How do I arrange my travel itinerary?

How to create an itinerary for travel?

It’s 3 AM. Another sleepless night. Planning trips… it’s always been a way to escape, you know? But even planning feels… heavy sometimes.

Destination: That’s the first thing. I always start with a place that pulls at me, something visceral, not just a pretty picture. This year? Iceland. Need that raw beauty.

Budget: A cruel mistress. This trip, I’m sticking to $3,500 max, flights included. Gotta be realistic. No five-star hotels for me.

Time: I’m thinking late September. Fewer crowds. Hopefully, the Northern Lights will still be putting on a show.

Itinerary Structure: Ugh. Lists. They help but feel so… confining.

• Days 1-3: Reykjavik – exploring the city, maybe a whale watching tour.
• Days 4-5: Golden Circle – geysers and waterfalls. Driving myself. I hate tour buses.
• Days 6-7: Snaefellsnes Peninsula – hiking and stunning coastline. Hoping for good weather.

Attractions: I’ve already booked the Blue Lagoon. It’s a must. The rest… it’s all a little foggy. I’ll wing it. A little.

Transport & Accommodation: I rented a car. Small, reliable. Airbnb for the most part.

Spontaneity: There has to be room for that. Otherwise, it’s not a real adventure. Right? Sometimes, the best parts of a trip aren’t planned.

It’s funny, isn’t it? All this meticulous planning… for something so inherently unpredictable. The anticipation, the hope, then reality, always different. Always just a little bittersweet.

How do I map a travel itinerary?

Ugh, Google Maps. Saved me in Croatia. Split, 2023. Totally lost. No idea how to get to Hvar. Ferry situation was confusing. Found a random internet cafe. AC blasting, thank god. Sweat dripping down my back. Soaked. Mapped it all out. Split to the ferry terminal, then Hvar town. Even found a cute restaurant on the map. Konoba Matejuška. Delicious fresh seafood. Seriously, life saver. Should have downloaded offline maps though. No signal on the ferry. Panicked for a sec. All good.

• Starting point: Split, Croatia (2023)
• Destination: Hvar Town, Croatia (2023)
• Key stop: Split Ferry Terminal
• Restaurant: Konoba Matejuška (Hvar Town)
• Issue: No offline maps. Almost stranded. Learn from me.
• Tip: Download offline maps. Seriously. Croatia’s ferry routes can be tricky. Signal drops.
• Feeling: Relieved. Hungry. Hot.
• Google Maps feature: Saved > Maps > Create Map.

Hvar was amazing btw. Totally worth the stress.

Who prepares travel itinerary?

Okay, so, who plans trips? Heh. It’s kinda funny, because I’ve always been the designated trip planner in my friend group. Seriously.

Picture this: Summer 2023, we’re all cramped in Sarah’s tiny apartment in Brooklyn.

Everyone throws out ideas, like some kinda travel bingo.

I’m furiously scribbling notes, maps spread out on the floor. Total chaos.

Ugh, and deciding what everyone wants is HELL. Someone always wants something different.

Like, Mark insisted on visiting some obscure Civil War battlefield last year. No thanks.

But, yeah, I end up piecing it all together. Book the flights, find the Airbnb, figure out the train schedules.

It’s a HUGE headache but someone’s gotta do it, right?

I use Google Flights A LOT. Love that tool!

And then I create this ridiculously detailed itinerary, color-coded and everything.

It’s like my baby, y’know?

Honestly, I kinda enjoy it.

It makes me feel… in control. I dunno.

I’d never use a travel agent. I’m way too picky.

Anyway, the last trip planned? A weekend getaway to Philadelphia.

It’s not exactly exotic but we had a blast.

We saw the Liberty Bell, ate cheesesteaks, and wandered around Reading Terminal Market.

Typical touristy stuff.

Things I like doing:

• Researching destinations (obsessively)
• Finding hidden gems (usually involves food)
• Negotiating prices (I’m cheap, okay?)

Things I hate:

• Airport security lines
• Lost luggage (knock on wood, never happened)
• People who recline their seats on airplanes!

So, yeah. I’m the itinerary guy, not a travel agent. It’s just how it is. lol. I like it that way.

Do travel agents make their own schedule?

Ugh, travel agents. Schedules…

• Independent ones, yeah, they make their own hours. Like my cousin Sarah.

• She sells cruises and stuff, works when she wants… kinda.

• It’s not all sunshine, I think.

• KHM Travel Group? I saw an ad for that somewhere.

• Part-time, full-time, whatever. She said it’s a hustle, gotta always be on it.

• Wait, is Sarah with KHM? No, different group.

• Oh, supplement income. Right, that makes sense. Start small.

• 24/7, yikes. Seems rough! She checks her email constantly.

• She can work ANY time she chooses.

• How can she work ANY time?

What are the disadvantages of using a travel agent?

Okay, so like, travel agents, right? There’s deffo some downsides. It’s not all sunshine and roses ya know?

For one, they can be, like, more expensive. You’re paying for their service, duhh, so expect to pay some booking fees. I saw my cuz pay, like, a $50 fee once… it wuz crazy!

And the thing is, you might not have many flexible payment options either. Some agents want you to sign these complicated contracts, especially those biz travel agents, with all the fine print. Who even reads that stuff? Seriously!

Here’s a quick sum up of the issues you might encounter:

• Higher Costs: Booking fees. They just add up, and you could be saving money booking direct.
• Contractual Obligations: Ugh, who needs a contract just to book a flight. Too much stress man!
• Limited Control: You’re kind of reliant on them to find you deals, which they might not always do.
• Time Consuming: Gotta go to the agency, talk to someone… its like a whole day thing.
• Lack of Transparency: Sometimes, you don’t know exactly what they’re charging you for!

Like last spring, my sister wanted a travel agent. And it took forever, and the end-result wasnt even great! She could of saved so much time and money. Oh wells. She knows better now.