i hate travel planning

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Halfway Anywhere

Why I Never Plan Ahead of Time

By Mac 1 Comment

Planning ahead of time is a sure-fire way to ensure that things go wrong.

Rarely does one formulate a plan and then proceed to flawlessly execute said plan (especially in the world of travel).

My philosophy is simple: if you don’t have a plan, then nothing can ever “not go according to plan” (for those who struggle with double negatives: if you don’t have a plan, then everything goes according to plan).

My travel nightmare (well, not my nightmare (that would involve bears and robots), but let’s call it a “least desirable scenario”) would be to have all my plane tickets, lodging, tours, transportation, and visits planned prior to walking out my front door. One of the aspects of travel that I enjoy most is the freedom to do as I please. To move about freely from place to place, to try out different hostels and hotels, to get local feedback on attractions and tours, to decide spur of the moment to hop on a train to a neighboring country – because that’s what travel is all about.

Now before you get upset, I am not saying that I foolhardily venture out into the world without having done my research beforehand – research and education are the keys to successfully traveling in this fashion.

THE ART OF ADAPTATION

In order for this strategy to work, you need to be adaptable.

Adaptation is an inherent part of travel. The same food, services, and luxuries you are used to back home, are not going to be readily available to you. However, adaptable does not simply mean that 400 instead of 800 thread count sheets are okay with you.

Instead it means that you can go to sleep after a night of exploration (read: heavy drinking with the locals), wake up before checkout, pack your things, move to a new place, enjoy a full day of activities, and then repeat. It means that you are able to make spontaneous decisions without having to rearrange your itinerary as a result, and that if your new friend wants to take you to their home tomorrow for a home-cooked meal, then you are ready, willing, and most of all able to do so.

It may sound appealing to book a hotel for six nights ahead of time and know where you will be staying, but what if circumstances change? What if the hotel’s toilets have no seats? What if the included continental breakfast was a sham!? If you’ve only committed to one night at the hotel, then you can easily move on in the morning without having to worry about cancellation fees or losing deposits.

NO PLAN BENEFITS

Not having a concrete itinerary only adds to the adventure that is traveling.

I love the freedom of meeting new people, finding out what they are up to, and then joining in should it fit my agenda. Trying to plan a trip ahead of time can (and will) result in you doing everything you “planned” to do, but not everything you ended up wanting to do.

When you have a “plan” it can seem as if you are touring a place as a museum exhibit instead of experiencing that place as a local. Spending your days surrounded by other tourists being chaperoned around by your “guide” is a travel sin, and will result in you fabricating and embellishing tales for friends and family since you have failed to experience anything genuine on your trip. By guessing and booking everything ahead of time, you are going to miss out on the true offerings of your destination.

Weather is a perfect example. If the anticipated weather decides to turn, then you may end up losing out even more. Rain today? Looks like you can’t go hang gliding. What’s that? No unplanned days to fit it back into your schedule? AND you lost your deposit? Wow, sucks to be you. Next time don’t plan so hard.

TOP REASONS NOT TO PLAN

• No need to worry about cancellation fees
• You’re not tied to some guesswork you did ahead of time
• You have the freedom to be spontaneous
• You’ll end up seeing more of what you want to see
• You’ll learn to rely on your instincts and you’ll learn to adapt

Granted, sometimes you will need to obtain visas, permissions, clearances, or some sort of confirmation prior to either arriving at your destination or participating in some activity (elections). But when it comes to “planning your trip”, you are better off letting it develop organically. Again, that does not mean you do no research ahead of time; research is your most valuable asset while traveling, and your being educated it what allows you to be so flexible in your travel plans.

Don’t be a slave to your itinerary.

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How to Plan a Trip When You Hate Planning and Love Spontaneity

September 16, 2022 by Silvia 11 Comments

You know how I said I really wanted to limit my international trips this year? Yeah I’m not sure how well I’m going to do with that little New Year’s resolution.  And don’t even ask about my resolution to only eat chocolate once a week.

I’ve been trying to focus all those wanderlustful feelings on planning a trip (or like ten) around Norway this year, but then for some mysterious reason my browser keeps getting filled with Wikitravel tabs of South American cities. What’s going on?

I even caught myself researching national parks in the US, and it’s been ages since I’ve traveled through the United States .  Maybe too many ages?  

Which is all to say, I’m totally on trip planning mode over here. Maybe you’re feeling the same?

The funny thing is, I’m not actually much of a planner. I don’t know how to work a spreadsheet, and I am all about straying off the beaten path on my travels. And I mean, it’s not like you can  plan your detours from the beaten path, right?

Actually, in some ways you can.

I always want flexibility in my travel plans, but at the same time, I do carefully plan my trips in a way that allows for spontaneity when I’m traveling.

Seeing how impressively organized some people are with their travel itineraries, lists, calendars, Google docs, etc. used to make me feel super overwhelmed, and like the least organized traveler ever. But I’ve come to learn that a lot of that prep work is unnecessary for me, and in fact can tie me too firmly to a plan I made about a place I haven’t even visited yet.

Instead I’ve developed a system that involves minimal planning, while at the same time taking care of all the necessities so I don’t waste time on my trips looking up things to do or stressing because I broke my leg but totally forgot to get travel insurance and now my bank account is empty (okay, luckily that one never happened to me).

So if you’re like me and the thought of planning out every little detail of a trip stresses you out, here’s what you can do instead:

Table of Contents

Choose your destination and travel dates

Pretty much every trip starts with either a destination or a travel date.

If I have travel dates, I’ll take a look at the fifty page travel bucket list taped to my wall and see which destination fits the travel time frame and season.

Okay, I don’t actually have a list taped to my wall, but you know what I mean.

I always have a bunch of places I’m dying to visit, as well as a general idea of how long I would need for the trip. I generally choose cities for shorter getaways, and wilderness or a mix of cities + nature for longer trips.

But if you don’t have a bucket list of your own, check out my travel map for some inspiration.

And then maybe check out the destination pages of some other travel blogs. I always find it so interesting to see where other people have traveled, and how many of us tend to focus on particular areas of the world (if you look at my map you’ll see I really need to work on my Spanish!).

Another key step in choosing my destination and travel dates is of course researching flights! This is usually when my initial plans will totally change because I’ll realize different dates would be cheaper, or that it’s peak season for flying to that destination so I should go somewhere instead.

I’ve recently been using Kiwi.com for finding flights, and I love that the search results will also tell you how much money you could save if you flew on a different date or into a different airport. It saves so much time over having to search the same route on a bunch of different dates and compare. You can also set price alerts for specific flights so you’ll get an email when a fare drops.

Research visas and vaccinations

Before I get any further into travel planning I’ll check to see if I need a visa and how long it will take to get one. Because I definitely don’t want to waste time planning a trip only to find out later that I won’t be able to get a visa there anyway!

This is also a good time to figure out if you’ll need vaccinations, as it can take a while to set up appointments for those.

Set your budget

Obviously this is going to vary depending on how you handle your finances, but I always like to set aside a rough amount that I’m happy to spend on the trip.

I do this before booking any flights because I want to make sure that my budget will allow for the type of vacation I’m looking for in the place I’m planning on visiting.

Basically I’ll check how much flights will cost and then I’ll have a quick look at transport costs (how much a car rental will cost, train prices, etc.) and accommodation prices on Booking.com and/or Airbnb to get a rough idea of how much this sort of trip will cost, because of course travel expenses can vary wildly from country to country.

Flight search engines often also include hotels and car bookings, so you can usually search for flight, transport, and accommodation prices all in one place.

Map out an itinerary

How do you decide on an itinerary that will be detailed enough to include all the best experiences, but flexible enough to allow you to get off the beaten path a bit once you arrive and get a feel for the destination?

This is going to sound super biased since I’m a travel blogger, but I do pretty much all of my travel research through travel blogs. I might take a quick look at Wikitravel to get a very general feel for the place I’m visiting, and then I’ll Google “[destination name] travel blog” to see how other travelers like me chose to see the place.

This is also a reason that I’ve been writing so many itineraries lately – personally I find them  so  helpful when I’m planning a trip.

Guidebooks will usually focus on all of the main tourist spots, while blogs often highlight less visited spots. Of course this isn’t always the case, so I always try to find bloggers with similar travel styles to me – if it sounds like they didn’t talk to any locals or experience anything beyond the hotel and main tourist spots I’ll probably skip over their advice.

And unless I’m just going on a city break, I will always, always check out the local national parks. I love beautiful views, and national parks tend to have the best views.

I don’t over plan my itinerary, largely out of laziness, but also to allow myself flexibility. I make note of all the options available to me, but I let myself decide things like where to eat and places to visit on the actual day based on how I’m feeling, the weather, and what I’m actually finding most interesting about the place I’m visiting.

Book flights

There are a lot of theories about the best time to book flights, but generally I just try to book as early as possible. Or if I’ve set a price alert through Kiwi.com I might wait a few weeks to see if the flight I’m looking at goes down in price (though of course that’s a bit of a gamble, as the price could go up instead).

On longer trips I also try to roughly map out my itinerary before booking flights, because I might want to fly out of a different airport than I flew into (especially when visiting big countries like the US).

Book accommodation

Ideally I would love to only ever book my first couple of nights of accommodation and then wing the rest so that I can have ultimate flexibility, but depending on where I’m going this could actually really limit my options once I arrive. For example in Norway accommodation in off the beaten path areas is quite limited, so if you don’t book well in advance you’re going to have to either wild camp or stick to the main tourist hubs.

This also happened to Rachel and me when we were in Panama. We waited until the last minute to book accommodation on Bocas del Toro because we wanted to get local advice, but by the time we were ready to book all of the lovely boutique spots were taken so we ended up on a huge resort.

So these days I usually do try to book all (or most) of my accommodation in advance.

I really, really love hotels, but I also love the local feeling of staying in an apartment, so usually I try to go for a mix of accommodation styles, depending on the length of my trip.

Combining accommodation styles also adds variety to my trip and lets me experience a place from a bunch of different angles. So while some people might think it’s strange that I’ll go from a luxury hotel to a basic apartment in a local neighborhood to a lively hostel, I actually am doing this on purpose!

Book transport

Okay, this will depend on where you’re going and how you want to get around, but if you’ll be renting a car or taking public transport, it can be good to book well in advance.

Car rentals are almost always cheaper when booked early, and at least in Norway you can buy train tickets for a fraction of the standard price if you book early.

And even if you’re planning on hitchhiking it can be good to hop on Hitchwiki and check out the best spots to catch rides and which places are reported to be more difficult.

When deciding on transport I try to copy what the locals do. So in the US I’d want a car, in Thailand I’d rent a motorbike, and in Copenhagen I’d use a bicycle.

Book activities

To be honest, my itinerary usually consists solely of my accommodation for each night of a trip. I’m not one to decide on specific restaurants, shops, or museums (lol) I want to visit beforehand, as I like having as much flexibility as possible.

In fact I’d say the key part of planning a great trip somewhere is to  talk to locals when you arrive . You can research as much as you want before a trip, but the best advice you’ll get is from locals when you’re there! Plus personally I think there’s no better way to get to know a new place and have a memorable experience than getting to know the people who live there.

So I try not to stress over gaps in my itinerary or how I’m going to fill my days, because I know that once I’m there I’m going to find more than enough things to do simply by asking. Or maybe I’ll meet someone and end up spending the day chatting to them over coffee, and that’s fine too. Not all great travel experiences have to involve visiting a bunch of new places – in fact my favorite travel memories tend to be about the people I met, not the sights I saw.

But if I’m going somewhere with a particular experience or activity in mind (like husky sledding, whale watching, or Northern Lights chasing in Norway), then I’ll make sure to book that in advance.

I also like taking a quick look at activity options on GetYourGuide , Viator , or Manawa , as sometimes I’ll find something fun to do that I wouldn’t even have thought of on my own. Manawa especially tend to have a lot of really unique options (and not all of them are super intense adventure activities like the name suggests).

Buy travel insurance

I used to only get travel insurance for longer trips or places where I think I might need it, but these days I book it for every single trip. So many unexpected things can happen on a trip that I personally think it’s worth paying a little extra for the peace of mind travel insurance gives me.

I always book through World Nomads because I’ve had good experiences with them when I’ve had to file in the past, but there are lots of other options out there as well. Just make sure to go with a reputable company with good reviews, because some companies will have so many rules and fine print that it’s almost impossible to get your claim approved.

Plan your packing list

Once I know where I’m heading I start to plan out my packing list. I usually do this fairly early, because I want to have time to buy any special clothing or gear for my trip.

These days I travel with either my Kosan backpack or my Lojel suitcase . So first I’ll pick which luggage I want to use (I way prefer a suitcase when I can, but sometimes it’s just not as practical), and then I’ll start thinking about what I want to bring!

Before leaving

Before leaving I’ll decide whether or not I’ll be getting a local sim card when I arrive, as having Internet will make a difference to how I plan. If I don’t plan on having mobile data on my travels then I’ll download local maps so that I can still use my phone to navigate while offline.

Maps.me is really great for offline maps that include shops, restaurants and custom bookmarks you can add to the map before leaving. Sometimes I’ll also check the app store for local apps that might be helpful. For example if you simply search “Norway” in your app store you’ll see a bunch of useful apps ranging from hiking routes to supermarket deals to Northern Lights alerts.

And if I do want to buy a local sim card, I’ll research which plan is best for tourists and where I can buy the card. Usually it’s easiest to do this at the airport, which is what I almost always do unless it’s considerably more expensive.

Right before leaving I’ll also figure out how I’m going to get from the airport to my accommodation. And if I’ll be taking a taxi, I’ll research what the taxi situation is like at the airport, as in some countries you have to be really wary of scams, whereas in other places everything is super easy and regulated. I like to know what to expect in advance!

And if I’ll be taking public transport to my accommodation I’ll research exactly where I need to go to find the bus/train/etc, especially if I’m coming from a long flight, as I know I’ll be too out of it when I land to want to figure it all out then. I like to make the process of getting off the plan to my accommodation as easy as possible.

This isn’t an issue with Norwegian banks, but depending on your card company’s policies you might also need to let them know that you’ll be traveling so that they don’t block your card when it’s used in a new country. This used to happen to me all the time when I used American cards and it was such a pain!

At the airport

Once I land in a new country I’ll get local currency at an ATM, and I might also buy a local sim card for my phone.

And then I’ll be off!

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Gaby T. says

March 21, 2019 at 3:59 pm

Hi Silvia! If you happen to comentó south America, Argentina, let me know! Maybe I can help you somehow. I from Buenos Aires and I love your blog! Im getting so much information in Norway. I went last year and I fell absolutely in love! Im doing my best to try to go again next year 🤞🏻

Silvia says

March 24, 2019 at 1:24 pm

I’m dying to visit Argentina – just trying to figure out when! Will let you know if I do 🙂

GAETAN says

March 22, 2019 at 12:17 am

Hi! I don’t want to advertise anything but a really usefull service for cheap flights is jack’s flight club. They send you cheap flights, destination and timeframe.

Been reading your blog for a while now, thank you for the awesome tips! Going to norway with my family for 3 weeks in june. Starting from Belgium with a camper..

I’m glad you told in one of your blogs that norwegians are fed up with the big tourism, so I’ll take that in mind and will try to avoid being one of them.

Arielle says

March 24, 2019 at 5:04 am

I am actually terrible at planning trips. I should probably do more of it! I definitely spent too much renting a car in Australia because I didn’t book far enough in advanced.

March 24, 2019 at 1:21 pm

Same! Now I’m getting better at booking early when they have free cancellation, but then I’ll forget that I even made the booking. In fact your comment totally reminded me that I had booked a hotel in Oslo for next month with the intent of canceling if my plans changed – definitely almost forgot lol.

March 24, 2019 at 1:56 pm

How do people do all those spreadsheets? Just doing the basics is exhausting! hahaha

March 24, 2019 at 2:06 pm

Haha seriously!

Phillip Rogers says

March 30, 2019 at 12:44 pm

Plan idea for a trip is awesome here. Thanks to Silvia for sharing this.

Cassie says

April 8, 2019 at 10:37 pm

Love this! I have the exact opposite problem these days. When I first started traveling and had more time, I was all for spontaneity. Now, with set PTO hours and a job, I find myself planning my trips more often then not so I can get the most out of my limited time off. It leaves very little room for spontaneity though 🙁

My new goal is to find the best of both worlds and plan for spontaneous trips! 😀

April 12, 2019 at 11:15 pm

I think a good idea for spontaneous travel is to just travel somewhere you’ve already been but just go to different destinations. That way you aren’t badly surprised by foreign custom and you still get a good trip out of it.

June 15, 2019 at 8:06 am

Hi there! First off- you have helped so much in planning our Norway road trip in a couple of weeks, so thank you!! Travel bloggers like you make it so easy and I am so grateful. One question I can’t seem to find an accurate answer on: will we be able to buy a SIM card at the Oslo airport (do you know)? We arrive at 9 pm on a Friday night and from what I can tell, if you purchase one at the 7-11 in the airport it won’t be activated until Monday morning. We are headed off to Hardangervidda early the next morning so unfortunately leaving Oslo prior to any phone shops opening I’m sure- and I can’t tell if there are any on the way there. Any help is appreciated!! 🙂 thanks again! Can’t wait to try the brown cheese!

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Once a full-time nomad, I'm now trying to find a balance between continuing to explore off the beaten path places around the world while also building a home in Norway. Want to know more? Head to my About page !

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Travel Tools for People Who Hate to Plan Travel

Updated post Jan 2018 with new tools we have recently discovered and prefer! 

Troy and I hate travel planning.  So why do we torture ourselves with independent travel and instead, book a package tour?  Great point.   We used to book package vacations, but we were missing out on the things we like most about travel –  exploring off-the-beaten paths, spending more time doing things we like doing the most.   Good thing we found the right travel tools to simplify our plans and we’d love to share them with our readers. 

Most Importantly, we learned to love independent travel because it allows us to enjoy the things that we love the most:

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We prefer to travel at our own pace, immersing ourselves in it, having the flexibility to explore, staying longer when we love a place, or leaving early when we don’t like it.

Slow travel is perfect for digital nomads because we often need to stop and work online to make money to keep traveling and living. But you don’t have to travel like this to hate planning.

Here are a few travel tools that make travel planning easier, with built-in elements for speed, flexibility and maintaining your sanity.

These travel tools and tips also help you save money depending on your inclinations. The key is putting effort into the things that you really want. For example, I am more inclined to plan with a low or medium level of effort. I will search one site, and then compare it with only one more site quickly for pricing comparison.

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1. Pre-trip discovery – Where to go, and what to do, what you need to know

a) Lonely Planet Guides – We grew up with these guidebooks, and they used to be our only source of information back in the 80’s and 90’s. Now, we use these more as a general reference tool to research what kind of travel we want to do (adventure, beaches, historical walks, etc.) and general information about which places to go. Over time, we rely less on these guides, as there are many sources available at present, although they are a great starting point in creating a vacation plan.

b) Pinterest – Consider Pinterest as your electronic scrapbook, journal, or bulletin board to research for travel. We use Pinterest extensively to plan trips because Pinterest gives you current, first-hand information from bloggers, travel companies, and travelers of all kinds, with pictures to help you decide where you want to go.

Here is how:

–    Create a new board – for example, call it “Trip Planning (insert country here)”

–    Type in search terms for the country you are looking for, and break down the information into: (Insert country name) travel, itineraries, where to go, the Best of, What to see in (place), etc. You can still break it down further into more specific areas and options.

–    Add any pins that interest you onto your travel planning board and start reading and researching.

OK, this could take a long time to review. But you can peruse these articles on your spare time rather than spend it watching TV.  And it’s kind of fun, too, plus you also have current, visually stimulating resources.

c) Google Images – I use this as a source of inspiration. For example our trip to India, a friend suggested we go to Hampi, Karnataka. I looked for Hampi on Google images and was immediately influenced to travel there.

2. Itineraries – How to maximize your travel time and travel costs for two weeks, one month or longer

Itineraries are the backbone of travel planning . If you don’t know where you are going, and what sequence you need to take, how can you possibly book flights or accommodations?

A few travel tools that can help in this area:

a) Search for travel blog posts for itineraries – Travel bloggers are an excellent source of first-hand travel planning information. They are eager to share their trip itineraries since they discovered travel wins and challenges first hand. Search Google and Pinterest and use the search terms like Itinerary, your trip duration, and city and town names.

b) Lonely Planet Guides – Itinerary Section – The country guide books tend to have a few pages in its early editions that show suggested itineraries. There are maps, routes and brief descriptions depending on the length of stays such as one week, two weeks, three weeks or a month. I like to use these as a guideline to map our own travel. Although I do like to look at a few other sources (like blog posts) because we go longer, and we like to find places that aren’t always the top destinations.

c) Review your favorite travel company itineraries – We tend to like the trips from Intrepid Travel, as we’ve done many of their trips in the past. We like to scan their trips, view their itineraries and check the maps. These details give us an idea of where we want to go, and what approximate route we could take. Heck, if a trip looks that good, maybe you want to spare the planning altogether and book it instead.

3. Now that we have a general direction of where to go, How long will it take to get there and what transportation options are available?

A) rome 2 rio app.

Have you ever started planning a trip and then realized it would take you 10 hours or more to get somewhere? Map scales vary and can make it difficult for you to get a sense of distance.  Rome 2 Rio is an excellent app that helps you understand how long it will take to get somewhere, as well as options available for transport, along with estimated costs. You can find Rome 2 Rio in the app store.

For example, we recently planned our travel in South India.  We wanted to find out how and where we could leave Palolem beach, Goa and head to Hampi in Karnataka.  By filling out the departure and arrival locations, Rome 2 Rio calculates how to get there. In this case, it shows us train, bus, flying, and taxi options. The app also links you to major bus and train service schedules.

b) Booking Travel (Flights, Train, Bus)

We tend to use two major sites to book and make pricing comparisons for Air Travel, but if you don’t want to deal with the daunting task of comparing prices, we will vouch that the first option below can be enough to provide you with the information you need.

1)    Google flights – Google flights is a simple, easy-to-use platform to search for flights. We love it because it graphically shows you on a calendar the cheapest days to travel. You can even search by region (instead of by the city, if you want to determine the best route). Google’s latest updates allow alerts for price changes and other ways to easily find the best price flight.  Here is more information on how to use Google flights.

2)  We recently discovered Kiwi.com and we love it. It works like Google Flights with the benefit of also showing the discount airlines – Which Google Flights doesn’t show! So in our view there are more, better options with these guys. (Click below to check them out)

3)   Direct – Sometimes it is cheaper to book directly with an airline, so if you noticed the airline options from the number 1) or 2) and you have the time, check the online flight price.

Money Saving Note: Before you search for flights online – and ensure you are getting the best deal, note that flight booking sites can track your internet surfing behavior and charge you more if you go back to the same site. You can avoid this by:

• Clear your cache . It deletes your browsing history or cookies so your computer can’t be recognized. Depending on the browser you are using, you can do this by checking the information here.
• Signing into your internet browser privately or Incognito . Information on how to do this can be found here
• Use a VPN (virtual private network) – A VPN allows you to hide the location of your computer to websites. Choose the best VPN for traveling so airlines don’t know where you are from- as they offer different prices for the same flight depending on your location. (A VPN also gives you the added security of hiding your private information when using wifi in hotels, airports etc)

Special money saving tip: There is a great website called Secretflying . This site finds killer good deals on ‘mistake’ fares. These are tickets posted by airlines in error that are significantly lower than what they should be. Of course, airlines will honor their posted rates, so this results in some impressive sales.  Note we haven’t used this site yet as we haven’t found a flight that worked with our schedule, but you have to act fast, as these offers go very quickly. Setting alerts from your home airport would be a way to attempt to purchase one of these deals.

Trains and Bus Bookings:

1)   Rome 2 Rio    again, is a helpful tool that links to a country’s bus and train service.

2)    An excellent blog called The Man in Seat 61 shares everything you need to know about train travel in most places in the world (Europe, India, USA, Canada, and Africa). The blog is jam packed with info about how to book a ticket, understanding how the class system works, where to go – you name it and it may probably has it. We used this site to plan train bookings from Thailand to Laos and throughout India. There are also tips on booking Ferries.

3)   Local City Apps or  Google (for Bus travel). Given its specificity by country, Google is most likely your best friend on the road. Simply search ‘Bus Travel’ (insert country name) and you can find loads of references.

4. Where to Stay

Troy and I want the hassle-free way of booking accommodations. Meaning, we prefer to do it everything online, without calling or emailing hotels or guesthouses directly. I find it difficult to call due to time zone differences, language, and lack of cell service. We don’t have the time to manage all these sources of information, emails and details coming my way unless I really have to.

Sites we use:

• HotelsCombined – Is our first stop in searching for accommodation. It’s a user-friendly platform to compares prices from hundreds of different accommodation sites to get the best price.
• Booking.com – Often, we end up booking from this site.  The app is very simple to use and is handy when you arrive in a certain place and you need to revert to your booking information. You can search in multiple ways – by ratings, by specific features, by price and more.  Note that taxes are excluded when searching, so make a note of your final price.

Use this code with booking.com to get $25CAD off your first use with Booking.com

• Airbnb – We love Airbnb because it allows you to live like a local by staying in someone’s home, giving your stay a more intimate feel. You can choose private room, full house, shared room. We use Airbnb extensively all over the world. If you have never used this service before, click on this link here to get $40 CAD/$30USD off on your first stay.

Warning: You can spend countless hours searching for accommodation. Use the filters on any of these sites like areas, proximity to the airport, Wi-Fi, pool, and pricing, to help you search a smaller list of options.

One more site we visit is TripAdvisor . It is another way to read reviews for each stay, but it also links to other sites like Agoda to book directly. Again you can spend hours searching for accommodation. I often check my choice on Booking.com or Agoda, and then quickly verify recommendations on the Trip Advisor app to validate my choice.

I have to admit that I tend to spend hours searching for the perfect place. This drives Troy crazy but when he takes control of the computer, booking is done within minutes.

5.  Where to Eat, What to Do

We use TripAdvisor and travel blogs extensively to search for places to eat. What’s the best way to save time?  Enable the GPS on your phone. This allows Trip Advisor to show restaurants and eateries near you.

Important note about TripAdvisor : We prefer to read comments versus solely relying on the rankings on TripAdvisor since one review can easily sway a rating from 1 st to 5 th .  Just because a place is rated #10 doesn’t mean it’s not a great restaurant!  Comments are critical.

Have we missed any travel tools you use to book travel?  Do you use any other time-saving ways to plan? Please let us know.

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About the Author Dorene

Dorene is a marketing consultant and freelance writer. She quit her 20-year career in marketing to redesign her career and lifestyle on her own terms by living location independent. Now with her husband Troy, she helps people who want to redefine their midlife and make conscious changes at TravelLifeX. She also trains & coaches travel and hospitality clients to improve their marketing at TravelLifeMedia.com

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Travel annoyances abound in the air and on the ground. Here's how to fix a few of them

What do you hate about travel? And is there any way to fix the problem, besides staying home? 

For Brett Manders, the answer to "what drives you crazy?" is simple. "The carousel cozy-uppers," he says. You know, the folks who crowd around the baggage carousel after a flight lands. 

"I'm 100% certain that your bags will not come out any quicker the closer you are to the baggage carousel," says Manders, an international airline pilot who wrote the book "Behind the Flight Deck Door."

The solution – at least to this problem – is simple, too. Some airports draw a line around the carousel and tell everyone to stand back until their luggage arrives. 

As the busy holiday travel season begins, let's talk about our travel annoyances and how to fix them. There are no reliable surveys that examine the entire travel experience, from planning to arrival. But you already know what grates against your nerves, right?

Hate to plan? Here's the fix

Travelers love to hate vacation planning, for example. Rey Alton, a travel advisor with Travel Leaders in Houston, says your anger is justified.

When air travelers go all DIY, they often purchase tickets they don't understand. "I see this issue arise more and more," he says. "Basic economy fares don't allow you to choose a seat, and to upgrade to a confirmed seat assignment can be pricey."

I think the fix for this problem is pretty straightforward: Make these stripped-down "basic" fares illegal. I mean, who doesn't fly with a bag or need a seat assignment? Whose plans never change? Not mine! 

Meantime, people like Alton – professional vacation planners – are the solution. A travel pro will keep you far, far away from these absurd airline tickets.

Travelers hate lines, too

How about long lines? Do those annoy you? Sure they do. I spoke with dozens of frequent travelers who loathe lines more than anything. "One of my least favorite things about traveling is waiting in line for TSA checks," says John Linden, a furniture designer from Los Angeles. "I understand that it's for our safety. Ultimately, that's a good thing. But no one wants to stand in line for 45 minutes."

Airports with the worst TSA lines:   These are the days and times you'll want to avoid

The solution: Hire more agents and add them at the busiest times. But the government moves even slower than those TSA lines, so good luck with that one.

In the meantime, passengers like Linden are applying for known traveler programs like TSA PreCheck , Global Entry  and CLEAR . That should move things along.

Interested in TSA PreCheck?  It might soon be cheaper and easier to sign up

Renewing or applying for airport fast pass Global Entry?  Brace for lengthy delays

Travelers can't stand travel industry deception

Travelers want the unvarnished truth. Consider what happened to Lauren Wolfe, an attorney in Washington, when she tried to book a hotel in Florida a few years ago. She discovered that after she selected the hotel online, it added a mandatory $25 per night charge. "I said to myself, 'This has got to be illegal,'" she told me. 

The hotels say it is legal. " Resort fees ," which cover extras like the use of a gym and "free" Wi-Fi, are common in the hotel business. Wolfe started a site called Killresortfees.com and made it her mission to destroy the fees. And that's the long-term solution to these unwanted extras. There ought to be a law.

Congress takes on 'hidden fees' at hotels and resorts:   Here's what it could mean for travelers

Keep an eye out:   These are the most ridiculous travel fees to look out for

The new norm in Las Vegas resort fees?   $50 a night at top hotels

No wonder we arrive exhausted when we're on vacation

Is it any wonder that travelers arrive at their destination exhausted? It's the indignities we suffer in transit. That's what you hate about travel. 

The travel industry thinks suffering is a normal part of the travel experience. So it doesn't hesitate to sell you an airline ticket with stupid restrictions or a hotel room with an outrageous fee. It doesn't care if you have to wait in a long line. Or if you can't figure out how to plan your trip online without losing your shirt.

None of this should happen. The travel industry ought to set the standard for customer service. But until they do, at least we know we're in this together.

How to handle the hate

Take a deep breath.   That's the advice of Christine Scott-Hudson, a licensed psychotherapist. "Your deep, long breaths stimulate your vagus nerve," she says. That, in turn, promotes feelings of general well-being and safety. 

Take inventory of your situation.  Put your problem into perspective. Your trip will eventually end. You'll be home, far away from the stress of holiday travel. Might as well take another deep breath while you're at it. That's right. Breathe in. Breathe out. There you go.

Take action.  If you experienced something that made you hate to travel, try to eliminate it from your trip. Whether you're starting a site to protest resort fees, or just avoiding an airline or hotel in the future – do something.

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I Hate to Travel – The Reluctant Traveller

• June 2, 2018
• 45 Comments

This post has been written by Ankur Bhatia (aka The Filmy Fool ). Equal parts crazy & passionate, h e  loves to write about films & entertainment, likes to read fantasy fiction and is a fan of Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere. He relaxes by listening to classic rock and is an extremely Reluctant Traveller.

It may be hard to believe but it’s true, I am an extremely reluctant traveller and I plan to share some of my travel ordeals under the  Reluctant Traveller series  starting with this post.

Travel for me is not relaxation or meditation, rather it is the exact opposite. Be it travel for work or vacation, it is accompanied by major stress and anxiety. I guess there are 2  major reasons for this; 1) The intense planning before the travel (being on your toes even during the travel to make sure all goes according to plan) and 2) I simply am not comfortable leaving my space (my bed, my pillows, my washroom etc.) and my routine. There are other reasons as well which I will talk about a little later. I understand that the second reason is a bit on the side of OCD and I try to overlook it as much as possible. However, the planning required for a trip gives me panic attacks.

"A friend once told me that planning is the most fun part of the vacation, at times even better than the vacation itself. I honestly didn't know how to respond to that."

Most vacations that I have been to have been planned by my wife and I know she has not had a lot of fun doing it. After planning one too many, she put her hands up. So I had no choice but to dive into the dark abyss that is vacation planning .

I had never really planned a trip before...ok to be honest I did plan a trip to Goa with my family and it bombed (details in another post). Honestly, I almost felt like Zayed Khan from ‘Main Hoon Na’ who steps into the library for the first time and there are temple bells ringing etc. Seriously, In films, they never show the ugly parts of a vacation. I mean how the hell did Hrithik Roshan plan his dare in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara when he was so busy? I keep hoping that my vacation plans don’t end up like the plans of Kirsten Wiig from Bridesmaid. Anyway, the planning starts and the next thing I know I have lost one month of my life.

And this is the story with every vacation because there are so many variables and the added pressure of missing out on something fantastic. You know how you always find people who start playing Oh My God! And they have only 1 rule, they can never lose. It goes like this, "Hey you went to this country right? Did you see THAT?", "Yes I did, it was so...” (Abruptly stopped) "Oh but did you see THAT?", "Yeah I did but honestly...” (Cut, we are moving on) "Oh the best was THAT, did you go THERE?" "No!", "OH MY GOD, how could you miss THAT, I can't believe you went all the way and did not see THAT".

"I am happy to see the waves go by with a book in my hand and jazz/classic rock playing in the background. "

So you obviously ignore such people but then there is the dreadful Internet. Filled with choices that last for pages and pages. From "all-inclusive packaged tours" to "the terrain less travelled" and from "we will do everything for you and just take your life savings" to "Do everything on your own, we will just take a small amount for....umm...you know...motivating you to go on this trip" (else you would have stayed home, watched Netflix, ordered food and relaxed).

I understand that one should not get bogged by social pressure and do what they want, within the budget they can afford. Well, I don't know what kind of vacation I want, or what kind of a traveler I am. Do I want to visit the beaten down, clichéd tourist spots? Or do I want to take the path less traveled and explore the unexplored, blah blah...discovering myself ...blah blah....you get the idea. I honestly don't know. Sometimes I want everything done for me and sometimes I don't want to do anything.

Another crazy variable is traveling with another person. Wife, friend, family no matter who you are planning to travel with, each one brings their own dynamics, do's and don'ts, preferences, and a bucket list.

"What do you call a vacation that keeps everyone happy? A Dream! "

With so much to think of and so many things to balance, who has the wherewithal to have fun? Not me. I know people who start planning their next vacation as soon as they get back from one. I feel like every time I plan a vacation, I am in need of 2 vacations. One, where I plan everything and somehow manage to hold it together during the entire thing. And two, a follow-up vacation, which helps me get over the craziness of the first one. 

Related posts:

i too can be a reluctant traveler, although I have different things that make me reluctant. I LOVE the planning part, so that’s never it, but I have a pretty decent fear of flying that always stresses me out, so I can relate!

As I am a travel lover, I cannot relate to Ankur so much. As for travel planning, he can take planned customized tours to keep away that homework. Even these services take care of visa services too. But many people love their comforts of home and have the different perspective. Loved to read about theories of reluctant traveller.

Medha Verma

I find it hard to believe that someone can hate the actual travel part. The planning and organising – sure. But being in a new country, exploring something new – that’s my favourite part of travel!

I’m the opposite— I find it hard to believe anyone can find travel enjoyable. Stumbling around strange places, trying not to get hit by cars, every meal an agonizing search and negotiation, and no sleep. All that to see a building or a mountain. No thanks!

I get so anxious purchasing my airfare! I research everything there is to do for weeks before committing to my flight times and no matter how much I research or how many days I add for padding, I’m always short on time. So frustrating!

Good to see a different point of view although I don’t relate to it. I think for me the most stressful thing used to be going to office every day and waiting for the day to end. he he… which is why I left that life behind. But everyone has different preferences…

An interesting perspective. I can relate to aspects of it. I hate the planning, the anxiety and unknown factors around it, and the act of going from point A to point B, but once I arrive, all that goes out the door and I can relax. I use to plan every detail of my trips (which is why I probably hate the planning process!), but now I only just have rough plans and figure it out as I go. This has gone a long way in making it more enjoyable!

I personally love the planning part. But over a period of time, I’ve learned to keep some flexibility in the plan 🙂

If you hate to travel, why do it? If it’s stressful and not enjoyable, it seems to me the better thing to do would be just to stay home.

I used to read this one blog where the couple really just seemed to hate travel. They complained about everything in every place. I really could never understand why they even bothered to go when they were clearly going to be miserable.

Well, I guess sometimes when you’re a couple, one does it because the other person really likes to!

Shruti Prabhu

I like to mix it up. A bit or rest and a bit of adventures. I love planning vacations but it is the visa process that causes anxiety. Both me and my husband like to roughly plan the outline and then just play it by ear. We love the flexibility rather than sticking to a rigid itinerary.

I find the visa thing a big hassle too!

Alexander Popkov

Well, I can hardly call my trips rest.. carrying backpack and going to mountains doesn’t sound like… But I stil love it. I have enough of comfortable chairs in the office, I look for freedom.

Fair enough 🙂

We used to plan a lot. Now, we just book our 16 weeks of timeshare and go to the places they tell us to when we get there!

Such an honest post and happy he talked about how he really feels about planning trips and the actual trips but It’s funny that some people can really immerse themselves into planning (some enjoy the planning more than the trip) and there are others like Ankur who absolutely hate planning. I guess from the things I’ve learned over the years planning isn’t really a stressful procedure for me, I have my go-to sites to check the basics out and get ideas of costs and a rough idea of what to see and do.

I agree, while some people think it’s stressful, others like me enjoy it almost as much as the actual trip 🙂

A stroll around the world

I am among those who enjoy planning a lot! I truly love researching about destinations, studying the local history and learning about the culture.

I really enjoy planning for trips – researching where to stay, places to visit and where to eat. However, I do understand that there is so much information out there you feel you don’t want to miss out on any sights. We like to take out time travelling and if you don’t have time to fit everything in, just do it next time when you return. I do all the planning and researching … I think my husband finds it stressful though so he can relate to Ankur!

I understand your point of view on travel (I am the opposite). For you, that is why cruise ships are great and organized travel groups – they do everything for you. Not my choice, but I have lots of friends who prefer to let the planning and worry to someone else.

I started my blog because I do such a great job at planning and people love to take my advice on travel. I also share how to be cost efficient. We visit both well-traveled and less traveled areas.

I am one of those who starts thinking about the next place as soon as I get home – and why not if it allows us to be in the moment, making the most of it while traveling. I wish you great travel experiences!

Kavita Favelle

This is definitely an interesting perspective for me, as I’m the opposite of your poster Ankur. I get immense pleasure from researching and planning a trip, it’s not something I find at all stressful! I’m also very lucky that my husband is my ideal, and totally compatible travel partner.

It’s the same with me, I love planning and research, it’s kind of the most important part because it builds up anticipation 😉 I found Ankur’s perspective quite interesting as well, mainly because it’s the complete opposite of mine!

Love that Ankur was so honest about this! Not everyone loves planning, and not everyone would love to leave their routines.

I used to LOVE planning so much, but lately, I’m like eh – maybe because I was feeling stress with graduate school, work and internship that it was just simply overwhelming for me to even make a plan. Now, I’m getting back into it since I’m done with grad school, work, and internship. Anyways, this post is really enjoyable and made me smile 🙂 Pretty much thought of myself and my boyfriend, even with my friend who I travel sometimes with.

Thanks for this very honest blog post. I totally understand the stress that comes with travel planning. My husband and I usually share the planning. And then the blame when something doesn’t quite work out as planned. We have tried tour vacations where someone else does all the planning. But find we usually have more fun when we plan it ourself.

I definitely relate to this, the planning can definitely be very stressful sometimes. It’s always worth it though – I’ve never regretted going somewhere!

Loved reading the post. We travel to escape from our mundane corporate life…. no self-discovery or exploring the less trodden path for us too 😉 But, we love travel planning and all the excitement that comes with travel.

Haha I can relate to this to some degree, but you still go? Have you ever been on package holidays where you allowed someone else to do all the planning? I totally know what you mean by loads of these points, but I am SUCH a travel addict I can’t pretend I’m not that person who is already planning their next holiday before they are back from their last. It drives my husband mad!

Hahaha, My husband could totally relate to your dilemma. While I love travelling and planning our vacations, he just gives up the minute we decide on vacation. But yes, the option on things to do in a place boggles me most of the time, and the OMGs as well hahah.

I know, right. For some people, it becomes all about checking the boxes and no matter how amazing an adventure you’ve embarked upon, as long as you’ve not done the ‘key’ things, your vacation just wasn’t complete, according to them 🙂

Haha this is so funny! OMG-person, I have meet many during my trips! It doesnt matter if you tell them that you have seen a pink elephant flying and they could still go “What! You havent been there??”…

I totally respect Ankur! And my husband is the same because this way I have all the control and the power to decide where to go and what to see. He just comes along and be the greatest travel partner ever!

I think it’s perfect when the two partners are complete opposites – one loves to plan and the other doesn’t. It gives the planner total freedom and the other peace of mind to just sit back and enjoy the vacation which has been perfectly planned already 😉

Oh god this is so sad. I cannot imagine feeling this way about travelling as I love the planning and the actual trip. I know people who hate the planning though. Maybe one way to overcome this is to not plan and just turn up at the airport and book something on the spot

My partner isn’t the best traveller, but loves it when we arrive. I actually like the planning stage; it’s where you get to see the best things to do and see in a new destination! Travel is definitely what you make of it; just be sure to come home with good memories than bad ones!

I guess some people just need everything to be laid out on a platter so that all they need to do is land up and enjoy the destination 😉

Lois Alter Mark

I am so with you on planning! I never understood how people thought that was fun. Although I love travel and do it often, I always find the planning stage very stressful.

Amy @ Family Globetrotters

Hahah! I am the complete OPPOSITE! I love to travel and the planning part is just as exciting as the actual experience. For the planning part creates the anticipation which is all part and parcel of the travel process. And I love to travel with my partner and daughter. Whilst I’m sure we are polar opposites, I can empathise. Maybe next time pay someone to do all the planning and you just get on the plane!

I hear you, Amy! I love the planning part of travel as well, almost as much as I love travelling 🙂 But I can understand my guest writer’s point of view, not everyone sees ‘planning’ as anticipation, for some, it can be quite stressful!

richa tandon

Ankur this is so so relatable, ’cause I share the OCD syndrome ? with you… and to top it my travels include a teenager boy and a little princess, I can moan about the issues for hours …. but in the end I do like holidays ? So as long as everyone promises to be happy with what we get and not compare it to the internet DREAM HOLIDAYS… it can work out…?

A good read and a realistic view to travelling ?? looking forward o the next one !!!!

It’s an interesting read. Looking forward to the complete series

Ankur Bhatia

So relieved to know that there are others like me and not everyone is a travel enthusiast 🙂

Dakota Wolf

I so appreciate reading your blog Ankur. While friends plan out of country travel with enthusiasm I feel so guilty for saying no thank you to their invitation to join them. The stress of planning minimal local jaunts is all I can handle. Home, books, pets…. I look forward to your future posts.

Deepak Verma

Fantastic. Too good. Finally someone like me. A courageous confession indeed and very hilarious one to read. Looking forward to more.

I don’t think this is you at all! You love your excel sheets and print outs 😉

I refer to the packing/unpacking and the disturbance it causes in my smooth daily schedule. Waiting at airports for hours and flight delays make me feel I have lost control over my schedules.

Ashwini Menon (@Ashwini_Menon)

Hi Ankur. I am grinning from ear to ear as I read this!! I could relate to everything you said. The anxiety behind the planning gets to me too. And so like I delegated all the planning to my husband. I am so bad that I dont even plan the weekend stuff. He checks out the movie listings and books for them too. While I kind of enjoy myself when I am at a nice resort, getting there is stress-filled. And of course, since I do none of the planning, if anything goes wrong, I blame my husband!! :(:( To add to it all, I often pack only the night before and we have also missed our flight once (didnt check the time on the ticket properly)!

Looking forward to your series fellow reluctant traveller…esp the Goa trip! 🙂

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How To Cope If You Love To Travel But Hate Traveling

I not only love to travel, I love the act of physically traveling. Whether flying, driving, or rolling along the rails, I truly enjoy the journey. Although I do genuinely appreciate the process, I’ve certainly had my fair share of unpleasant experiences – from broken seats forcing me to sit unnaturally upright for hours to sharing a row with couples getting a little too cozy – that have made me yearn for the trip to end immediately.

And while for the most part I like the traveling part of travel, I’ve encountered far more people who loathe getting from point A to point B. With that in mind, I’ve spent some time reflecting on how to make traveling more enjoyable. Here are my top recommendations for making your trips better if you love to travel but hate traveling.

Pick the best seat for you.

If you have the option of selecting a seating in advance, do your research so that you make an educated choice. For air travel the considerations go a lot further than window or aisle – front or back, emergency exit, close to a bathroom or service station, etc – so check out Seat Guru for details and reviews of specific seats on your route. If traveling by train you may be able to choose or reserve a seat in advance so take some time to determine what you prefer – standard seat versus compartment, what direction to face, window versus aisle, and so forth. If you can’t reserve your particular place in advance, showing up a bit early so that you’re one of the first on board no matter what your travel method will increase your likelihood of snagging a coveted seat.

Don’t chose the cheapest option just because it’s the cheapest.

Unless you’re on a restrictive budget, don’t eliminate alternatives simply because they’re more expensive – there might be more convenient, more efficient, and more comfortable options for only a marginally higher price for example taking a ferry across versus driving around. There are instances when the cheapest option is the most efficient, such as flying long distances within Europe rather than taking the train, but you might give something up that you value – like the scenery and experience of taking the train through many smaller towns. Research all of your options before deciding on a method of travel and keep in mind what your preferences and priorities are within the constraints of your budget.

Bring what you need to get to your ‘Happy Place’.

Think about what makes you relaxed and content when you’re not traveling and try to incorporate these while on your way. Perhaps it’s a notebook or journal, your comfiest sweatpants, or a playlist that instills calmness – whatever it is, think about what would take your travel experience to the next level and attempt to replicate. Make sure whatever makes you happy is accessible as well – it’s difficult to get the benefit from these if they’re in the cargo of the plane, for instance.

Be prepared with essentials.

Before heading off, I always fill up my iPhone with games and music that’s accessible offline as well as a few movies on my iPad to make the time pass quickly and enjoyably. Do not forget your headphones – everyone’s had the experience where a fellow passenger is talking loudly and incessantly about some infuriating topic – popping in your headphones and turning on a great song can instantly dissipate your annoyance and improve your mood. I also ensure that I have a good book on hand so that I can have another option, and I always find reading the best activity on a long or overnight journey where you want to doze off. Stock up on plenty of water and snacks as well – even if you think these will be available, it’s always best to be over-prepared as you never know if there will be issues or delays.

Keep your medicine cabinet nearby.

There’s nothing worse than a sudden onset of less than pleasant feelings while en route and not having anything at hand to alleviate your symptoms. On my travels I bring along every type of over-the-counter medication that I might need, including ibuprofen, anti-nausea pills, Imodium, allergy medicines, sinus relief, and lozenges for a sore throat. Keep these close as you never know when you’re going to need them.

Dress for comfort.

Being on a long haul journey and feeling uncomfortable with what you’re wearing is the absolute worst. You don’t want to have to keep fiddling with and adjusting what you’ve got on as you’re never going to fully relax and enjoy the ride. Go for your tried-and-true favourites – never wear something for the first time on a long trip – and focus on breathable, non-irritating fabrics, looser fitting clothing, and layers so that you can add and remove to feel most comfortable. I am usually on the colder side so I always bring along a large scarf to drape over myself if necessary.

Pack light if possible.

When I made the transition to carry-on only travel a few years ago, I quickly noticed a positive change in my overall mood when traveling. No more was I hauling around my body weight in luggage, arriving at the train platform or bus terminal sore, exhausted, and drenched in sweat. With a small bag, it’s also far easier to find a spot to stow it, often close by so you can keep tabs on it – a great thing if you need something mid-journey or if there’s any risk of theft. And if you’re flying, getting off and not having to wait for bags is the ultimate feeling as you can get going immediately.

Have some preventative measures if you’re nervous.

This one is most applicable for flying, as it’s a travel method that makes many people uneasy. While I personally do not mind being up in the air – unless there’s intense turbulence – I’ve traveled with many friends that are on the nervousness spectrum from take off (or even well before in anticipation) until touch down. While there are many methods to calm your nerves and everyone’s different, think about what you need to make you comfortable whether it’s a meditation app on your phone, your favourite movie, or a well timed sleeping pill so you can nod off for the entire flight.

Know where you’re going when you arrive.

Even though I enjoy traveling, I will often become somewhat uneasy as the journey begins to come to and end when arriving in a new destination. I get nervous of what will come after I disembark – where is my accommodation? How do I get to the metro? How do I buy a ticket for the bus? Most of the time though, I’ve already tracked down the answers to these questions in advance so I’ll be well prepared when I arrive. So while I do feel momentarily concerned, I immediately relax once I remember that I have all of this sorted out already.

Pay attention.

On trains or buses with multiple stops, it can be easy to miss your destination entirely, especially if it’s a long trip and you’re in a state of full relaxation from following the tips above. It’s going to be hard to doze off if you’re constantly concerned that you’re going to miss your stop. One trick that I’ve used to great effect on trains and buses when I’ve wanted to get some sleep is to set an alarm on my phone – quiet and/or vibrating so that it doesn’t disturb your fellow passengers – to go off a bit before you’re scheduled to arrive. Then you can have confidence that you’re not going to miss your destination.

Get into the travel mindset.

Just like an athlete getting psyched before a big match, put on your travel game face and get into the zone. Especially for longer trips, get mentally prepared for what’s ahead by prepping everything you need, getting up early the day of so that you’re in a sleepy state, and avoiding copious amounts of caffeine or alcohol so that you’re at your most mellow.

No matter how bad the journey, focus on how great it will be to arrive at your destination.

Whether you’re just venturing out, heading off to a new spot, or making your way home, there’s something exciting about what will come once you arrive. If you’re having a truly shit journey, keep thinking about all of the positive elements that are coming your way and remind yourself that the end justifies the mean.

That’s a wrap on my tips if you love to travel but hate traveling. Got any of your own?

Love to travel but hate traveling photos courtesy of StockSnap

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Lauren Barth co-founded Departful in 2012 and is the Managing Director of Departful Media. Since then she has worked between North America and Europe and has published content in partnership with a variety of tourism boards and businesses based around the world. Lauren is currently based in Toronto, Canada.

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Wonderful advice! I used to pick the cheapest transportation option, but often it left me miserable, so now I really look at the comfort level and the amount of time it takes compared with the price. Plus my husband hates to fly, so if there’s a reasonable train or bus option, we’ll do that instead even if it’s more expensive. And yes, dress comfortably! Especially on long haul flights or really long buses, I always wear comfy pants (basically gym pants) instead of jeans because it makes the whole experience that much more tolerable.

I would really say that never go for cheap travel choices, They will actually kill your will to travel, If you already hate traveling and Book a holiday or tour in cheap rates you will end up in a coach or a hotel which might make you hate traveling even more. I would advise consulting with the agent and finding the best possible approach.

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Why You Shouldn't Make Plans

New research highlights how planning can get us into trouble..

Posted November 15, 2019 | Reviewed by Davia Sills

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You probably heard the business advice of “failing to plan is planning to fail.” That phrase is a misleading myth at best and actively dangerous at worst. Making plans is important, but our gut reaction is to plan for the best-case outcomes, ignoring the high likelihood that things will go wrong.

A much better phrase is “failing to plan for problems is planning to fail.” To address the very high likelihood that problems will crop up, you need to plan for contingencies.

When was the last time you saw a major planned project suffer from a cost overrun ? It’s not as common as you might think for a project with a clear plan to come in at or under budget.

For instance, a 2002 study of major construction projects found that 86 percent went over budget. In turn, a 2014 study of large IT projects found that only 16.2 percent succeeded in meeting the original planned resource expenditure. Of the 83.8 percent of projects that did not, the average IT project suffered from a cost overrun of 189 percent.

Such cost overruns can seriously damage your bottom line. Imagine if a serious IT project, such as implementing a new database at your organization, goes even 50 percent over budget, which is much less than the average cost overrun. You might be facing many thousands or even millions of dollars in unplanned expenses, causing you to draw on funds assigned for other purposes.

Moreover, cost overruns often spiral out of control, resulting in even bigger disasters. Let’s say you draw the extra money from your cybersecurity budget. As a result, you’ve left yourself open to hackers, who successfully stole customer data, resulting in both bad PR and loss of customer trust.

What explains cost overruns? They largely stem from the planning fallacy, our intuitive belief that everything will go according to plan, whether in IT projects or in other areas of business and life. The planning fallacy is one of many dangerous judgment errors, which are mental blind spots resulting from how our brain is wired that scholars in cognitive neuroscience and behavioral economics call cognitive biases . We make these mistakes not only at work but also in other life areas: for example, in our shopping choices, as revealed by a series of studies done by a shopping comparison website .

Fortunately, recent research in these fields shows how you can use pragmatic strategies to address these dangerous judgment errors, whether in your professional life , your relationships, your shopping choices , or other life areas .

You need to evaluate where cognitive biases are hurting you and others in your team and organization. Then, you can use structured decision-making methods to make “good enough” daily decisions quickly , more thorough ones for moderately important choices , and an in-depth one for truly major decisions .

Such techniques will also help you implement your decisions well and formulate truly effective, long-term strategic plans . In addition, you can develop the mental habits and skills to notice cognitive biases and prevent yourself from slipping into them.

For instance, we can address the planning fallacy by planning around it. Such planning involves anticipating what problems might come up and addressing them in advance by using the research-based technique of prospective hindsight, by envisioning yourself in the future looking back at potential challenges in the present. It also involves recognizing that you can’t anticipate all problems and building in a buffer of at least 40 percent of the project’s budget in additional funds. If things go better than anticipated, you can always use the money for a different purpose later.

Besides this broad approach, my consulting clients have found three specific research-based techniques effective for addressing the planning fallacy.

First, break down each project into component parts.

An IT firm struggled with a pattern of taking on projects that ended up losing money for the company. We evaluated the specific component parts of the projects that had cost overruns and found that the biggest unanticipated money drain came from permitting the client to make too many changes at the final stages of the project. As a result, the IT firm changed its process to minimize any changes at the tail end of the project.

Second, use your past experience with similar projects to inform your estimates for future projects.

A heavy equipment manufacturer had a systemic struggle with underestimating project costs. In one example, a project that was estimated to cost $2 million ended up costing $3 million. We suggested making it a requirement for project managers to use past project costs to inform future projections. Doing so resulted in much more accurate project cost estimates.

Third, for projects with which you have little past experience, use an external perspective from a trusted and objective source.

A financial services firm whose CEO I coached wanted to move its headquarters after it outgrew its current building. I connected the CEO with a couple of other CEO clients who recently moved and expressed a willingness to share their experience. This experience helped the financial services CEO anticipate contingencies he didn’t previously consider, ranging from additional marketing expenses to print new collateral with the updated address to lost employee productivity due to changing schedules as a result of a different commute.

If you take away one message from this article, remember that the key to addressing cost overruns is to remember that “failing to plan for problems is planning to fail.” Use this phrase as your guide to prevent cost overruns and avoid falling prey to the dangerous judgment error of planning fallacy.

Key Takeaway

Because we usually feel that everything is going to go according to plan, we don’t pay nearly enough attention to potential problems and fail to account for them in our plans. This problem is called a planning fallacy.

Questions to Consider (Please Share Your Thoughts in the Comments Section)

• Do you agree that “failing to plan is planning to fail” is misleading? If not, why not?
• Where have you seen the planning fallacy lead to problems for your team and organization?
• How might you help your team and organization address the planning fallacy? What are some next steps you can take to do so?

Originally published at Disaster Avoidance Experts on October 27, 2019.

Gleb Tsipursky, Ph.D. , is on the editorial board of the journal Behavior and Social Issues. He is in private practice.

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This new website is like Airbnb for RV enthusiasts and campers (and it’ll plan trips for you with A.I.)

Hate travel planning let the robots take care of your next great bucket-list-worthy road trip itinerary.

For many of us, camping is the perfect excuse for a proper digital detox . It’s a great time to put down the cell phone, leave the tablet at home, and forget about Netflix & Chill for a while. But mixing a little tech with your outdoor adventures isn’t always a bad thing, especially if it can make your trip planning faster , easiest, and just plain better. With that in mind, one new company wants to help travelers plan their next great car and RV camping trips using smart, AI-powered search. The robot revolution is here!

AdventureGenie promises to be the “world’s first RV and camping travel planning tool powered by Artificial Intelligence.” The goal is to answer the three most important questions campers and RV travelers have to ask about every trip: Where to go, how to get there, and which campgrounds and RV parks are worth a stay. Even seasoned travelers know that figuring these out can involve hours, even days, of research with multiple tabs open at once to make sense of it all, especially if it’s a destination they’ve never visited.

That’s where the magic of AdventureGenie’s AI-powered search steps in to take care of all — or at least most of the work — for them. Users can search for travel options by destination and create a profile to let the algorithm provide detailed, personalized results based on their roadtripping style. The site offers three unique features:

• GenieSummaries : A detailed look and description of more than 25,000 public and private campgrounds .
• GenieScores : An AI-driven rating system to rank each campground on a proprietary 100-point scale.
• GenieMatch : A personalized score that shows how good of a match each campground is for individual users.

Without creating an account, we took AdventureGenie for a spin to review a complete itinerary we know well to see how it stacked up against our own recommendations. Marvelous New England – Mystic to Maine promises to be a best-of New England highlights tour. With six main stops that span almost 500 miles, it recommends a minimum of 10 days to see the best sights in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Maine. While many online itineraries we’ve seen recommend half that time (causing first-time visitors to rush their entire trip), this is a totally reasonable pace that allows roadtrippers to really absorb the sights. The easy-to-scan itinerary is neatly divided into things to see, where to stay, and general area activities at each stop. Having driven this route countless times, we can say that it’s pretty spot-on.

While it’s clear the site is still new, it already has a solid base of GenieTrips to search for inspiration. They include many of the best destinations in the United States, like the National Parks , the Colorado Rockies, New Mexico, Gettysburg, and Florida’s Gulf Coast. But users can also explore themed trips, like Bourbon & Bluegrass – Kentucky’s Whiskey Trail , Follow the Blues – The South’s Great Music Towns , and Cruising Crazy Coasters – Indiana, Ohio, & Pennsylvania .

Perhaps not surprisingly, the site was founded by a former Microsoft senior technology executive, Scott Lengel, and veteran CEO/Investor, David Greenberg. “AdventureGenie is the answer to the most vexing question my wife and I encountered while planning RV vacations: Can’t there be a one-stop-shop for RVers and campers to plan the trip of their dreams? The answer is an emphatic yes ,” said Greenberg.

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Right now, AdventureGenie is 100% free for users to browse the most popular road trip itineraries, search specific destinations, and create a user profile that allows the AI to help them plan their personal best camping trip. It’s perfect timing, too: The summer travel season is well underway, and it’s time to get out there!

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We were already hyped with the Pottery Barn collection of bedding, dinnerware, linens, and other apartment essentials the company released in collaboration with legendary American RV-maker Airstream in May. Whereas Airstream is all hard lines and austere, polished metal (its iconic trailer is nicknamed the "silver bullet"), Pottery Barn's home goods seem to blunt those sharper corners and bring the comforts of home into its heritage campers. What we didn't know was that the announcement was only the first of two. On Tuesday, July 27, Airstream released the final half: The Pottery Barn Special Edition Travel Trailer.

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Jet lag, the dreaded consequence of crossing multiple time zones, can wreak havoc on your body and shake up your travel plans. From headaches, to fatigue, to insomnia, jet lag can leave you feeling drained, making it difficult to enjoy your vacation. However, with a few simple adjustments, you can minimize the effects of jet lag and start enjoying your travels in no time. This is how to get over jet lag. How long can jet lag last?

While jet lag symptoms are generally temporary and tend to improve as your body adjusts to the new time zone, the duration of jet lag can vary from person to person. A few factors that influence the duration of jet lag include:

Avid and frequent travelers know the importance of owning well-made and versatile luggage. Whether that be a carry-on bag, backpack, duffel bag, rolling suitcase or trunk, purchasing reliable luggage makes traveling ten times easier and more efficient. Most of the time, the type of luggage you choose to purchase is dependent on your personal needs, the duration of your trip or how often often you will use your new bag or suitcase. No matter what type of trip you have planned on you calendar, a luxurious, high-quality and durable backpack should be added to your shopping list.

With so many luxury luggage brands out there to choose from, it might be hard to narrow down your choices. But that's why we are here to let you know that purchasing a backpack (or any kind of luggage) from Tumi is one of the best decisions you will ever make. Known as one as one of the best Rimowa alternatives, Tumi is a popular choice among professional travelers everywhere due to their classic designs, durable materials and luxurious look. If you are on the market for a brand new travel backpack, there is no better option than Tumi. We've rounded up the nine best Tumi backpacks you can travel with in 2024 that will help you explore new destinations with ease. Tumi Montana Backpack

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To provide you with the tools, resources, and information you need to travel smarter, not harder. Whether you're planning a family vacation, a business trip, or a solo adventure, we've got you covered with tips, tricks, and insights that will help you save time, money, and hassle.

From booking your flights and accommodations to packing your bags and getting through security, we've got expert advice that will help you streamline every step of the travel process. And if you ever get stuck, our friendly community of travelers is always here to lend a helping hand.

So why not give us a try? Sign up for our newsletter, browse our articles and resources, and confidently plan your next trip. With ihatetraveling.com on your side, you'll be able to sit back, relax, and enjoy the journey.

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You May Hate Planning, But You Should Do It Anyway

• Elizabeth Grace Saunders

The pain will be worth it.

Some of the smartest people that I have ever met struggle with convincing themselves to do one thing: plan their work.

• ES Elizabeth Grace Saunders is a time management coach and the founder of Real Life E Time Coaching & Speaking . She is the author of How to Invest Your Time Like Money and Divine Time Management . Find out more at RealLifeE.com .

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I’m a Travel Agent: 7 Costliest Mistakes People Make When Planning Vacations

It’s vacation season!

With summer in full swing for most of the U.S., you might be putting the finishing touches on your vacation plans . Or you might be planning a winter getaway for later this year. Either way, before you take off on an epic road trip or fly to a desirable destination for some rest and relaxation, you might want to make sure you avoid making these massive travel mistakes.

Also See: 6 Vacation Splurges You’ll Almost Always Regret

Learn: How To Build Your Savings From Scratch

We tapped Greg Johnson — expert world traveler, travel blogger at ClubThrifty.com and owner of Travel Blue Book Travel Agency — to share his insights on the costliest mistakes travelers make when planning vacations .

Not Planning Ahead

Failing to plan is planning to fail. Having a plan in place can help alleviate travel headaches and save you money at the same time.

“Most travelers book their vacations a few months before traveling,” Johnson said. “By that time, availability is usually low — which causes prices to rise. Depending on the trip, this can increase your costs substantially.  

“To get the best deals, consider booking your trip as early as possible. Prices for flights, resorts and cruises are typically near their lowest when they first become available. By booking 11 to 12 months in advance, you can literally save thousands.”

Take Our Poll: Who Has Given You the Best Money Advice You Have Ever Received?

Being Inflexible With Dates and Destinations

Flexibility is key to saving money while traveling.

“One of the best ways to save on travel is to be flexible with your dates and destinations,” Johnson said. “If you don’t know exactly where you want to go, consider choosing your destination based on the price of flights. Likewise, being able to fly on a Tuesday could save you big money compared to flying on a Friday. The same goes for resorts and cruises.” 

He also said, “Do a little price shopping and play with dates before committing to specific travel dates, hotels or cruises. It’s not always possible, but being a little flexible can go a long way.”

Traveling During Peak Times

Peak travel means high prices, period. Johnson advises against it, if possible. “If you can avoid peak travel season, do it. Traveling during shoulder seasons and off-peak times can save you up to 50% on the cost of your trip. Plus, you won’t have to fight as many crowds, which can make your trip much more enjoyable.”

Using a Mobile Phone Without an International Plan

Staying connected when traveling overseas can be costly.

“When you are traveling internationally, be sure that your mobile phone plan offers coverage at your destination before using it,” Johnson said. “Not doing so can be an enormously costly mistake, potentially costing you thousands.

“If you already have an international phone plan, make sure that the country you are traveling to is covered under your plan. If you don’t, call your mobile company and inquire about adding one during your trip.”

Johnson also said, “Cruisers should be sure to turn off their data when not docked in port, as many international plans don’t cover you while sailing in international waters. You could easily rack up thousands of dollars in accidental bills if you’re not careful. We like to flip our phones to airplane mode and use the ship’s Wi-Fi throughout the cruise instead.”

Not Buying Travel Insurance

Travel insurance helps you avoid the massive cost of having to reschedule or cancel vacation plans. Johnson sees travel insurance as a must in many circumstances.

“Having a good travel insurance policy is like carrying any other type of insurance: You hope you never need to use it; but, if you do, it is extremely important to have,” he said.

“There are many different types of travel insurance policies. Some focus on comprehensive coverage both before and during your trip while others focus more on medical coverage and other items while you travel.”

Johnson said international travelers always should carry extra insurance.

“At a minimum, I highly recommend that all of my clients who are traveling internationally carry some sort of medical coverage,” he said. “An injury or illness during their trip could cost them tens of thousands of dollars — especially if they need some type of medical evacuation. Spending a few extra bucks on a good travel insurance policy can be extremely important in these situations.”

Not Having the Right ID for Your Trip

Getting to the airport and forgetting your passport can cause a huge delay and possibly cost you a lot of money, too.

“Not meeting the proper ID requirements is more common than you might think,” Johnson said. “This is a huge mistake that could keep you from even going on your trip — potentially costing you thousands of dollars. 

“I know of several people who have not had the proper ID for their cruise or vacation, which meant they couldn’t go on their trip. At that point, most of their costs were non-refundable, so they were simply out the money.”

He said planning ahead is important for any trip.

“Before booking your trip, be sure to check with your airline or cruise line to ensure you have your ID documentation in order,” he said. “You can also check with government agencies like the TSA and the State Department to ensure you have the proper documentation necessary for your travels.”

Not Using a Travel Agent

Travel agents aren’t simply searching for flights and hotels for you; they do so much more. Not using one can cost you.

“Saving money isn’t the only thing that travelers should worry about,” Johnson said. “Time, effort and energy count for something too. Not knowing where to stay, what to do, activities and attractions to avoid — these can all be costly mistakes as well. A good travel agent can help you navigate all of these things and more.

“For example, I’ve traveled to nearly 50 countries and territories across Europe and the Caribbean — many of those places several times. So, I know my way around pretty well. Sure, I can help you find a good deal. As importantly, however, I’m a great person to lean on for my knowledge.”

Even More Travel Mistakes

Johnson has been helping plan travel itineraries for years, and he shared even more (costly) travel mistakes:

• “Shopping and Dining in Touristy Areas. There is a reason that some areas of a city are popular, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend all of your time there. Eating, drinking and shopping in the most popular areas typically comes with increased costs. By walking a block or two off the main drag, you can usually find cheaper prices — and often tastier food.
• Ignoring Credit Card Rewards . Find a good travel rewards card and use it to help defray some of your travel costs. Personally, we like to use points and miles to book flights — particularly when we are traveling with our kids. We take the thousands we save and put it toward our next trip.
• Paying Foreign Transaction Fees . Many credit cards charge a fee when you use them abroad. Although 3% (or more) may not seem like much, it adds up when you’re using it for every purchase. By using a travel rewards card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, you can avoid coming home to a bill larger than it needs to be.”

Bottom Line

Traveling can be a wonderful experience, but if you don’t have a plan in place and think of all the possible details ahead of time, you could end up having a poor experience, and you might lose thousands of dollars at the same time. Flexibility, planning ahead and using a well-seasoned travel agent can actually save you money and increase your enjoyment on your upcoming vacation.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : I’m a Travel Agent: 7 Costliest Mistakes People Make When Planning Vacations

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7 of the best all-inclusive experiences to book this year, from a travel planner

• As a travel planner, my clients seem to be increasingly interested in all-inclusive trips .
• Some of my favorite luxury resorts are in Costa Rica, the Maldives, and Isla Mujeres.
• Cruises, group tours, and adults-only lodgings can also come with all-inclusive options. 

As a travel planner at Marvelous Mouse Travels , I know vacations are expensive — especially if you're looking to go somewhere this summer . But all-inclusive travel is often a great way to get the most value out of a luxury experience.

I've been on several all-inclusive vacations with my family, friends, and work, and I've helped other people book them in destinations around the world .

Here are some of the best all-inclusive experiences I'm recommending to my clients this year.

Try a split-stay vacation to see the best of Costa Rica.

Costa Rica is one of the most sought-after vacations , and for good reason. It's great for both relaxation and adventure.

I recommend booking a split stay, starting at an all-inclusive resort in Guanacaste near the beach for some fun in the sun and moving to a resort near the famous Arenal Volcano for a jungle adventure.

Some of my favorite resorts in Costa Rica are the Westin Reserva Conchal and the Dreams Las Mareas. And if you're looking for an even more unique experience, check out the glorious swim-out suites with private pools at Dreams.

Baglioni Maldives is one of my favorite all-inclusive resorts.

The Maldives, a remote set of islands in the Indian Ocean, offers a plethora of resort options for couples and families, but Baglioni Maldives is my favorite.

For many in the US, getting to the islands can be daunting — there are very few direct commercial flights, and it can take almost an entire day. But it's hard to beat the country's luxury accommodations and gorgeous landscape.

The Maldives also has some of the most beautiful marine life and coveted spots for snorkeling and scuba diving.

No matter where you go, overwater bungalows are the ultimate all-inclusive splurge.

Overwater bungalows — villas standing on poles over open ocean water — are prevalent at all-inclusive resorts in destinations like the Maldives, Fiji, and Bali.

But I've also come across the luxurious accommodations at select adults-only Sandals Resorts throughout the Caribbean.

I think having a private villa on the water is the perfect way to unwind and relax.

Adults-only vacations are on the rise.

Traveling with kids can be a blast, but I also think it's important for adults to take a much-needed break on their own.

Adults-only resorts have been a total respite for me and my husband after hectic months of juggling work with our kids' school and sports schedules.

If you're looking to unwind with a partner, relax on a girls' trip, or even connect with your adult children, there are countless adults-only, all-inclusive resorts to choose from, depending on where you're looking to visit.

Some properties, including Sandals and Beaches Resorts, also offer butler service. Designated staff members can help with anything from room requests and dining reservations to cabana rentals and transportation coordination.

I upgraded to the service at my favorite adults-only spot, Le Blanc Los Cabos, and I felt totally pampered.

Isla Mujeres is pure luxury.

Isla Mujeres, a small island off the coast of Cancún, is known for its crystal-clear, turquoise water and peaceful vibe. It's also home to Playa Norte, one of the best beaches in Mexico .

Impressions Isla Mujeres by Secrets is a gorgeous all-inclusive resort on the island. It offers luxury at its finest, but with only 125 rooms, it has a boutique feel.

One of my favorite features of the resort is the waterslide that leads right into the beautiful ocean.

There are plenty of all-inclusive packages at sea.

Cruising is one of the most popular vacations , whether it's an epic adventure on a Royal Caribbean Cruise, a couples-only journey on Virgin Voyages, or a regal tour of Europe on Viking River Cruises.

Although cruises aren't traditionally considered all-inclusive, with the right booking, they can have the same feel as a luxury resort.

Most cruise bookings include food, nonalcoholic drinks, and live entertainment. If you add beverage packages and excursions in advance, your trip should be fully paid for before you depart.

Book a small-group or private tour if you're looking for adventure.

Group travel is a great way to explore new places while soaking up culture and history.

Popular destinations include Italy, Japan, Costa Rica, and Alaska, and many travel companies take care of everything for you, essentially making it all-inclusive.

I like Adventures by Disney , which offers small-group travel all over the world facilitated by seasoned guides. All the trip details are taken care of, including experiences, food, lodging, and transportation.

Additionally, Kensington Tours offers luxury private travel where every facet of the trip is meticulously planned for you.

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Fjords, Pharaohs or Koalas? Time to Plan for Your Next Eclipse.

If you can’t get enough of totality, or missed out this time, you’ll have three more chances in the next four years in destinations like Iceland, Spain, Egypt and Australia.

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By Danielle Dowling

Are you still a little giddy from the magical moments of totality during Monday’s solar eclipse? Or did clouds swoop in to block your view? Maybe you just couldn’t make it to the path of totality this time. No matter what, the question now is “ Where and when will it happen again?”

“People who have never seen it before, the first words out of their mouth after the totality ends is ‘I’ve got to see another one, this is incredible, this is unbelievable.’ That is when you become addicted to these things and end up traveling no matter where the next one is,” said Joseph Rao, an eclipse chaser and guest lecturer at the Hayden Planetarium.

So, if like Mr. Rao, you’ve developed a raging case of umbraphilia — the love of eclipses — you’ll have three chances over the next four years to see the moon blot out the sun. The first, on Aug. 12, 2026, will start above Greenland, then strafe the west coast of Iceland and move along the Atlantic Ocean and over Spain. Almost a year later, on Aug. 2, 2027, another will skirt the Mediterranean coast of North Africa then cross Egypt and part of the Arabian Peninsula. The third, on July 22, 2028, will cut across Australia and the southern tip of New Zealand.

Future Eclipses

Eclipse chasers will have several more chances this decade to view a total solar eclipse .

Last week, as Victoria Sahami , the owner of Sirius Travel , was preparing to guide a group of tourists in Mazatlán, Mexico, for Monday’s big event, she was also planning for these other upcoming eclipses. Ms. Sahami joined the ranks of the eclipse-obsessed when she witnessed one in Venezuela in the 1990s. “Like many people, I was hooked. There was no going back,” she said.

Total solar eclipses happen fairly regularly — about every one to two years — in locations scattered around the world. “That’s the great thing about them: You wind up in places that you don’t normally go,” Ms. Sahami said.

A major spoiler is weather, which will be a big variable in the 2026 eclipse — one Greenland, Iceland and Spain will see.

“Iceland normally has a lot of cloud during that time of year,” said Paul Maley , who runs Ring of Fire Expeditions . “The data shows Spain to have the higher good-weather prospects of all three. However, the sun is low in the sky and the eclipse ends as the sun hits the horizon at sunset.”

Because of Iceland’s mercurial meteorology, Ring of Fire Expeditions is going all in on Spain, with a 10-day excursion on the mainland. Sirius Travel is offering not only a five-day trip to Majorca but also an eight-day tour around Iceland. It will be based in Reykjavik, and the itinerary will remain flexible on the day of the eclipse so the tour can easily pivot toward the location with the least cloud cover. Ms. Sahami recommends the trip for those who already have a few eclipses under their belt and would be happy just to take in the sights of Iceland if the weather doesn’t cooperate.

The 2027 eclipse, on the other hand, promises to be truly stellar: Luxor, Egypt — the site of numerous ancient temples as well as the Valleys of the Kings and Queens — sits right in the middle of the path of totality and will be bathed in darkness for a full 6 minutes 23 seconds. Weather-wise, it is what Ms. Sahami called “a slam dunk.” “You know you’re going to see it. You know that you’re not going to get any clouds,” she said.

But for all its potential, those considering Egypt should be aware that the State Department has a Level 3 “Reconsider Travel” warning for the country because of the risk of terrorism.

The 2028 eclipse will darken the skies over Sydney, Australia, for 3 minutes 49 seconds. It will be the first time the city has experienced a total solar eclipse since 1857. Ms. Sahami has her eyes on a trip based out of there, while Mr. Maley has chartered a cruise ship off the northwest coast of Australia. It will be winter there, he said, but that isn’t likely to mean bad eclipse-viewing weather.

If you want to see any (or all) of these eclipses, you should get started on planning and booking now, particularly if you want to sign up for a trip organized by a tour company. One of Sirius Travel’s excursions to Luxor is already full.

Scrutinize refund policies and look into insuring your trip. Several companies will fully refund your deposit if you cancel a year in advance. A lot can happen, Ms. Sahami said, “but if you think you’re going to go, why not?”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

You can still find affordable flights to Europe this summer

Airfare prices to amsterdam, brussels, prague and reykjavik are way down from last year.

Christina Saull and her husband have waited five years to take a 10-day cruise through the Norwegian fjords. The first time they planned the trip, it was postponed for a medical emergency. The second time, there was a family wedding. Now, finally, they were getting ready to go in July.

Only they needed plane tickets.

“It’s interesting to see how expensive fares have been and how they’ve fluctuated,” said Saull, a public relations executive who lives in Alexandria, Va.

The couple watched prices go from as little as $900 round trip to as much as $2,500 for flights from Washington to Edinburgh, Scotland, and back from Copenhagen . They finally settled on premium economy seats for $2,000 each on Delta Air Lines and its partner Air France.

“I don’t think it’s unreasonable for summer Europe travel,” Saull said of what they paid.

Not unreasonable is a good way to describe transatlantic air travel this summer. Even with strong travel demand, tickets are cheaper on average than they were last year.

“Airfare to Europe is less expensive than last year by 10 percent,” said Hayley Berg, the lead economist at flight-booking app Hopper . The average round trip ticket before any extra fees costs $882, according to the data.

The highest fares are in June, July and August, Berg added. Traveling in shoulder months — for example, September and October — could save travelers as much as 30 percent.

Schedule data from aviation analytics firm Cirium Diio shows airlines will offer 8 percent more seats on U.S.-Europe routes from May through September than last year.

Philadelphia is gaining new nonstops to Copenhagen, Naples , and Nice, France, on American Airlines. Phoenix gets its first nonstop to Paris on Air France. Washington, a new flight to Zurich on Swiss International Air Lines. And many other routes additional flights or options on larger planes.

“In the transatlantic, we are looking forward to another strong summer,” said Glen Hauenstein, president of Delta Air Lines, referring to bookings earlier in April. He added the airline sees “healthy demand” for seats to Europe.

Paris has flight deals, but hotels are pricey

The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics are a bump in the finely tuned machine that is summer air travel to Europe. The Games run from July 26 through Aug. 11, and the French capital is expected to host some 15 million visitors during the event and the following Paralympic Games. Last summer, the city saw more than 6.2 million visitors in July and August.

“Paris will be like an Olympic village in July and August,” said Christine Ourmières-Widener, CEO of the French airline French Bee . All those visitors still need a way to get to the city. French Bee , which caters to leisure travelers like those going to the Games, has added flights from Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco to meet the demand.

Flight deals to Paris can still be found. Booking website Expedia recommends travelers buy tickets at least 21 days before their trip and, for international travel, look at departing on a Monday to find the best airfares.

Finding an affordable hotel in Paris during the Games is another matter. Expedia said it has seen a “massive surge” in searches for accommodations there this summer and recommends travelers look at nearby cities for more reasonably priced options.

Consider Nice, Prague and Reykjavik

Finn Vigeland, a transit planner who lives in Washington, was “quite surprised” last month when he found a good deal on flights to Nice, France, in July.

Prices on American Airlines’ new nonstop to Nice from Philadelphia were only $700 to $800 round trip, he said. That was affordable enough to make a trip to France with friends possible, and he booked the flight (with points, not cash).

Average fares to Nice from the United States are down a quarter to $907 compared to last summer, Hopper’s data shows. The city also has the distinction of being one of the few European destinations with lower airfares this summer than in 2019, 11 percent lower to be exact. That drop is, in part, thanks to a plethora of new flights on American, Delta, and United.

Amsterdam, Brussels, Prague , and Reykjavik , Iceland, are other European cities where ticket prices from the United States are down more than 20 percent from last year, according to Hopper.

Airfares are not down double-digits in all markets though. Fares to cities like Berlin and Glasgow, Scotland, are on par with last year.

Traveler after traveler said they felt like they could find reasonably priced plane tickets for trips between the United States and Europe this summer. Those who said they could not often lacked flexibility to adjust their trips to when and where fares are the cheapest.

“I felt like this was doable. It made sense,” Alexander Giess said of his plan to take his 10-year-old daughter on a three-week trip to France this summer.

After a lengthy search, in March the marketing executive paid about $1,000 each for two round-trip tickets to Nice from San Francisco on his preferred airline, Delta.

Where to go

Our favorite destinations: These 12 destinations are at the top of our wish list for where to go this year, without crowds. In 2023, we explored an Alaskan bear paradise, Brooklyn’s famous pizzerias and a hidden gem in Italy, among other highlights .

Travel like a local: Residents share their favorite places in our top city guides: New Orleans , Rome , Tokyo and Mexico City .

National parks: This comprehensive guide has details on all 63 U.S. national parks. For a deep dive into five of the most well-known, you can listen to the Field Trip podcast . Then explore tips from locals for visiting Yosemite , Glacier and Everglades .

Tales from the road: Dolly Parton has opened a new resort at her theme park complex in Tennessee, while “Fixer Upper” stars Chip and Joanna Gaines have a new hotel in Waco . Road-trippers may be just as excited to see the cartoon beaver at Buc-ee’s , and bargain-hunters should consider a stop at the Unclaimed Baggage store in Scottsboro, Ala.

Hate crimes fuel push for more security grants

Fearing for student safety with rising hate crimes, private and faith-based school leaders implored lawmakers last week to continue their support for increased security grant funding.

Rabbi Yaakov Green, the head of a Jewish day school in Brookline, expressed his concern about escalating antisemitism as he spoke about the need for the Legislature to fund the state's Nonprofit Security Grant program.

Gov. Maura Healey proposed $1.5 million for the program in fiscal 2025, while the House last week unveiled its plan to fund the line item at $3 million. The Legislature funneled $4 million into the program for this fiscal year, after it overrode  Healey's veto  that had slashed some funding.

"My emotions are mixed with apprehension for the increasing and obvious literal need for these programs and any other programs that the commonwealth can muster," Green, of Maimonides School , said during an advocacy event hosted by the Massachusetts Council for American Private Education, which represents independent private, Catholic, Christian, Islamic and Jewish day schools.

"I no longer feel safe, not in my school, not for my students, not for my children and the children of our community's parents," Green continued. "The math doesn't lie — dramatic rises in hate crimes and the incredibly out-of-whack percentage that are focused on Jews can no longer be quaintly ignored."

In the aftermath of the Hamas attack on Israel, the  Anti-Defamation League said  there were 3,291 antisemitic incidents recorded between Oct. 7 and Jan. 7, representing a 361% increase compared to the same time period one year ago.

Peg Haskell, a state leader for the Association of Christian Schools International in Massachusetts, shared how the grants helped two schools on Cape Cod tackle "high" security risks. At Trinity Christian Academy, for example, Haskell said the money covered new smoke alarms, security cameras and fencing.

"In the past few years, we have all witnessed an increase in horrific attacks at schools and religious institutions. Faith-based schools are feeling more vulnerable than ever to these hate crimes," Haskell said. "The majority of our schools would not have been able to afford the security improvements without the grant funds from the commonwealth. This funding and any future funding opportunities that can ensure our communities and schools are safe places for all is greatly appreciated."

The state grant program supports physical security improvements — such as building alarms, intercoms, fencing and lighting — for nonprofits that are considered to be at high risk for terrorist attacks and hate crimes. Blake Webber, a spokesman for the House Ways and Means Committee, said the panel felt it was appropriate to exceed Healey's funding recommendation after hearing from multiple stakeholders and legislators, particularly amid "rising antisemitic behavior" across the country. 

In budget documents, Healey's office said the decreased funding in the next fiscal year is intended to "meet projected need."

A spokesman for the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security said the Healey administration supports the goals of nonprofit security grant programs. The state also distributes similar nonprofit security grants funded through federal dollars.

About $7.8 million in grants have been awarded this year, the spokesman said. Some $5 million is also available in a separate security grant program, which was allocated in the 2022 economic development bill and uses federal COVID relief money.

While the proposed House budget would double Healey's recommended allocation, representatives have filed amendments looking to bolster the program further.

Reps. Kevin Honan and Tommy Vitolo have proposed carving out $300,000 for a security personnel program, which was included in last year's line item but not explicitly incorporated into the latest House recommendation. Rep. Ruth Balser wants to boost the $3 million line item to $3.7 million.

"It costs a lot of money to keep a school safe and when a school is a target of a hate crime just for being who they are, that's something that we as a commonwealth have an obligation to take on headfirst," Vitolo said. "We don't have a ton of money this year, so it's hard to find money for all of the things that we think are important. This is one that I think is particularly important, and I hope we're able to get it done."

Balser said demand for the grants has outpaced available funding. This year, 132 groups applied for the state grant program, but only 66 were awarded funding, according to EOPSS data. There were 72 applicants last year, with only 36 receiving grants.

"It's sad that we need it, but we do need it," Balser told the News Service. "It's a time when people in our state have become frightened by threats, and as much as we can support these institutions protecting themselves, I think that's important."

During the advocacy event, Senate Ways and Means Chairman Michael Rodrigues invoked his commitment to public, charter, Catholic, Jewish and other faith-based schools.

"We want to ensure in any way possible, whether it's around school health, or school safety, or school meals, that when we can -- when we're not blocked by some unfavorable constitutional issues in our state's Constitution — that we will be supporting all of your schools," Rodrigues said. "We are engaged in a difficult budget year, so it's going to be a tough year for any expansion, not just in the educational realm but anywhere throughout the budget."

Addressing private school officials and proponents, Rodrigues added, "But that's my problem — you don't have to worry about that. So I thank you all for being here, keep up the great work, and know that you'll have my support."

Green said "life-saving" grant money over the last five years has allowed the Maimonides School to invest in security windows and doors, surveillance cameras, and a card access system to enter the building.

"This program, these measures and your efforts protect and save lives," Green told lawmakers and legislative staffers.