I do like the planning and booking phase.

[JohnK]

Too late now, but return fares to BKK can be had currently for ~$740 on MH.

Looks to be ~$1400 each SYD-BKK return for the dates we're travelling. We'd need to make our own way from CNX-BKK and SYD-BNE on return.

Note economy lite does not include luggage, seat selection or child discount. I'd say there will be a cost for golf clubs too.

 

[boxjelly5]

One of the many pre-trip / planning things I do is keep a detailed spreadsheet of everything booked including:

• Date booked
• Date-in/out (for hotels)
• booking method (ie hotel/airline's own website, third party website, via e-mail or phone, etc)
• For airline bookings - comments on award flights and/or booking conditions
• For hotels - cancellation conditions
• Pre-paid or partial payment made or payment date due - balance owing
• Breakfast included or not
• Credit Card used
• Comments (other inclusions, room type, ....)

All very useful as often booking confirmation e-mails do not include some of the above detail. Also helps when your booking activity is spread out over many weeks and sometimes months and I often have more than one trip in the pipeline.

Why not just use TripIt ? Has most of that info and easy to add any other.

 

[FishFood]

Why not just use TripIt ? Has most of that info and easy to add any other.

Happy to throw in another recommendation for TripIt, in addition they seem to be a small enough operation that support is fairly responsive

 

[JohnK]

I am not as organised as most on here. Everything is written on pieces of paper and then I often can’t find the paper I want to check. I try and put it all in the one place which works for a while before the senior moments take over again.

Fortunately once booked I can put all the emails in the travel folder.

All the details of the trip are in a Notepad document while I am planning.

The emails I get are in the current trip email folder.

I hardly ever print anything as I no longer have access to printer.

 

[OATEK]

One of the many pre-trip / planning things I do is keep a detailed spreadsheet of everything booked including:

• Date booked
• Date-in/out (for hotels)
• booking method (ie hotel/airline's own website, third party website, via e-mail or phone, etc)
• For airline bookings - comments on award flights and/or booking conditions
• For hotels - cancellation conditions
• Pre-paid or partial payment made or payment date due - balance owing
• Breakfast included or not
• Credit Card used
• Comments (other inclusions, room type, ....)

All very useful as often booking confirmation e-mails do not include some of the above detail. Also helps when your booking activity is spread out over many weeks and sometimes months and I often have more than one trip in the pipeline.

There cannot be a viable plan without a spreadsheet. I have a schedule (week by week - that I print for family members to stop them saying when are you coming home). There is a budget of known and estimated costs, and I have embedded exchange rates to automatically calculate the foreign and AUD amounts. Sometimes I even have sheet where I track transit details such as where first flight arrives (gate) and next leg usually departs. Gives me an idea of lounge options etc.

 

[Tiki]

Planning trips is not only fun but necessary with my strategy. I keep a 3 year wish list spreadsheet with all the flights I would need and which points I need for those flights. This influences which shopping promos to do if I need Coles/VA or Woolies/QF, which hotel points I need, which US credit cards to go for. And I also have to account for non-point spending and allocate a budget with a 20% buffer just in case.

 

[drron]

I work on the spreadsheet principle. My sheets of paper are spread all over the place. Still manage to have a good time.

 

[ellen10]

One of the many pre-trip / planning things I do is keep a detailed spreadsheet of everything booked including:

• Date booked
• Date-in/out (for hotels)
• booking method (ie hotel/airline's own website, third party website, via e-mail or phone, etc)
• For airline bookings - comments on award flights and/or booking conditions
• For hotels - cancellation conditions
• Pre-paid or partial payment made or payment date due - balance owing
• Breakfast included or not
• Credit Card used
• Comments (other inclusions, room type, ....)

All very useful as often booking confirmation e-mails do not include some of the above detail. Also helps when your booking activity is spread out over many weeks and sometimes months and I often have more than one trip in the pipeline.

This is exactly what I do. I love my spreadsheet! It goes in the front of my folder with all my printed confirmations.
I have almost been caught out when a B&B in Brugge said I did not have a booking, the only thing that solved it was my paper copy.

I love the planning of holidays and reading reviews and all things about destinations. My husband just sits back and enjoys!

 

[p--and--t]

Sometimes I even have sheet where I track transit details such as where first flight arrives (gate) and next leg usually departs. Gives me an idea of lounge options etc

Only sometimes?

That is essential data on international sojourns. Time in airports is to be used effectively!!!

I have columns for arrival terminal, the lounge I have picked from “lounge buddy” app and its location, whether it has showers and how much time I have in transit, plus the departure terminal for the next flight, the flight number, carrier and our selected and confirmed seat numbers and what catering is on the next flight (snack or meal etc).

Not at all excessive - essential data to milk an international journey and enjoy the transit through new airports for everything I can

 

[Captain Halliday]

Only sometimes?

That is essential data on international sojourns. Time in airports is to be used effectively!!!

I have columns for arrival terminal, the lounge I have picked from “lounge buddy” app and its location, whether it has showers and how much time I have in transit, plus the departure terminal for the next flight, the flight number, carrier and our selected and confirmed seat numbers and what catering is on the next flight (snack or meal etc).

Not at all excessive - essential data to milk an international journey and enjoy the transit through new airports for everything I can

Sounds like a template worth sharing.