I’m a planner. I enjoy making spreadsheets and budgets and charts (usually of the color coded variety). Before a trip, I’ll map out locations, peruse restaurant menus, and read hotel reviews like there’s going to be a pop quiz. And ultimately, the trip is the pop quiz. A failing grade would be crying on a French payphone after missing a connecting flight. A passing grade would be surviving. And the A+? Thinking back on the trip as worth it.
Trips are best in anticipation and retrospect, and maybe that’s why travel excites me. It’s not just the week you’re away, but it’s the planning that goes into it and the memories you keep from it. That way, you’re not just experiencing the trip when you’re on it.
I’ve been craving an international adventure and in a couple months that craving will be satiated in the best possible way. Some familiar places are on the agenda (Toronto, London, and Oxford), but the brand-spankin’ new locale I’ll be visiting isn’t new at all. In fact, it’s one of the most historic empires to ever grace the earth: Istanbul.
As the former capital of the Roman Empire, the Latin Empire, and the Ottoman Empire, to say Istanbul is rich in history does its impressive past a disservice. And as the third largest city in Europe with 13 million people living in it, the prospect of conquering Istanbul is intimidating. Intimidating…but not impossible. So let the planning commence!
- Start out with a basic Wikipedia overview of the new place you plan to visit. Say what you will about the free online encyclopedia, but it’s full of all the basics you need to know about, well…anything.
- Price out your flights using Kayak’s calendar; it will project the cheapest months to fly. The cheaper the flight, the worse the weather, but an umbrella usually doesn’t cost $500 (the average price difference between flying abroad in the summer vs. winter).
- Check the cultural calendars for the city to see the popular festivals, holidays, and events. Do you want to avoid the crowds, or be a member of them? For instance, going to a heavily-populated Christian city like Rome on Christmas might be depressing with everything being closed. However, it’d be the perfect time to go somewhere like Marrakesh.
- Crunch the realistic numbers. Not the numbers you hope to have or want to have at the time of the trip, but the numbers you actually have right now this instant. Reservations and flights cost money now, not later. Bust out Excel, check your bank balance, and find the magic number that will make your trip a reality. Then add $300. And maybe another $50. Ok, now we’re in business.
- Study up. Guide books like Frommer’s or Lonely Planet will only get you so far. If you really want to appreciate a new area, brush up on your history. I picked up Strolling Through Istanbul: The Classic Guide to the City at my campus library and have already been immersed in the intriguing world of Istanbul, and I haven’t even landed there yet. It helps to build the excitement, understand your surroundings, and get a firm grasp on the amazing place you’re venturing out to see.
- Double-check your passport expiration date. Think about it…you’re rushing to the airport, check your bag, head to security, and then whammo-blammo you’re out for the count if your passport is expired. Leave plenty of time to get it up-to-date (upwards of six weeks if you need a new one).
- Scour the internet for hotels that have reasonable prices, included breakfasts, and excellent reviews. Even if the place isn’t a legit 5-star hotel, if there are more than 10 reviewers who deem it 5+, consider it better than a Zagat-approved joint. Look at the timestamps on the reviews as well—a negative review from a few years ago in the middle of several positive reviews from last week shouldn’t sour you; what if there was a change in ownership or management? Trust the most recent reviews first. Also, avoid the hotels that only have one or two reviews posted. As for the included breakfast, even if it’s boring, it’s one less meal you have to find and pay for.
- Hop on Yelp, Urbanspoon, or another restaurant review website to find out where the locals go. Look up the community newspapers to read restaurant reviews, instead of relying on out-of-date American guide books. And the best thing you can do? Ask. And not just the concierge, but instead the guy holding the door open for you at a local market or a stranger sitting on a bus bench. People love to talk about themselves and their cities—give them a reason to talk.
- DVR the Travel Channel. Perhaps avoid the Deep-Fried Paradise or Ghost Adventures segments and look for the likes of Anthony Bourdain instead. While his show often showcases unique eateries that cost more than the computer you’re reading this on, he does present some cheaper options or at the very least, ideas about the type of food you may encounter. It’s worth a watch even to pick up a few phrases or photo-op locations.
- Make a plan. Seems basic, and it is. But when you don’t have one? Some things won’t get done. Sure, you’ll have adventures and plenty of things to do, but the beauty of “the plan” is that you don’t have to follow it exactly. Stumble upon an impromptu market? Great! Discover an amazing museum? Super! But general areas and activities should be planned out by the day if you have limited time and money—no use taking a cab to the same place multiple times if you can conquer it all at the same time.
