Yes I normally do. But I also choose my destination from word of mouth from relatives and friends who have travelled. I am planning a trip to NewZealand in a couple of months, my Father has just arrived home from a four week trip there and from his stories and photos I can't wait to see it for myself. I also use the internet a lot to do research on different countries plus to book or see different holiday plans.
I think you have to research a place to get the most out of it. I usually buy one or two books about every place I go to. If it is a city, I use the google map PC client, since I can see a 3-D view of the city and find out where to get the best skyline shots. I do some research on the internet too. Basically I try to learn all I can about a place. But I rarely plan every single step of my trip. I usually only like to know the options when gettings somewhere, but I also like to be flexible.
We definitely do our "homework" before we go on vacation. We'll try to find the sights and places that interest us the most, how we best get there, what we might need, that kind of stuff. Once we get there though, we play it by ear and also try to find out about things that might not be so touristy.
It's a bit different when we go on road trips. For those, we decide on a starting point, obviously, and where we will end the trip and we decide on a rough route. But we usually end up adding stops and dropping others. We rarely book hotels in advance but usually call during the day when we know were we are going. The only exception are big cities, like say NYC, were we might not get anything without a reservation.
Usually by the time I've settled on a destination, I've already learned a lot about it just from talking to people, reading books and magazines, and browsing on the web. I have some idea of what I want to do, and where I want to go. A couple of hours before arriving, I dig out my guidebook and try to decide where to look for a room.
I do research just so I know what places are around that I might what to visit and the times things are open and the cost of admissions. I just find it easier over all. The internet makes it alot easier to research.
I do research just so I know what places are around that I might what to visit and the times things are open and the cost of admissions. I just find it easier over all. The internet makes it alot easier to research.
With the Internet, it is so easy to find information. It's always best to prepare yourself. Go to www.ricksteves.com and you can get an abundance of info there.
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Yes I normally do. But I also choose my destination from word of mouth from relatives and friends who have travelled. I am planning a trip to NewZealand in a couple of months, my Father has just arrived home from a four week trip there and from his stories and photos I can't wait to see it for myself. I also use the internet a lot to do research on different countries plus to book or see different holiday plans.
I think you have to research a place to get the most out of it. I usually buy one or two books about every place I go to. If it is a city, I use the google map PC client, since I can see a 3-D view of the city and find out where to get the best skyline shots. I do some research on the internet too. Basically I try to learn all I can about a place. But I rarely plan every single step of my trip. I usually only like to know the options when gettings somewhere, but I also like to be flexible.
Andre
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Well I have to admit I am not one to research ahead of time. I am more of a spur of the moment type of person. I never plan ahead of time.
We definitely do our "homework" before we go on vacation. We'll try to find the sights and places that interest us the most, how we best get there, what we might need, that kind of stuff. Once we get there though, we play it by ear and also try to find out about things that might not be so touristy.
It's a bit different when we go on road trips. For those, we decide on a starting point, obviously, and where we will end the trip and we decide on a rough route. But we usually end up adding stops and dropping others. We rarely book hotels in advance but usually call during the day when we know were we are going. The only exception are big cities, like say NYC, were we might not get anything without a reservation.
Usually by the time I've settled on a destination, I've already learned a lot about it just from talking to people, reading books and magazines, and browsing on the web. I have some idea of what I want to do, and where I want to go. A couple of hours before arriving, I dig out my guidebook and try to decide where to look for a room.
I do research just so I know what places are around that I might what to visit and the times things are open and the cost of admissions. I just find it easier over all. The internet makes it alot easier to research.
With the Internet, it is so easy to find information. It's always best to prepare yourself. Go to www.ricksteves.com and you can get an abundance of info there.