How to Create the Perfect Itinerary
Ever noticed how some folks make the toughest trips seem
like a leisurely walk in the park? We'll wager that nine out of 10 times, those
travelers created a near-perfect itinerary before they even started packing.
Modern itinerary-making tools, from Web sites to computer programs, allow
travelers to build colorful trip timelines and share their travel plans with
loved ones. But the ability to engineer an effective, seamless itinerary
requires more than just bells and whistles -- and well-laid travel plans are an
integral component of any successful trip.
So what's the secret to creating a great itinerary? After you've snagged a
solid airfare deal, arranged for a car rental and even managed to pack light,
there are some less obvious -- but equally important -- tactics you can use to
put together a seamless trip.
Use Your Computer
Travel itinerary sites and software have facilitated the creation of
itineraries, and the ability to share those itineraries, for thousands of
tech-savvy travelers. Here are a few of our favorites:
· TripIt.com allows users to create complex
online itineraries and e-mail them to friends and family. The site will
automatically insert tons of useful information into your itinerary, including
maps, directions and weather. TripIt is free, but you can buy extra perks, like
a mobile service that alerts you if your flight is changed or canceled, for an
annual fee.
· NileGuide.com is a valuable resource for
travelers. Pick your place from the Web site's list and you'll get an
impressive inventory of hotels, activities, travel guides and more, which you
can use to build a personal itinerary.
· Get crafty on the computer by using software
to make your own itinerary. Owners of Microsoft Office can download free
itinerary templates at Office.Microsoft.com, which are basically blank
schedules with spots for you to record your travel information. Outer Level
offers Knapsack, an itinerary program for Macs. The program's features, from
interactive maps to printed itineraries that appear professionally designed,
make trip planning more fun than an in-flight movie.
Be Realistic
Sure, you'd like to milk your trip for all it's worth by booking a red-eye
flight and then scheduling a full day's worth of activities on day one, despite
an eight-hour time difference. But by the end of the trip, you're likely to
look and feel as if you've spent the week in correctional boot camp. If you
really want to squeeze in every tour, meal and excursion you've typed into your
itinerary, but as it currently stands you're getting six hours of sleep a night
with no room for a time adjustment, you need to add a day -- or cut an
activity.
Choreographing all you want to get done into a seamless schedule -- especially
if you're visiting multiple cities or countries -- can be a massive challenge.
Make it easier by creating a list of everything you want to see or do in your
locale. Then, put the list in priority order. To help estimate how long an
activity will take, or how long it will take to get there, consult a guidebook
or check out online message boards for perspectives from other travelers who've
been there and done that. This will make it easier for you to feel out what you
can and cannot accomplish during, say, three nights in Montreal.
Research events happening in your destination while you'll be there (tourist
board Web sites are good for this -- they usually have events calendars), and
plan accordingly. There may be a nifty festival that you want to slot into your
schedule, or, at the opposite extreme, you may want to avoid a certain part of
town if it's going to be crowded or blocked off.
Also note local holidays coinciding with your trip, which can affect
transportation schedules, business opening hours, etc.
Ambitious travelers who plan to embark on a weeklong tour of Europe (yes, we've
actually heard of people who attempt to see a continent in less time than it
takes to learn the Thriller dance) should do some serious planning. In a case
like this, a map is your best friend as you prioritize activities. Look at a
map and start grouping the different attractions you want to see by
neighborhood or region -- this will help you minimize transit time between one
part of your itinerary and the next.
There's more to consider than just time and location. Planning to search for
sunken treasures? Most scuba experts agree that divers should allow about 24
hours between scuba diving and flying (so that your body can adjust to changes
in altitude). If you have a cruise or a prepaid excursion planned, arrange for
your flight to arrive no less than a day prior to your departure date.
Otherwise, a missed or severely delayed flight could cost you. A good rule of
thumb, regardless of what you have planned: The more space your itinerary allows
between activities and transportation, the better.
Get It Right, from Door to Door
Is it me, or are economy parking lots are getting farther and farther away?
It's important to reckon the drive to the airport to account for time spent
schlepping from the economy parking lot a few towns over. Allow yourself plenty
of time to make it through the security checkpoint's snaking line.
Ask yourself a few questions: How far from the airport do I live or work? Will
I have an opportunity to eat before driving to the airport? If I miss the
parking or rental car shuttle by seconds, will I have enough time to wait for
the next one, or am I going to be sprinting across the lot trying to hail down
the driver?
The same thing goes for your arrival. Although travelers may sometimes save by
booking flights to smaller, more out-of-the-way airports (especially in when
flying on discount airlines in many European countries), it's important to
weigh thrift against travel time. One of our editors saved some money by
booking a Ryanair ticket to Barcelona's secondary airport in Girona (instead of
Aeroport de Barcelona, the city's main hub). But she ended up taking an
hour-long bus ride to get from the Girona airport to Barcelona's city center --
an inconvenience that eclipsed what she saved on the ticket.
Connections Are Key
Add a connection to your itinerary and plenty could go wrong that wouldn't have
happened had you booked a nonstop flight. Connections mean additional planes
and additional opportunities for delays of those extra planes. Connections also
mean that your bags are being moved and mauled, which creates more occasions
for your property to be lost or damaged.
God forbid you miss a connection and your
bags don't -- or vice versa.
A connection will disrupt your sleep, too. If you're the type to take a sleep
aid in transit, you know that there's nothing more miserable than surfacing
from the depths of a Dramamine-induced slumber to slouch off the plane, lumber
through the airport to a new gate and endure another complete boarding process.
The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men
Your itinerary is not a legally binding contract. It's more like a rough draft
... written in sand. Things will go wrong. Restaurants will be closed. Buses
will be late. Animals will attack.
Consider scheduling a free day into your itinerary. During your trip, it's
likely you'll discover some worthwhile attractions you didn't know about prior
to your departure. This will also give you some wiggle room in case you don't
see everything you had originally planned.
All in all, the most flexible itinerary is often the best. Our final advice?
Opt out of the hour-by-hour detailed timeline that factors in bathroom breaks
and photo ops. Instead, expect the unexpected, and leave plenty of room for
upsets. If you know where the bumps in the road might be, you can steer around
them. And if you're really lucky, you can put it all together for the perfect
itinerary.
--written by Caroline Costello and Ed Hewitt
