Comments on: How to Reverse Engineer Your Travel Plans and Make Your Dream Vacation a Reality http://www.vagabondish.com/reverse-engineer-travel-plans-dream-vacation/ The Travelzine for Today's Vagabond Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:42:23 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Jeff http://www.vagabondish.com/reverse-engineer-travel-plans-dream-vacation/comment-page-1/#comment-9654 Jeff Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:20:52 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/?p=3079#comment-9654 I'm not sure if name-dropping is allowed, but the Travel Zoo Top 20 is awesome. We booked an Ireland package a year ago with flight/rental car/accommodations for a week. Granted, these may not be the BOTTOM of the barrel prices, but the trip was well suited to our situation. We had an okay budget, but very little time to plan the trip beforehand. Having the car and a B&B guide to the entire country allowed us to land in Dublin and explore to our hearts content. Another thing I've found handy is checking out guide books from the library (Frommer's, Fodor's, Lonely Planet, etc.). This was you don't have to spend money on the books, and you don't have to shelve them in your home after the trip. You can practically just get them on your way to the airport. I know the internet has tons more info, but the guide books are really handy when internet is not available (on a flight, in a car/train, etc.). This also allows you to plan your trip on the fly if time beforehand is limited. I’m not sure if name-dropping is allowed, but the Travel Zoo Top 20 is awesome. We booked an Ireland package a year ago with flight/rental car/accommodations for a week. Granted, these may not be the BOTTOM of the barrel prices, but the trip was well suited to our situation. We had an okay budget, but very little time to plan the trip beforehand. Having the car and a B&B guide to the entire country allowed us to land in Dublin and explore to our hearts content. Another thing I’ve found handy is checking out guide books from the library (Frommer’s, Fodor’s, Lonely Planet, etc.). This was you don’t have to spend money on the books, and you don’t have to shelve them in your home after the trip. You can practically just get them on your way to the airport. I know the internet has tons more info, but the guide books are really handy when internet is not available (on a flight, in a car/train, etc.). This also allows you to plan your trip on the fly if time beforehand is limited.

]]> By: iain00 http://www.vagabondish.com/reverse-engineer-travel-plans-dream-vacation/comment-page-1/#comment-9612 iain00 Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:33:58 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/?p=3079#comment-9612 I really love this article because i agree with everything you say, it should be gut instinct cheap flights, even just arrive at the airport with bags and choose where to go on the spot. I really love this article because i agree with everything you say, it should be gut instinct cheap flights, even just arrive at the airport with bags and choose where to go on the spot.

]]> By: Carlton http://www.vagabondish.com/reverse-engineer-travel-plans-dream-vacation/comment-page-1/#comment-9561 Carlton Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:08:33 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/?p=3079#comment-9561 Find a series of interests not necessarily located in one place, or around one theme; say, Godchildren in Europe, old friends in New York, a monastery/commune in Syria, volunteer work in the middle of Africa, et cetera. If all of these opportunities involve little fiscal commitment, but allow for long stays, and the serendipity of unplanned events and unanticipated little adventures, then string them together like a garland, find the cheapest means of getting from one gem to the next; and stay with each long enough to surprise yourself... and as you rightfully say "think outside the box" ... and "love the moment"... Leave often your comfort zone. Staying in a backpacker hostel can be as restricting as a Grand Hyatt. Cool things do not have to cost very much, if at all. But one needs to do one's diligence, and make realistic plans, if only to abandon them. Find a series of interests not necessarily located in one place, or around one theme; say,
Godchildren in Europe, old friends in New York, a monastery/commune in Syria, volunteer work in the middle of Africa, et cetera. If all of these opportunities involve little fiscal commitment, but allow for long stays, and the serendipity of unplanned events and unanticipated little adventures, then string them together like a garland, find the cheapest means of getting from one gem to the next; and stay with each long enough to surprise yourself… and as you rightfully say “think outside the box” … and “love the moment”…

Leave often your comfort zone. Staying in a backpacker hostel can be as restricting as a Grand Hyatt. Cool things do not have to cost very much, if at all. But one needs to do one’s diligence, and make realistic plans, if only to abandon them.

]]> By: Hal http://www.vagabondish.com/reverse-engineer-travel-plans-dream-vacation/comment-page-1/#comment-9551 Hal Thu, 16 Apr 2009 03:27:16 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/?p=3079#comment-9551 Weddings are a great example of this. If you're already committed to flying across the country to see your best friend get hitched, might as well bookend the trip with some local tourist attractions. Weddings are a great example of this. If you’re already committed to flying across the country to see your best friend get hitched, might as well bookend the trip with some local tourist attractions.

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