How do you decide how to spend your vacation time?
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 28,242
"Where should I go in xxx" in Google typically turns up dozens of results, from Tripadvisor/Fodor through independent reviews, personal trip reports, etc.
E.g - I just came back from Iceland. "Where should I go in Iceland" turns up 170,000 hits, including
Top Ten Things To Do In Iceland The Dohop Blog
Day 64: Ten Reasons Why You Should Go to Iceland Now
Places to Visit in Iceland | Iceland Travel | Rough Guides
Seven Things to Do in Iceland | Nomadic Matt's Travel Site
Five Things I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Iceland
Things to do in Iceland - Lonely Planet
What to do in Iceland | Iceland Activity | Iceland Adventure
etc., etc., etc.
E.g - I just came back from Iceland. "Where should I go in Iceland" turns up 170,000 hits, including
Top Ten Things To Do In Iceland The Dohop Blog
Day 64: Ten Reasons Why You Should Go to Iceland Now
Places to Visit in Iceland | Iceland Travel | Rough Guides
Seven Things to Do in Iceland | Nomadic Matt's Travel Site
Five Things I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Iceland
Things to do in Iceland - Lonely Planet
What to do in Iceland | Iceland Activity | Iceland Adventure
etc., etc., etc.
#5
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: BAEC Silver, SPG Gold
Posts: 465
How do you decide how to spend your vacation time?
I search blogs both travel and food, look at tripadvisor for activities and check out Viator. After all of that I research private guides tours and reach out on twitter too for suggestions.
#6
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: CAE/SDF/OBE snowbird
Programs: Up there, Route 36 LaPaz Diamond
Posts: 66
For Ideas - Google and some of the many magazines we are subscribed to AFAR/Travel+Leisure/Sunset etc...
For Lodging - awardmapper.com and using yelp/tripadvisor for reviews
For Food - Yelp app/website
For Lodging - awardmapper.com and using yelp/tripadvisor for reviews
For Food - Yelp app/website
Last edited by CarolinaCoopers; Jul 27, 14 at 12:21 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Platinum, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 29,350
I often find travel deals, and then decide if it's worthwhile going. I've booked tickets to some pretty strange places, and then figured the rest out.
For instance I just booked a $217 RT to MEX, and will figure out the rest of the trip in the next week. While I've connected there, I've never actually spent any time there.
For instance I just booked a $217 RT to MEX, and will figure out the rest of the trip in the next week. While I've connected there, I've never actually spent any time there.
#9
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SAT
Programs: DL GM, AA Gold, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Gold, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 5,766
How do you decide how to spend your vacation time?
I do many of the aforementioned things, but I'll also throw in a plug for the Destinations forum on FT. It sometimes requires some searching, but you can often find others' itineraries and the critiques they were given.
#10
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: YVR
Programs: OZ Diamond, Jiffypark Manhattan Gold
Posts: 4,338
I really like Lonely Planet travel guides, great content, good insight, seemingly honest opinions, good formatting and pretty solid value for the most part. Some are also a bit more tailored to the niche as well with the "on a shoestring" guides.
That said, I don't rely on them at all, I'll often carry one, do a bunch of research before the trip (if it's that kinda trip) then just scope things out when I get there.
When it comes to short trips, I just hit the ground and walk. I like to go to Canucks games on the road so I'll research where the arena is, how to get there cheapest and somewhere to stay. Anything beyond that is usually just either stuff I've heard of or totally random. I do the same thing on day trips in Colombia, I'm familiar with Medellin but I like to venture and check out other cities so I just ask a cabbie or bus driver to take me downtown, then I start walking from there.
That said, I don't rely on them at all, I'll often carry one, do a bunch of research before the trip (if it's that kinda trip) then just scope things out when I get there.
When it comes to short trips, I just hit the ground and walk. I like to go to Canucks games on the road so I'll research where the arena is, how to get there cheapest and somewhere to stay. Anything beyond that is usually just either stuff I've heard of or totally random. I do the same thing on day trips in Colombia, I'm familiar with Medellin but I like to venture and check out other cities so I just ask a cabbie or bus driver to take me downtown, then I start walking from there.
#11
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 67
I usually start with a map, to get the lay of the land and see if anything interesting jumps out. After that I narrow down to types of activities or places and do multiple searches for reviews, trip reports, and the individual vendor websites.
#12
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: LHR- ish
Programs: MUCCI, BA Blue
Posts: 4,295
There's this website called flyertalk...
Otherwise Lonely Planet guides, trip advisor and advice from anyone else who's been. Places to eat I generally just wander round the area to see what looks nicest (though oddly enough I keep finding the best place is the one opposite the hotel).
Otherwise Lonely Planet guides, trip advisor and advice from anyone else who's been. Places to eat I generally just wander round the area to see what looks nicest (though oddly enough I keep finding the best place is the one opposite the hotel).
#14
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,784
I look at a map to find places that have the best hiking or biking and also have the lowest chance of anyone speaking English. The last thing I want to see on a trip is someone else from North America or Europe, as it would defeat the purpose of traveling.