Calamari

Do you ever get so caught up with guide books and "to do" lists that you forget to enjoy your holiday? What great "thing" did you end up doing on vacation once you put the guide books away?

elle

I used to overplan and overschedule, but I think I've eased up somewhat.

One of the best things to break me from my habit was getting lost. We were somewhere in the foothills of the Black Mountains in France, looking for a winery that my laidback husband thought he could find (without having the address OR directions). After about an hour of driving round and round, with me getting more and more tense, we came around a curve and there was a ram, a momma sheep, and a baby lamb, just standing there in a field, inches away from our car. It was so cool to see them up close like that and it definitely calmed me down. We never did find the winery, but the rest of the day proceeded at a different pace.

On our last trip to Paris, we didn't really plan very much. That lead to some disappointments (couldn't get into a restaurant because we hadn't booked), but also some discoveries (we met a very nice French couple who also hadn't booked and had a fun conversation).

Lorac1127

Getting lost in Venice, partly by accident and partly on purpose.

We just wandered and wandered, taking photos, drinking in all the scenery. It was wonderful!

We didn't get to see half of the sites we planned on, but we loved what we did. As my husband and I say, there's always next time.

nytraveler

I must admit that I am constantly amazed when I see people listing a day by day itinerary within a city. IMHO if you need to organize youself to that degree its not a vacation anymore - its an invasion - like D Day.

We develop a list of things we would like to see with notes on when things are closed. And we simply decide day by day what we feel like doing - or not doing that day. And often the plan changes in the middle based on something new we come across or something planned we get bored by. Otherwise how would you enjoy anything?

kismetchimera

I dont plan anymore, mostly is because when I travel to Europe I go back and visit the places that I love..
I hate to have everything planned, minute by minute, vacations are supposed to be fun.

eliztrav

Well, there's planning and there's planning! I like to go with the flow when I'm on my vacation, but only because I do my "homework" before I leave home. We plan what we'd like to do each day, figure out the hours and locations and whether reservations are required or a good idea, and then do what we feel like doing on the day. If we get diverted along the way, or want to simply stop at a cafe and relax for awhile, we do it. This would NEVER work if we hadn't done some pre-planning before leaving home. We'd have wasted our time spinning wheels....

mr_go

To me, it really is a fine line between "getting the most out of your trip" and "over-planning and over-scheduling."

One prime example of this is having to visit "all" the great Tuscan/Umbrian hilltowns. There are far too many to see in a month of Sundays. And while each has its own charms...there is such a thing as a point of diminishing returns. So what if you don't get to see that "perfect hilltown"? Slow down and relax! Todi will still be there the next time!

I have to agree with those who say that "getting lost" in the right place can be one of the best unplanned pleasures you can enjoy while traveling. Especially in Venice. And Paris. And Rome.

SalB

We usually go over for four to six weeks at a time so it would be impossible to plan a day by day itinerary. I make a list of hotels with phone numbers because I have an elderly parent who is more comfortable when she knows where we are.

Other than that, we study the area, know the sights and decide each day what we want to do, partly based on the weather.

Admittedly, it's easier to do this when you don't have serious time constraints. I usually pack our Michelin Green Guide and in the evenings leaf through it looking for odd out-of-the-way places that look interesting.

I also am the navigator and have no sense of direction so we often get lost and "discover" things. It's fun to relax and let life happen once in a while.

aeiger

Hi
we used to plan years ago. After getting lost trying to find hotels we wanted to stay in or some such debacle, we just book our first hotel when we arrive at the airport usually. We change plans for places to go or how long we stay and find a hotel wherever we are. This has made for a more relaxed enjoyable trip. Just a good roadmap and a couple of guides. We/ve found some interesting places and other places that are recommended were not quite what we wanted.
alan

FauxSteMarie

Faux agrees with nytraveler. Yes, Faux does agree with some people--contrary to what some of you believe--faux sure.

Planning a vacation minute by minute in any location means you are not taking a vacation at all. I do agree it becomes an assault on the "must sees".

I just have a few things I check off as "must sees". Then I let serendipity (with a healthy does of getting lost) take over.

ninasdream

I think eliztrav got it right on the nose, if you don't read up first, going with the flow just doesn't work as well. I spend a 1-2 months reading, and taking notes and practicing the language. Part of the pleasure of a trip is the anticipation. I can only manage to get away about 2 weeks at a time, so I do need to maximize the time, and usually target 1-2 things per day to do. For me, if I don't have a plan, I don't get started. Once I am exploring, I can see where the day takes me and put my "itinerary" aside if I wish. Also, you may need a reminder of things you really wanted to see.

Statia

I agree with eliztrav, too. That's the way we go about our travels, and it seems to work perfectly. We get in all the "must-see's," but leave plenty of time to wander and soak in the atmosphere, as well. And, we aren't concerned if we miss some of the "maybes" on our list. There can be a fine line between being under prepared and being over planned.

Calamari

I love nytraveler's idea that over planning is like an invasion. That is so true.

abram

I love the planning process, reading about a place, deciding what to see, where to eat, etc, etc.

I condense all my research into a page or two per city, with places grouped by location within that city. I don't like to waste my time hopscotching across the city, and I don't like showing up at a museum or whatever on a day when it's closed.

So, we'll head off to a neighborhood, with a list of possible things to see that are open on that day. We spend as much time as we want at a place, get to however many we get to, and stop at other places we stumble across if they look interesting.