D E C I D E<\/p>
“Nothing happens until you decide.<\/p>
Make a decision and watch your life move forward.\u201d<\/p>
— Oprah Winfrey<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
![\"view](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/handaathomeandaway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/DSC02776-2-o2reh2rqqu3t4srnwodchx43z3oyxbh4en8a1tn7i4.jpg?ssl=1\" "\\"\\"")
\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\tRESOURCES FOR DECIDING<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWHEN<\/div><\/div><\/div>BUDGET<\/div><\/div><\/div>ITINERARY<\/div><\/div><\/div>GROUP SIZE<\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tOne of the best ways to see more of the world is to be flexible about travel dates.\u00a0 To do that, it helps to have 3+\/- travel destinations in mind and know (1) when to go (or not to go) to those destinations, and (2) the travel budget for the trips.<\/p>
WHEN TO GO<\/strong><\/p>To determine when to (and when not to) visit a destination, try consulting the articles under the WHEN TO GO<\/strong><\/a> section below and the following websites:<\/p>- Weather Spark<\/strong><\/span><\/a>:\u00a0 You can browse the <\/span>map<\/span><\/a> or find location-specific information on the \u201c<\/span>best time of year to visit<\/span><\/a>.\u201d\u00a0 In addition to information on temperature, clouds, precipitation, humidity, wind, water temperature, and topography, Weather Spark <\/span>also computes two travel scores for each location:\u00a0 (1) a tourism score that \u201cfavors clear, rainless days with perceived temperatures between 65\u00b0F and 80\u00b0F\u201d; and (2) a beach\/pool score that \u201cfavors clear, rainless days with perceived temperatures between 75\u00b0F and 90\u00b0F.\u201d<\/span><\/li>
- Holiday-Weather.com<\/a><\/strong>:\u00a0 With a focus on maximizing the best weather for your next trip, Holiday-Weather.com provides live weather tracking, weather forecasts, and monthly averages for \u201ctop holiday destinations,\u201d including average high\/low temperatures,\u00a0 day\/night temperatures, rainfall, daily sunshine hours, and sea temperatures.<\/span><\/li>
- Weather & Climate<\/a><\/strong>:\u00a0 This website organizes historic weather data first by continent and then by country and city.\u00a0 Trip planners can also use the <\/span>weather planner tool<\/span><\/a> to filter locations by month, temperature, rain, and sunshine levels according to their preferences.<\/span><\/li>
- Champion Traveler<\/a><\/strong>:\u00a0 With filters for temperature, rain, humidity, and wind, Champion Traveler\u2019s travel weather map lets you identify the best places for any particular week of the year.<\/span><\/li>
- Trip Bucket<\/strong><\/span><\/a>:\u00a0 Trip Bucket\u2019s \u201cBest Time To Go\u201d tool gives you trip ideas by narrowing down the options based on the month(s) selected and the activity planned (beaches; cities; diving; fall foliage; festivals; food, beer & wine; historical, islands; national parks; nature; outdoors; party; shopping; skiing; surfing; and wildlife).<\/span><\/li>
- U.S. News & World Report Worldwide Travel Guides<\/a><\/strong>:\u00a0 U.S. News & World Report has created country-, city-, or attraction-specific guides that include \u201cWhen to Visit\u201d sections.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>
You can also use the tour aggregators listed under the GROUP SIZE<\/strong><\/a> tab (above) to determine popular (and unpopular) travel times.\u00a0 Tour operators tend to know when to sell tours in a particular location.\u00a0 If you don’t find any tours to your destination during a particular time of year, you need to find out why.\u00a0 Will independent travel during that time be cheaper?\u00a0 Yes, it probably will for a very good reason.<\/p><\/div>TRAVEL BUDGET<\/strong><\/p>According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics\u2019 Consumer Expenditure Interview Survey<\/a>, average travel expenditures on domestic and international trips were $583 and $3273, respectively, in 2013.\u00a0 For some retirees, travel is a significant expense (averaging $11,077 a year<\/a>) that has to be budgeted.\u00a0 If you have a limited budget, consider the following suggestions:<\/p>- Identify and prioritize<\/a>\u00a0those trips that are physically demanding and pursue\u00a0senior discounts<\/a>, including (1) AARP membership benefits highlighted in the AARP Travel Center<\/a> for\u00a0hotels<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0car rentals <\/a>to maximize your budget, and (2) the\u00a0National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Series’ annual or lifetime Senior Pass<\/a> for U.S. citizens or permanent resident 62 years or older.\u00a0 See our article on How to Decide Whether to Buy a National Parks Pass<\/a> for more information.<\/li>
- Stay flexible with your destinations <\/a>so that\u00a0you can pick the destination that is the cheapest option for you at any travel time.<\/li>
- Add up the cost per night of the various lodging options to determine if those costs will affect the length of the trip and itinerary.<\/li>
- Check the exchange rate<\/a> to determine whether your money will go much further in one destination over another.<\/li><\/ul>
For tips on how to save money when booking flights and lodging, see the BOOK<\/strong> tab<\/strong> on the AWAY-DO<\/a><\/strong> page.<\/p><\/div>Now you are ready to draft a basic itinerary identifying what you want to do\/see and how many days to devote to your trip including travel and any jet lag time.\u00a0 This part is a lot easier if you are going on a cruise or taking a group tour.\u00a0 If you are thinking of taking a group tour, check out our tour group resources on the GROUP SIZE tab <\/strong>(above).<\/p>RESOURCES FOR ITINERARY PLANNING<\/strong><\/p>A.\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0Interview People<\/span><\/strong><\/p>When someone has just returned from a fun trip, ask them to go out for coffee to see their pictures.\u00a0 You’ll have solid, timely trip planning ideas from someone you know and trust.\u00a0 I also quiz fellow travelers whenever I’m on a group tour and store my notes on my phone using the Google Keep app<\/a>.<\/p>B.\u00a0 <\/strong>Trust the Experts<\/strong><\/span><\/p>While there are many online tools to help you create an itinerary, the plethora of online options, especially for a long\/ambitious itinerary, can be overwhelming.<\/p>
Many of the resources available on the AWAY-DREAM<\/a><\/strong> page will also be helpful for itinerary planning, but you might also consider comparing tour aggregators’ itineraries for small groups even if you don’t plan on going on a tour.\u00a0 For example, we compared ten<\/a> general itineraries of major tours to get a handle on what those companies advertised as the \u201cmust do\u201d sights\/activities in Scotland.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>If you start to spin your wheels when creating your itinerary because there is just too much to see\/do in the allotted time, go to your local library or bookstore and buy a travel guide that ranks destinations.\u00a0 It will be worth every penny.\u00a0 Apparently, the folks at Rick Steves agree and offer a helpful guide comparison here<\/a>.\u00a0 I also think that the 1,000 Places to See Before You Die<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>books can be especially helpful in itinerary planning.<\/p>C.\u00a0 Consult Online Travel Guides<\/span><\/strong><\/p>In addition to local tourism websites for your chosen destination, you can get detailed itinerary planning advice by using the travel guides at the following websites:<\/p>
- AFAR – Travel Magazine and Guide (travel guides)<\/a><\/li>
- Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveler (the places)<\/a><\/li>
- Departures (city guides)<\/a><\/li>
- Fodor’s<\/a><\/li>
- Frommer’s<\/a><\/li>
- Lonely Planet (places)<\/a><\/li>
- Smarter Travel (destinations)<\/a><\/li>
- Travel + Leisure (travel guides)<\/a><\/li>
- tripsavvy (itineraries under destinations)<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
TripAdvisor<\/a> can also be very useful in building your trip itinerary if you don’t get overwhelmed.\u00a0 In addition to reviews, members also contribute to city guides.\u00a0 For example, see this Rome Travel Guide<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0On our AWAY-DREAM<\/a><\/strong> page, we’ve identified some blogs that you might enjoy following.\u00a0 You can search their websites for articles by destination to help with your itinerary planning.<\/p>D.\u00a0 <\/strong>Contact a Travel Advisor<\/strong><\/span><\/p>Just because you can research and book your own trips, doesn’t mean that you should.\u00a0 Although airlines no longer pay commissions to travel agents, travel advisors<\/a> still receive commissions<\/a> from most hotels, cruise lines, car rental companies, and other travel service providers.\u00a0 Therefore, for a trip planning fee, consider\u00a0consulting a trusted travel advisor<\/a> when (1) your plans include large groups, complicated itineraries, expensive international flights<\/a>, or luxury travel<\/a>, and (2) you are interested in saving time, money, and frustration<\/a> by accessing their hotel or cruise line perks<\/a> or their help during your trip when plans fall apart<\/a> due to flight cancelations or other events.<\/p>TIPS ON ITINERARY PLANNING<\/strong><\/p>I (Amy) have been creating itineraries for about 35 years, and my process is still evolving.\u00a0 For many people, the concept of anything more than a loose itinerary is stifling.\u00a0 I do understand the desire to be flexible and for the pace of travel to be enjoyable.\u00a0 The more research that I do at home, however, reduces unnecessary stress on the trip when weather or other factors force us to pivot.<\/p>
Let\u2019s face it, time and money are precious, non-renewable resources that should be spent wisely.\u00a0 If I\u2019m going to spend time researching a computer, I am going to spend a reasonable amount of time researching my trip itinerary that will far exceed the cost of the computer.\u00a0 But that is just me — feel free to wing some or all of your trip if that’s what makes it fun for you.\u00a0 Spontaneous discoveries are some of the best travel memories that you can have!<\/p>
I use my draft itinerary to determine (1) how many days that we want to devote to a particular location or the entire trip, and (2) whether we are interested in joining a group tour.<\/p>
Once we have booked everything, I create a detailed final itinerary:<\/p>
One of the best ways to see more of the world is to be flexible about travel dates.\u00a0 To do that, it helps to have 3+\/- travel destinations in mind and know (1) when to go (or not to go) to those destinations, and (2) the travel budget for the trips.<\/p>
WHEN TO GO<\/strong><\/p> To determine when to (and when not to) visit a destination, try consulting the articles under the WHEN TO GO<\/strong><\/a> section below and the following websites:<\/p> You can also use the tour aggregators listed under the GROUP SIZE<\/strong><\/a> tab (above) to determine popular (and unpopular) travel times.\u00a0 Tour operators tend to know when to sell tours in a particular location.\u00a0 If you don’t find any tours to your destination during a particular time of year, you need to find out why.\u00a0 Will independent travel during that time be cheaper?\u00a0 Yes, it probably will for a very good reason.<\/p><\/div> TRAVEL BUDGET<\/strong><\/p> According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics\u2019 Consumer Expenditure Interview Survey<\/a>, average travel expenditures on domestic and international trips were $583 and $3273, respectively, in 2013.\u00a0 For some retirees, travel is a significant expense (averaging $11,077 a year<\/a>) that has to be budgeted.\u00a0 If you have a limited budget, consider the following suggestions:<\/p> For tips on how to save money when booking flights and lodging, see the BOOK<\/strong> tab<\/strong> on the AWAY-DO<\/a><\/strong> page.<\/p><\/div> Now you are ready to draft a basic itinerary identifying what you want to do\/see and how many days to devote to your trip including travel and any jet lag time.\u00a0 This part is a lot easier if you are going on a cruise or taking a group tour.\u00a0 If you are thinking of taking a group tour, check out our tour group resources on the GROUP SIZE tab <\/strong>(above).<\/p> RESOURCES FOR ITINERARY PLANNING<\/strong><\/p> A.\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0Interview People<\/span><\/strong><\/p> When someone has just returned from a fun trip, ask them to go out for coffee to see their pictures.\u00a0 You’ll have solid, timely trip planning ideas from someone you know and trust.\u00a0 I also quiz fellow travelers whenever I’m on a group tour and store my notes on my phone using the Google Keep app<\/a>.<\/p> B.\u00a0 <\/strong>Trust the Experts<\/strong><\/span><\/p> While there are many online tools to help you create an itinerary, the plethora of online options, especially for a long\/ambitious itinerary, can be overwhelming.<\/p> Many of the resources available on the AWAY-DREAM<\/a><\/strong> page will also be helpful for itinerary planning, but you might also consider comparing tour aggregators’ itineraries for small groups even if you don’t plan on going on a tour.\u00a0 For example, we compared ten<\/a> general itineraries of major tours to get a handle on what those companies advertised as the \u201cmust do\u201d sights\/activities in Scotland.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> If you start to spin your wheels when creating your itinerary because there is just too much to see\/do in the allotted time, go to your local library or bookstore and buy a travel guide that ranks destinations.\u00a0 It will be worth every penny.\u00a0 Apparently, the folks at Rick Steves agree and offer a helpful guide comparison here<\/a>.\u00a0 I also think that the 1,000 Places to See Before You Die<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>books can be especially helpful in itinerary planning.<\/p> C.\u00a0 Consult Online Travel Guides<\/span><\/strong><\/p> In addition to local tourism websites for your chosen destination, you can get detailed itinerary planning advice by using the travel guides at the following websites:<\/p> TripAdvisor<\/a> can also be very useful in building your trip itinerary if you don’t get overwhelmed.\u00a0 In addition to reviews, members also contribute to city guides.\u00a0 For example, see this Rome Travel Guide<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0On our AWAY-DREAM<\/a><\/strong> page, we’ve identified some blogs that you might enjoy following.\u00a0 You can search their websites for articles by destination to help with your itinerary planning.<\/p> D.\u00a0 <\/strong>Contact a Travel Advisor<\/strong><\/span><\/p> Just because you can research and book your own trips, doesn’t mean that you should.\u00a0 Although airlines no longer pay commissions to travel agents, travel advisors<\/a> still receive commissions<\/a> from most hotels, cruise lines, car rental companies, and other travel service providers.\u00a0 Therefore, for a trip planning fee, consider\u00a0consulting a trusted travel advisor<\/a> when (1) your plans include large groups, complicated itineraries, expensive international flights<\/a>, or luxury travel<\/a>, and (2) you are interested in saving time, money, and frustration<\/a> by accessing their hotel or cruise line perks<\/a> or their help during your trip when plans fall apart<\/a> due to flight cancelations or other events.<\/p> TIPS ON ITINERARY PLANNING<\/strong><\/p> I (Amy) have been creating itineraries for about 35 years, and my process is still evolving.\u00a0 For many people, the concept of anything more than a loose itinerary is stifling.\u00a0 I do understand the desire to be flexible and for the pace of travel to be enjoyable.\u00a0 The more research that I do at home, however, reduces unnecessary stress on the trip when weather or other factors force us to pivot.<\/p> Let\u2019s face it, time and money are precious, non-renewable resources that should be spent wisely.\u00a0 If I\u2019m going to spend time researching a computer, I am going to spend a reasonable amount of time researching my trip itinerary that will far exceed the cost of the computer.\u00a0 But that is just me — feel free to wing some or all of your trip if that’s what makes it fun for you.\u00a0 Spontaneous discoveries are some of the best travel memories that you can have!<\/p> I use my draft itinerary to determine (1) how many days that we want to devote to a particular location or the entire trip, and (2) whether we are interested in joining a group tour.<\/p> Once we have booked everything, I create a detailed final itinerary:<\/p>