Planning Paralysis

To me it would seem pretty early in your time frame. I know many others plan a year in advance but even though I am retired I don't want to make up my mind that far ahead. Why not wait until after the first of the year? By then perhaps some of your choices will have eliminated themselves.

You could outline some of the itineraries here that you are considering, and see what some of our more experienced posters have to say about some of your potential destinations. You say you keep changing your mind about what your top choices are. Can you list your top choices? Maybe an interesting discussion will develop, and that will help you make up your mind.

Yes, we've all dealt with that. The way I get over it is to watch some of Rick's programs on YouTube to see how tempting a destination looks. Another good program is Rudy Maxa's World, or Burt Wolf's program, both also on PBS.

Unfortunately limited time and money means if you choose one thing, something else doesn't get chosen.

I build a group of plans over time - maybe a France itinerary, a Germany itinerary, a Poland itinerary and a UK itinerary. When I see something that looks interesting, I save it into one of my itinerary files. The files may get built for years before I actually get serious that it's going to be my next trip and refine it down to one workable trip. Often a flight deal will bring one of the itineraries to the top of the list, or a friend who likes to travel expresses an interest in one or another of the trips.

I'm also applying to some jobs in Europe. If those come through, I may be covering a lot of itineraries much sooner than I had otherwise planned.

Hi,

I think I know how you feel since the same is affecting me too, not being able to decide, what I call spasmodic planning. One reason is "because there are so many options." With creeping age I still have a ton of places I want to see in Europe too. But one has to set priorities, above all, the most important ones as regards to that special interest, time, expense, etc. etc. It's so easy to deviate by going to other places other than those you know are of top priority to you, which in my case are places in France, Poland, Germany, England, Finland, Austria. I just focus and plan on how to get there, including coming up with contingency plans.

I love the planning, I begin the next plan as soon as I return (if not before I leave). I understand the dilemma, I have about 88 days at a time to work with and I still can never fit in everything I want to do. I am also facing the fact that there are a limited number of trips left for me (although I don't know the number yet).

You might try this: sketch out several different trips, perhaps separate spread sheets or tables. Sometimes I have three or four different drafts before I choose one. Include estimated costs for food, lodging, transportation, admissions, miscellaneous.

Once you have several wish lists, look at how logically they play out (if you are zipping around the world, it costs more than if you concentrate on one area).

One or more will seem more like what you want, then it's a matter of refining that trip. For me, within a couple of months one itinerary "calls" to me more than the rest.

I'm also in the early stages of planning my trip for May 2016, so I've been tossing around a few itineraries and doing a little price checking and figuring and expect that by late Dec-early Jan the perfect plan will float to the top. Knowing your limits is a good thing--I travel solo and do best with not more than 2 weeks in 2 countries. I seem to really like countries that aren't yet on the Euro, more bang for my travel buck.

I've only made 4 trips to Europe to your 8, but for me the choices at first included the countries of my heritage, then on to places that intrigued me. I expect that I won't get to see every place on my wish list, but I've seen a lot of medieval walled cities at this point so if my #1 at this moment back to Hungary trip doesn't pan out I'm thinking Barcelona or the Netherlands for a change of pace.

Maybe narrow your choices and do a bit of pros & cons? Does one place call to you more than any other?

ETA--I also do what Brad mentions re itinerary files, and Fred's phrase "spasmodic planning" kind of describes my method, too. Lots of good advice here.

Lane, when you say you are starting to notice how it feels to get older, I assume that means the typical stuff of we begin to slow down a bit, maybe have a few more aches pains when we lift 60 lbs. or bend over to pick something up, etc. If I am understanding you correctly, then maybe concentrate on those places that might be a bit more physically challenging right now...those places to which you may not be able to someday opt for a leisurely, easy river cruise to see.

You have traveled a lot...wow!! And you got an early start compared to so many.

I agree with all the previous posters...you've received some great suggestions. All I would add is to make a list of those places (in priority order) that IF two years from now you found out that you could never travel again, which places would you really regret never seeing? Or are there places that you think could change radically (politically) that you should go now while the coast it clear (so to speak)? Have you visited every continent? If not, maybe concentrate on a place or two on a continent you have not yet visited?

When we put a high priority on travel, I made a Tier One bucket list. Now that we have accomplished that list, I'm somewhat like you, the travel brochures/catalogs fill my mailbox with so many wonderful trips, so many places to see and do. I really want to do them all......sort of like how when the Sears and Roebuck Christmas Catalog used to arrive when I was a kid, and we would start dog-earring pages...but then had to get down to our two (modestly priced) items to put on the Santa list. Travel is often the same way.

But, do the more challenging trips now...those that might require more climbing, walking, longer flights, etc. Those will only get harder as we continue to age. Or, on the other end of the spectrum, decide you are going to take a year off from travel. Nothing will help you to decide more quickly where to go, than deciding after you have decided not to go somewhere (I hope that makes sense).....a trip will FIND YOU!!!

At the end of each year, I do what I call "travel flirting." I flirt with lots of ideas, then one or two of the trips find me....either a very good offer comes in, and I pull the trigger on the trip by booking. Or I read about a place, and then an offer comes in......and, as one of the above posters mentioned, that is usually combined with finding a great deal on airfare. It drives my spouse crazy when I start bouncing lots of ideas off him, but he knows that's part of the process. If he seems more interested in one place than another, that factors into the decision.

You are not alone. I think many of us find ourselves exactly with the same feelings you have.

But, you are so very blessed to have made priority a travel in your life and to be able to continue traveling.

Oh, the memories you have (and will continue to make)!!!!

I agree with most of what's been offered so far, though I don't have any special techniques. We're generally doing one "big" (overseas) trip a year now, in spring or fall, with several smaller ones (domestic and/or cruises) in between. I let 40 years pass between trips to Europe in my early 20s and my early 60s, and I too am "noticing how it feels to get older."

Without knowing your age, health status, or finances, I think the best advice above is to take the more physically challenging trips sooner while you can still do them. The sedentary river cruises can come further downstream in life.

You've probably seen the "Travel When You Can" thread on this board, but if not you should take a look. (I confess I quit reading it after the first few dozen posts, I just don't have the energy to keep up. See "how it feels to get older" above!)

My only other thought is to beware of "paralysis by analysis." Like any other decision in life, you have to assemble the best information you can with the means (including time) available, pull the trigger, and try not to look back. Compared to many other decisions, choosing a vacation is a good problem to have. Give it some thought, buy those tickets, and focus on making it the best trip you can (which includes building in some spontaneity). If you think of a "better" idea after you've committed, save it for next time. Carpe diem!

Thanks to all who've taken the time to reply and share your ideas.

I've actually tried some of the things you all are suggesting, and I know when it comes down to it I will just make a decision and go with it. I've got three or four top itineraries in the works right now, and it's just so hard to abandon one (even if just for a year or two) in favor of another one.

I just want to go everywhere and see everything. And I want to do it now.

Don't you just love/hate traveling?

I have about a dozen places on my bucket list. This year (well, last year after getting back from Italy) I was trying to decide our trip for this year between the UK/Ireland (we've only been to London/Bath/Portsmouth (sister lives there) in the UK) and returning to France - specifically, to spend more time in Provence and Cote D'Azur. I really was a bit torn and could have happily done either. So hubby put in his two cents (since most of his cents pay for our trips) and said France as he has fond memories of our very short time on the South Coast.

But I understand the dilemma - there are so many places I want to see that to pick one is very hard. I've already decided to do the Netherlands and Belgium next year (assuming we go back next year - I really want to see the tulips) but I think it may come down to drawing an itinerary out of a hat for after that. Just know, whatever you pick, you probably won't regret it since there are so many things you want to see....I'll think you'll be happy whatever you decide.

Because we're using airline miles for an April-May 2016 trip, I booked flights 330 days out from our return date (flying in to Paris, out of Frankfurt) -- but the stuff between the big flights is still fluid. If Prague and Budapest still have problems, we may focus more on German-speaking areas (language skills) ... or maybe Scandinavian countries we haven't seen yet ... or French countryside. There are so many possible places. So not all the way to paralysis, but not moving fast to lock down the details.

Laura B, I definitely like your approach of picking your dates and your start and end cities early, and then filling in the blanks. I will post a few of those options I'm considering to get feedback.

Nicole P, you're right... I won't regret anything I decide. As I've been thinking about it, I realize that part of my struggle is how much I enjoy having limitless possibilities. Once I make a decision and book my flights, the possibilities are no longer limitless.

Again, thanks to everyone for weighing in. It's nice to know I'm not the only one who has a hard time deciding where to go on my next vacation.

I wonder if you'd benefit from using a tool like allourideas.org

You could input your list of destinations, and then over the course of a month or two go there from time to time and "vote." The destinations that are the most important to you should naturally bubble to the top. You'll get the best results by voting often.

It's fun - I used it to crowdsource the playlist for an 80s dance party amongst my friends.

It will take two items from your list, present them on the screen and you choose between them. E.g. you could pose your question as "Which would I rather visit?" and it will pop up Prague and Vienna from your list. You choose one. Then it will present two others, over and over, randomly. It will keep presenting choices to you as long as you want to keep going. Try voting during different moods, different times of day, etc. It might be interesting to see what it says were your most consistently important destinations at the end of 10 voting sessions, or 20 or however many.

Don't let anyone else have the link, though, lest they influence your results! :-)

Hi Lane, I totally understand where you're coming from. Physical and financial restraints are also our concerns at our ages of seniority. We always say that making travel decisions are a first world problem to have. We fulfilled one of our bucket list items last September. No it wasn't Europe but was a trip of a lifetime and I highly recommend it. We travelled to Papeete,Tahiti where we boarded the Aranui 3 passenger/freighter for a 14 day cruise to the Marquesas Islands. We were able to watch freight being loaded and unloaded at the various island stops and enjoyed the included tours to archeological sights, beach BBQ's etc. at each stop. It was a trip that exceeded our expections and that was also the opinion of most of our 160 fellow passengers. A new ship, Aranui 5 is under construction and expected to be in service early 2016. We also spent a further week on the beautiful island of Moorea. The Tahitian and Marquesan people were warm and friendly to everyone and enjoy sharing their culture with their guests. Our next trip will be Portugal as we met and became friends with a couple on the Aranui 3 that recently visited us and now we will visit them next year. Please PM me if you have any questions. Cheers, Sherry