Navigate Your Itinerary - PLAN 4 of 4

Create a detailed itinerary.

Think of this as your emergency plan if don't have access to your phone. It highlights things you don't want to miss as well as quick access to info for some of the bonus maybe spots at your destination. 

Start with the dates of your trip. Then fill in what you know like flights and lodging. Next add in your highest priorities from what you identified in step 3, when you arranged your list. Now take a step back and decide what else you can add in without going over your financial, time, and energy budgets.

Add all the details: flight numbers, confirmation codes, addresses, phone numbers, directions, reminders. I also add additional ideas and options for if time allows. If we are going somewhere for the first time or are on a tight schedule, I also include very detailed step by step transportation instructions including time estimations, number of stops, route numbers, etc. We only need to rely on it until we get used to the public transportation system in that area.

Review and finalize. This is a good time to catch any potential errors that could cause problems while you are on your trip. Everyone that will go on the trip should look over the itinerary and make sure it includes all necessary information and meets everyone's needs. Discuss with your travel partners and adjust as needed until you have created the final version of your itinerary. Print a copy for everyone to keep in a safe space.

It may seem like a lot of work, but having all your information in one place will save you time and stress while on your trip. It also helps everyone on the trip to be on the same page about the activities. It helps everyone plan what to pack and what to expect. I also like to use it as a guide when I'm preserving memories after the trip with scrapbooks and photo albums.

Example Format:

Date - Summary of the Day

Reservations or things your are going to do

Optional Activities

Reminders

Thursday, July 11 - Exploring Venice, Italy

6:15 am Breakfast at hotel (included)

6:45 am Walk to Quarto d’Altino station

6:55 am Regionali train #3432 to Venezia Santa Lucia 

(Ride 2 stops/26 min, exit after Venezia Mestre)

Follow signs for Canal Grande and walk to Ferrovia St. Lucia terminal

7:34 am ACTV 5.1 water bus, toward Lido, to San Zaccaria - E, F 

(Ride 4 stops/25 min, exit after Zattere)

8:45 am Meet at Riva degli Schiavonovi, 4182, by statue of a man on a horse at the San Zaccaria vaporetto stop, in front of the lagoon. Guides will have a City Wonders sign.

9:00 am - 2:00 pm Murano & Murano Guided Tour by Private Boat

2:00 pm Wander, explore, eat, drink, soak up the beauty that is Venice, Italy! 

Food ideas:

All’Arco or Aricicchetti Bakaro (on street Campo dei tolentini) Cicchetti (Tapas)

Baccala Mantecatto (Norwegian white fish)

Bepe or Dal Moros pasta to go

Fritto Misto - fried fish street food

Pizza Al vola 

Tiramisu Mercanti

Dorona wine

Spritz Select (red drink similar to Aperol spritz)

Ombre = small glass of wine

Train back to Quarto d’Altino Station (last train 11:00 pm)

This kind of planning isn't for everyone or for every trip, but for more complex trips I do feel like the effort you put in significantly adds to the overall enjoyment of the experience. The itinerary is a plan but it does not mean that you aren't going to go off the plan if something different comes along. That is part of the fun of traveling!

The 4 page, color coded, masterpiece you see above was for our first trip to Europe in 2008. Apparently, I used to have time to cut and paste little Metro line icons...