So... How does one start on an Itinerary ?

Happywanderer · The Master

So... How does one start on an Itinerary ?

Atlas · Member

Howdy all,

Besides the obvious problems of getting and choosing the right RV which I am starting on now, as the title suggests, how o you come up with an itinerary ?

Firstly I have no set time limit at this stage, unless I hate th elifestyle completely, which I highly doubt.. We have a huge country to explore, though I think it is fair to say that I will only be looking at tar and those dirt roads that an average car could go on...

I have been pretty much all over Aus in my career, other than top end of WA and Alice...

I will be leaving from Brisbane I suspect anywhere betweeen june & Dec 2013... N, S or W, I have no real idea !

So how did you come up with yours ? :)

jules47 · The Happy Helper

What's an itinerary????????????????????????????? Seriously though - decide on places you want to see - don't lock yourself into time frames - might hate some places, and want to spend ages somewhere else - planning while you are on the road is half the fun, you get so much info from fellow travellers - it is out there for you to enjoy!

Ma · Guru

There is a group of us going up the middle and then down the west coast starting mid April.

So far the only thing that has been planned is where we will spend the first night or then again it might be two or three, who knows.

We never actually have a set plan for as Jules said some places you will hate and some you will love.

It is much less stressful to just go with the flow and see what each new day brings and how you are feeling.

Unless there is an appointment that has to be kept or a BIG family celebration we don't limit ourselves to time frames.

Atlas · Member

Hiya,

Thanks for the replies.. I get what you are saying..

So you don't have a rough plan ? Not so much how long in a place, but a rough plan of where you are actually going ?

Or decide on the first place and "wing" it from there ? Spent most of my adult life 'winging' it, should be easy enough ! hahahah :D

Ma · Guru

If we have a plan at all it is REALLY ROUGH that's for sure.

For example, the trip we are starting in April, we know we will go to Darwin and WHEN we get there probably spend a couple of weeks.

We KNOW we have to go back down to Katherine to get over to the West Coast but when is anybody's guess.

We have told the kids we will be home for Christmas this year but whether we get back with the caravan is another guess.

If we don't we will leave the van somewhere and fly home for a week or so and then come back and pick up the van and carry on.

Think you get the idea and that's how we do most of our travelling now.

When we first started we had an itinerary but it was too stressful so GRADUALLY we learnt to adjust and SLOW DOWN.

Maybe we have slowed down too much now.................

Travel Bug · Guru

Shaughan, I always have a plan of where I'm going....but it is usually fairly rough, with a flexible time frame and subject to change at a moments notice...

And that's just how I like it!! smile

p.s. Ma, Jules and Marj...I agree with all of you.

neilnruth · Guru

And I agree with the 'go with the flow' itinerary. Problem is, my husband doesn't. So let's see how we go when we get away again. The only thing to make me come home would be a parent dying or another grandchild born!

Beth54 · Guru

It's still a bit of a learning curve for me.

I have the idea of where I want to go, but I feel I don't do enough 'exploring' along the way, and/or stopping in one place for a few days.

Hylda&Jon · Guru

Plan just the direction then wing the rest.

At this time of the year it's best to probably start meandering slowly north soon if you are in the south.

Maybe check when and where festivals that may interest you are on, ie: music, art, wildflower, any event that interests you then plan your route roughly around that.

We planned our trip so we would be in SW Western Australia for the wildflower season. We aren't gardeners or anything but the flowers all along the Nullarbor, lining the country roads, lining the beaches, in fact everywhere in the lower west between Sept & Dec was amazing.

Cheers

Jon

Cruising Granny · Guru

The only itinerary you probably should have is a rough idea of departure date, and in which direction you will point the bonnet as you leave the driveway.
As everyone else has said it's then a matter of a day to day thing. The features and sights you want to see and experience. How long you want to spend there will depend on what you are enjoying - or not.
You may have some idea of the geographical features, beaches, regions, points of interest. There's a lot more to this travel gig than sitting in the driver's seat watching the countryside slide by. It really is an experience.
Then there's the chat time. Always allow chat time. Whether it be happy hour, coffee, lunch or just a chat at the bowser while refuelling. Someone somewhere, anywhere will want to know about you and your travels. It can take hours and days to explain it.
It's all part of the fun.
Will you be free camping or van parks? Or even friend's driveways and backyards?
As far as RV's go there are so many options. From motorhomes - petrol/diesel/gas. Camper vans, caravan & tug, all personal choice.
There are no rules to this except the road rules of course.
So many options - so little time.

Cupie · Guru

We seem to be a bit different to most of you guys in that we always have a detailed plan; but we don't stick rigidly to it. It is only a guide & cost do-ability assesment.

1. It starts with an idea of where or what we want to see .. A theme I suppose.

This evolves from maybe a spark or idea or even a passing comment from one of us or one of our friends. It is developed or discarded over time. If we agree that we want to do it then on to stage 2

2. Next is to estimate how long it might take us .

I begin by using various trip planners to develop a spread sheet of distances between significant places.

The spread sheet is expanded to include our basic travel rules, like

- Daily maximum travel of say 250km.

- No stop over less than 3 nights.

- Extended time, say a week or two at selected places, where appropriate.

As we go thru this step we research the locations & add may do & must do's to the s/sheet.

This gives us an idea of minimum time to do the trip.

3. Then the cost.

A small excel or similar spreadsheet formulae - (Km/100) x estimated fuel consumption (eg 20L/100k) x estimated fuel price (from fuel watch sites), gives an estimate of the major cost. eg (km/100 x 20 x 1.80) or in s/sheet terminology = ("Km"/100)*20*1.8

For budgeting purposes I add 50% to allow for side trips.

The next largest expense is accommodation. As we stay almost invariably at CPs then the prices at the likely stop overs are added to the S/sheet (prices from Top Big4 CPA RACQ / internet searches etc gives a guide).

We have a look at Camps 6 (with snaps) and note any appealing free camps that we might like to consider along the way; but we do not budget on using them.

Our day to day living expenses are usually the same as when at home.

So we now have a good idea of both how long & how much.

4. Next step is to try to fit the trip in between other commitments making sure that it takes into account prevailing weather conditions & the dreaded school holidays. We prefer out of school holidays when touring.

In some cases (but seldom) we may need to book ahead hen planning to stay for extended times at popular spots.

This gives us a plan. An idea of the doability of the trip. And even if we need to be at certain spots at set times.

We use the plan as a guide only & vary it as the mood takes us. We extend stop overs & change routes as the trip progresses, referring to the itinerary only occasionally.

I suppose that this approach comes as a result of my training & experience during over the almost half century of my working life.

It suits us

-- Edited by Cupie on Thursday 16th of February 2012 12:21:24 PM

Helena · Guru

Have given up on itineraries as we have tried in the past but never seem to stick to them so just have a look and see where the freebies are plan the first one and the rest just as we come to them which ever way you do it just enjoy the trip and stop and smell the roses. Helena.

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

We always have a plan of where we are heading, first start the tug, pull out of the drive and turn right.

Smokeydk · Guru

itineraries............dont rely on one.......you might want to see/stay at a place..only to find the roads are closed due to flooding or bushfires.....so be flexable.....but have fun

Esmeralda · Guru

My last itinerary was go out the gate and turn left and left and right and right and left and then it was pretty much left for a few days before I had to throw in a right. biggrin biggrin

Pam · Guru

Our longest holiday so far has been 6 weeks when we headed for WA.
We studied a map, worked out some distances, read some info.
We decided it would take a week each way from the Riverina NSW to WA.
Then we turned left when we hit WA. Our 4 weeks got us not quite to Perth, pretty much following the coast around from Esperance.
We usually spend about 3 or 4 days each place and decide as we go along where the next place will be.
The day before moving on we usually book one night in a caravan park at our next location and if we like it will extend our booking once we are there.

Hylda&Jon · Guru

Esmeralda wrote:
My last itinerary was go out the gate and turn left and left and right and right and left and then it was pretty much left for a few days before I had to throw in a right.

I tried that & had to get my car towed out of the ocean, got that last right wrong I think.......just kidding.

Bent Axle Bob · Senior Member

biggrin You should have a Plan A and a Plan B. At the end of your driveway, turn left (plan A) or turn right (plan B), doesn't matter, just remember to put the cat outside before you go

traveling bob · Veteran Member

My plan is to start vehicle then decide which way to turn if I have a choice. I like to follow the sun.

Bob

JRH · Guru

I just follow the bonnet.

Beth54 · Guru

Struth Cupie! I'd be worn out before I even got out of the driveway! biggrin wink

jimricho · Guru

I think part of the excitement of getting away is doing some planning even if the final trip bears little resemblance to the plans. A bit of research helps to avoid going to places at an inappropriate time of the year, eg Nth Qld in the cyclone season, Central Aust in high summer, anywhere on the coast in school hols.

If planning to go to festivals, events etc (eg Tamworth Country Music etc) some pre-planning may be needed as getting a camp-site may be a challenge. Use Google to search events and tourist info for various places

I would also suggest you do one or two short "shakedown" trips before setting out on the "Big One".

Handy tools for planning are http://maps.google.com.au/ and http://www.whereis.com/index.htm click on "get directions"

-- Edited by jimricho on Thursday 16th of February 2012 07:16:03 PM

cannylass · Senior Member

Bent Axle Bob wrote:
You should have a Plan A and a Plan B. At the end of your driveway, turn left (plan A) or turn right (plan B), doesn't matter, just remember to put the cat outside before y

lol love it we do about the same head North and be flexable as it can change from day to day depends how we like a place

Cupie · Guru

Beth54 wrote:
Struth Cupie! I'd be worn out before I even got out of the driveway!

Remember the old adage ...

"Fail to plan ... Plan to fail"

I just love playing with spreadsheets ... maybe that's part of it.

For many years I suffered under the requirement of having to present detailed Business Plans not only every financial year but for almost every significant change or project. Towards the end of my working life it was a case of assesing the business plans of others.

After a while it just becomes the norm. Prepare a plan before you start anything.

Even now at the start of every year I start a plan for what I hope to achieve that year & review what I have completed of the last year's plan.

JRH · Guru

Cupie wrote:
Beth54 wrote:
Struth Cupie! I'd be worn out before I even got out of the driveway!
Remember the old adage ...

"Fail to plan ... Plan to fail"

I just love playing with spreadsheets ... maybe that's part of it.

For many years I suffered under the requirement of having to present detailed Business Plans not only every financial year but for almost every significant change or project. Towards the end of my working life it was a case of assesing the business plans of others.
After a while it just becomes the norm. Prepare a plan before you start anything.
Even now at the start of every year I start a plan for what I hope to achieve that year & review what I have completed of the last year's plan.

I don't plan to fail I just don't plan anymore, did far too much of that in work, I am retired now and am quite happy to take each day as it comes.

I find that a lot of the fun in travelling is not knowing where we will end up at the end of the day.

Cruising Granny · Guru

Yeah Cupie, you are the organised one, and you have time on your hands between cups of tea and doing chores for Mrs. C.
Jeez you have heaps of time to work on the China Plan.
Don' t be too rigid now. You'll drive yourself and everyone nuts.

Cupie · Guru

Cruising Granny wrote:
Yeah Cupie, you are the organised one, and you have time on your hands between cups of tea and doing chores for Mrs. C.
Jeez you have heaps of time to work on the China Plan.
Don' t be too rigid now. You'll drive yourself and everyone nuts.

The China file grows by the day ... read lots of books & copied lots of stuff.

Can't wait to go ..

Haji-Baba · Senior Member

As one woman said to my wife one day: "I just follow the bed."

Have fun Haji-Baba

Ma · Guru

In our case the bed follows us I would say............. biggrin