Be thankful, grateful, patient, charitable, kind, and don’t forget to smile, as it is infectious. God Bless America and Protect Our President and Military
- Define budget and destination along with pace and best times and weather to visit.
- Lock in flights and accommodations. Using travel guides and Google searches for the best travel websites, Travel Agents can greatly assist in providing itinerary brochures, help with currency exchanges, and more. Search for the best prices on airfares, hotels, and the like using online sites, e.g., Trivago, Expedia, Priceline, Trip Advisor, or the now-popular AI sites like Navan Edge, Gemini, ChatGPT, etc.
- Organize your itinerary by grouping activities in regard to geographic region, and personal preferences or capabilities, while also considering any physical or dietary restrictions.
- Use Google Maps to help you visualize and plan sights, museums, restaurants, World Heritage Organization sites, to avoid crisscrossing and the like.
- Fill in the blank hours of your day at each itinerary location of your day by doing things in the immediate neighborhood of your scheduled anchor (Hotel, B & B, Motel)
- Store plans on your phone using apps like TripIt or Google Doc.
- Leave room for spontaneity by not packing your schedule from dawn to dusk. Allow time to get lost, linger in a local cafe, or take in some recommendations from the locals you meet.
Remember, the more time you spend researching and asking questions, the more comfortable you will feel as you head out the door. Take the time to research and ask questions before you go; this will help you feel more confident and ensure a successful trip. Once everything is prepared, plan your adventure and have fun!
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