to the "minimum times", then I know I need AT LEAST 2 full days to see everything. If their open hours are extremely limited (i.e., 12 - 3 p.m.) or they are good distances away from each other, that will mean more days. If it's a sight that holds special interest to me, I will double the "minimum time" figuring I'll take a lot longer to see it than just the average visitor.

As I don't like to feel rushed, I add in to that formula time to spend at local parks, etc. or just unplanned time. Depending on the destination, it might be an hour or two each day, or it might be one day for every 3 or 4 days of activities.

So far, I have never been "bored" and I've never run out of time and had to skip something I wanted to see or do during my vacations.

Suzie

Only if "activity" means cocktails!

Actually I think a nice mix of activity and relaxing works best for us.

olesouthernbelle

I'm not sure if this post is due to my recently posted itineraries or not. Seemed like the same type post cropped up after my last trip to HI itinerary was posted.

If so, yes, I do obsess with the planning, I admit.

And yes, I like to travel with efficiency in mind, so I see/enjoy as many sites as possible.

If I could travel as often as some of you folks on this board, maybe I wouldn't try to pack so much in. But, I may never make it back to ____, so I do.

Also, I try to organise the itinerary, not to make it mandatory that I check each thing off, but to have extra info there in case I have a void to fill, or just to 'consider' doing if the mood strikes or time permits.

I did not get all on my 1st itinerary fulfilled, but at least I was aware of what I was missing or canceling out on, done with an 'educated' pen.

I'm a 'busy' sort of person anyhoo, so go figure!

NeoPatrick

Interesting question. On the Europe board earlier today someone made the comment that walking more than 10 minutes in Paris was a "waste of time" when you could take the bus or metro. I was shocked by that. My favorite activity in Paris is walking and absorbing the atmosphere. I hope my trips never get so frenzied and scheduled that merely walking for 15 to 20 minutes in a beautiful city would be considered a "waste of time".

Gekko

Walking in Paris (and New York and other metropolitan areas) IS the vacation, in my book.

On this, we agree.

FainaAgain

I love to make daily plans... which go down the drain the moment I arrive Not a strong person physically, need rest now and then.

LoveItaly

Faina, resting now and then so that you can enjoy your trip is a wonderful idea. And in that you work long hours I imagine that even your resting time while on a trip is a pleasure.

Walking..that is what I so enjoy when I am in a place where walking is a pleasure which is so unlike where I live. Here walking is boring!!

FainaAgain

I remember reading somebody's report here on Fodor's, and she said something like "we slept till 10, so what, sue me, it's my vacation" - I love this attitude

toedtoes

LoveItaly - isn't it though?! I can't stand walking here at home. I don't find walking around the block exciting at all. BUT, put me in a new place and I can walk for hours and love it.

I also agree that walking is not a waste of time, it's part of the experience. I can see the inside of a bus or car anytime, I can't walk along the streets of Paris anytime - that takes priority.

Binkieloo

I guess I don't really think of traveling as vacation, mostly because I'm one of those who want to see as much as possible in the time I have available.

My first international trip was with my mother who is even worse than me. In 8 days we did almost all the "must see" in London, we did Stratford-Upon-Avon in an hour and half because that's how often the train comes through, Cardiff, Liverpool, York, Edinburgh, Cambridge, Canterbury and Bath. We were usually on the first train out of where we were staying and on the last one back in. Everyone was amazed at how much we did and saw in the time we had, but I came away with so many fantastic memories. She wouldn't even let me sleep on the plane on the way home 'cos she wanted me to watch the movie to get our money's worth. LOL

So yes, I plan as much as I can. And Gekko I guess you won't be helping me on my itineraries to NYC for the weekend, because yes I'm going to cram as much as I can because I never know when I'm going to get back to NYC.

I do like to walk in the places I'm visiting. I also like to plan my time as best I can. I genuinely usually do only sleep in my hotel room. I want to experience the city in all it's times and enjoy the company of the locals.

So I am one of those that wants to have activity at all times.

Usually if I want a vacation I won't travel. I'd rather go somewhere I've been before, or visit family where it's not a big deal to not "do" anything. But if I'm traveling to a new place I am going to want to get my money's worth for my trip.

I guess coming from South Africa affects that too as the exchange rate for us just isn't great and so international trips are expensive and I want to get as much as possible for what I pay for.