08/08/2025
A lot of times I get so wrapped up in planning trips for other people that I end up forgetting to take the time to plan my own.
That being said, I've got a special visitor coming to town soon, and she is my favorite travel partner, because she helps me with planning.
We're taking some short trips from Philly while she's here, and I wanted to give all of you a peak behind the curtain, so you can see what exactly goes into my own trips.
If I've helped you plan a trip, you are likely already aware of how much I love to give recommendations. Whether it is my list of tours/museums/activities, my favorite places to eat, or shops for grabbing souvenirs, I've likely got some suggestions!
When my mom and I travel, she usually has a list started before I can start making a plan, and then we work from there.
For this trip (and our most recent trip to California last month), it started with her creating a note on her phone and then sharing it with me. From there, I put together a map of the destinations she had in mind, including the places I was also wanting to add. In my opinion, a map is the far superior way to put together things you want to see/do in a destination. You can add notes as you save locations (like maybe a meeting point for a tour or what dish a restaurant is known for), and it helps you see what is nearby, too!
The final step is to put together an actual itinerary, once all of the plans have been made. It shows where we're staying, what days/times we have plans, and gives us a good sense of how to lay out our days.
I try so hard to make sure that all of my clients get this same level of expertise from me when I plan a trip for them, and typically they actually get so much more. 🤣
Scroll to see actual screenshots of this process from our trip last month.
Also, if there is anywhere you think we need to visit in the Philly/DC/Hershey area, send your recommendations our way! I always love to hear where other people like to visit/dine/shop.
