It’s been a long time since I’ve bought a travel organizer, years in fact.
I can still remember wandering the stacks of my local Barnes and Noble trying to find a perfect holiday gift, finally settling on Abroad by Julianne Balmain. I pored over the book’s witty advice, perfect for my friend, with such sayings as, “Go Zen, grasshopper. Pack Light. Lighter. Really.” and “Found paradise? Stay there and enjoy. There’s no law that says you have to keep your original itinerary.”
But, despite many high points and definite gift potential, I have yet to purchase another travel organizer. Personally I tend to prefer less formal approaches to travel planning, forgoing printed materials for internet searches and friend’s recommendations, flight attendant favorites and advice from taxi drivers, as well as any other ‘experts’ that happen to cross my path.
Thus far, my approach has treated me well. During a recent surfing trip to Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR), my friends and I discovered the most wonderful restaurant through our hotel’s managers, a couple from the Netherlands no less.
We chatted all evening, nibbling on grilled fish on white linen tablecloths by candlelight while listening to the waves crash into the nearby shore… still with sand between our bare toes from the walk over!
What is YOUR travel planning routine, your most helpful or least helpful strategies, tactics and sources? Have you made any New Years Resolutions regarding travel planning? If so, what features could allow Delta to better assist you in planning your next business or leisure trip?
Wishing you all very happy travels in 2008,
Katie
Marketing | delta.com & self-service
January 4th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
If I’m taking a major vacation I figure a few bucks on a good cultural guide and guidebook are cheap compared to the cost of the vacation. If I get a handful of ideas they are worth the money. If I only need a couple sections of the guidebook, I tear them out. I only take the parts I’m likely to use.
I’ve found it’s best to stop for 3-4 days at a location and take day trips out from there. It allows you to get to know the area a bit and take advantage of ideas from locals. If it’s a place with a lot of options, I’ll stay 5-6 days. I’ve left nights open before when doing a road trip. Sometimes you end up in not so great places, other times I’ve ended up at the best place on the trip.
So, I find putting basic structure around the trip, but leaving a good amount of unstructured time to just do what makes sense at the time is the way to go.
As always, you can’t pack to light. I’l also usually have a bag with wine and other things (TP in 3rd world countries) I don’t plan to bring back. It creates a place to hold the stuff you bring back. Otherwise, I pack an empty duffel. It can hold dirty clothes while the goodies are in the good luggage.
January 4th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
If i’m going on a trip two weeks or more, i’ll usually make a “Travel Day Itinerary” both going and coming. I think it makes the process much easier and gives me a heads up as to how much time I have till I have to go to the gate, board, etc. As for on land, I think the best idea is to go by ear. Locals and many front desk agents at hotels know where all the good restaurants and attractions are. I asked where can I find a great Italian restuarant, and the place he told me to go was EXCELLENT! Of course, it doesn’t always work, but for the most part, it’s easy and usually ends up to work in your favor. I’ll never by an actual organizer, I’d prefer to make my own itinerary should I ever want to make one.
January 4th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Maybe Delta should offer a feature to print out a “Travel Day Itinerary” where you would list the time to be at the airport, gate, board, etc. Allow them to select other options like, drop rental car off or stop to eat somewhere, where this would add minutes to the itinerary for additional time to stop and do those things. This way, people can navigate around the airport very easily and efficiently, while making it to their gate in a timely fashion!
January 10th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
We love the suggestions, keep them coming!
Thanks to Brownbag: I really like your idea of packing a bag for things you won’t need to bring back. I think most people underestimate how much they’ll want to take with them when they turn home. Also great idea about tearing out only the travel guide pages you’ll need. Those books can be heavy, especially if you have to pick one up that covers a whole country, instead of one exclusive to the city you’ll be visiting.
Thanks to golich17: Great idea, we’re trying hard to think of ways to further personalize your experience as travelers. What specific information would be most helpful to include in an itinerary? I know suggestions on average wait times in security checkpoints would be helpful to me…
January 10th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Yes, the average waiting time at the security checkpoints would be very helpful, as it gives us an idea of how much time we should set aside for security. Also, maybe you can point out “Delta’s Picks” of restaurants in the terminal that you think are worth eating at, and maybe some shops that you think would be cool to look at. Maybe even put a little map on the bottom, tracing from the check-in lobby to the gate, like a map I guess. I think that would be extremely cool and give us an idea of what you guys think is worth doing during our time in the airport, say during connections.
January 12th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Since I live in Cincinnati, my travel planning includes flying out of Dayton, Indianapolis, Columbus or Louisville, since Delta makes it impossible for anyone in Cincinnati to afford flying out of our hometown.
January 14th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Hi guys,
Nice work on the blog. It’s really coming along nicely. We wrote a 2nd review of the Delta blog on our site. Wanted to make sure you saw it. Your feedback on our feedback is welcome.
~Jim
November 14th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Wow! This is nice.
Someone mentioned an itinerary diary of sorts. I agree.
I have a friend coming in from Russia and continuing on another Delta flight, and I cant figure out Immigrations, customs, baggage check, recheck bags and get on a next plane. What is the sequence of events? Is it deplane, immigration, baggage claim, customs, put baggage on Delta conveyor for connecting flight, and go to connecting flight gate?? I am concerned because my friend speaks zero English. I am sorry if this is not the correct spot to post. Thanks so much.