Itinerary Planning--Step by Step

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Step 1

Make an itinerary before you go to save $ and time on your trip. It will give you the framework for figuring out how many rail days you need for passes or point to point tickets, where you can only get around by car, how much time it takes to see sights--and get to them as well as how much they cost. An Itinerary will help you save time for locating accommodations close to your sight-seeing and that fit your budget. It will keep your trip from becoming boring because of too many cathedrals in a row, stamding in long lines, or too much time spent getting to places. And in Europe--it will give you a bases for making on the spot changes.

First, start with a"wish list" of places and sights.  Get a map of Europe and highlight your choices as you research. Determine your vacation style.  Do you like changing locations every other night or prefer seeing one or two areas completely?  Put your list in a logical travel sequence. High lite your priorities.

Now is when you need a good guide book that gives sight seeing hours, costs and transportation information. Estimate how much time you need for each sight and when they are open. Fit them on your Vacation Calendar. Next Figure out local transportation and then transportation between places. ADD these time factors.What needs to be cut and/or changed?

Do NOT make Hotel reservations until you have the actual time worked out for sight seeing and transportation. It gets costly time, $, and nerves wise to keep changing your accommodations each time you find out something like "Woops--can't do Florence Sunday and Monday--Museums are closed--got to trade Venice with Florence".

Check your dates:  Go to 18 Month Plan Ahead Calendar

Step 1

Start selecting countries, cities, natural sights, experiences:

Research sources of Information:

  • Guide Books
  • Videos
  • Web
  • TERC
  • Friends

Make a Wish List of your wants::

HIGH LITE YOUR PRIORITIES

USE A PLANNING MAP

  • It is fun to "dot" a map with your choices then connect the dots in a logical  travel sequence.

Put list in a "logical sequence" for travel

Then ASK:

  1. Have I started with an easy, safe place to "jet-lag"?
  2. What sights /activities do I want to do each place?
  3. How many days do think I need each place?
  4. How much time does it take to get from place to place?
  5. How is my pacing?  Do I have too many cathedrals, museums, castles or something else?
Fit your wants on your Vacation Blank Calendar:

Add in time for practal things like:

  • Meals/ shopping
  • Getting Information
  • Laundry
  • Planning
  • (optional) Room Finding (CAN TAKE 1-2+ HOURS A DAY.)

Then ASK:

  1. Do I need to cut something out?
  2. What hours /days are my sight choices open/closed?
  3. Do my sight coices have Free or low cost days?
  4. Do I need to change itinerary sequence to accommodate Open Days and Cost?
  5. How do I get to these sights /activities

Step 2 Go to ITINERARY PLANNING WORK SHEETS

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