I am frankly obsessed with traveling, but I have to say, the excitement and anticipation of planning are nearly as much fun as the actual trip. The maps, the tour books, the travel blogs! And I refuse to let little things like finances get in the way of my addiction. To be clear, I am on a tight-ish budget, but I'm willing to scrimp, save and Google my little heart out for deals and discounts. The thrill of the hunt and planning for a trip can keep me happily occupied and nattering away over details for months. I try not to inflict the minutiae on my generally patient family, so this will be a fine repository for all those brilliant discoveries and plans, with the hope that you will find them useful.
Although I love to map out a working itinerary, with activities and restaurant ideas, I insist on leaving a few days with little or no preplanned destinations so we can meander about and discover those little unexpected surprises. I think it's great to have options -- if you see there are two restaurants you'd like to try near the Eiffel Tower, save the info for both. You never know when places might close unexpectedly, or get a massive influx from a tourist bus just as you are strolling up. A backup plan is always handy and usually not too difficult to move on to your other choice. Which reminds me that being flexible and rolling with it are essential to a great trip. I have found some of the most darling cafes, shops and interesting sites when I was forced to revise my plans due to weather or unforeseen circumstances. (A propensity for getting lost was inherited from my dear departed mother, and she taught me to be resilient when going around that roundabout for the third or fourth time.)
So get it those maps and bookmark your favorite travel websites. It's time to plan this trip!
