leonardo

I've got a more general question...

Is it better to have an itinerary, or not?

I went travelling round western europe last year for about 3 months on the interrail (eurail) pass. I had no itinerary. Every few days I'd pop into an internet cafe and book up a hostel, then I'd go to the train station and play any necessary supplements on my interrail pass. I enjoyed the freedom, but then again I did randomly double-back on myself a couple times due to having to be on certain train routes (I stayed in Barcelona twice, I went through Paris twice). Also I was scuppered a few times because I hadn't made reservations early enough and so all the interrail tickets had been sold on certain trains.

Planning another trip to Europe in Sept, was thinking of a much more planned out thing this time. Have already sketched out a list of places to visit, how long to spend there, train connections onwards etc. I was planning to book up a few hostels and make any necassary interrail reservations on the phone before I go, but this will mean that pretty much my entire trip will be set in stone, it doesn't feel very rock 'n' roll. More like the holiday plans of an accountant.

What are people's thoughts? I guess I just need some people to bounce ideas off...

augentier

It really depends on what type of person you are. It looks like you can just wing it and not freak out about not having a set schedule like some people do. I prefer having a loose itinerary, just an idea of places I'd like to go but I can never stick to JUST the itinerary because I change my mind constantly.

And as you know..when you travel you hear about all these places you don't even know about. I think it's more fun and adventurous just kinda doin whatever you feel like at the moment.

When I was in Panama, I had no idea where I was staying once I got to Panama City. It was dark out, I was alone, and had no clue what I was going to do/where I was going to go....ended up being suggested a place by a guy with dreads down to his ass. Went there and met some of the coolest people ever.

So yeah..I think it's best to have a general idea of where you wanna go but always leave room for change

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expatben

It really depends-if I am going on a trip to specifically see or do something then I will make out some sort of itinerary. But to be honest, the best trips I have done is when I just winged it. An itinerary can be a useful thing so by all means make one, just don't be a slave to it.
Maybe instead of an itinerary, you can make a list of essential places/things to see.

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I have been to: Canada, USA, Iceland, Britain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Poland, Germany, Sardinia, Switzerland, China, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Morocco.

Do to list: [color=blue][color=black] Australia, New Zealand, Austria India and Bolivia.

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bertus

For myself I like to come up with a list of the places I really want to visit. Then I figure out a vague order that I want to do them in and other than that I just wing it but since I know what direction I am heading in I don't usually have to double back. I've had a few times that not booking in advance has bitten me in the ass and I had nowhere to stay for a night or two but that just adds to the adventure. Really I think it just depends on the type of person you are however, I have very few friends who like to travel the way I do so if they are coming I let them plan everything out and it is still fun.

epicballa

I've done 2 six week trips through Europe. First one was heavily planned, second one I bought a plane ticket and had a few places in mind that I wanted to visit.

Had MUCH more fun when I winged it. When I met people I enjoyed hanging out with, I'd travel with them for a while. When I enjoyed a city, I stayed as long as I wanted. When I hated a place, I got the hell out. I still majorly regret not tagging along to Ibiza with some dudes I met in Barcelona on my first trip, all because I "had" to be in Paris the next day. On all future trips I'll only have an itinerary if there's a festival or event I really want to go to.

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Canadian Bacon

Personally, I always need an itinerary. But then again, I'm someone who needs a plan to stick with. That's being said, I am not opposed to modifying my iterinerary when it needs to be modified.

I think the biggest consideration is how much time you have versus how much you want to see. If you have little time and a specific list of things you just gotta see, then I think you'll need to be some sort of travel plan.

CB

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Vincent: "So what you gonna do?"
Jules: "Well, basically, I'm just gonna walk the earth."
Vincent: "What you mean 'walk the earth'?"
Jules: "You know, like Kane in 'Kung Fu'...go places...meet people...get in adventures."

Trips (only counting recreational travel):
FIRST TRIP (2005): FIRST EUROTRIP EVER! UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland
SECOND TRIP (2007): First Solo Trip! Greece, Turkey, Syria, Spain
2008: China (Beijing, Shanghai, Yangshuo) ...right before the Olympics!
2009: Japan & HK, Southern Spain
[size=1]2010: All over Lebanon, Ibiza (Spain), Oktoberfest (Germany), Thailand.
2011: India (Goa), Jordan, Jerusalem, San Sebastian (Spain), Amsterdam (again), London, Driving from Vancouver to L.A. (stopping in Portland, Seattle, San Fran and all the little stops), Montpellier (France), Geneva and Lausanne (Switzerland)

"Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it."