Okay, so I’ve always been more of a “fly by the seat of your pants” kind of traveler. You know, book a flight and figure the rest out later? Yeah, that’s me. But sometimes, that gets a little…chaotic. So, I decided to try and find some tools to help me plan, but without making me feel like I’m stuck in a rigid itinerary. Here’s how I started and what I found:
My “Before” – Total Chaos
Previously, my “planning” consisted of a hastily scribbled list in my phone’s notes app. It was usually something like:
- “Find a place to stay…maybe?”
- “Look up cool stuff to do…later.”
- “Don’t forget passport!!!”
Seriously, that was it. I ended up wasting so much time just figuring out basic stuff when I could have been, you know, enjoying my trip.
The Hunt for Tools
I went on a mission. I needed something that could handle the basics, like flights and accommodation, but also let me be flexible. I didn’t want to pre-book every single activity. I wanted suggestions, not a dictator!
I played around with a few. Nothing really clicked. One was good with itineraries, but i will feel boring using it. I wanted something that did what i want. I also looked into apps, but none of it made me want to use.
Building My Own Solution
Because I didn’t find that all-in-one holy grail, I decided to cobble together my own system. It’s not perfect, but it’s working for me right now! Here’s what my process looks like:
- Flights:I check several platforms for general price ranges. I set price alerts and keep myself flexible with dates if possible.
- Accommodation:I just look around for places that seem interesting. Then, I might book something for the first night or two, but leave the rest open.
- Things to Do: This is where I really wanted to keep things loose. I now use a simple note to write down ideas as I find them.I organized notes of the interesting places.
- Basic organization of notes： I just write all the things to prepare. I dont want a lot of notes, so I keep it short.
It’s not fancy, but it’s a HUGE improvement over my old “system” (or lack thereof). I still get to be spontaneous, but I’m not completely clueless when I arrive somewhere new. I saved time and a lot of * felt way better to be at least slightly prepared!
