Travel blogging with no immediate trips coming up?  Mon Dieu! (or "oy vey" more likely ...)  Well, one cannot be on the road all the time, as great as that sounds.   The reality is a ton of time is spent in the planning and research phase so that when the actual time comes, things go smoothly and uneventfully -- barring any acts of God, of course. 


And as thorough as I am, there are the blips.  On the recent trip to Napa, I am at the airport Avis counter when they kindly point out that yes, I do have reserved a car in Oakland ... Oakland somewhere in Michigan, that is, and not Oakland, CA.  Ooopsie.  Of course now the rate being offered is not what I had anticipated, but managed to get it to an acceptable place.  Stuff like that happens to all of us....

Notwithstanding the previous info, I am a plan-ahead person.  I don't particularly like surprises.  I want to know that the accommodations and yes, even some meals, are what I expect and want them to be.  Here are some of my go-to tips for travel planning: 

I love Excel.  That might sound like over-kill, but it's so easy to set up an Excel file and great to edit as you go.   An example of what I'm doing for the big post-tax-season trip next spring is below.   Plus with this type of file, I can give the hubby the bone-chilling costs so he can manage the foreign currency issues.  And, yes, we always arrive with the relevant currency in hand ...

 

DATE	CITY	FLIGHT INFO	HOTEL/ROOM DETAILS	TOTAL	ACTUAL
				Local	USD
				Currency	Currency
15-Apr		Cathay Flight 883
		depart LAX 11:50 p.m.
17-Apr		arr. Hong Kong 5:40 am
17,18,19,20	Hong Kong
21-Apr		Flight to next city
		Seoul or Beijing
21,22,23,24
25-Apr		Flight to next city
25,26,27,28
4/29/2012		Flight to Shanghai
29/30/1/2	Shanghai
2-May		AA #182
		depart Shanghai 9:30pm
2-May		arrive LAX 6:10pm

I immediately read Travel and Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler magazines when they arrive, and tear out articles that are relevant now or regarding my list of places to go.  Being organized when collecting info is key to actually being able to find it when you need it! 

So labelled folders are my friends (ie., mileage info, airlines, cities, etc.) I also keep another Excel file of countries where I've been and my wish list for future travel destinations.  

Lastly since taking and sharing gorgeous pix is a huge part of the travel experience -- both online and in the Shutterfly book I do after each trip -- a new camera was in order.   Off I went to my fave, Samy's Camera, where everyone behind the counter is extremely knowledgeable.  My older Nikon Coolpix S60 had a few minor issues so I am now the proud owner of the next generation -- a  Nikon Coolpix S100.  Best of all is the larger screen (for the fading eyes)!  Here are a few random shots, plus the last frame is a brief video(!) from the new acquisition ...

 Gerbera daisy popping up

Tomatoes finally ripening in my garden ...

and a Japanese cucumber "unfurling"

Pre-Star Spangled Banner