One thing I really enjoy is planning for a trip. Could be I get to put my History-major research skills to work, or just the joy of finding the perfect little hotel with atmosphere that screams “You are not home anymore”!
I begin by researching the destination I am considering. I try to find yet-to-be-discovered areas as opposed to tried and true American versions of foreign locales. While most enjoy the safety net of a Marriott or Hilton, I try my best to find destinations and hotels that show of the native character and charm of the location.
I usually start with the popular site, Pinterest. I establish a “board” which allows me to “pin” links to attractions, hotels, restaurants, tours, etc. so that I can easily access the information. As I determine what looks good and bad, I add and delete to the board.
Then I move to researching the destination via google or Pinterest itself! I like to google the destination and add “blog” to the search. I can read bloggers’ trip journals and get ideas of whether I would like the destination.
Once I settle on a destination, I read as much as I can about it. While I use quite a lot of online resources, I add old school travel books to the mix. I really enjoy The Rough Guides books as well as Rick Steves. Also, I try to get local maps of the area so I know where I am going especially if renting a car. Though google maps is much better now (for our first trip to Italy in 2011, we downloaded Italian roads to our Tom Tom and brought that with us), I do not rely on it alone. Being able to spread a map out in front of you before leaving in the morning is helpful to me. I also search the destination on Instagram, viewing photos by the hashtag of the location. Further, I look on particular blog search engines and view the location. All this gives me a taste of the location and whether I feel this is the place!
Next is planning where to stay at the destination. I try to stay in a central location, especially in a historic part of the town, if possible. Think the Sultanahmet district of Istanbul or the Canal Ring of Amsterdam. So many of the attractions are close to the historic centers of cities, as are charming accommodations. I use my guide books to help me start to look at hotels, as well as Trip Advisor. I filter the search engine of Trip Advisor with the amenities that are important to me. Once I have a list of hotels I am considering, I head to my favorite hotel site, Oyster.com. Here I can see in-depth photos of every aspect of the hotel, as well as pros, cons and locations on a map. I enjoy a view from a room, and if I can’t afford a nice view, a roof top terrace or open air bar will do! Oyster.com has photos of all amenities as well as street views.
Once I decide on a hotel, I check reviews on both Trip Advisor and Booking.com. This allows me to decide what type of room I want (room tips are offered on Trip Advisor as are photos of the certain rooms on oyster.com) and not have any “surprises”. I almost always book directly with the hotel itself. I feel the rates are just as good and you are developing a relationship with the hotel, should I have any questions or requests down the road. Upon booking with the hotel, I like to find them on Facebook and Instagram and follow them. You sometimes get excursion and travel tips from the hotels this way. One small hotel we are staying in next month in Italy has a very vibrant and active social media presence. When reconfirming our stay a few weeks ago, I mentioned how much I enjoyed their social media. I received a response from the staff working on social media who thanked me for my kind words. Again building a repour prior even staying at the hotel.
I am never intimidated about planning a trip. I find it’s a way to show my creativity to my travel buddy and family while ensuring I get the trip I hope to have. Don’t let people change your mind, being prepared as best you can is a good thing!!!! So enjoy making plans for your trip. Rock on, organized people!!!!