My first trip (well, actually my second but I don't count the first as that was over 30 years ago) in 1998 we stayed in the inexpensive 2 star hotel our travel agent suggested (she'd also gotten us a $399 RT to Paris on Air France). It was in the 11th and apparently "Nobody" stays there. We loved it. When we went to Italy for 3 weeks in 2000, I used recs from here (Hotel due Torri for Rome, Casci for Florence and Leon Bianco in Venice) and filled in with places I found that fit our budget and looked neat! We even picked two place out "on the fly." Since then, I've decided on locations, then picked what fit my budget from lots of sources. Last year we had about half reserved in advance, and winged it for the rest. We must be getting good at this, as we really didn't err on any selections. Aside from fitting the budget, I look for something with ambiance that looks inviting to me. (Frankly, I like Edward Hopper, but to each his own!) Since London is expensive, I'd look for a good deal in a neat area. That's how we got the Moat House at Sloane Sq a couple years ago. This year, we'll only have one night in London, enroute to Cape Town SA...and because of Marriott points we're "splashing out" at the Renaissance Chancery Court and depleting my Marriott points :)

Good Luck Neal. I'm sure you'll pass through this information Overload soon.

Mr. Sanders (chuckling) I wish there were more who write like you do. The theme of your post is shared by many and has been presented on this forum before, but never quite so amusingly as you have done. I firmly believe that when the exasperation of information overload confuses one's choices, one should think of what one might have done before the information age beset us. Choose the 'old-fashioned, leap-of-faith, knowing-less-is-better, way'. It is the reason why my own tired, tattered and dog-eared copies of FODORS guides to the Caribbean (1985) and London (1989) are still called into service from time to time, for certain things. And I'd keep an eye out on the benches and platforms of train stations. I am sure there is someone out there waiting to pay you forward.

Thanks for your usual high-quality contribution, Neal.

I am a card-carrying, certified, monomaniacal, obsessive-compulsive, addicted victim of that syndrome. I think I and my ilk (some of you too? - Be honest now) ought to form an "Overplanners Anonymous" group where we can parse the signals sent by hoteliers through their lobby art selections or scented (ooh, no) soaps.

In a perverse way, though, I've also found myself going deeper into what I think is a reverse-snobbery groove. Now I will <i>look</i> for Ibises or Priceline targets in cities, even though I know that they are more likely than not going to be someplace else than next to the palace or festooned with flower boxes. Biddingfortravel.com is now an enormously important website to me, full of hundreds of delicious reports to sort and weigh and mull over. How much more satisfying is it when you not only get the 500 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets <i>and</i> the marble bath, but get it for &euro;50 instead of &pound;200? Talk about a boost to your own self-worth! Look, honey, now we can afford the Tour d'Argent! Ain't I the best?

I mean, this site itself is an overplanning enabler of the first magnitude, isn't it? Spontaneity is widely advocated here but not especially facilitated. On the contrary - you can plan your European trip down to the parking space at the town square. Look at the threads above and below this one that talk about individual hotel room nos. in Paris. Damn, I can't get Room 7 at the Casa Cucaracha. Trip's off.

Well, we're flying over there in a couple of weeks. I still haven't evaluated where to have dinner that's close enough - but not that close - to Stansted airport, from which we're flying on EasyJet to Rome for &pound;5 7/ 8d. Plus tax. The cab (Black cab? Minicab? Benz limo?) to the airport will likely cost more than the flight. Perhaps I can find something in the Entertainment book. Not the best, maybe, but half off. How clever of me.

Priceline is great for short-circuiting overplanning - at least for hotels. You make your bid, get your hotel, and then you're stuck! No more reading and trying to weigh the immeasurable.

Of course, after air and hotels, there is still a wide, fertile field of topics to obsess about.

too

Hi, my name is ncgrrl, and I'm an overplanner.

I love data, time trying to figure out the 'right' plan. I don't really consider myself a control freak, but maybe I am. Hmm, something to think about.

Neal, I've thoroughly enjoyed your posts on the Hudson &amp; the Excelsior hotels on the US board. =D&gt; I definitely relate to your info overload, #-o

I've actually been feeling guilty lately. I'm usually the first one to tell <i>someone else</i>to go to tripadvisor. I recently went there to look up a London hotel for myself &amp; found everything from fabulous to don't ever stay at this place. But why haven't I learned my lesson. I've stayed at the places others have raved about &amp; didn't much care for them myself.

Personally, I'd prefer &quot;Nighthawks&quot; in the breakfast room to a photo of the Tower or a portrait of Phil &amp; Liz. What about just having breakfast in your room?

Not a control freak, ncgrrl, -- &quot;organizationally enhanced.&quot;

Aha! Just have breakfast in your room you say?! Not so simple!
There may not be muzak or Hoppers in your room, but what about the art work? Is it conducive to breakfasting?
Or is the artwork more lunch-y?

Personally I'm still trying to figure out the relationship between &quot;Nighthawks&quot; and kung-fu videos. Would breakfast be better if the Hopper print were a Cape Cod lighthouse rather than a lonely diner? Inquiring minds want to know.

Information overload - how true! And just as soon as I narrow down my 25+ hotels that have been recommended and are in our price range, etc., etc., THEN - I will move on to my list of restaurants (will probably by 100+ by the time we go in October) - and this is just for Paris!!! That doesn't include Brugge, Vence, Provence, and Burgandy! The files are already running over - think I'll purchase a new filing cabinet to take care of all wonderful info I've been copying and printing. Then there's that bookcase full of all those books!!! Don't know what I used to do with all my time - this traveling is a full time job!!!

Neal
You might be interested in this article:
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/hea...p?story=497484

Sounds like a classic case of Analysis Paralysis - too many choices and fear of not making the absolute best one.

I don't fall into this often in life but, with travel, I do tend towards it more often!

Neal: Very much enjoyed your post and the thread in general. I too am a planoholic. The manila file on Croatia grows daily and is bulging, and the Washington DC folder isn't in complete order yet and we will be going there first.

I suppose I'm much like a mountain climber--he climbs the mountain because it's there. So is all this seemingly important information at the time I see it on my screen and decide to print it.

I'm afraid at this stage in my life, I won't be going back to winging it, however, and will continue overdoing my trip planning, but honestly thoroughly enjoying doing the research for each of our vacations.

kavey, Analysis Paralysis! That's my problem! I'm so glad I have a name for it. :-D

I love this post! I, too, am an obsessive-compulsive planner - and the internet has contributed much to this condition. I obsess for months, first WHERE I'm going, then WHAT hotels, make reservations, cancel, and start over. And I wonder why I have alot of headaches. Oh, well, don't they say &quot;planning is half the enjoyment&quot;??

Worse - the enormous dining resources on the web with photos, menus...

In one afternoon, you can easily assemble dozens and dozens of appealing possibilities for a trip that will include only 30 ,meals (and only if you can manage three meals each day).

Marilyn
It's an expression that I think was invented (or certainly introduced to me) by another poster here, I am not sure what ID she's using but she used to use keelx2 I think.
:D
Perfect isn't it?

That particular expression has been around for decades at least, but it certainly is apt.

Elaine, I was originally going to equate Edward Hopper prints in the breakfast room with a lone, inferior Polish-language translation of &quot;The Bell Jar&quot; in the hotel's library. Alas, the hotel library is a fast-disappearing tradition, so kung-fu DVDs it is.

Richard, perhaps you have croissants every morning and you would no more butter them that you would spread them with Vegemite. To me, a freshly baked croissant is a vacation luxury, as is a pat of that distinctive English butter, and I shall indulge in both, and hope there's strawberry jam as well.

A lone copy of a Polish edition of The Bell Jar. What a wonderful image.
That might indeed discourage me from staying there, between that and Nighthawks I'm already depressed.

Mdv-obessive-complusive planner, but the DH is not, so it all works out.

Actually, I plan everything, have tons of notes,recommendations etc, then tend to ignore about 90% and just wing-it.

Great post, Neal. Glad to see you back on the Europe forum.