if i may say so, the trouble with the "trip of a life-time" mentality is that encourages excessive expectations of the trip, and the tendency to cram as much in as possible.

as these are mutually exclusive, disaster often awaits.

my pet peeve is the poster who wants to do a clearly ludicrous "itinery", then takes offence when we agree with them that it's mad.

or perhaps worse, the one who starts off [as a recent poster did] "i don't want any rude or sarky replies"

there ought to be a chapter on how not to get a rude or sarky reply.

sorry about your "trip of a lifetime", joanne.

Some people might be " tight" about the trip simply because they are that way period.
I cannot imagine planning hour by hour schedule, but for many travelers it is the only way they feel
comfortable.
" going back" is not an option for all. I consider myself lucky to be able to travel to Europe
2-3 times a year...even so, visiting place like Dubrovnik or Como again, can be difficult.

I cringe at the advice that "you can always go back". Seriously-- see what you want when you go, because chances are, you will NOT go back.

Why not experience all you want to see the first time, and then visit a new place next time?

joanne; It only matters to you and it was a 'trip of a lifetime'. I can talk about a trip of a lifetime. In 1998 my wife and I decided to tour Switzerland and then a four night cruise from Basil to Amsterdam for our 40th anniversary in 2000. What she didn't know is, I had 23 other people on board the boat, both family and friends. Took two years in the planning and became friends with Raja, from Austria, manager for KD cruse line, now part of Viking. When my wife and I approached the boat, my two granddaughters came running up the gang plank with flowers. No doubt, a 'Trip of a Lifetime.' Newspaper clipping is hanging, framed on the wall with the headlines, A Trip of a Lifetime. It does exist.

Iris: Okay, I'll make an exception for you.

LSky: I do the same thing--start planning the next trip as soon as I get home.

On any given trip we travel with the idea that it is better to see a few places well, than many places poorly. When you race around, you lose the sense of a city, the people, the culture. Too many people look at travel as if they were sexual conquests-how many notches can I put on my belt.

Do you go to a place just to say you have been there or do you go to a place becasue you are interested in learning about it?

I had my "trip of a lifetime" in 1963. I was 12 and spent the entire summer driving around Europe with my mom and brother. I didn't have to plan anything or figure out the must-sees, worry about driving and parking, where to sleep or eat, or even how much anything cost because I wasn't paying for it. (Sigh.) I'll never be able to top that trip.

Pegontheroad, after my last trip to Hamburg and surrounds, I'd be happy to just repeat it again


I go because I'm interested and there might be a little something there my husband and I want to see; a work of art or a building. Last month a Rhododendron park, believe me, no one cares if you've been the Rhododendron park.

I like to have a huge list of my "must sees" then trim as I relax.

"There will be no swimming pools, hot tubs, probably no air conditioning in the hotel, unless it's one of those soulless business hotel."

I don't get this at all. Europe is full of family-owned spa hotels that have swimming pools. They're especially common in the mountains. Some of these hotels have been in the same family for generations, so why are you dumping on them as soulless business hotels? And ditto for air conditioning - we stayed at a small, family owned hotel in Lugano and it had air conditioning.

I agree with the poster above about the sourness of some of these suggestions.

As for luggage, I travel with a 24 inch Rimowa with 4 wheels. I can push it with one finger, even when it's fully loaded. I can lift it easily by myself. If you travel with carry-on only, fine, but if you can manage a bigger suitcase on your own with no problem, what's wrong with that?

Rather than thinking of a trip as "France/Italy/wherever in 1 week", think of its as "1 week in" the place. That may make it easier to plan as a holiday seeing some things in the destination, and not a route march checking off all possible sights (and inevitably failing).

Peg, you need an introductory chapter that covers:
(a) the idea that Europe is not arranged specifically so as to vex Americans - it's just different from America;
(b) the importance of reading or listening with some attention before responding - it looks stupid to argue on the basis of misinterpreting somebody;
(c) the value of having a sense of humour (or, perhaps more important, a sense of humor).

I take it that tipping is too controversial a topic for your first book.

Noncomformist, I like your post and the idea of "1 week in" the place.

Another chapter - the things that can go wrong. In every ingle one of my trips at least one thing has gone wrong. Usually unimportant, if irritating, at the time - and always unimportant after returning from the trip. But based on some of the posts here, some people are so exorcised by a minot snafu that it ruins their whole trip.

I also think people need a list of "differences" - so they don't faint when not offered a quart of soda with 15 ice cubes in it (and free refills), or expect to be able to eat dinner at 5 in the afternoon.

one of you mentioned a good pet peeve... the poster that joins Fodors to figure out the best way to see Budapest and Innsbruck by rail and "must sees".......then vanishes off the face of the earth after 30+ responses. no thanks...no feedback....no trip report. I haven't been a Fodorite very long but one of the biggest reasons i DID stick around after my maiden voyage to Europe was because i got so much great advice here. Plus, you can never have too many members to take turns answering threads entitlted "Oyster or Travelcard. SOOO confused!!" haha

nice one, tailsock. glad you stuck around.

a closely related pet peeve is the person who asks a very vague question, then takes offence when we ask for further and better particulars.

really fodors is like a computer - rubbish in, rubbish out.

How about an extremely short chapter for parents who are planning trips for their adult children.

Also the "Plannig is totally stressing me out / driving me crazy" or "I am totally confused" - if it's so stressful or confusing, go someplace else.

Within the 'Not Everyone Speaks English' chapter, you could add: But some people do (even if they do it with a strange accent). So, please, if you have to gossip and criticise, don't do it at the top of your lungs.

Tailsock, thanks for sticking around. I really enjoyed reading your trip report and seeing your pictures of your recent trip!

Thank you all other fodorites who have given trip reports in all of your varying styles! Some make me laugh; some make me think; others have lots of info; some do all three.

Anyway this seems as good a place as any to say thanks for all the gerous travelers!

Oops, should be generous in that last sentence. Sorry!

iris 1745 - Basil is not in Switzerland, but Basle is.