I get easily carried away when planning a big trip. I spend countless hours researching, hoping to find the the perfect spots for us. The hotels and restaurants we choose, against the backdrop of our destination, set the stage for our trip. My family does best with a well-planned trip. And I can admit it; I am a bit of a control freak.
I’m currently planning a big trip abroad for this summer. Pre-covid, we tried to go to Europe every summer, but, like many, we are now planning our first trip there in 3 years. My research skills are a little rusty. I’ve probably already spent about 20 hours researching and I feel I haven’t even scratched the surface!
While it might go without saying, having a well informed and helpful travel advisor is invaluable in the planning process. But it comes as no surprise to people who know me that I like to do my own research and then bounce specific questions off of a professional. I used to work primarily with American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts, but now work with a Virtuoso advisor and get basically the same amenities. But more importantly, I get an advisor who knows me personally, and can advise me accordingly.
So where do I begin when planning a trip? Here are some of my favorite research tools:
Tripadvisor
This is usually my first stop when researching hotels and restaurants. I try to read as many reviews as I can and I look to see if the reviewer has written several reviews. After a while, you can fairly easily determine fake reviews; either ones that are clearly biased in favor or trolls looking to harm a business. I never rely on someone who has only one or 2 reviews under their names!
What do I look for? Well to begin, a rating of 4.5 and above. Are the recent reviews mostly positive or negative. Is the hotel/restaurant resting on its laurels or does it get better and better with time? I can search the reviews by keyword- are the rooms quiet? Or are the walls paper thin? There is even a section for hotel room tips.
Once I’ve narrowed down the selection, I love sites like The Telegraph UK for hotel reviews. You need a subscription to get this publication, but if you run a hotel search and the Telegraph has reviewed it, the review pops up for free.
Tripadvisor is also a great planning tool to discover interesting things to do on trips that I might not otherwise think of. It helped me find a fabulous Barcelona Ebike Photography Tour, which was one of the highlights of that trip.
Fodor’s Forums
Fodor’s is perhaps the most helpful source of information if you have a specific question. You can search for the answer or simply ask it and you are almost guaranteed to receive responses directly to your questions and usually by well-versed travelers. The real beauty of this site is that the people on them tend to really know the specific areas of interest.
I found this site when I was researching our first trip to Anguilla for my husband’s 40th birthday. I had never been and had a thousand questions. I learned so much about the island that I fell in love with it before even stepping foot on it. Which is why we keep coming back!
I am both a researcher and a contributor on this site. At one point I contributed so much that some of my comments appeared in a few Fodor’s printed guides!
If you’re on these sites, you tend to some across many of the same people commenting and advising and you begin to trust their insights. This is a really helpful tool.
Friends
Friends who know your likes and dislikes are the best resources for information. And usually the most fun.
I have bugged one particular friend quite a bit for this upcoming trip to the south of France. I know he has been, I know his tastes run similar to ours and he knows us. His recommendations have been invaluable to me.
Another friend convinced me to extend our stay in Capri, despite my misgivings. Her recommendations helped make it one of our best trips yet and the subject of my very first blog post!
I love when people ask me for help or opinions on a trip! ! It’s what inspired me start writing this blog. I hope my friend feels the same way – although I would guess that my last 20 questions may have tested his patience!
Concierge Recommendations
As I mentioned in an earlier blog about Dos and Donts, establishing a relationship with the concierge at your hotel can be very beneficial. Not only can they recommend the best restaurants etc the relationship you create can help you once you are there.
Tripit
The Tripit app is the best way I’ve found to keep all this information in one place and organized. It also is a handy reference for when people ask me for advice on trips I’ve taken.
There are other sites which are very helpful but require a subscription. Andrew Harper and Indagare are two excellent ones, especially if would rather an itinerary be set out for you.
No matter which route you choose, I hope you enjoy planning your next journey!
