The instructor asked our class on personality types to divide ourselves into two types of travel planners: 1) Those who are compelled to plan everything in advance including each day’s activities. 2) Those ok with just reserving flights and the first day or two of lodging, and figuring out the rest as they go. The results were funny. Some class members had no trouble picking which group they identify with. Others were hesitant to pick either of two such extremes. But eventually the class divided into the two groups, and then we learned more about each other’s type by sharing traveling philosophies. The detailed planners were aghast that anyone could fly to a vacation spot without at least confirming all lodging ahead of time, and maybe reserve a few more dinners in advance. The spontaneous travelers were horrified that the planners could cage themselves into a rigid daily plan. Most were somewhere in the middle and comfortable with a more balanced approach to planning vacations.
Before that exercise, I had never thought much about what sort of vacation planner I was. But since then I have become more conscious of my approach. I’m definitely more of a planner, but I sometimes show flashes of spontaneity. I do recall a trip to Ireland that involved a smidge more adventurousness. We visited five different locations for two days each. I reserved hotels at four of the spots, but I chose to wing it in northwest Ireland. The reason was that the Fodor’s guide said bed and breakfasts are plentiful in Ireland and it’s dead easy, and even a little cool, to pick one on the fly. We did and it was a delightful experience. But I don’t do something like that often.
In general, I thoroughly research places to stay and things to see and do. I want to find lodging that is not just a place to sleep, but adds to the joy of the travel experience because of its beauty or service or amenities. And I don’t want to miss any of the great sites or activities in the area. I may even reserve a restaurant or two in advance if availability seems limited. But once having reserved the lodging, I’m usually content to wait until we arrive to decide what to do each day. It allows for the extra flexibility of adapting to the mood of the group and incorporating recommendations from the locals.
But I’ve noticed in recent years that even my level of planning can become never-ending if I’m not careful. Researching properties and locales takes longer than it used to because so much more information is available on the web. The routine used to be simpler: buy a Fodor’s travel guide, read the key sections, and then choose hotels and potential activities. Now the research can still include reading a guidebook, but it can easily branch out to scanning a dozen or more web sites to learn facts, see photos, read professional reviews, survey feedback from other travelers, and sometimes even use Google Maps to make sure the hotel with the beautiful photos on their website isn’t actually next to a busy highway. Such is the curse of one who wants to learn everything; the sources of information are practically limitless.
So I’ve learned to temper my need to know. I’m still willing to do adequate research to find a gem of a place to stay and get a feel for the area, but eventually I’ll stop and trust that we’ll also discover new things when we arrive. Part of the fun will always be learning by exploring.
So that’s what I’ve learned about my type of vacation planning. What type are you?