So you’re inclined to do some research for your vacation; where to start? My go-to research item is a book, but there are other ways as well. The internet abounds with information. There are travel sites providing options and comparisons. Bloggers such as myself offer their own spin on various destinations. Hotels, local businesses, and destination representatives state their cases for you to choose them. Talking to someone who’s been there before is also great, especially if they enjoy similar experiences.
My research method
When I’m researching a vacation, I usually start with one of these books. I find them to be excellent start points. They provide some history as well as a brief overview of most all places you’d like to visit, some nice color photos, and other miscellaneous helpful information. They are not, however, full of wit and opinions, mostly facts. It makes them a bit sterile feeling, but I still like them as a branching off book.
When reading these books, I always sit with a pen, sticky notes, and highlighter available. Inevitably I’ll be heading back to the book for reference when I’m formulating my itinerary. If I don’t make notes and leave stickies as markers, I’d have to re-read the whole book again. It’s easier when you highlight the key elements. Even if you mark up much of the book and add a hundred stickies, it’s still less information to process the next time through.
I’m looking for a number of things when I research. First and most importantly on this first read I look for what interests me. If it’s not interesting, move on. I’m identifying which places I want to delve further into my research going forward. I’m also looking for specifics on these interesting places. Is the site closed on a particular day of the week? Busier on specific days? What hours is it open? Is it free? Does it have a tour? Is the tour good? Dress code? All of these will help me formulate the ideal itinerary, putting it together almost like a puzzle.
After the DK book, I read another book. If you’re headed to Europe, I highly recommend these books. They aren’t as pretty to flip through, but they are full of comments that make you smile and truly helpful tips, even down to prime places to stand in a given room in order to get the full effect of.. whatever it is that’s important there. If you’re headed elsewhere in the world, the best book is not as easily identifiable. But I’d be happy to research for you; send me a note! Again, my second book gets the same mark-up treatment to use when as I pull together my final plan.
After at least two books, I head to Google. It’s not my favorite research tool, but it does provide the most current information and can fill in any gaps identified in my book research. I bookmark and write on my notepad any helpful information I find. I’m a pen and paper kind of girl.
Pulling it together
Now that I’ve done my due diligence in collecting data, it’s time to pull it all together and formulate my plan. All those notations and sticky notes will serve you well now. Remember the puzzle? Putting your itinerary together well takes some effort, some working and reworking. A day’s itinerary is ideally organized by geographically close sites, and then by open times, reservation times, or priority. Go to the place that closes early first, then the place that’s open later. Don’t attempt to go to X on Thursdays if it’s the busiest. Sometimes you have to disassemble your plan and try again to find the perfect itinerary, but it’s so worth it when you do.
Not unexpectedly, I usually start pulling my itinerary together with pen and paper, but eventually I put it on my computer. I prefer a spreadsheet; I find it easiest to be able to move information via cells as I refine my itinerary. Most recently I’ve been using Google Sheets. It’s helpful to be able to easily access that information on the go via the app.
All finished
Ideally, you have all the time you need to make the trip you’re planning your best vacation yet. Hopefully you had time to invest in planning and puzzle fitting. Need some help? Please send me a note! Planning is my passion, and I’d love to help. But either way, I wish you a wonderfully enjoyed and memorable vacation. Travel well.
P.S.
As an add-on to this post, I want to point out that I like to make one final research dive right before my trip. Sometime in the weeks leading up to the trip, or perhaps on the flight or train ride to the next destination, I read the specific information pertaining to the places I’m visiting.
For example, if I’m planning to visit the Louvre on a trip to Paris, I most carefully read the details related to the itinerary when doing the above research: when, where, how long, any helpful visitation tips, et cetera. The more interesting information regarding da Vinci, his Mona Lisa, and other artists/art featured at the museum isn’t necessarily as important at that time, but it is important right before I go. Reading that information close to my travels and then reinforcing it with my venture through the museum will allow me to better internalize the information.
