Comments on: Planned or Spontaneous Travel: How My New South Wales Trip Panned Out

By: Amanda Kendle

Amanda Kendle — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:31:47 +0000

@ Gary, sorry, didn’t mean to sound anti-eastern-states! I didn’t mention it but we did get out on gorgeous Sydney Harbour and even camped out there on Cockatoo Island, so my husband would agree that you’re right – he loved the harbour. (and camping out there was fantastic – so quiet!)

By: Gary Schliemann

Gary Schliemann — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:33:40 +0000

Nice piece, though I think your hubby may have missed the point of the advice to “Take a ferry out to Manly Beach”. The beaches may be “better back on the west coast”, but, as in the best travel, the journey itself is the point. The ferry ride on Sydney Harbour is a true travel gem.

By: Amanda Kendle

Amanda Kendle — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 08:02:07 +0000

@ Jody – good point – if I’m going somewhere really new to me then I also do a stack of research – kind of like creating my own guidebook. But there’s no day-by-day plan or anything. Sounds like we’re similar!

@ brian – I agree, getting ideas from locals and other travelers often gets you to the most interesting spots.

By: brian from nodebtworldtravel.com

brian from nodebtworldtravel.com — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:39:15 +0000

I’m right with you. I’ve stopped buying guide books and mapping out every second of a trip. I find I get taken off course anyway. Know how the local transportation works (or doesn’t work) get some free brochures and start talking to locals and fellow travelers alike. You’ll come up with more than enough ideas.

By: Jody Broyles

Jody Broyles — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:40:04 +0000

Hola Amanda,

I usually do a lot of research, (That’s because I like doing research) but I don’t plan. I take the research with me as a resource and then my husband and I decide what we would like to do from that. But, there have been many wonderful trips where I’d just chuck the research and we’d happily invent itineraries as we go. The important thing is being there NOW, isn’t it?!

By: Amanda Kendle

Amanda Kendle — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 10:07:22 +0000

@Nattyb, cool, the planning is half the fun!

@Misty, you’re welcome. I agree – little bit planned, not overly planned – definitely the way to go. Sometimes convincing your travel companions not to plan too much can be tricky though.

By: Misty Faucheux

Misty Faucheux — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 20:00:41 +0000

Great advice. I like to have a little bit of a plan, but not overly planned. Because then you feel disappointed that you didn’t make it to such and such place. I’m kind of in the middle. I want a little bit of a plan, but not overly planned.

Thanks for advice!

Misty Faucheux

By: Nattyb

Nattyb — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:21:05 +0000

Sounds excellent. I’m gonna need some help planning a trip like that!