Plan to tell us about your trip....?

Every once in a great, great while, Randy has a maginally acceptable idea. GO FOR IT!

Randy,

That's a great idea! Since you thought of it, why not send a note to the Webmaster and make the suggestion.

Good luck!

Excellent idea!

I think this is a good idea. It would be nice if it was set up something like the Graffiti Wall, with the people who post indicating if they would be willing to respond to e-mails from people who have questions.

The Graffiti wall is full of information on specific topics and specific sights. I do not see anything like what I am suggesting on the Graffiti wall.

I will grant you that no one needs to read about the details of someone's trip to see great aunt Minnie in Manchester. But I think most folks here plan trips with parts that go together to form a cohesive whole, and see sights most of the rest of want to see, too. Most of us put a great deal of thought into modes of transportation and the myriad of choices involved.

I would think it would be useful to know how & why the parts were put together as they were and how effectively it seemed to work upon reflection after the trip was over.

Steve, please read the post from the OP properly. They are suggesting a new section for trip reports. This has been discussed on here more than once. People like reading trip reports, the whole thing, not just which restaurant they liked the best, or which church, the best shoe or best Christmas in Europe, which is all the Graffiti Wall offers.

I for one, really enjoy it when people come back and tell us how their trip went after they have posted on here and asking us lots of questions. Wish they would do it more often.

I think "help" is about more than advice. I think it also includes learning through reading about what others do. This is particularly important to those who have never "hopped the pond" before and don't really know where to begin. How many times have we read an inane question that shows the person has no idea where to start planning such a trip?

Most of the times that I respond to questions here it is based on the personal experience of trips I have taken and that response would make more sense in the context of the trip as a whole, yet a description of that whole trip is rarely appropriate to such a specific question. So I think it has value to any who have enough interest to read it. Of course, no one would be forced to read it....

Randy,

I had no idea your post had the potential for controversy, but unfortunately that seems to have happened. However, I stand by my orginal comment - having a section for Trip Reports and perhaps more "general" comments would be a good idea. Perhaps it could be titled "The Living Room", as it is on another travel website that I use - a place for people to "chat" somewhat informally about a variety of topics, even if they aren't always related to travel.

If this was added as a separate branch of the HelpLine (below "To The Boot"), those who aren't interested certainly don't have to access that section and read the comments. However, there may be some here that could obtain some "help" by reading of the travel experiences of others.

Cheers!

Ken,

That was my thought, exactly.

Great idea! I would love to read everyone else's travel stories.

Maybe it would be handy to have the "ETBD Tour Reports" board moved from the Graffiti Wall to the Helpline ... like right under "To the Boot" or something.

I think its a great idea. It is wonderful to hear from those we "shared" with- What worked, what didn't, what they want to do when they go back.... I know I'd read it just to "cure" my bouts of "travel sickness" (that's what I call my urges to get up and go...)

I also think that it would be a great idea to have a separate topic for trip reports.

Not advocating one way or the other, but here's an example of another board's trip reports click here

I think it's a great idea, Randy, and would be thrilled to see a Trip Report link on the Helpline main page (as opposed to Grafitti Wall, which I think is often overlooked).

Brilliant idea! I hope the Webmaster will make this happen.

Another way to look at it that would also be useful, is to write very briefly about "this is what we did" followed by "this is what I wish we had done differently" in a bit more detail.

I would like to see trip reports posted, I think they are very useful. (They feel like reading a bit of someone's autobiography, instead of wikapedia.)I don't understand why they are not allowed here when trip-advisor, which seems to have way more posting rules, allows them.

I don't think there is any rule against them. I just wish there was an organized place for them where they wouldn't scroll off the page on 2-3 days.

Randy. Ken, et al, I think this is a great idea. I like reading trip reports. Tour feedback only answers specific question and not all feedback is posted (accommodations). A nice summary that addresses some of the questions on Helpline and things undiscovered or skimmed over by Rick would be great. Rick can't meet all of our needs/wants/desires but he meets those better than most.

Slowtrav.com has excellent trip reports. They are more interesting and helpful than one might think.

I also think this would be a gret idea.

I also think that this is a great idea. I always read trip reports with pen and paper in hand. I have found my best tips and answers to my questions by reading trip reports by others.

Kim

ken and randy have the right idea. help comes in many forms. i think the helpline is easier to find things on than the graffiti wall. maybe im dense. i love hearing others travel experiences and sharing mine. i vote for the "living room"

When I got back from my trip, I had thought to write a Trip Report but since we do not have a separate area for that, I decided against it. Great idea, and I believe others in the past had said the same.

Maybe this time we'll get lucky?