Planning for trips - is it a chore or a joy?
Sep 4th, 2019 | 04:48 PM
#61
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 42,178
Likes: 7
I absolutely like to plan my dining. I’m a discriminating diner and like well presented food that is also fresh. So, a wilty salad at the end of a nice day of touring makes me sad. My husband likes to try at least one or two Michelin-starred restaurants when we travel to Europe. I’m happy to tag along and we usually have a really nice experience.
Unfortunately, with a few exceptions, I’ve not found concierge staff very helpful in recommending restaurants so we try to research ourselves. I have gotten some great ideas from Fodorites for dining in Florence, Paris and Normandy. So far, I haven’t had great luck dining in Rome or Venice - the only memorable meal in Rome was at the pricey restaurant at the Hassler. Spain and Portugal had more consistently good food of the lower end “just popping in” type. Switzerland has decent food most everywhere but nothing anywhere that really knocks your socks off. Unless you are eating cheese! I love French food but have had some surprisingly mediocre meals there when I haven’t done my homework.
Unfortunately, with a few exceptions, I’ve not found concierge staff very helpful in recommending restaurants so we try to research ourselves. I have gotten some great ideas from Fodorites for dining in Florence, Paris and Normandy. So far, I haven’t had great luck dining in Rome or Venice - the only memorable meal in Rome was at the pricey restaurant at the Hassler. Spain and Portugal had more consistently good food of the lower end “just popping in” type. Switzerland has decent food most everywhere but nothing anywhere that really knocks your socks off. Unless you are eating cheese! I love French food but have had some surprisingly mediocre meals there when I haven’t done my homework.
Sep 4th, 2019 | 05:32 PM
#62
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 22,753
Likes: 0
Mediocre meals make me sad, especially if said meals are not inexpensive.
We have few opportunities to have great meals here and really look forward to trying something new, creative and great.
I make sure we save some travel money for great dining experiences. And I spend a lot of time reading about restaurants.
We have few opportunities to have great meals here and really look forward to trying something new, creative and great.
I make sure we save some travel money for great dining experiences. And I spend a lot of time reading about restaurants.
Sep 4th, 2019 | 05:39 PM
#64
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 31,951
Likes: 19
Planning a trip is my favorite thing, and I usually have one going. Just had one all set to go to Phoenix in December, and then it turned out the friends we were planning to visit had to be in England at the same time. But I had all the fun of researching hotels and restaurants, and now we'll go over to the California coast again next month. Then I'll start working on something else. I'd love to have been a travel agent if it hadn't meant dealing with anxious people.
I actually enjoy the idea of research down to that level. I get what people say about it getting them excited for the trip.
I just don't do it because on the other end, I feel I have to actually give some sort of consideration to that schedule and plan... and that I've done a lot of work for nothing (and am missing out on stuff) if we don't use it. Love making plans. Hate following plans. So I should probably have done it for other people.
Sep 4th, 2019 | 05:50 PM
#65
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 22,753
Likes: 0
I love great cheap food and I don’t mind paying a lot for great food. I research both and prefer when we can find less expensive. I mean we plan all of our trips by searching airfare sales. We had no plans for Italy until we found $530 round trip tickets out of MT.
What I don’t like is wasting money on mediocre food. I love good and interesting food. I don’t care if it’s street food or a few hundred dollar tasting menu. I just hate spending money on basic, okay food.
Sep 4th, 2019 | 05:54 PM
#66
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 22,753
Likes: 0
And I agree with gruezi that the food in Venice (at least in our price range) was mediocre to less than mediocre. We decided to mostly cook in our apartment or just go super cheap.
We we did have a good lunch in Burano but mostly...ehhh.
We we did have a good lunch in Burano but mostly...ehhh.
Sep 4th, 2019 | 05:55 PM
#67
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 10,493
Likes: 1
Having been to (beautiful!) Montana, I agree with this statement.
Where did you eat in Venice, kureiff? The local food scene there has really improved over the past 5 years or so but definitely needs careful research. I spent another week there this past May.
Where did you eat in Venice, kureiff? The local food scene there has really improved over the past 5 years or so but definitely needs careful research. I spent another week there this past May.
Last edited by Leely2; Sep 4th, 2019 at 05:59 PM.
Sep 4th, 2019 | 06:04 PM
#69
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 10,493
Likes: 1
Sep 4th, 2019 | 07:26 PM
#71
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 31,951
Likes: 19
jub, us too.
As much as picking just the right restaurants and never missing a perfect meal sounds good on paper, I love just following our noses when we get peckish. Usually, if the place has a decent looking menu and it's busy with locals, its turned out to be very satisfactory. But then, some of our best lunches have been a bag of hot street food and a spot in the park or along the river somewhere.
On the other hand, studiously following recommendations and reviews have led us into a few places that really weren't "us" at all. Someone else's idea of the perfect place.
Which, now that I think of it, may be my biggest problem with planning stuff out. Unless you've been somewhere before, planning without experience of your own may just lead you into taking someone else's trip, eating someone else's perfect meal.... And preconceptions perhaps not allowing the place and you work out a new relationship of your own.
As much as picking just the right restaurants and never missing a perfect meal sounds good on paper, I love just following our noses when we get peckish. Usually, if the place has a decent looking menu and it's busy with locals, its turned out to be very satisfactory. But then, some of our best lunches have been a bag of hot street food and a spot in the park or along the river somewhere.
On the other hand, studiously following recommendations and reviews have led us into a few places that really weren't "us" at all. Someone else's idea of the perfect place.
Which, now that I think of it, may be my biggest problem with planning stuff out. Unless you've been somewhere before, planning without experience of your own may just lead you into taking someone else's trip, eating someone else's perfect meal.... And preconceptions perhaps not allowing the place and you work out a new relationship of your own.
Sep 4th, 2019 | 07:31 PM
#72
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,858
Likes: 0
We like this too. The best restaurants we've eaten in were packed with locals. We had some wonderful meals but even better than that, we've had wonderful experiences and great conversations despite (or maybe because of?) languages differences.
Sep 4th, 2019 | 07:52 PM
#73
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,359
Likes: 0
I live to plan trips. It becomes a part-time job once I've set my eye on a destination. I don't plan my trips to the minute or to a schedule, but I do know what's available where and when for any place I am on a trip. If I'm in the 6th in Paris, I know what's around there to do and where I can eat or get a coffee. This is, I think, what is most disappointing about safaris though. Once you book it, there's no planning left, just waiting to go. No hotels, restaurants, entertainment, museums to find.
What I loathe though is the pre-trip getting ready part. Maybe we need a thread for that: stopping the mail, the newspaper, getting the cat sitter, calling the credit cards, getting the house ready for the cat sitter, etc. etc. etc. It's all just a means to an end, I suppose.
What I loathe though is the pre-trip getting ready part. Maybe we need a thread for that: stopping the mail, the newspaper, getting the cat sitter, calling the credit cards, getting the house ready for the cat sitter, etc. etc. etc. It's all just a means to an end, I suppose.
Sep 4th, 2019 | 10:02 PM
#76
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,896
Likes: 0
I used to just love planning trips. Before online booking, my Italian teacher was helping me write an email to reserve a hotel. Fun memory.
But a couple of things happened.
Picking lodgings has gotten harder because there's almost too many choices. Decision fatigue.
On one of our last big trips, one of my kids really wasn't happy with our itinerary. And so now I have a lot of self doubt. Who will like what. Is this a good idea? Overhyped? My youngest, who is up for going almost anywhere, says that my only mistake was not leaving people home who didn't appreciate being there. He's probably right.
Now I'd like to plan for my husband and me, but college costs will preclude any major travel. I am thinking Canada.
But a couple of things happened.
Picking lodgings has gotten harder because there's almost too many choices. Decision fatigue.
On one of our last big trips, one of my kids really wasn't happy with our itinerary. And so now I have a lot of self doubt. Who will like what. Is this a good idea? Overhyped? My youngest, who is up for going almost anywhere, says that my only mistake was not leaving people home who didn't appreciate being there. He's probably right.
Now I'd like to plan for my husband and me, but college costs will preclude any major travel. I am thinking Canada.
Sep 27th, 2019 | 03:55 AM
#78
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
A joy for me. Researching about destinations I want to see increases my excitement for upcoming trips. I've always been a planner so that's one thing to consider as well. If I want to be a little spontaneous during traveling, I allot some time for that too. Makes me feel more in control.
Nov 27th, 2019 | 03:57 AM
#80
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
The thing that I enjoy most about planning is getting to envision the trip, dreaming of being there and of course getting to plan tiny little details meticulously. However, most people are put off by the amount of work one has to put into planning - comparing travel, accommodation, and other prices, choosing things within budget and of course coordinating with others. However, I don't think anything can compare to the joy of actually being on the trip!
