There are a lot of things that can make up a great trip, but there’s only one that can make a trip great: a list.
We’re not talking about an itinerary. That blueprint for where and when you’ll be at a particular location. What we’re looking at is actually a bit less work to build and much more useful.
The first step is to do away with the ‘when’ part of the itinerary.
This is not to say that time isn’t a factor when traveling. Not everyone has the luxury to be out and about for as long as they wish. But building a travel timetable is a surefire way to inject unwanted stress into your travels. But how will you see everything if you don’t keep track of time? You might not, but you should ask yourself, do you want to see everything or do you want to experience everything?
Most people travel for experiences. We go out and see the world to immerse ourselves in culture, to get a sense of history, and to engage with new people and ideas. People don’t visit a Taiwanese night market just to say they’ve been there, they go to take in the sights, smells, and sounds. They go to reflect and engage. Would you consider a quick walk from one end of the market to the other an actual visit? When it comes to travel, quality is more important than quantity. A timetable doesn’t matter. Yes, you might not see every single thing, but you will experience far more.
With this in mind, here’s a suggestion. Make a list of all the things you wish to do on your next trip. Next, estimate how much time you’d really like to spend at each one. Don’t take into account any of the other items on the list, just focus on one at a time. This may take some research, that’s fine. You’ll soon discover what places and activities are most important to you. If you only think you’d spend an hour touring the Colosseum but several hours inside the Vatican museums, it can lend some perspective as to what you really want to do.
This does not mean things that take less time are less valuable. You’ll need to go over the list again and adjust priority based on desire. But knowing how much time you wish to make for something can tell you if it’s on your list because it’s something you want to do or because ‘it’s just what you do when you’re there.’
However, you still want to keep the entire list on hand. Sometimes things are closed or you find some extra time. Those situations are perfect opportunities for the lower priority activities to fill the gap. The goal here is to create a list of things you wish to do prioritized not by time but by personal value from the promised experience. It’s true you may see less than with a strict itinerary, but you will have far more memorable experiences.
The great thing about a list without the time-related baggage of an itinerary is its flexible nature. This flexibility allows you to swap in and out ideas with no fuss. If you remove one thing you don’t need to find a similar thing to replace it. You’re not trying to fill a 30-minute spot, you’re just prioritizing the best things you want to do. No strict rules can make experience lists perfect for crowdsourcing.
Sometimes you know exactly what you want to do, but sometimes you don’t. Maybe the location is new to you or you’ve run out of ideas for things to see. Reaching out to friends, family, and the online communities you belong to can be a great source for filling (or refilling) up your list. Set up some time with a friend who has previously been to your destination and get some suggestions for what they think you’d like. If you want answers faster, try posting your list online and allow people to submit suggestions.
For some people, this is a great way to begin a list, especially for places they’ve never been or thought they’d ever visit. Also, allowing others to help get your list started or add to it can greatly reduce the pre-travel stress of planning. Travel websites can also be a source for building a great list, but they often make money promoting things that may not be in your best interest. For the best results, stick to friends, family, and online communities.
A list of experiences is great, but don’t stop there. Use this list as your central planning tool for your adventure. It’s the first place you look when you’re out in the field, so make sure it’s able to answer the right questions. When you’re somewhere new, the last thing you want to be doing is juggling travel books, maps, papers, and apps on your phone. This only leads to stress and confusion. Ideally, you’ll want to keep everything in one place. Your phone (or even a tablet) is great for this.
You can even take it a step further. Don’t just pull all of the relevant resources into your phone, pull them into your list. Add hours of operation, contact info, and addresses to your list items. Even copying and pasting maps of the area around a location can prove to be a blessing if your GPS or internet is having problems while traveling.
What about those that don’t like to plan? What if a list feels too constricting? Maybe you just like to improvise and see where your travels take you. That’s fine. You don’t have to travel by list, but it still might be a good idea to make one as an exercise. Why is that? Because it can help you prepare. Doing the work to see what’s out there can help you know what you need to bring. Are a lot of places cash only? Do certain restaurants require a jacket? Are there any major festivals or seasonal events? It’s okay to want to go somewhere and not be tied down to what’s on your list, but don’t miss out on great opportunities because you didn’t take the time to think about what’s going on at your destination before you left. Making a list is an easy (and fun) way to prepare for those that just want to go where the wind takes them.
The usefulness of a list doesn’t go away when the trip is over. In fact, that list is more useful in some ways. Instead of a collection of places to see, your list is now a collection of places you have seen. Now you have a bunch of activities you’ve verified yourself, and that you can share with others by speaking from experience. A list from someone that has actually done the things on it is far more valuable than one with activities of unknown value. If you blog it’s even better. Just add some reviews, tips or photos and you have an instant article with lots of useful information.
Lastly, that list can act as encouragement. Maybe you didn’t cross everything off that you wanted to. Now you’ll be energized to go out again and cross off a few more things.
No matter how you like to travel, lists can help you have the experience of a lifetime.
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