by Case Lane
Decided to go on a trip to Paris or Brazil or China, but you have no idea which sites to see while you’re there? You need to understand how to research and plan a trip. This article helps you create a complete itinerary filled with the important sites you want to see.
Above all, you can follow this method to create a trip that meets your preferred approach to learning, exploring and having fun.
Ten Tips
Here are ten tips you can use to research and plan your next trip before you go. You will build a comprehensive list of To-Dos that will turn your trip from days of scrambling, to a smooth D-I-Y tour.
1. Decide on a theme or two
2. Create your research document
3. Check travel sources
4. Account for weather
5. Look at maps
6. Select transportation
7. Check for local holidays
8. Make your itinerary
9. Add your own extras
10. Accommodation
1. Decide on a theme or two
Travel destinations, especially those that receive a lot of tourists often have a variety of activities you can do beyond the obligatory photo at the most photographed site. For example, you can go to Las Vegas, spend a week hiking and boating, and never see the inside of a casino (seriously!). In general, there are activities that people “always” do in certain destinations, and then there are the things you like to do.
By deciding before you start to research and plan the things you like to do, you will be able to prioritize and arrange your time. In contrast, if you do not give yourself a selection process, you may be overwhelmed from the beginning, and too exhausted to enjoy doing anything.
Ask yourself: What do you really prefer to do when you can decide (no pressure from anyone else’s opinion). Do you prefer cultural activities? What about outdoor activities? Shopping? Eating? You can do all of your favorite things in the travel destination of your choice.
Moreover, this is actually a fabulous way to plan a trip. You can go with the intention of doing your favorite activities in a new setting. To clarify, this does not mean you will look for a Starbucks on every corner. The idea is to select the broad theme “sitting in coffee houses,” and then pick the local version of that activity (which may still be Starbucks, okay).
Select your own preferences
Most importantly, the experience is just as valid as standing for hours to get into an attraction which everyone claims is “important” to see. Remember there is no rule saying you have to visit the Eiffel Tower, especially if you are afraid of heights. By selecting to base your trip on activities you actually like to do, you will enjoy yourself more, and you will see the locals in an atmosphere, which creates your own unique experience.
Therefore, go ahead and pick your preference – famous sites, cultural attractions, outdoors, shopping, restaurants, museums, night-clubbing. As an entrepreneur, you might be interested in the business district, shipping ports, or outdoor markets.
Most importantly, include one, two or even ten “must-sees” or “must-dos” that inspired your decision to take the trip in the first place. For example, do you want to go on safari because you love giraffes, and have always wanted to see one in the wild? Then make sure you have that in your plan.
However if you have no idea, theme or agenda for your trip. Move on to point two to begin your research.
2. Create your research document
Now your research and planning begins. Create a document where you are going to gather researched information about the sites you are interested in seeing.
You are going to look at the travel information sources in #3 to find the most recommended places to visit. You are looking for the places that are recommended the most often by reliable travel writers.
Based on the description provided by the source, you will note which sites are of interest to you. As you go through the travel sources, you will be making notes of suggested sites.
Create a research document
You can create a grid document or use Excel or Google Docs. First, list the sources in a row at the top, and list the sites underneath each one in a column. Second, to group information about the same suggested site together, put the same sites on the same row.
If you already know some of the famous sites you want to see, create a column for your own suggestions, or those of friends or other travelers so you can see where your own ideas line up with the most-read travel sources.
In addition, you want to keep track of which source mentioned the site so that you can go back and read the article again or clarify information. By creating a grid document, you can see at a glance which sites are mentioned the most often.
Enter researched information
Next, keeping your trip themes from #1 in mind, copy notes about each site from each recommended source into the appropriate cell.
Note the name of the site, location, opening/closing times, cost and any hidden secrets or important facts like visiting restrictions. For example, museums are often closed at least one day a week. Only note the information in the column that is listed by the travel source so you do not get confused about where you found the information.
In addition, depending on how far in advance you are researching, use the currency listed by the source, but do not be surprised to see price rises or exchange rate fluctuations that alter your cost expectations.
To clarify, only note the places you are interested in seeing either because it’s part of your “theme,” or on your “must-see” or “must-do” list. If you don’t like statutes, and every Copenhagen article mentions ‘The Little Mermaid,’ just ignore it.
Other ideas
Also this is totally optional, but organize the list in alphabetical order to make it easier to find and re-arrange the information when it comes to making your itinerary. When you research and plan your trip, you want to easily locate the information you find.
Moreover, since information on the Internet lives forever, you may also want to check the date of the post you are reading to ensure you are looking at reasonably up-to-date information. For instance, with the exception of prices and times, cultural and historic sites are not typically subject to change, but dining and entertainment venues may close or move.
Some sources like Hemispheres Three Perfect Days and the New York Times 36 Hours give you a complete itinerary for the destination. Therefore, you may want to copy each step verbatim.
Food and dining
The travel sources often list restaurant, cafe, bar and nightclub suggestions. If you want to make sure you check these places also, create a separate section further down your chart for each dining or entertainment category.
3. Check travel sources
To gather information on your destination, you can use the websites of the following sources to get the research for creating your document:
Travel books and guides
Atlas Obscura – This site is full of places you have probably never heard about. Highly recommended when you are returning to a location for a third or more time.
Lonely Planet – The perennially reliable travel guides have a beautiful site full of stunning pictures, articles and tips about the top destinations. A good place to start because their global coverage is comprehensive.
Travel and Tourist magazines
Afar – This site’s stated focus is experiential travel, and the tips go beyond the usual offers. Note that there are travel guides and journeys, so check both for your destination.
Budget Travel – We are not budget travelers, but this site has plenty of tips that go beyond how to save money
Hemispheres: 3 Perfect Days – United Airlines monthly magazine gives a complete 3-day itinerary for many popular destinations.
Time Out – The online version of this paper city guide magazine, available in major destinations around the world, includes lists of entertainment and dining options.
Travel and Leisure – The beautiful travel magazine has its articles available online. If you have not yet picked a destination, try their “World’s Best” lists for ideas.
Travel sections of media organizations
CNN Travel – Tips with videos of places you want to see
The Guardian: Travel – The travel section of this U.K. newspaper includes travel-related news. If you are going somewhere more volatile or ‘in the news,’ you probably want to include general news research in your plan.
New York Magazine – The travel section of this city magazine includes architecture, fashion, and lifestyle issues beyond the usual list of To-Dos.
New York Times: 36 Hours – Hour-by-hour itineraries for a range of popular and surprising locations.
Here is an example of a research entry for your chart:
From New York Times 36 Hours in Naples, Italy, here’s how I would note the Villa Pignatelli:
NYT 36 HRS – Villa Pignatelli, 5 Euros
A house museum built as a private mansion in 1826
NYT does not state where the site located or the hours of operation so ignore that for now. However, another source may provide this information or you can look it up directly on the site’s website. I took one line from the description to remind myself what the site is. If you are in to architecture, you might want to note a few more items of something you do not want to miss.
Travel blogs
Travel blogs niche down for specific tastes and interests – cooking, fashion, budget, luxury, seasonal, etc. For instance, perhaps you came to this blog because you want to travel the world thinking like a global entrepreneur. While you research and plan for your trip, focus on the sites you want to see.
Therefore, once you have put together your overall approach to your trip, you can switch your focus to more specific ideas around food or fashion, and search for travel blogs that will give you that specific information.
If you are a frequent traveler, you do not have to check every recommended source to get your ideas. That is to say, take a look at all sites at least once to see if the information fits your travel ideals. Subsequently you can go back to your preferred sites for the details.
4. Account for weather
For outdoor activities make sure you account for the possibility that weather would make the site inaccessible. For example, if you want to climb the Sydney Harbor bridge in Australia, but the weather forecast during your visit is rain with the chance of electrical storms, you may be out of luck.
Therefore, make a note of any site that will not be open in bad weather.
In addition, select at least two sites that can be back-ups in inclement weather. These are places you could miss if you do not get there, but would be good to see as an alternative.
5. Look at maps
For the top places on your chart, look at a map to determine where each site is located in relation to the other. To clarify, you want to determine which sites to group together, and which ones may need more time travel time.
For example, if you have three sites within walking distance of each other, group those sites together. This will help you understand how to plan your days.
However, if you are including sites like the Louvre or British Museum, the distance to the next site may be irrelevant. Major city museums can take all day to visit. But when you are planning, you can use the information about proximity to determine if you want to spend more or less time at any one of the locations.
6. Select transportation
Once you know where your selected sites are located, decide how you want to get around. As you research and plan a trip, you must always account for traffic. For example, in Los Angeles, many attractions are within a thirty minute drive of downtown. But that estimated travel time only applies in the middle of a weekday (sometimes), in the middle of the night, and Sunday morning.
Public transit and shared rides
On the other hand, if you plan to get around by public transit, check to see that there are services to the sites you want to see. In some cities, the public transit was built for tourists, and may actually be the most convenient way to travel.
Also in some cities, public transit is a tourist attraction in itself. Like riding Hong Kong’s Star Ferry, you can then check that off your list while you go to visit sites on either side of the harbor. Ditto for a double-decker bus in London or the New York subway. In some cases, you want to include these famous transportation vehicles as one of your ‘must-dos.”
If you like to use shared ride services like Uber, you have to check your destination to determine if Uber or another similar service is available. And you have to account for having wi-fi or using a local sim card or your roaming mobile data.
7. Check for local holidays
Always check if there are local holidays during the time you plan to be visiting. Places could be closed, or the opposite, inundated by the whole country taking advantage of time off.
Unfortunately it’s not always possible to alter your holidays if your vacation time coincides with the vacation time for your destination. If that’s the case, go to the specific websites for the main attractions you want to see, and check their open dates, times, and any holiday restrictions. Sometimes the sites have extended holiday hours, and you can go early in the morning or late at night to avoid the crowds.
On the other hand, you also get lucky with holidays, and have a chance to see festivals, celebrations, decorations or feasts that would not normally be available.
8. Make your itinerary
Once you have your research complete, you can make your plan. You know the sites you want to see, available times, locations, and transportation options. Therefore, you can now put the information together in your own private guidebook.
Study your chart and decide which sites you definitely want to prioritize, and which are secondary choices.
Then make a schedule for each day. Leave time on your first and last days to account for travel logistics. As you arrange your schedule, you may find one or two ‘must’ sites are logistically difficult. Although this may be a disappointment, you can hopefully plan on returning to the site one day and trying again.
In your plan, make sure to include:
Unique tips: Did any source list a specific overlooked “don’t miss” within a famous site? Or a secret side entrance no one ever uses? Make sure you put this in your itinerary (cut and paste) so that you do not forget.
Step-by-step instructions: For places that are more complex or have specific instructions for tourists, copy the information.
Expenses: Most importantly, watch for places that do not accept credit cards or foreign currency. If you forget to get local money, you may be out of luck.
Renovations
Arriving at a location and discovering a scaffolding cover is a sad moment. Or worse, the site may be closed for a multi-year renovation. If you absolutely are only going to a destination to see one site, double-check that it is open. This applies to historical and religious buildings, but lately includes beach areas or congested city centers. Rules are constantly changing, and even the best travel sources cannot always keep up.
9. Add your own extras
As a traveling entrepreneur, you want to experience places with a keen eye aimed at understanding the locals, their interests, preferences and dislikes. To that end, you can add your own stops that the typical travel writers would not include.
Here are some suggestions:
Wander neighborhoods: The walk to a site may take an hour, but passes through a (safe) residential area. If you are a walker, include that stroll as a way to see the locals and the way they live.
Public transit: As mentioned in #6, public transit can be an attraction all on its own. In a city like Bangkok, there are boat stops on the Chao Praya river, the skytrain or subway or the tuk-tuk or songthaew. You might decide to spend a day trying each option.
Beaches and parks: Famous beach locations like Rio are listed on suggestion lists. But many places have hidden gems of local recreation areas where tourists often do not go. New York City’s tranquil Riverside Park along the Hudson River is a residential neighborhood green space. The area is perfect for a long city stroll away from the bustle of Central Park.
City Tours: If you want to make sure you actually “see” everything, you can do a city tour. The popular hop-on/hop-off buses are available in many cities. The ride will give you a general overview. You can go back later to places where you want to spend more time. In Abu Dhabi, the total bus trip is about five hours, and give you a look at all major sites.
10. Accommodation
A word about where to stay: Nowadays with rented rooms and empty sofas, you should be able to find a place to stay that suits your itinerary, not the other way around. Therefore, once you have made your plan, look for a central location that works best for the sites you plan to visit.
However, if you prefer, when you research and plan your trip, you can search for accommodation at the same time. Moreover, if you already have a place to stay, make sure you account for travel times when you are building your itinerary.
Likewise, if you are using points, look for the hotel option that is closest to your preferred sites. Sometimes this is not possible, or the cheaper points options are way out of town. If that’s the case, make a decision based on how much time and money you have. You might want to try a few days at a central location, then the rest of the time further away, where you can explore nearby nearby towns.
Also don’t forget to put your accommodation plans on your itinerary, especially if you plan to move around.
Ready to go?
Now, you should be all set to research and plan your next trip. When you want to get the most out of travel, do a little up front homework. The effort can make your experience even more exciting than you could have imagined.
