Trip Planning – Time is Precious, Don’t Gamble it Away
In Defense of Flexible Trip Planning
I know there are two very different sides to the trip planning coin.
There are those who prefer to fly by the seat of their pants and allow their trip to happen organically and spontaneously. These adventurous folks hope their travel adventures will magically open up before them . . . as though they live in some fairytale-land.
There are others who prefer to plan out every second of their trip, leaving nothing to doubt. But when things don’t go as planned, watch out! An overly planned trip can quickly lead to unrealized expectations and eventual disaster.
I believe there is a fine balance somewhere in the middle. Flexibility is the key.
Vacation time is precious and your world travels should be crafted with love and care. I completely disagree with anyone who thinks it’s a good idea to fly somewhere far away and then “wing it”.
Your Time is Precious, Don’t Waste It
Why would anyone willingly waste their precious time waiting in lines or wandering aimlessly around a foreign city searching for food?
Who are these people who saunter up to a hotel and decide to sleep there because they like how the outside of the building looks?
With a teeny-tiny bit of effort and research, your hotel room could have bug-free beds, you’d have skip-the-line tickets in your hand and plans to eat famous sticky buns at the hole-in-the-wall you for sure would have missed otherwise.
I’m not saying you should longingly ignore the restaurant that smells amazing as you head to the must-eat restaurant you found on Yelp.
What I am saying is your trip will go smoother if you give your days a little structure. Please don’t waste time wandering around, “epicly” wondering what to do or eat next.
Research Rocks
On my first trip to Rome I practically memorized the 2008 Rick Steves Rome guidebook. We went in August and I knew it was going to be hot. One of my travel companions was sensitive to heat and I was determined not to wait in line . . . not for the Vatican or Saint Peter’s or the Colosseum. Sounds impossible, right?
My research paid off. We walked straight into each notoriously busy site with tickets I had either bought in advance or we strategically showed up when the crowds were gone. Because of my planning, our sweating was kept to a minimum.
On that wonderful, hot trip to Rome, I learned that a little research will stretch your time and your money a lot farther. Today I’m happy to pay fees for tickets bought in advance online if it means I don’t have to waste time waiting in line. After all, I’m visiting to see the sites, not the outside of the building, or a bunch of sweaty strangers.
Attack Your Trip Planning Research
It helps that I enjoy research. When I’m visiting somewhere new, I can’t wait to learn about the history, the people and their culture. I try to immerse myself so I have a solid understanding of what to expect before my feet hit the ground.
When planning a trip to somewhere I’ve never been, I’ll read three or four guidebooks and search out travel videos. (I love low-budget travel videos, I find them campy and fun.) I’ll also watch Hollywood movies and seek out books (fiction or nonfiction) that star my destination.
Obsessive? Perhaps. Do I have a deeper appreciation and understanding of the places I visit? Absolutely.
If you’re on a budget, planning will help ease financial travel stress. In fact, I get most of my travel research resources from my local library. While you’re researching, create a detailed list of trip expenses. You’ll end up with a clear understanding of how much to budget, and then you can save accordingly.
Remember, knowledge is power and luck favors the prepared.
Keep Researching, Even if Your Travel Companion Won’t
If you’re a planner and your travel partner isn’t and it’s causing some conflict, I encourage you to quietly continue researching your trip. Trying to force someone who isn’t a planner to plan something will result in failure, and probably bad feelings. Besides, they’re missing out on all the research fun . . . you get to live your trip twice, once at home, and then more thoughtfully while you’re living it in person.
As an added bonus, once you’re at your destination you can gently, but confidently guide how the days will go. I hope at some point your travel partner acknowledges all your efforts. Be proud of a job well done.
If you are the travel partner who chooses not to research, YOU HAVE LOST YOUR RIGHT TO COMPLAIN. PERIOD.
If your travel pal chooses to spend all their time complaining about the trip, don’t get frustrated. Instead, empower yourself and make the decision not to travel with them again. You don’t need that negativity.
In fact don’t let anyone put you down, make you feel bad or belittle you for being excited about planning a great trip. There’s nothing wrong with gaining knowledge. Never in the history of our world has so much information been available to us, you’d be silly not to use it to your full advantage.
Remember, any hater who disrespects you is coming at you from a space of fear. Let them live in their sad world, you’re moving into a place full of excitement and color!
If you need a refresher on HOW to plan your trip, revisit my Research page, it’s full of helpful tools.
Trip Planning is Time Well Spent
When you arrive at a foreign airport and are unceremoniously dumped into baggage claim you will be tired, jet-lagged and probably a little confused. Baggage claim ISN’T the time to discover if your phone works, nor is it where you should learn about the local currency exchange rates, ATMs or public transportation options.
It’s definitely not where you should figure out where you’re sleeping.
Arriving in a foreign country unprepared isn’t epic. It’s irresponsible, especially with all the tools available to make your journey an easy and exciting adventure.
For most people, the trip from baggage claim to the hotel is the most frightening part of any vacation. Make your arrival as easy as possible, having a plan will set you up for success.
I want you to leave the airport with your head up and shoulders relaxed, ready to FLEXIBLY attack your trip, which I promise will be epic, in its own calm, confident, pre-planned way.
Thanks for Popping By
Please feel free to share your questions or comments below. If you see any typos, let me know!
I encourage you to share my tribal knowledge with someone who loves or would love to travel.
The Art of Travel (TAOT) ~ Written by Kylie
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