What are your best European travel-planning tips?

Research city-operated public transit websites for interactive planning services that explain how to connect from one place to another. This is an early step since it could, for example, influence your choice of hotel.

Check websites to determine opening/closing dates/times for museums and sites you’re planning to visit. For example, the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays but open late on Wednesdays and Fridays. It would be helpful to know this in advance. Is there a special exhibit you don’t want to miss? Are advance tickets required? Can purchasing in advance save time/money?

I use Google Maps extensively to "star" attraction I want to go to so I can see what makes sense geographically, like you do, but as a foodie, I also research a variety of restaurant, cafe, and bar options and also mark those. That way, no matter where I'm at, I always have a couple of good places to eat already picked out nearby.

Advance planning like this means better experiences and it's easier to be spontaneous in the moment.

I was just thinking of this very thing recently, as I've been planning my fall trip. I feel like I'm getting better at the planning. Still, as my trips get longer in retirement, I'm also looking for ways to manage/control it.

I'm a paperless kind of person. After trying Word and Excel to track my trips, I now use OneNote online (not the desktop version.)

I create a new notebook for each new trip, with a section for each city/destination. In OneNote I can copy URLs, descriptions, snippets of maps …. as much or as little detail as I want. There's a section with my TODO list, packing list, flights, travel insurance details …. all the general trip stuff. For each destination, I create pages for transit to get there (flights, trains, buses); hotel details; and the sights, any pre-booked activities, restaurants, etc.

It's my own personal guidebook, accessible from my laptop, tablet or phone - even a hotel computer, as a backup.

Like you, I don't count transit days as "days in a city" but bonus time, just as you said. The biggest lesson I've learned from my own mistakes - after standing on a few street corners looking lost and hoping for help to find my hotel- is to fully research and include the "final approach" details for how to get from the train or bus station to my hotel!

I start by listing what I think interests me most. It is important to set priorities. This list may change, but remembering my interests vs. what I am told I should want to see makes for a better trip.

I like Google Earth Street view. It allows me to look around the area at my hotel or train station so that I am familiar with where I want to go. Am good at reading maps but am a visual person and like finding landmarks, and like knowing where north, south, east, west are in relation to the sites I am visiting.
The forums on Trip Advisor are a treasure, just like this one. Tap into the knowledge of locals to find out what is going on.
Facebook can be useful. Every city has FB pages. You may find some interesting events not listed anywhere else like street festivals.
Check the city website. I like finding local festivals, small walking tours, what does the city think is worth seeing. It may not always be the best tips, but I can sort that out myself.

Have a planned itinerary for each day, but remain flexible.

If staying at AirBnB or VRBO, make sure you always see a photo of the bathroom.
Buy tickets in advance if possible.
Make dinner reservations at least some of the time.
Learn a few words in the local language.

In countries where Street View is available, it has been extremely helpful to me. So is Google Flights: you can easily compare airfare from a given place to all over the world without a specific destination in mind; I've chosen destinations that way. Someone mentioned TripAdvisor forums: depends on the country. For Spain, it's mostly helpful if you're looking for the best bingo in Benidorm or the best fish and chips in Mallorca, but it is indeed quite good for France and Italy (rarely checked other countries).

Divieloonie I cracked up about the bathroom photo. I was lured in once by an incomplete photo. Never again!

Such great ideas above. Donna’s advice regarding checking websites for times is crucial and helps so much in avoiding mistakes or missing something. Guidebooks need to be double-checked.

There was a recent discussion about going to TIs (Tourist Info offices) and we increasingly use the TI for all sorts of advice and insight. Sometimes they have tours you might not otherwise find, or a local can help you better understand a hiking trail or offer a bus pass. A five minute stop at the TI can make a difference. I always plan time to visit the TI in a new place on the first day.

Google Maps is very good for planning transportation, including walking times. People often ask us here on the Forum about bus lines and options. In many towns and cities Google Maps has the answer. I use it a lot during planning. Also, Google Maps is a good way to find grocery stores nearby a vacation rental, something best checked before reserving said apartment, I made the mistake of renting one that was not close to a store and it was a slog through rain in December.

1. don't overplan.
   

@Laurel-yes, I learned the bathroom lesson the hard way to. Still amazed that a wonderful apartment we rented had such a crappy bathroom. We even had to call a plumber. Ugh!

Balso!! Nearly spewed coffee onto my screen - now I'm off to the TA Benidorm forum to look for bingo, hahaha!

I do use TA forums as well as this forum, of course, to keep up with local things that are changing - like significant Louvre entry changes or transportation strikes.

A few years ago I was on a RS tour that wound up in Paris. Two of the gals were heading to Belgium the day the tour ended but I ran in to them later in the day at Les Invalides. Problem? When they got to the train station they found there was a one-day Belgian Rail strike so they had to scramble to find a hotel room in Paris for another night. When I got back to my hotel with WIFI, I quickly checked the TA Belgium forum and yep - the thread about the announced strike was at the top of the list. I felt bad for them but it just reinforced that you need to do general research as well as research specific to your trip.

Just last week my SIL, her sis and some other family members were headed for Paris. I've been helping them plan since last Thanksgiving and had them prepped to buy Museum Passes. Then the whole Louvre entry issue reared up. I thought they were going to be OK with just getting there early, then 2 days before they left started seeing where Museum Pass holders were being denied entry even first thing in the AM so quickly had them buy timed entry tickets. Their tickets are for tomorrow so fingers crossed everything works out!

• If there's a popular site I want to visit and tickets are available online I purchase in advance. Yes, even if we travel outside of summer. Why risk standing in line on vacation if it's possible to purchase tickets from home?
• Factor in enough time for "wandering" and discovering interesting areas that may not show up in guide books.
• Choose "multi city" option for flights! Even if it's a little more expensive, the bottom line comes out fairly even when one factors in ground transportation to backtrack to the arrival city.
• Print back-up paper copies of everything--air, hotels, trains, admissions. This has saved us more than once!

Midway through my longer trips, I like to "plan" a day or even two with practically nothing to do but wander, have coffee in a square, have a drink and people watch. That's in addition to the all the other days where I do that anyway!

I don't count travel/transit days as vacation days in a location anymore.

Always, and it is particularly helpful when traveling solo. It makes for a less stressful travel day, and doesn't put time into your location schedule that you don't really have. Arrive relaxed, get to know your neighborhood, and venture out after that if you want and have time.

As a rule of thumb, I won't stay anywhere for less than 3 nights.

I also agree, and in fact, I often allocate 4+ nights. A large part of travel for me is wandering, getting to know the local baker or breakfast place or whomever. I sit in parks, cafes (or equivalent) and watch people. I learn a lot this way that I don't learn in a tour or museum, etc. It's nice to actually feel and somewhat understand the vibe of the neighborhood or community.

I, too, walk the neighborhood online, as a solo traveler or the leader of two it helps me know where we are as we are arriving, returning; where the local grocery store, pharmacy, bakery (do you sense a pattern here?) etc. is located. And it is extremely helpful to know what the facade of my small hotel looks like on its block from the front and angle.

And listen to, but don't necessarily follow other peoples' recommendations or systems, as you travel as you, not as them. Do what works for you! (Even where packing and money security are concerned...sacrilegious thought on RS forum...LOL).

Always relax and enjoy the moment, not just when you are 'at' wherever you think you should be, but during transit/walking/subway, etc. Always appreciate the moment. The 'sight' is not the be all and end all, but rather "being" there is. This includes, for me, sleeping late on occasion should I choose to do so. ;) Yes, I've slept late in some of the most wonderful locations in the world...and I'm proud of it, because I've left time in my schedule to feel good.

"Always relax and enjoy the moment, not just when you are 'at' wherever you think you should be, but during transit/walking/subway, etc. Always appreciate the moment."

Wray! I love this. I am working on mindfulness and being in the moment and yes this is part of the journey for me, too!

Ooh, there have been some really great ideas here. I love seeing other ideas that I already do and getting new ones. I’m definitely going to start using Google street view more for things like rental car locations, etc.

So many ideas and philosophies I connect with, which is why I love this forum. Yes, the enjoying the little things on vacation is so important. My kids’ favorite memory of London might very well be riding the tube. Coming from Maui, that blew their minds. I loved stringing out the laundry to dry off our balcony in Sorrento - I felt like an Italian for about 10 minutes.

This includes, for me, sleeping late on occasion should I choose to do so. ;) Yes, I've slept late in some of the most wonderful locations in the world..

Wray, I am planning on doing this Friday morning in Stockholm!

My brother and his family arrive int Stockholm late Friday morning. For once I had enough sense to realize that while I definitely could fly up there Friday morning and be there to meet them, that was gong to mean they were meeting Cranky Kim, . who would have been there from getting up at 4 am, schlepping out to CDG, etc etc.

I finally realized the value of going Thursday night after work — I arrive around midnight, and have reserved at a hotel in the airport. In the morning I can let myself sleep in to recover from my work week and travel evening - and then meet them upon arrival! I am feeling very wise (of course who knows what travel shenanigans could happen to mess this up, and I am prepared for that too).

Diveloonie’s advice about making sure you see the bathroom is excellent, as is Laurel’s advice to stop in a TI, something I really haven’t been doing but will turn back to now. And of course pre-trip map-making and consulting and pre-purchasing tickets and checking opening hours and days, as many folks have said!

Plan on a cafe afternoon or morning every 4th or 5th day while laundry gets done, and planning of the next leg of the trip is finalized. This equals smaller luggage and an easier trip for the rest of the time.

Tip #1: Do not annoy the husband with constant talking about it.
Tip #2: Plan the trip without his involvement
Tip #3: You both enjoy the trip :)

Julie, are you married to my husband too?????

Kim, I'm very jealous, even though I, too, have slept late in Stockholm, and I hope to again sometime soon...

Julie and DebVT - our husbands must be triplets!

Julie, Barbara and DebVT. Me too! We’ll all have to DM each other so we can plan and enjoy without driving them insane. 😃

Oh Julie - my husband's eyes start to glaze over when I talk about the trip. I feel like I should ask his opinion, but other than input on the initial decision of where to go he just says 'whatever'. Even when I tell him what I decided re - accommodations - he just goes off to his happy place while I babble away. On the flip side, he knows I put a lot of thought and research into things, and I haven't steered us horribly wrong yet. Last decision (a few days ago) I asked him about was whether I should pay for seat selection for our flight home - his response - you guessed it - whatever you want to do. Well, I want extra legroom, so we're paying for those exit row seats!

And dmacario - I def do #1. I have a map app where I pin sites and potential restaurants and shops I might want to visit, then make sure not to miss anything when in that area. It's such a great help.

As for #2 - for me it depends on the size of the place, and how many times we've already been there. A big city like Rome or London, Paris or Vienna really needs 5 nights (in my opinion). But a smaller place - which I like to sprinkle in between big city stays - 2 nights will suffice. For our upcoming trip I have two nights planned in Bolzano and Verona, in between our big city visits to Vienna and Venice. Sometimes a 1 night stay may be good to break up a long train journey. I stole a night from Innsbruck on our upcoming trip to add a night to Vienna (giving Vienna 5n). I debated just taking Innsbruck off since I didn't really want a 1n stay, but it'll break up what would otherwise be a long train journey from Vienna to Bolzano. I just didn't like the thought of a 7+hr train ride - I'd rather keep them to 3-4 hrs or less.

diveloonie - I've actually chosen some airbnb's just based on the bathroom! We stayed at the same one twice in Paris and the deciding factor was her super funky, colourful bathroom. We stayed in the same one in Salon en Provence twice because I loved the shower and wanted to bring the whole bathroom home with me! (Well, we returned to both the 2nd time because the hosts were lovely people as well). So I had a chuckle at your bathroom comment. Small shower stalls have def changed my mind on a few otherwise nice places.

And I def use google street view when I'm trying to find where our accoms are and whatnot. I few times I've been put off a place because the street view didn't give a good impression of the area. For our upcoming stay in Verona, some reviews mentioned the place is a little hard to find, so I used street view to give me an idea of what to look for - and will def use it our arriving day to refresh what we are looking for.

Julie, etal First there was a laugh of recognition, now I must say count another couple as part of the group!

Many of mine have already been said but just to second/third..

1. Find an offline map app that lets you mark places with a dot/star/symbol. Then go through and mark anything of interest you come across. Bonus points to color code (one color for restaurants, another for museums, etc). That way you can open your map wherever you are and see what’s nearby. Makes it easy to group sights logically, but more importantly; see those places you might not remember go out of your way for. Like you’re at a museum, see that a small church is only a few blocks away and you marked this church because it has art of interest. So you pop in. Without the map you’d miss it.
   Or you’re done at the museum and want a snack. You could go to the touristy place across the street...or open the map and see that a well-regraded bakery is on a side street 5 minutes away. Award winning pastries are now your snack!

2. Don’t plan to do much on your arrival or departure days from a city. Especially if you have a long train/bus in between. Use those days for short visit sights and fun walks/meals - not rushing to see a very important sight.

3. At least 3 nights per city unless it’s very small or a necessary sleeping stop on a road trip.

4. List each day in this format:
   Day 1: arrive X at 2PM, sleep in X
   2 : visit X (maybe go to sight A). sleep X
   3 : same
   4 : leave X on 10AM train, arrive Y at 1, sleep Y
   And so forth.

5. Research ways to skip lines. Buy tickets ahead/go at off hours/buy tickets at nearby sister sight that is less crowded. There are ways for almost everywhere and time in line is time you are not enjoying your trip.

6. Go out early AM or late evening. Less crowded, better light, more fun. Some people pack the hours between 9-5 and miss the other hours. Take it slow or rest midday in order to be out at 7AM and 10PM

Buy rail tickets as far out as possible for the best chance of getting heavily discounted tickets. Could be 60, 90 or 120 days depending on the rail service. Don’t worry about the weather; you can’t control it anyway. 😉

Mira and others who use an offline map app. Do you have any you especially recommend?

For those of you who research restaurants- what do you like most? Yelp? Others?

Mira...I love my CityMaps2Go app. I do colour code my stars...red is accoms and main railway stn , purple is restaurants, yellow is tourist sites, green is interesting places I may want to take photos, blue is shops I might want to visit.

And I must say, the best couple hundred bucks I spend is buying extra legroom seats for the long flights over and back. Air Canada calls them preferred seats and they used to charge $50 for them a few years back, but they now run $100-110. But after doing it a few times, I won’t go back. It’s amazing how much difference those extra inches make, especially when you go back to the bathroom and see how squished the other seats are. Im not going to drop hundreds more for the extra extra prestige double platinum seating, but in the grand scheme of how much the vacay costs, it’s a drop in the bucket for the extra comfort.

Yes, I use citymaps2go. When I started doing this google maps's marking feature was not available offline. It might be now, if so it would be a good choice too.

Restaurants - I use a combination of things. Mostly guidebooks, and websites run by locals/local publications. Sometimes yelp, but mainly for the pictures (if I can't find the restaurant's menu online often someone on yelp has posted a picture of it. Helps me get an idea of style and prices). In big or popular places, eater.com is good. TripAdvisor is pretty worthless unless in a very unusual location where there is nothing else available.
Websites by locals or long-term visitors, if available, are the best. A "foodie" who lives in a city will have the most up to date info and you can get a feel for his or her taste and personality to see if it's a fit for yours. Googling around for "restaurants in X" and wading through the links to ads and listings to get to something more personal.

I don’t do a lot of restaurant research as we like basic foods and don’t stray much from our usuals.

But when I look at guidebooks (and I can read multiple company’s guidebooks via my library app, so I don’t have to drop $25 for 3 different books on, say, Vienna) I always read thru the restaurant recommends. If any pique my interest, I see if they are online and check out their menus and prices. If that still looks good and like it won’t break the bank, I pin them on my map, and may make a note of what I saw on the menu that interested me.

Otherwise, we just see what we stumble over when we start getting hungry.

Also...if you’re staying at an Airbnb or similar, the host would prob be happy to recommend places for you, or in some instances when we had a place to ourselves, they’ve left a book or binder with recommendations.