We get it! Trip planning is overwhelming.
There is a myriad of options out there, and the abundance of choice makes it even harder to know which is right. Plus, with a lot of your time, energy, and money at stake, there is added pressure to pick the “right” thing.
With so many tools for travelers like Trip Advisor, Facebook groups, AI, Google, Instagram, TikTok, Vloggers, travel magazines, Reddit, influencers, YouTube ... okay, you get the idea. Folks looking to plan their perfect trip have a lot of resources, but that doesn't mean more is better.
In fact, there are a few reasons why the answers you find online may NOT be what will lead you to the holiday you've been dreaming of.
Why search engines and crowdsourcing are not going to yield the best answers when planning your trip.
1️⃣ Old & outdated information
Things change quickly! Last year’s hidden gem is this year’s overcrowded tourist trap. For expectations to match reality you need current information. And details that that account for things like seasonality, price changes and demand.
2️⃣ Sources might not provide all the information you need
Consider the source- are these paid influencers, or travel media? Some promoters of places or experiences are highlighting particular aspects because it’s their job. But the less glamorous, yet critical details may be left out to make the story more entertaining. Even well-intentioned professionals might tell only part of the story due to limited time, or lack of knowledge.
3️⃣ The advice isn’t personal
By far the most important factor!! What’s takes a trip to the next level is when preferences go from generic to ULTRA personal. One person’s “hell yes” is another’s “no, thank you”. It makes perfect sense; all those unless streams of answers to your question are not taking into account the most important factor - YOU!
Each traveler has their own unique ideas about what they want from their trip. What pacing is comfortable. How they want to spend their time. What is interesting, fun and exciting. Where to allocate the budget, and where they don't mind being frugal.
It's also important to consider our identities and background will impact our experiences. How we receive and perceive what is happening around us.
The bottom line - no two travelers are identical. Suggestions for your travel planning that are coming from either AI, social media, or crowdsourcing will need a lot of filtering to truly impact your travel in the most meaningful way possible.
Ideally, the best way to plan a trip is with insider information. This comes from folks who know the destination well, preferably locals, and from those that look with a decerning eye. It's one thing to have a single experience, but it's another to observe with a keen eye, noticing the ways in which different people will take in the same experiences.
Professionals know how to ask the right questions, how to listen, and how to offer guidance that is meaningful for your individual vision.
Not everyone will want to work with a travel designer, in fact there are lots of folks who enjoy the planning process (SAME!) At Conscious Travel collective, we provide full-service travel design, as well as consultation, and everything in between! That means we support travelers who want to do their own research with us. What they end up with is a trip that is a collaboration of their planning, with the added benefits of our insights from recent personal experience, and years of expertise.
For those who are collaborating with local insiders or even going it alone, we have a few tips that will make those overwhelming searches a bit easier to navigate and will yield more meaningful results!
How to get better results from your travel searches
When you pose questions to online forums that have the potential to garner a billion different responses, the more descriptive your questions are, the better! But this means you might FIRST need to spend some time considering what it is YOU really want or need.
When you first consider your preferences and understand your unique vision for this trip (not all trips will have the same vibe, pacing, or intention)! You can get better results from the endless flow of data that lives online.
👩💻 Here's an example.....
Instead of asking a travel forum,
What hotel should I stay at in Rome?
Try asking based on your preferences,
What hotel should I stay at in Rome with an on-site restaurant, less than one block from public transportation and ice-cold AC in the room.
25 Questions to ask yourself before crowdsourcing or asking AI for travel planning advice
We've prepared 25 questions we might ask you in the process of designing your trip, and you can use these to get WAY better results when posing questions to forums or AI. Ask yourself these questions first, get super specific with your questions, then watch the responses become way more PERSONALIZED & meaningful!
What’s been a favorite recent trip? What made it special?
Generally, what pace is comfortable? Do you like busy days, lots of time for relaxing and flexibility or something in between?
How important is dining? Would you be okay with a quick and simple lunch or breakfast occasionally, or should each meal be special?
How much daily walking is comfortable over a ten-day period?
What is the size and weight of the luggage you plan to bring?
What kind of climate is most comfortable; colder or warmer?
How would you most enjoy spending a weekend at home when you have zero obligations?
What time to do generally like to be up and out in the morning when traveling?
What are some features you most appreciate about hotels? (Spa, great breakfast, kind staff, complimentary mini bar, cozy bed, turn down service, on site restaurant, gym)
Do you sunburn easily?
What is inspiring you to go to this place now?
Do you enjoying trying local foods when you travel? Would you enjoy visiting a market or joining a cooking class?
Do you like to visit museums when you travel? What’s been some of your favorite museum experiences?
What are some of the things you’ve been dreaming about doing on this trip?
Do you like to take a lot of photos when you travel?
Would you be interested in attending a performance?
Are you comfortable/ confident reading maps, or do you prefer writing instructions for finding your way?
Two plus hour dinners - love them, hate them? How do you feel about long sit-down meals?
Do you have a current passport, valid for a least six months past the date you’ll return home?
What kinds of gifts do you like to buy yourself or others when traveling?
(If traveling in summer) What temperature do you like your room at when sleeping? Would you be okay without A/C in your hotel room?
When you come home from this trip, how do you hope to feel? Explain?
What would be comfortable to spend per day on the trip with hotel, transportation, experiences and food?
Have you used public transportation abroad? How did it go? Do you feel comfortable?
When you think of this destination, what are you most excited about?
🧰 Was this helpful?
What information do you share with folks planning parts of your travel?
Let us know!
Email hello@ConsciousTravelCollective.com, or find us on social media. I’d love to connect with you!
The author of this blog is the Founder of Conscious Travel Collective, Tara Busch.
Hey there! I’m Tara, the founder of Conscious Travel Collective. After years in the travel industry and loving the opportunity to connect travelers with the world, I was struggling. Part of what troubled me was the absence of a critical element, one that makes travel so special - which is genuine, reciprocal, authentic connection! Connection with places, through the people that live there. So, with much intention, I started Conscious Travel Collective to offer folks travel that connects. We design luxury experiences at a reasonable price, with sustainable, ethical travel practices leading the way.
For more on our unique approach to private travel head over to our homepage. We are so happy to welcome you!
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