Comments on: Never Underestimate the Power of Researching Your Trip http://www.vagabondish.com/never-underestimate-the-power-of-researching-your-trip/ Dubious tips & essential ephemera for today's curious traveler Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:37:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Nick Page http://www.vagabondish.com/never-underestimate-the-power-of-researching-your-trip/comment-page-1/#comment-6160 Nick Page Wed, 12 Mar 2008 08:41:46 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/never-underestimate-the-power-of-researching-your-trip/#comment-6160 This all depends on how much time (and admittedly - cash) you have on your hands. It takes much less research time to find a good tour operator that can take all the hard work out of it and point you in the right directions. Small boutique operators who send their staff out and do not directionally sell places are the best way of gaining good information. You will get a feel of if they are listening to your requirements pretty much straight away and you will certainly know if they got it right when they send an itinerary and you can base your research on their suggestions. This all depends on how much time (and admittedly – cash) you have on your hands. It takes much less research time to find a good tour operator that can take all the hard work out of it and point you in the right directions. Small boutique operators who send their staff out and do not directionally sell places are the best way of gaining good information. You will get a feel of if they are listening to your requirements pretty much straight away and you will certainly know if they got it right when they send an itinerary and you can base your research on their suggestions.

]]> By: matthew26 http://www.vagabondish.com/never-underestimate-the-power-of-researching-your-trip/comment-page-1/#comment-6129 matthew26 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 17:34:05 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/never-underestimate-the-power-of-researching-your-trip/#comment-6129 i do agree with you. it is better to research for your destination first even before traveling. in that way, you don't have to waste time looking for the place you want to visit.roaming around will just waste your time and you'll end up not enjoying and have not seen at least one decent place you wanted to see. i do agree with you. it is better to research for your destination first even before traveling. in that way, you don’t have to waste time looking for the place you want to visit.roaming around will just waste your time and you’ll end up not enjoying and have not seen at least one decent place you wanted to see.

]]> By: Amanda http://www.vagabondish.com/never-underestimate-the-power-of-researching-your-trip/comment-page-1/#comment-6116 Amanda Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:35:12 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/never-underestimate-the-power-of-researching-your-trip/#comment-6116 My favorite way of researching a destination is to read some great travel literature or a novel that's set in that country/city. They often give me much better ideas of what I'd like to see or do. Not great for last minute planning, but if you have the luxury of a long lead time on your trip, it's perfect. I think it also makes the pleasure of traveling last longer. My favorite way of researching a destination is to read some great travel literature or a novel that’s set in that country/city. They often give me much better ideas of what I’d like to see or do. Not great for last minute planning, but if you have the luxury of a long lead time on your trip, it’s perfect. I think it also makes the pleasure of traveling last longer.

]]> By: Nora Dunn http://www.vagabondish.com/never-underestimate-the-power-of-researching-your-trip/comment-page-1/#comment-6115 Nora Dunn Fri, 07 Mar 2008 07:08:08 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/never-underestimate-the-power-of-researching-your-trip/#comment-6115 @Gary: Absolutely you are right: the internet can be a viable substitute to information you find in a guidebook....assuming you are in a place with easy and inexpensive access. I personally like the tactile pleasures of having a paperback in my hands, and I have generally found that I can pick one up inexpensively second-hand or for free by trading with other travelers who have already been there. And absolutely: just because it's in a guidebook doesn't mean it's the best place to go....as I indicated by using popular locales simply as a place to start. @LeoLaps: Buenos Ares is high on my list of places to visit. Thank you for commenting! @Gary: Absolutely you are right: the internet can be a viable substitute to information you find in a guidebook….assuming you are in a place with easy and inexpensive access.

I personally like the tactile pleasures of having a paperback in my hands, and I have generally found that I can pick one up inexpensively second-hand or for free by trading with other travelers who have already been there.

And absolutely: just because it’s in a guidebook doesn’t mean it’s the best place to go….as I indicated by using popular locales simply as a place to start.

@LeoLaps: Buenos Ares is high on my list of places to visit. Thank you for commenting!

]]> By: Leo Laps http://www.vagabondish.com/never-underestimate-the-power-of-researching-your-trip/comment-page-1/#comment-6113 Leo Laps Fri, 07 Mar 2008 04:01:26 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/never-underestimate-the-power-of-researching-your-trip/#comment-6113 Very good article, Nora! In Buenos Ayres, I had a good example of what you wrote about: in the guidebook I bought, the author described Cafe Tortoni as a tourist trap. But even for a guy like me, who loves to get different outlooks on travellings, it was an amazing place to visit. I didn't feel trapped at all!! Very good article, Nora! In Buenos Ayres, I had a good example of what you wrote about: in the guidebook I bought, the author described Cafe Tortoni as a tourist trap. But even for a guy like me, who loves to get different outlooks on travellings, it was an amazing place to visit. I didn’t feel trapped at all!!

]]> By: Gary http://www.vagabondish.com/never-underestimate-the-power-of-researching-your-trip/comment-page-1/#comment-6093 Gary Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:40:45 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/never-underestimate-the-power-of-researching-your-trip/#comment-6093 Why does research have to be a guidebook? They are expensive and bulky. If you are going to many places, you can spend a small fortune on them. There is plenty of information online and available in every city you visit. Usually, this is the same method that guidebook writers use to research a place. Most places you visit will have a small industry built around letting tourists know about attractions. Moreover, because a guidbook writer happens to do X, Y and Z on their trip doesn't mean it is the best place to go. Most guidebook writers accumulate data, not experiences. Why does research have to be a guidebook? They are expensive and bulky. If you are going to many places, you can spend a small fortune on them.

There is plenty of information online and available in every city you visit. Usually, this is the same method that guidebook writers use to research a place.

Most places you visit will have a small industry built around letting tourists know about attractions.

Moreover, because a guidbook writer happens to do X, Y and Z on their trip doesn’t mean it is the best place to go. Most guidebook writers accumulate data, not experiences.

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