So, who plans?

[AVC]

A freind of mine is currently in the US. Orlando, Florida.

One of the stops on his itinerary was the Kennedy Space Centre. He has no car. Apparently, KSS dont run shuttles ( no pun intended) from Orlando. Apparently the taxi fare was about 300 dollars. Ouch.

Wouldnt you have already worked out how to get to places like that before hand? With the internet there is no excuse.

Another example is a colleague who fronted up to buy Alcatraz tickets on the day. They sell out weeks prior.

I always have a plan. How. When. Where. Not that all plans survive first contact with the enemy, but at least I have one. Usually involving hours on the internet and an Excel spreadsheet.

Who else plans?

 

[simongr]

Obsessively...

My trip to Dubai and Cyprus is not for months and I am close to having an hour by hour schedule...

 

[Princess Fiona]

Yes, I am OCD when it comes to travel plans. Everything is searched, researched and procrastinated over months or even years prior to the trip.
Mind you once I'm actually there I tend to relax and go with the flow

 

[simongr]

relax

I actually had to look this word up a I had no idea what it meant

 

[Ewing]

Another example is a colleague who fronted up to buy Alcatraz tickets on the day. They sell out weeks prior.

Whoops.

I purchased mine about 4 weeks earlier and even then I had to compromise on the time I wanted (early, as I was basically heading straight to the hotel from Alcatraz and going to SFO to fly home).

As for me, I plan the things that are on my "must do" list but beyond that I go with the flow. Holidays are about enjoying myself, and that doesn't necessarily mean an action filled itinerary!

 

[blackcat20]

As for me, I plan the things that are on my "must do" list but beyond that I go with the flow. Holidays are about enjoying myself, and that doesn't necessarily mean an action filled itinerary!

I do this too; I like to have a basic idea of what I'd like to do, and how I'm getting around, but you don't want to have such strict plans that you can't go with the flow is something better crops up.

 

[Mardi]

Definitely! I have a spreadsheet for every overseas trip I take. I sort by location, type (food, shopping, sight), note opening days, have a link to the web site etc. Then I do a rough plan for each day.

Even though I've been to NYC each of the last three years I'm still going through the same process in planning our trip for this Oct/Nov. It's half the fun!

 

[Paddy55]

Yes, I am OCD when it comes to travel plans. Everything is searched, researched and procrastinated over months or even years prior to the trip.
Mind you once I'm actually there I tend to relax and go with the flow

Princess Fiona, these are fabulous qualities you have!

 

[steph_vz]

Yes, I plan - like others, I'm obsessed. I've even caught myself planning "planning time" to plan excursions locally. Its part of my job and I love to do it. Its my myer briggs personality type!

 

[Paddy55]

A freind of mine is currently in the US. Orlando, Florida.

One of the stops on his itinerary was the Kennedy Space Centre. He has no car. Apparently, KSS dont run shuttles ( no pun intended) from Orlando. Apparently the taxi fare was about 300 dollars. Ouch.

Wouldnt you have already worked out how to get to places like that before hand? With the internet there is no excuse.

Another example is a colleague who fronted up to buy Alcatraz tickets on the day. They sell out weeks prior.

I always have a plan. How. When. Where. Not that all plans survive first contact with the enemy, but at least I have one. Usually involving hours on the internet and an Excel spreadsheet.

Who else plans?

Such little planning just wastes a great opportunity

 

[gwilli1]

I definitely plan for O/S trips , mainly where i will be day to day . Planning can usually takes quite a few months of plugging away on the net , researching , to ensure i maximise my opportunities / costs in each country / city . I always tend to leave some flexibility in my planning if something goes not the way i planned . I usually plan at least 1 day to do nothing in most places as quiet often you get to a city and there is something comes up & you say " wish i had some extra time" .

 

[Hvr]

Whoops.

I purchased mine about 4 weeks earlier and even then I had to compromise on the time I wanted (early, as I was basically heading straight to the hotel from Alcatraz and going to SFO to fly home).

As for me, I plan the things that are on my "must do" list but beyond that I go with the flow. Holidays are about enjoying myself, and that doesn't necessarily mean an action filled itinerary!

When I went to Alcatraz I just rocked up on Saturday and was told they had sold out but I could get a ticket for Sunday so I purchased it.

As a single person I sometimes find it easier to get the last ticket somewhere that a couple don't want or can't use. It also has benefits in getting great seats, when in NYC I purchased half price tickets for Broadway shows and got second row centre for Ghost.

For absolutely essential sites yes I plan ahead how to get there and what entry requirements there are but I am on holiday and will relax and enjoy as well as having a back up plan.

Half the fun is taking advantage of sudden opportunities as they arise. Could never plan a tour of an aircraft carrier in Hong Kong harbour but when the chance arose I took it with both hands.

 

[trooper]

I wonder how many (or more likely, how FEW) folks who are active HERE (and in the travel/mile maximising world at large) do NOT plan carefully....

I too build in flexibility... BUT the "core" trip is planned... I cannot imagine failing to secure tickets for any iconic sites available on any one trip....

 

[horseman]

Yeah my fiji trip at the end of the year is all planned except for local day tours and golf which I will with the flow on. I'm already planing my next usa trip which won't be until late next year at the earliest

 

[Pollywaffle]

Yes, I am OCD when it comes to travel plans. Everything is searched, researched and procrastinated over months or even years prior to the trip.
Mind you once I'm actually there I tend to relax and go with the flow

This.

I have also had to stop myself from dissecting apart trips friends make. There have been a number of times when I cringe at the experiences they have missed due to lack of planning. They've all had a good time and I have learned to keep quiet.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

For absolutely essential sites yes I plan ahead how to get there and what entry requirements there are but I am on holiday and will relax and enjoy as well as having a back up plan.

Half the fun is taking advantage of sudden opportunities as they arise. Could never plan a tour of an aircraft carrier in Hong Kong harbour but when the chance arose I took it with both hands.

Yes I very much plan, but am not so rigid that I do not seize on opportunities as they arise. I also do nor over-plan so that i am frantically busy 24-7.


But good planning can save a lot of time.

ie pre-booking tickets for the Leaning Tower meant that we could hop of the train from Rome, would to the Tower, ascend at our designated time and then comfortbally walk back to continue on to the Cinque Terra.

Planning, or rather RESEARCHING and planning, meant that I knew how to check in bags at the station, that I knew how to walk to the tower and the time it would take.

RESEARCHING the jump the queue option for the Vatican saved me wasting hours in queues, and got us into the Sistine Chapel with only about 29 people whereas a hour later it was Sardine City. Ditto for the Uffizi and seeing David.

How much one benefits from the research and planning depends on the trip.

I also get great joy from all the R&D as well.

 

[Mal]

I research but only roughly plan most trips. I never want to be so regulated that I can't change my plans on a whim. I have scratch sheets of what I want to do for each day but I don't micromanage my trips.

Yes this has pooched me at times. But only helps me improve how I travel. As I often travel solo, my travel is my playground... and solos do have better opportunities for last minute planning at times.

 

[JohnK]

I plan and research most things that need to be done during a trip.

But these days most of my trips to Thailand are fairly simple and I know where I am going and what it is going to cost with each form of transport. Then need to decide if I go the long way to save money or go the direct route. e.g. if I arrive at BKK airport at 2:00pm I am not going to take a taxi to Pattaya and I will go with Bell Travel bus service instead.

 

[Simo]

I am a planner but but I don't plan day by day and hour by hour.

I will have a few core things I want to do and will do all the research about how to get there and tickets and all of that.

 

[Fantic125]

Not always. I know I'm flying to Shanghai next Monday, then Beijing on Thursday and am there until Sunday.

Went to the Library today and got a guide book.