LoveItaly

Sorry, but when I put the name into "Search" all I saw was the post for this thread. Anyway, not important.

Intrepid1

As if "where to go" or "where to eat" or "where to stay" haven't been asked before.

I thought the very thoughtful advice was informative which just proves once again that for the most part, people here really do want to help others.

ktg1986

Start out first with some guidebooks. Not the internet. Go to your local library, if convenient, and check out Fodor's, Lonely Planet, etc on where you want to go. Get an idea from these books. They are structured in a way that makes planning much easier. Then refine things, and especially try to verify opening hours/costs on the internet. If you go to the internet first, you will be too overwelmed to envision an itinerary for yourself.

Powell

I look on a vacation as having three parts:

-Planning (what I will discuss here)
-Doing
-Writing about it.

You have gotten excellent advice on Fodor's. You have to look at travel books to determine what is of interest. It would help if you can sort out: Are you most interested in cultural things, or a shore vacation. Do you have any ethnic ties to Italy, Ireland, Spain,Greece, Israel? This can help sort out the destination.

Like many others, I plan our vacations. I do not like websites and always seek people's recent, personal experience. My three basic steps once I have selected a destination are:

-Book the flight(s)
-Reserve the hotel(s)
-Miscellany: rent a car; see what local attractions are available; etc.

Best wishes,

Anthony