The Joy of Planning
I love planning trips. I mean I REALLY love planning trips. I particularly love to plan big trips. Big, complicated journeys to places I don’t know much about, where I must figure out where to stay, what to see, the best places to eat, how to live like a local. Multi-city trips are the best, where I’m challenged to connect the dots and make the trip work.
Planning a trip can be stressful. Frustrating. Time-consuming. Exhausting. It’s also exciting, exhilarating and immensely gratifying. I love every minute of it. There is nothing like watching your trip come into focus.
I know plenty of people who hate to plan trips. They don’t have the time or patience, or perhaps the interest. They’d prefer someone else do it for them. Hire a travel agent. Book a tour. Find an all-inclusive package with a pre-planned itinerary. That’s all well and good.
For me, though, building the journey from scratch is half the fun. A trip is a puzzle and it’s so satisfying to put all the pieces together. But before that, you have to do your research and find the pieces first. I dive in and dig deep. From start to finish, the planning process is pure joy.
Andalusia, Here We Come!
Right now, I’m in the final phase of planning a ten day family trip to southern Spain… Andalusia (is there a more magical word for a destination?)—to the ancient Moorish cities of Granada, Seville and Cordoba.
I booked our flights last May—nice and early so I could use award miles. Then late last year, I probed the depths of Airbnb in search of three apartments in three cities for three specific windows of time. Somewhat challenging, but I found some gems.
Accommodations set—the real fun begins. Reading travel guides and blogs. Devouring history and mulling over maps. Seeking out famous, must-see sites as well as hidden treasures—and booking reservations where necessary. I lose myself in all of this; in the thrill of possibilities, expectation, anticipation.
As the trip nears, barely a day goes by when I don’t feel a jolt of excitement as a piece of the puzzle fits into place or when I discover some new neighborhood or sight or restaurant or cultural event that I was unaware of and realize, We’re gonna see that. We’re gonna experience that. We will be there for that!
Worth All the Effort
There’s nothing wrong with group tours. And I’m all in for finding an amazing beach resort and staying put for a week.
But somehow piecing together a big trip, making my own informed decisions on every detail— in advance and once there as well—makes the journey extra special and personal and rewarding. It can be hard work. It’s well worth it.