https://youtu.be/z1Reuyu9e_o?si=tnzAGwry4hFylMdz
I follow several travel forums on the book of faces, about the only thing worth seeing on that forum these days. Every week, more like every day, someone posts their planned itinerary for comments, and I can't help but think, SLOW DOWN, you move to fast. People overplan, filling every hour with movement. They plan driving itineraries based on Google Maps saying it will take 2 hours and 14 minute to drive from point A to point B, and they have to get there or they won't finish their plan. Google Maps estimates that you are going to drive close to the speed limit for the route. In a lot of places you won't, or you certainly won't want to. My advice for driving in places like Iceland and Great Britain, is double the estimated driving time. That likely means you are not going to see it all. But you will really have time to see what you do see.
When traveling, I like to plan at least one day a week with no plans. I may just want to spend the day not moving, or there may be something I want to go see that was not on my plan. I need time for that. I need time to slow down and enjoy where I am. Even business travel should not be hurried. About 20 years ago I did a consulting project in Alaska. The travel planner for the organization I was working with wanted me to fly in, about 10 hours of travel time from where I was living, get in late at night, work all day the next day, then there was a flight that left after midnight that would be the next day, for me to fly home. I said, NO! I flew out a day early, spent an extra day having a little time to explore, then did the training day. What I remember about the trip home was that the plane I was on backed into another plane in Charlotte and getting home ended up taking almost 24 hours of travel.
Overcome the fear of missing out. Plan half as much, plan unplanned days, relax, enjoy and truly enjoy the ride.
Cards on the table....on trips I see alots fo stuff, but going on beforehand plan very little. I take each day as if comes and do or go see whatever the urge is that strikes. I pre plan very little.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes barely know where I am going,
DeleteThere are times when I'm frustrated with my poor sense of direction and very thankful for the gps. But those turned around, unhurried wanderings have taken me to some lovely finds and I'm still here to tell about them. Happy Birthday to you!
ReplyDeleteGPS, has been a huge help a couple of times. Even taking time to walk around a couple of blocks from the hotel is a great way to get the feel for a location.
DeleteWe make plans but don't often follow them if we or hear of something else. Nothing worse than spending a vacation running from one "thing" to the next; how can you enjoy any of it.
ReplyDeleteThe more someone says, You HAVE TO see this, the less I want to see it.
DeleteWise words. When young, plan two or three things to do each holiday day but when older, maybe have one plan a day. Don't stress yourself by trying to fit too much in over one day.
ReplyDeleteNo stress is the goal.
DeleteGood advice. When my daughter and I went on a tour to Italy, I liked that we didn't have to do everything and they always gave us time to be on our own.
ReplyDeleteI should try an organized or guided tour, we have done a few cruise shore excursions, and about half of the time we enjoy them, the other half we feel hurded.
DeleteWe traveled with a Rick Steve's tour group. We had a great time.
DeleteThis is very good advice. When I travel, I have a list of things that would be nice to do or see but I never pack the days. I decide each day what I want to do that day.
ReplyDeleteI try to keep the plan pretty flexible.
DeleteMy father in law, didn't plan nothing.
ReplyDeleteOnly once have I left on a week away from home, and didn't know where I was going.
DeleteWe love playing it by ear when we travel. We do our research and if something needs reservations we make them. Otherwise, we have a list of possibilities and we do whatever we feel like. We have family that like to book every minute and they drive us crazy.
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