Is it possible to over plan a trip ?
Jul 25th, 2006, 10:21 AM
#41
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It would largely depend on your personality. There are many different personality types, and what works for one person might not work for another. Some people would have a miserable time if everything was not planned to the minute. Other people can't stand to have even destinations picked out in advance. Most people are somewhere in-between.
We plan stops, and we do a lot of research to identify must-sees at our stops (must-sees are sights or activities that, if we don't see/do them we will regret it for some time). But we don't set a particular time to visit a particular sight (unless it's such a popular sight that making reservations would be a good idea), and we seldom pick restaurants in advance.
And we will deviate from our planned stops if something that sounds more interesting is brought to our attention.
We plan stops, and we do a lot of research to identify must-sees at our stops (must-sees are sights or activities that, if we don't see/do them we will regret it for some time). But we don't set a particular time to visit a particular sight (unless it's such a popular sight that making reservations would be a good idea), and we seldom pick restaurants in advance.
And we will deviate from our planned stops if something that sounds more interesting is brought to our attention.
Jul 25th, 2006, 10:34 AM
#42
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I've been planning my Ireland trip for the last 15 years or so, so does that count?? 
I love planning for trips. I don't plan out where to eat but I do like to do research and learn all I can about the place and the country. I agree with the earlier post that it's such a rush when you've been planning and planning and looking at travel books and tv shows or movies and then all of a sudden you see in person what you've only seen snapshots or film footage of before. I have a spreadsheet to track where I'm going, what I'll see, where I'm staying, and any notes to myself. I'm doing all the planning and traveling solo, so it's all on me to remember the details. I try to be very generous on time so that I don't end up getting rushed. And I try to block in 'free time' so that I can just wander around wherever I am. The way I explain it to my boyfriend (who thinks I can't possible plan any more of the trip) is that I'm just so excited to go I have to do something to fill the time and I might as well be as prepared as possible!
I love planning for trips. I don't plan out where to eat but I do like to do research and learn all I can about the place and the country. I agree with the earlier post that it's such a rush when you've been planning and planning and looking at travel books and tv shows or movies and then all of a sudden you see in person what you've only seen snapshots or film footage of before. I have a spreadsheet to track where I'm going, what I'll see, where I'm staying, and any notes to myself. I'm doing all the planning and traveling solo, so it's all on me to remember the details. I try to be very generous on time so that I don't end up getting rushed. And I try to block in 'free time' so that I can just wander around wherever I am. The way I explain it to my boyfriend (who thinks I can't possible plan any more of the trip) is that I'm just so excited to go I have to do something to fill the time and I might as well be as prepared as possible!
Jul 25th, 2006, 01:47 PM
#45
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Mostly, I think planning is a good thing:
For planners, planning IS part of the fun and can stretch a 2 week trip into months of anticipatory enjoyment. (For the planners' traveling companions, the plan can be a boon or a nightmare, depending on interests, personalities, etc. My husband is usually happy to jump on the plane with his passport, his wallet and carryon and have most of the trip planned for him.)
Once you are at your destination, a certain amount of planning can save you time to do some "spontaneous" things as well. (e.g. . the free reserved times at St. Mark's Basilica cost nothing and save hours of wait time).
It can also ensure that you get to see sites that only allow a limited number of visitors per day or that you can take semi-private or private tours led by particular guides (e.g. Context Rome tours are limited to very small groups --6 on those we took).
On the other hand, one does need to be flexible. Illness, bad weather, strikes happen, and sometimes you and your traveling companions will just change your minds about priorities once you're on site.
I would also tend to agree with those who wing it with restaurants. Unless you are a foodie and hitting the best of the best restaurants is really important to you, it's less stressful and just as enjoyable to take advantage of restaurants in the neighborhood of your hotel or wherever you happen to be sightseeing. It is easy to underestimate how long it takes to get to a restaurant on the opposite end of London or Rome and cabs get expensive...
And nobody appreciates being on a "military march" vacation where there is no mercy for the troops. That would be a case of the planning taking over the vacation instead of helping to make the most of the time.
For planners, planning IS part of the fun and can stretch a 2 week trip into months of anticipatory enjoyment. (For the planners' traveling companions, the plan can be a boon or a nightmare, depending on interests, personalities, etc. My husband is usually happy to jump on the plane with his passport, his wallet and carryon and have most of the trip planned for him.)
Once you are at your destination, a certain amount of planning can save you time to do some "spontaneous" things as well. (e.g. . the free reserved times at St. Mark's Basilica cost nothing and save hours of wait time).
It can also ensure that you get to see sites that only allow a limited number of visitors per day or that you can take semi-private or private tours led by particular guides (e.g. Context Rome tours are limited to very small groups --6 on those we took).
On the other hand, one does need to be flexible. Illness, bad weather, strikes happen, and sometimes you and your traveling companions will just change your minds about priorities once you're on site.
I would also tend to agree with those who wing it with restaurants. Unless you are a foodie and hitting the best of the best restaurants is really important to you, it's less stressful and just as enjoyable to take advantage of restaurants in the neighborhood of your hotel or wherever you happen to be sightseeing. It is easy to underestimate how long it takes to get to a restaurant on the opposite end of London or Rome and cabs get expensive...
And nobody appreciates being on a "military march" vacation where there is no mercy for the troops. That would be a case of the planning taking over the vacation instead of helping to make the most of the time.
Jul 26th, 2006, 04:23 PM
#47
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I learn everything there is to know about wherever I am going. I ask a ton of questions and I know all those little things that most people don't care about. I have a general plan of what I want to do, what I want to see, the cool places to eat and best places for happy hour.
I know the best days and times to go to where, but I never schedule, never make reservations and we just go with the flow. Who knows how you are going to feel or what you are going to want to do on a certain day? It's vacation, relax!
I know the best days and times to go to where, but I never schedule, never make reservations and we just go with the flow. Who knows how you are going to feel or what you are going to want to do on a certain day? It's vacation, relax!
Jul 30th, 2006, 10:47 AM
#48
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I research in depth and plan our accommodations, plan the main sites to see (yes, I plan around the museum/church opening days and hours) and we always leave home with a list of dining recommendations. If we are going to stay 3 days in any given place, I usually have a list of 6-8 must see and do’s, and a list of other interesting things to do and places to see around, if we have time. Never a day-by-day schedule, we decide that in the morning, while having breakfast.
When we get there, we rarely use the dining recommendations that I spent days and days to gather (finding nice, small restaurants wherever we might happen to be when we’re hungry is great and we rarely had an ok meal, never a bad one), we sometimes change the places we want to see based on weather and mood, or decide to spend more time in a place we love and skip another, or decide we don’t want to drive that far, and we are just happy with it.
When we get there, we rarely use the dining recommendations that I spent days and days to gather (finding nice, small restaurants wherever we might happen to be when we’re hungry is great and we rarely had an ok meal, never a bad one), we sometimes change the places we want to see based on weather and mood, or decide to spend more time in a place we love and skip another, or decide we don’t want to drive that far, and we are just happy with it.
Jul 30th, 2006, 11:16 AM
#49
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Yes, I think it's very possible to over-plan, particularly schedules with an hourly schedule.
However, I don't think that has anything to do with choosing restaurants in advance. In great food cities, I have a finite number of meals to eat, i.e. if I only have four nights in Barcelona and I'm going to the opera one evening, basically that leaves with me only 3 real dinners. There's no way in hell I'm going to leave this to chance -- only 3 dinners!? Only 3 opportunities!!! the agony...
My site-seeing is always scheduled around my meals, whether those meals are at dives, open markets, or 3* restaurants. Only one pricey lunch or dinner a day, maximum. If I'm going to enjoy a 10 course degustation menu that takes 3 hours and begins at 8 pm, the day is planned accordingly -- very light meals and a fairly active day, but nothing so exhausting that it would hamper my dining experience. If I'm eating at a dive in the evening, I can schedule a marathon day and show up dirty, exhuasted, without changing first, etc. I love doing it this way since since it provides some structure to my schedule.
This also helps organize my sightseeing in relation to the general location of my dining destinations. I Prevents me from having a day where I trek back and forth across town in an illogical and tiring way.
However, I don't think that has anything to do with choosing restaurants in advance. In great food cities, I have a finite number of meals to eat, i.e. if I only have four nights in Barcelona and I'm going to the opera one evening, basically that leaves with me only 3 real dinners. There's no way in hell I'm going to leave this to chance -- only 3 dinners!? Only 3 opportunities!!! the agony...
My site-seeing is always scheduled around my meals, whether those meals are at dives, open markets, or 3* restaurants. Only one pricey lunch or dinner a day, maximum. If I'm going to enjoy a 10 course degustation menu that takes 3 hours and begins at 8 pm, the day is planned accordingly -- very light meals and a fairly active day, but nothing so exhausting that it would hamper my dining experience. If I'm eating at a dive in the evening, I can schedule a marathon day and show up dirty, exhuasted, without changing first, etc. I love doing it this way since since it provides some structure to my schedule.
This also helps organize my sightseeing in relation to the general location of my dining destinations. I Prevents me from having a day where I trek back and forth across town in an illogical and tiring way.
Jul 30th, 2006, 05:14 PM
#50
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There have been trips that we planned completely around eating, so you can be sure we identified our restaurants and mde reservations. If the purpose of the trip was general fun and relaxation & we had time to check out alternatives (and time to recover from mistakes!) we have been more relaxed as to scheduling.
Steve
Steve
Jul 30th, 2006, 05:57 PM
#51
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One person's over planning is just another's careful scheduling.
Here it is Sunday evening and I trying to figure out how I'm getting to the rental car place in Heidelberg and the trip is in Oct. Now, I know that once in Heidelberg the mystery will be solved but I can't help myself.
Some people plan for eating and the only time I ever plan that is if the restaurant is in a building of an architect we admire.
I plan for museums. Our time in the Black Forest will be carefully scheduled so we can get to Basel and Wiel am Rhine before Monday when the museums we want in that area close. After that we'll take our time.
It's never over planned if your travel partner doesn't mind.
If I was a foodie, I would want to eat where I wanted to eat. I'm just grateful that art and architecture is a more flexible.
Here it is Sunday evening and I trying to figure out how I'm getting to the rental car place in Heidelberg and the trip is in Oct. Now, I know that once in Heidelberg the mystery will be solved but I can't help myself.
Some people plan for eating and the only time I ever plan that is if the restaurant is in a building of an architect we admire.
I plan for museums. Our time in the Black Forest will be carefully scheduled so we can get to Basel and Wiel am Rhine before Monday when the museums we want in that area close. After that we'll take our time.
It's never over planned if your travel partner doesn't mind.
If I was a foodie, I would want to eat where I wanted to eat. I'm just grateful that art and architecture is a more flexible.
Jul 30th, 2006, 07:13 PM
#52
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To hsbhandbags: Yes, I plan just for the fun of it! I spend hours reading these threads, guidebooks, and websites for wherever we're going months in advance. I print out lots of information and half the time we never use it, but, I've enjoyed myself so much before we leave, I never regret the time spent in planning.
Jul 30th, 2006, 07:17 PM
#53
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Personally, I plan a lot when it comes to seeing the sights, but I plan virtually nothing when it comes to meals. First of all, I can't possibly know what I'm going to eat that far in advance, and finding restaurants aside from the known ones everyone else uses can be tricky.
The closest I come to planning what I eat is making sure I stay at a hotel that's somewhere near that delightful chocolate shop on Rue Cler in Paris that I've come to love.
Jules
The closest I come to planning what I eat is making sure I stay at a hotel that's somewhere near that delightful chocolate shop on Rue Cler in Paris that I've come to love.
Jules
Jul 30th, 2006, 10:13 PM
#54
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Hi
Yes, I think you have a point. Some people have a tendency to have everything planned down to the last second. You should of course have some idea of what you want to see and some idea about where you want to eat but if you have a tight schedule then it is not really a vacation if you ask me
Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures
Yes, I think you have a point. Some people have a tendency to have everything planned down to the last second. You should of course have some idea of what you want to see and some idea about where you want to eat but if you have a tight schedule then it is not really a vacation if you ask me
Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures
Jul 31st, 2006, 01:33 AM
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I research but I don't plan. I find out about where I am going to and what I might be interested in doing or seeing. I end up with some 'must dos' and some 'like to dos' and some 'won't bother with thats'. I also pick up local information when I'm there.
Then I take it day by day. I wake up, look at the weather (as that can make a big difference) and decide what to do that day.
Then I take it day by day. I wake up, look at the weather (as that can make a big difference) and decide what to do that day.
Jul 31st, 2006, 12:18 PM
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When I plan a trip, I look at all the things to do in the area that might interest me. I then make hotel reservations for the different areas we will be visiting. Then I make a small notebook with all the different things to do in the areas where we are staying. I don't plan any restaurants and actually dont plan out each day. The first day of the trip we look in the notebook and decide what we want to do for the area we will be in. That night, we plan for the next day, so we can get up as early as we need to. If we don't do everything in the notebook, it just means that we have to come back for another visit.
Jul 31st, 2006, 02:17 PM
#57
Monorail sounds a bit like me - with a list of to dos in a particular area, plus fall-backs. In a city, I try to work out what sights are grouped together/easy to get between, so that we don't spend a lot of time criss-crossing the city [and getting cross at the same time].
Also, I try to find out the important closing days and times, so that we don't end up with the only day to visit the sight we all really want to see being the only day it's closed. [yep, we've all done it].
THen I try to get every member of the trip to find one thing they want to do - and then make sure we do it. THat way it's more of a group effort rather than mum imposing things on them that I think they might like. [shades of Ira]
Finally, I try to be open to spontanaeity - some of our best times have been completely unplanned and unplanable.
Also, I try to find out the important closing days and times, so that we don't end up with the only day to visit the sight we all really want to see being the only day it's closed. [yep, we've all done it].
THen I try to get every member of the trip to find one thing they want to do - and then make sure we do it. THat way it's more of a group effort rather than mum imposing things on them that I think they might like. [shades of Ira]
Finally, I try to be open to spontanaeity - some of our best times have been completely unplanned and unplanable.
Jul 31st, 2006, 02:40 PM
#58
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Help! I'm planning and I can't stop!
I got our May 2007 FF tickets to Paris a couple of days ago, and I now have a headache and backache and nervous exhaustion from too much planning.
I've spent the last couple of days trying to find the "perfect" hotel in 6th in Paris, and the "perfect" hotel in Nice.
The result: I took on a little more work and opened a savings account for the trip. I need more money than I thought I would.
As for planning for destination vacations, well of course I do. If I'm going to the shore, or the lake, I don't plan at all.
But for a trip that requires an airplane ride, you bet I'm planning. I don't want to go without some good knowledge of where things are, and when it is best to see them.
For Arizona, I researched and made a list of restaurants. It was well worth it for we had great food for not much money.
For Paris, I actually make dining reservations ahead of time. Not for every night, and I cancel them if something better comes up, but I don't want to go to one of the great dining cities in the world and eat "whatever comes up." Tried it one night in Paris, and got stuck with a bad meal.
For Italy, I always have a list of restaurants that I would like to visit, but only reserve that day if necessary. Or maybe the day before.
;-)
I write about food and cook for a living, so I definetly know where I want to eat.
I got our May 2007 FF tickets to Paris a couple of days ago, and I now have a headache and backache and nervous exhaustion from too much planning.
I've spent the last couple of days trying to find the "perfect" hotel in 6th in Paris, and the "perfect" hotel in Nice.
The result: I took on a little more work and opened a savings account for the trip. I need more money than I thought I would.
As for planning for destination vacations, well of course I do. If I'm going to the shore, or the lake, I don't plan at all.
But for a trip that requires an airplane ride, you bet I'm planning. I don't want to go without some good knowledge of where things are, and when it is best to see them.
For Arizona, I researched and made a list of restaurants. It was well worth it for we had great food for not much money.
For Paris, I actually make dining reservations ahead of time. Not for every night, and I cancel them if something better comes up, but I don't want to go to one of the great dining cities in the world and eat "whatever comes up." Tried it one night in Paris, and got stuck with a bad meal.
For Italy, I always have a list of restaurants that I would like to visit, but only reserve that day if necessary. Or maybe the day before.
;-)
I write about food and cook for a living, so I definetly know where I want to eat.
Jul 31st, 2006, 03:58 PM
#59
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tuscanlifeedit,
I had no idea you could get a bad meal in Paris!
That reminded me of the one and only time I went with a tour. Guidebooks said, "you can't get a bad meal in Rome." I guess they didn't take the same tour. When I told the tour director she was looked surprised and said, "but this is good food. This is what the Italians eat." Well, duh! She was English.
I had no idea you could get a bad meal in Paris!
That reminded me of the one and only time I went with a tour. Guidebooks said, "you can't get a bad meal in Rome." I guess they didn't take the same tour. When I told the tour director she was looked surprised and said, "but this is good food. This is what the Italians eat." Well, duh! She was English.
