Thread: Tell me about traveling without an itinerary

wow, i've definatley never done this before, but alike this idea interests me and has for quite a while. My advice would be this, start more locally maybe a few cities over or a state over even, see how ya handle it see what works best for you before heading out to bigger things/farther places where help in your langauge might not be so easy to get.
i dunno basicly start simple go bigger i guess

I don't know about big cities. Hubby and I RARELY ever have a set plan when we travel.
Over the years, we've learned where certain local spots are (we rotate between The Big Island of Hawaii, Maui and Kawaii every year for medical conventions and fun
We enjoy setting out on our own. We drive down the roads and get a feel for the towns then we stop in and eat at places the locals tend to prefer.
He goes to classes until just after noon, then we go wherever the moment leads us.
It's a lot of fun.... partially. I'm more of an "in-the-thick-of-it" explorer. I'd like to go hiking, but hubby's 30 years older than me and lacks the stamina. And he prefers things educational (Museums, historic districts etc). We usually find a nice middle ground and have a lot of fun.

We went on an Alaskan cruise 9 years or so ago. We had to stay over somewhere in Canada before getting on the ship. We looked out the window and saw myriads of people filling the streets. We became curious and followed them. They went to a body of water (it was dark and I couldn't quite tell lol) and we watched a breath taking "Benson and Hedges Festival of Lights" (or something very similarin wording). It was amazing.

If you like to get off the beaten path to the heart of the community, do some exploring. Go to a local-owned family run business and ask for recommendations.
The vast majority of all our fun travels were started that way. Sometimes the best places aren't advertised.

But, if you want to see x # of museums or historical spots, having a plan can be EXTREMELY helpful. There's a LOT to see and take in and you wont want to feel rushed.

Do research on the area long before you leave to help you decide just where you'd like to go and things you MUST do.

And take LOTS of pictures

This is something I'm interested in, too. I'm planning to spend a summer backpacking through the Nordic countries and possibly the UK as well, then down to Venice, Italy, Greece, and then over to Australia and finally New Zealand.

Y'know, sometime in the next, say, five years.

Originally Posted by Man of Steel

This is something I'm interested in, too. I'm planning to spend a summer backpacking through the Nordic countries and possibly the UK as well, then down to Venice, Italy, Greece, and then over to Australia and finally New Zealand.

Y'know, sometime in the next, say, five years.

i shall conquer Greece before you, i go this summer!!

I'm conquering Central America from January to June of 2010... the only thing on the itinerary is where we're flying to, and flying back from. Everything inbetween is up to my friend and myself.

Do a little research on youth hostels, they are a really cheap way to go and allow flexability and a chance to rub elbows with like minded nomads.