what do you find useful in a trip report?
Apr 24th, 2004, 12:56 PM
#1
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what do you find useful in a trip report?
as opposed to "merely" entertaining?
for example, some obvious ones could be - the hotel you stayed in, what you thought of it, location, neighborhood ambiance, etc.
a less obvious one could be, for example - "in late September I visited Provence and all the sunflowers were either plowed up, or nearly harvested." (timing and what to expect or not)
or, "in June I visited Normandy and was completely entranced by the many fields of poppies". again, when and where to find the flowers!! (I am a flower girl. do I know anything about 'em? nope! but I sure like looking! parallels may be drawn here re: men. ar ar)
this of course will be subjective according to the perception/perspective of the person involved, which is what I am looking for!
any thoughts? (and keep the entertaining posts coming)
just trying to come up with the neat ideas that Wes Fowler always used to.
sigh.
for example, some obvious ones could be - the hotel you stayed in, what you thought of it, location, neighborhood ambiance, etc.
a less obvious one could be, for example - "in late September I visited Provence and all the sunflowers were either plowed up, or nearly harvested." (timing and what to expect or not)
or, "in June I visited Normandy and was completely entranced by the many fields of poppies". again, when and where to find the flowers!! (I am a flower girl. do I know anything about 'em? nope! but I sure like looking! parallels may be drawn here re: men. ar ar)
this of course will be subjective according to the perception/perspective of the person involved, which is what I am looking for!
any thoughts? (and keep the entertaining posts coming)
just trying to come up with the neat ideas that Wes Fowler always used to.
sigh.
Apr 24th, 2004, 01:38 PM
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I like to learn people's opinions on what they saw rather than simply stating where they went or ate. Why the museum was enjoyable or driving tips on routes. Some unique observations such as you describe about scenery or about people.
Something I hate about some trip reports is a very long description of getting to Europe, waiting around airports, what planes they took, a description of the flight, etc. That's the really boring part of travel and it should be left out (and I skip over it). Maybe one sentence about what airline and what city flown into would be enough.
Something I hate about some trip reports is a very long description of getting to Europe, waiting around airports, what planes they took, a description of the flight, etc. That's the really boring part of travel and it should be left out (and I skip over it). Maybe one sentence about what airline and what city flown into would be enough.
Apr 24th, 2004, 02:54 PM
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I like reading a trip report done in a day to day format. That way it is easy to see how much is doable in one day. I also like when prices are given so that I know if a particular restaurant, opera, or hotel is in my price range.
Apr 24th, 2004, 02:58 PM
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I like to get beyond the obvious - things to look out for, hotels that go out of their way to help foreign travellers out, good tour guides by name - not just company. What I get tired of are the long descriptions of meals - scrumptious, delicious, yummy. What did you not have on the plans that turned out to be really good? ex - we went to Roland Garros on a whim and had a blast; took a segway tour rather than biking - etc.
Apr 24th, 2004, 03:06 PM
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Detailed descriptions of hotels and restaurants that elaborate about the service, the facilities, the rooms etc.
Information about tourist attractions is of course very useful, however, this can be found easily in books/online guides. Hotels and restaurants are always far better assessed by people's personal experiences with them.
I too find descriptions of transportation terribly tedious, I hope their character isn't as dull as they like to portray. Interesting stories of locals can be a fascinating snipett of culture - On a trip to Santa Cruz in Tenerife a couple of years ago (The south of Tenerife is vile, but the north is really rather pleasant) I observed a local woman in an old fashioned "sun dress" with her ample cleavage exposed and a hairy "chest" just like a man! Whether that is worthy of being classed as a fascinating cultural observation I have no idea.
Information about tourist attractions is of course very useful, however, this can be found easily in books/online guides. Hotels and restaurants are always far better assessed by people's personal experiences with them.
I too find descriptions of transportation terribly tedious, I hope their character isn't as dull as they like to portray. Interesting stories of locals can be a fascinating snipett of culture - On a trip to Santa Cruz in Tenerife a couple of years ago (The south of Tenerife is vile, but the north is really rather pleasant) I observed a local woman in an old fashioned "sun dress" with her ample cleavage exposed and a hairy "chest" just like a man! Whether that is worthy of being classed as a fascinating cultural observation I have no idea.
Apr 24th, 2004, 03:11 PM
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I do not like daily journals that tell me what they had for breakfast. The best reports are those that synthesize the key points of the trip that would be meaningful to others. I guess you would call it an Executive Summary" format. My biggest problem is when it is written as a stream of conciousness with no paragraph breaks.
Apr 24th, 2004, 03:17 PM
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Anything goes as far as I'm concerned. Type anything that makes you happy, then I can choose whether I want to skip it, skim it, or devour every word. I find it helpful when the writer gives price ranges of hotels, meals, etc.
And <i>please</i> break it into paragraphs for easier reading!
And <i>please</i> break it into paragraphs for easier reading!
Apr 24th, 2004, 03:34 PM
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I love ALL types of trip reports, but my favorites are the ones that describe, not just what the person SAW, but what he/she FELT. I don?t care of it?s a teenager's first sight of the Eiffel Tower or whether the writer's impression agrees with mine, it?s the writer's ability to describe that visceral emotion that draws me in.
I love reports that provide the musings and the context and the connections. I love to learn some new historical fact that is not obvious. I love when someone compares a building to something quite different, so I can visualize it. I adore when someone compares and contrasts, sympathetically and accurately, a place I DON'T know to a place I DO know.
I am always grateful for advice on hotels and restaurants, but NOT the ones recommended from the guidebook ? the new discoveries, the "found" places are best. I like to read current and accurate ratings about dining from those that enjoy good food.
Like Bob, I find it difficult to read trip reports without paragraph breaks - I download them and insert breaks to make them easier to read.
I enjoy humour and human interest tales that make the experience unique to THAT trip by THAT person at THAT time.
Regards ? Ger
I love reports that provide the musings and the context and the connections. I love to learn some new historical fact that is not obvious. I love when someone compares a building to something quite different, so I can visualize it. I adore when someone compares and contrasts, sympathetically and accurately, a place I DON'T know to a place I DO know.
I am always grateful for advice on hotels and restaurants, but NOT the ones recommended from the guidebook ? the new discoveries, the "found" places are best. I like to read current and accurate ratings about dining from those that enjoy good food.
Like Bob, I find it difficult to read trip reports without paragraph breaks - I download them and insert breaks to make them easier to read.
I enjoy humour and human interest tales that make the experience unique to THAT trip by THAT person at THAT time.
Regards ? Ger
Apr 24th, 2004, 04:06 PM
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Ger, Didn't you once write the trip report about Barcelona with Bridget Jones? I thought that was the funniest thing I ever read here. And I thought about it when I walked up to my 4th floor apt. in Rome this month.
Apr 24th, 2004, 04:45 PM
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Agree that descriptions of the plane/train/ariport/station etc are exremely tedious. If something is a true problem post it as such but otherwise leave this out.
Also, please use paragraph spacing and subheads or day heads so the info can be followed. Otherwise it all looks like one of those Ziana posts - incredibly cryptic.
What I enjoy most are the things you don;t find in books - the off the beaten track site or activity or restaruant - with tips and specifics where possible (ie exact town - not second day somehwere in tuscany - or open only in the afternoon).
Also, please use paragraph spacing and subheads or day heads so the info can be followed. Otherwise it all looks like one of those Ziana posts - incredibly cryptic.
What I enjoy most are the things you don;t find in books - the off the beaten track site or activity or restaruant - with tips and specifics where possible (ie exact town - not second day somehwere in tuscany - or open only in the afternoon).
Apr 24th, 2004, 05:47 PM
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Yes Grasshopper, that was me 
I am very pleased you liked it and thanks you for your kind words.
It was removed for some reason. I can't think why, unless it was because of my friend Bridget's excessive consumption of alcohol ....
regards ... Ger
I am very pleased you liked it and thanks you for your kind words. It was removed for some reason. I can't think why, unless it was because of my friend Bridget's excessive consumption of alcohol ....
regards ... Ger
Apr 25th, 2004, 05:09 AM
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I like the little things...when someone notices a person, people, animals, nature, or have a special encounter with something/someone and describe the feeling, the colors, the smells, the actions, etc. I like to visualize it and try to experience a little of what they did....Reading these boards are a way to travel without going anywhere....
Apr 25th, 2004, 05:21 AM
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I like a journal format that offers both impressions of the season, people and atmosphere AND information on the mechanics of how to get around and hotel ratings. But not the airport part as mentioned. I want to live vicariously through that traveler's report and be alerted to train station or hotel issues.
Apr 25th, 2004, 06:11 AM
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If I'm doing research, then I prefer short concise reports, but including general impressions of services used. Hopefully there's always a bit on the poster's usual preferences such as "we usually prefer 4star hotels" or "we are budget travelers", so you have a frame of reference for qualitative statements.
If I'm killing time, then the "story" type reports are fun, as long as the poster is an engaging story teller.
Apr 25th, 2004, 06:24 AM
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When I write my reports of my travels I am hoping that I can give each reader at least one good idea or helpful tip for their trip. I read them for the same reason. Someone who takes the time and energy to share their story no matter how detail oriented or vague--- Did I learn something new from it? Then I am a happy camper. H
Apr 25th, 2004, 06:38 AM
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I don't totally agree with not wanting details of the traveling. While I don't care to hear what movies someone watched on the plane, I do like to hear about the ways the airlines are changing, coments about diferent airlines doing a better/worse job, etc.
And yes, I do want to hear about the ways they traveled in the country. That can be very worthwhile information.
Keith
And yes, I do want to hear about the ways they traveled in the country. That can be very worthwhile information.
Keith
Apr 25th, 2004, 07:21 AM
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I like a combination of the objective and the subjective. It's also helpful for me to have a little context, e.g. this person travels on a budget that's higher/lower/similar to mine, this is the poster's first or fifth visit to this place.
