Do you always plan your trip or just let the road guide you?

[JohnZ]

I generally like to plan my trips carefully, but I know of many people who never plan, they just go out there and let the road guide them.
Which approach is better?
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[johnny_mac]

I'm the kind of person who should plan the trip with the constraint of time and other cost (especially gasoline) but a detour sometimes makes the day.

but, given unlimited budget and time, why not, there's still fun out of it.
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[Rhonda]

I have had different kind of holidays. A few times I went with my friends and we have booked a hotel for 2 weeks close to the beach and with a descent partyvibe.

But I have also travelled with not knowing where I would sleep the next day. This was in Australia. It is very easy to travel in Australia, so I didn't have to worry about not finding a place to stay. Sometimes I booked tours a couple of weeks ahead, but sometimes just a day before. I loved the feeling of freedom and that anything you want can happen. The lonely planet really helped me out though.
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[robertb]

When I went backpacking for a year I very rarely booked in advance, usually I just visited recommended hostels and had no trouble finding space.
I was only caught out 3 times.

Once in Tahiti I needed a room for one night, but all the options I found were way too expensive, so I slept in the airport - very uncomfortable.

Once in Puerto San Julian in Argentina when I arrived late on Valentines night - I hadn't noticed the date. I visited pretty much every hotel and there before finally finding one with a room after about 2 hours of looking.

And in Santa Elena de Uairén in Venezuela when I turned up at Easter weekend, which is obviously massive in S. America. Didn't find anywhere, so hopped on an overnight bus to Caracas and flew to Trinidad to visit a friend.

So, in summary, I would say booking ahead isn't really necessary, unless going on popular holidays, or if you are visiting somewhere with limited options or have particular requirements, e.g. I'd booked club med in advance in Bora Bora (it's sadly now shut).
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[Los Chilenos]

I definitely plan to set off......

The rest, when on the move, can be unpredictable at times, so don't set a schedule in stone or you could be sorry about lack of flexibility.
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[himadventures]

It is better to plan unless someone is hardcore adveturer and so self confident that he/she can handle himself/herself in unkown regions of the planet.

Although net is great source of information but still it is better to plan well where we are going.
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[BlackEyes]

Well, I always plan it specially if it has to be a long distance trip. For everything to work out smooth, plans are needed. But of course there are a lot of spontaneous unplanned trips too. Specially if its with the friends or family. Sometimes when we reach a destination and see some kind of cool place to visit, on spur of the moment, we are there. Its fun to be adventurous but still pays to be careful in planning.
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[Kieran_M]

I planned my last few trips abroad, but there is nothing like having the freedom of not having to stick to an itinerary.

To be truly free in your travel though you need financial freedom (ie a fair bit of money in the bank).

Personally I'm saving to do a trip from Istanbul to Cape Town, and some of it will be planned (Cairo-Tanzania). The second section (Tanzania-Cape Town) will be sorted out when we get there!
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[Leospencer]

its better to have plans and be ready in case something do not go on your way also. Make sure that when you plan your trip you'll enjoy it so even there came a circumstances your are prepare.
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[Sarah2010]

Hello everyone!

I'm a zero plan traveller. Actually more than once I have just pup on the plane with out even knowing where to pass the night. So far no big problems, just lot's of adventures, and anyway, things that might have seen awful at the time, are just a big laugh now.

Sarah!

[mpprh]

For my very first trip abroad, I planned hotels, fuel stops, routes, restaurants, driving times, etc.

Of course, I saw something fascinating on the first day, and then was on my own. And I liked it. I now plan as little as possible.

Other than the flights, I've winged it since in : US (Route 66 and PCH), Singapore/Malaysia/Thailand/Indonesia, Australia, Caribbean island hopping, Morocco, Egypt, and most of Europe. For 25+ years it made a good break from the rigid planning of business travel.

I've learned that if things go tits up (say fog or ice block a mountain road) and you have low expectations - you are usually pleasantly surprised by how well things turn out. Difference between being a traveller and a tourist ?


Peter
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[Sarah2010]

Hi everyone!

Mpprh has a point. The less you plan usually drives you to amazing surprises. I would say the reason is that when you plan a trip you always include the turistic things, things that everyone else has done before, but if you don't plan anything you can still go to the turistic things and, because is inevitable to speak to the locals, you will find yourself discovering unique things that are not seen by every tourist on the road. Besides having your timetable open to variations of any kind also permits you to enjoy the maximun of whatever you do.

Sarah

[LianneL]

Holidays that I have been on in the past have been planned..but im a great believer that the best things happen when you don't plan them! So i would love to book a flight anywhere and see where I end up at the end of it! It's good to be spontaneous sometimes

[vinay]

road guides me n I guide myself along the road..

[lotramar]

I usually plan everything when I travel with my family.
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