Travel Tips: How to Plan Your Trip

The idea of taking a trip is exciting, especially when it’s to a place that you’ve always wanted to visit. Maybe you’ve dreamed of walking through the lavender fields in Provence, or admiring the great works at the Louvre. Perhaps you’ve wanted to explore castles in the Loire Valley or visit the stunning beaches of la Bretagne. While the idea of being at your destination can be exhilarating, it’s working out the logistics of getting there that can be exhausting.

I’ve heard friends say that their vacation plans fell through because the idea of planning the trip – especially to a place they had never been before – was just too overwhelming. Or, people have gone on a trip only to find that the friends, family members, or spouse they went with had much different ideas of what a “vacation” was. Hopefully, with the tips I’m going to share with you today, you will feel more confident planning your trip, leaving you feeling relaxed and happy during your time away. I hope to one day offer direct services to people wanting to see the beautiful region of Brittany, but for now I’ll offer what I hope to be helpful suggestions based on how I organize our trips.

One could argue that, back in the day, before the technological conveniences we have today, trips were actually easier to plan. We would simply hop on a train, Eurail pass in hand, a large and usually heavy backpack strapped on, a few French Francs or Italian Lire in our wallets, and a copy of the most useful phrases in Italian, French, German, and Spanish in our pocket. Off we went, with some vague ideas in mind and a general plan of what we wanted to do when. It was thrilling, not knowing what was on the horizon.

When I completed my study abroad almost 30 years ago, there were no cell phones or Google maps, nothing to show me where to go. I had to rely only on my sense of direction (of which I have none) and my sense of adventure. Since my mom reads this, I won’t elaborate too much on the places I ended up accidentally or the rather interesting places I had to sleep (Athens airport, for one) or the times that I found myself without currency or coins to use the loo (fun fact: begging for money to use the toilet is quite humbling). I sure learned a lot about travel, especially solo travel, as well as the importance of doing some research in advance. It would have been helpful to know that some toilets require payment to use, for example.

Now that we have the ability to research, connect with people over social media and through email, it literally opens a word of possibilities and opportunities to plan ahead. While it may have been easier to just hop on a train years before, with only a general idea of what to do and when, I’ve learned that it really does pay to do some research before the trip. As I’ve gotten older, the idea of ending up in some random youth hostel, sharing a room with 12 other people, doesn’t sound as fun or interesting as it did in my early 20’s. I prefer knowing that I will sleep in a comfy bed and have a solid (but flexible) plan for my time away.

I always begin with the general location in mind. Thanks to Instagram, YouTube, the Discovery Channel, and travel blogs, it’s pretty easy to find places that looks intriguing. Then I move through my planning process, asking myself these questions:

• Where do I want to go?
  • What is the main focus of this trip? (i.e. relax on a beach, spend time outdoors hiking, visiting a winery, seeing a specific exhibit at a museum, etc.)
  • In what part of this country/region/city will I be able to do that?
  • How will I get there? (including airfare, trains, car rental, boat, etc.)
  • What is my overall budget? (with more detail later)
  • Where will I stay? (in one location/city, in an apartment or a hotel, etc.)
  • How long will I stay there? (one location or several)
  • When will I go? (the answers may vary depending on weather, costs associated with traveling on or off-season, tour dates, work schedules, etc.)
  • Who is going? (Note: if you’re traveling with another person, make sure you’re on the same page as to what you want to do on this trip, how much time on different activities, activity level, what time you want to be up and around in the morning, etc.)

• From there, I narrow plans down a bit and dive deeper into the research.
  • What are some other things I would like to do on this trip?
  • What are the hours of operation for the main highlights?
  • What are the hours of operation for the additional things I want to do?
  • Is what I want to see open year-round or seasonally?
  • Is public transportation available at my destination(s) or will I need to rent a car? (We use public transportation as much as possible, but we’ve needed a car to reach some towns that are off-the-beaten-path.)
  • Can I find an apartment to rent so that I can cook my own food?
• With that information, the overall budget can be broken down further:
  • Airfare
  • Lodging
  • Food
  • Transportation (at destination)
  • Entertainment
  • Supplies (Do I need to buy anything in preparation for the trip, such as hiking shoes or gear)
  • Travel insurance
  • Souvenirs/shopping

• Additional considerations:
  • What do I need to know in advance (language, money, etc.)
  • What will I need to bring with me for my daily adventures? (hiking shoes, bathing suits, small bag for visiting museums – large backpacks often need to be held in a coat closet)
  • Are there restaurants nearby that cater to dietary restrictions and/or is there a farmer’s market that will provide these items?
  • Are there supports in place for people with limited mobility (if applicable)?

I usually start diving deeper into my research a few months before the trip, after flights have been purchased and before booking our hotel and train tickets. This allows us to determine how much time we need in a specific location and helps keep us on track when looking at our travel budget. This may seem like a lot of pre-planning, but in the end, it makes for a much less stressful trip.

I use the power of Google and social media to research destinations that look interesting, affordable, and relatively easy to get to. When I’ve picked my must-sees, I research hours of operation, restaurants nearby that are open on the same days and around the same hours as museum, castle, winery, etc. and see what other cultural attractions are around in case we want to add that to the list. I also like to have a Plan B in case something is closed for construction, major change in weather, someone isn’t feeling great, etc.

With all of that information, I create our itinerary. Experience has taught me that planning an adventure every day leaves us feeling tired and a little stressed at the end of a trip. It’s better to have checked off most of our must-see items with a little extra time for rest and relaxation, then running about on the last day trying to see just one more thing. For me, spending time on a terrace, listening to the birds chirp and the boats go by is a luxury in our otherwise fast-paced lives. Therefore, I spend a day doing reading or painting or journaling on the terrace while my hubby goes off and does something that is more to his liking.

Below is a very basic itinerary for our most recent trip to Paris and Brittany. We were blessed to have my father join us on this trip, and so I created an itinerary that would allow us to show my dad our favorite spots in the Cotes d’Armor department, spend quality time with our dear friends, take one road trip to Normandy, and time for him to visit some of his favorite galleries and print shops in Paris. We all had the Degas exhibition at Musee d’Orsay on our “must see” list, so that was built in as well. My final document was over 12 pages, so I have condensed it to give you a general idea of my process.

Itinerary

Saturday 11/16: Arrive CDG by 8 a.m. Early check-in at Hotel Muguet. Rest, then afternoon in le Marais. Visit print shops. Stop at boulangerie and lunch in Place des Vosges. Dinner 7eme Vin or Le Petit Cler.

Sunday 11/17: 9am train from Paris to Rennes, arriving at 12:20. Lunch at Prêt a Manger, at train station. Pick up car at 1pm. Drive 45 minutes to Dinan. Settle in and stop at boulangerie. Dinner at La Lumachelle or Le Passe Simple.

Monday 11/18: Explore Dinan historic center. Lunch at D’icidela. Visit art galleries and shops. Stop at Carrefour for groceries. Apero with friends.

Tuesday 11/19 (or Wednesday, depending on weather):  Breakfast at home. Drive 25 minutes south to Bécherel. Lunch at La Part des Anges. Visit bookstores and art galleries. Dinner at La Lumachelle or Bords de Rance.

Wednesday 11/20 (or Tuesday, depending on weather) Drive 40 minutes north to St. Malo. Walk through walled city. Lunch at creperie. Drive through St. Suliac on the way home. Dinner at Argile et Vin, in Dinan.

Thursday 11/21: Dinan market (center ville) Open from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.   Walk to Lehon in the afternoon (25 minutes). Visit abbey and museum. Lunch at La Marmite de l’Abbaye. Dinner at home. Pack for Honfleur.

Friday 11/22: Drive to Honfleur. Explore town and port. Dinner portside at l’Hippocampe.

Saturday 11/23: Morning in Honfleur. Breakfast at hotel. Visit wooden church and have lunch in town. Drive to Bayeux to view tapestry. Back in Dinan by 6:00 p.m. Dinner at home.

Sunday 11/24: Lunch and afternoon with friends in Taden. Dinner at Bords de Rance or Le Passe Simple.

Monday 11/25: Day of rest/work catch-up, laundry, etc. Apero with friends. Pack for Paris.

Tuesday 11/26: Leave Dinan at 9:45 a.m. for Rennes. Train from Rennes to Paris at 11:35, arriving in Paris at 1:04 p.m. Visit print shops in the 6^th arrondissement. Walk through Jardin du Luxembourg. Dinner at Maison Sauvage (6^th) 

Wednesday 11/27: Paris. Breakfast at Kozy Bosquet. Visit Degas exhibit at Musee D’Orsay. Lunch at Angelina with friends, afternoon walk through Jardin de Tuileries.

Thursday 11/28: leave hotel at 7:15 a.m. via taxi to CDG

General information:

Becherel:

Bécherel

Dinan: https://thetravelhack.com/france/mini-guide-dinan-brittany/

Lehon:  https://www.france-voyage.com/tourism/dinan-284.htm

Honfleur:

https://www.thegoodlifefrance.com/the-ravishing-little-town-of-honfleur-normandy/

Attractions: http://en.normandie-tourisme.fr/discover/normandy-must-sees/the-10-top-normandy-must-sees/honfleur-86-2.html

Sites: http://en.normandie-tourisme.fr/cultural-heritage/~~~honfleur~~~~~/offres-6-2.html

Restaurants: http://en.normandie-tourisme.fr/restaurants/~~~honfleur~~~~/offres-9-2.html

Hotel http://www.hotel-ecrin-honfleur.com/en/

Information on rest stops (about every 15 km)

https://www.autoroutes.fr/en/service-areas.htm

All about toll roads and rest stops

https://www.abelard.org/france/motorway-aires1.php

St. Malo:

Saint-Malo

Restaurants: Paris

7eme Vin

68 Avenue Bosquet

Open 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Closed Sundays

https://www.restaurant7emevin.fr/

Angelina

226 Rue de Rivoli 75001

Open daily 7:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.  Sat and Sun 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

https://www.angelina-paris.fr/fr/le-226-rue-de-rivoli

Kozy Bosquet

79 Avenue Bosquet, 75007

Mon – Friday 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Sat/Sun 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

http://www.kozy.fr/

Le Petit Cler

29 Rue Cler, 75007 Paris, France

Open 7 days/week, 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

http://www.lepetitcler.com/

Maison Sauvage

5 Rue de Buci, 75006 Paris, France (St. Germain area)

Open daily 7 a.m. to 2 a.m.  (vegetarian options) 

http://www.maison-sauvage.fr/

 Restaurants: Dinan

Auberge des Terre Neuvas (Port de Dinan)

https://auberge-des-terre-neuvas.business.site

Open 12-2:15 and 7-10:00 daily

Bords de Rance  (Port de Dinan)

18 Quai du Tallard, 22100 Lanvallay

Open daily 11 am to 10 pm

La Lumachelle (Port de Dinan)

80 Rue du Petit Fort, 22100 Dinan

Closed Mondays. Open 12-2:00 and 7-9:15

Le Passe Simple (Port de Dinan)

2 Rue du Quai, 22100

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D’icidela (cenre-ville)

https://d-ici-de-la.bzh/

Open Monday through Friday 8am to 7pm. Service continu 11:30 to 5:30

Entre+plat+dessert is 11€

Argile et Vin (centre-ville)

Closed Sundays and Mondays, open 12 to 10 daily except Thursday 10am to 10 pm

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187098-d10232640-Reviews-Argile_Et_Vin-Dinan_Cotes_d_Armor_Brittany.html

Full list of restaurants: https://www.tripadvisor.com/RestaurantsNear-g1065630-d3536426-Bords_de_Rance-Lanvallay_Dinan_Cotes_d_Armor_Brittany.html

 Restaurants: Becherel

La Part des Anges

https://www.lapartdesanges.info

Restaurants Honfleur

l’Hippocampe

46 Quai Saint-Catherine

Open daily 12 to 9:30 p.m.

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Restaurants: Lehon

La Marmite de l’Abbaye 

Closed Monday and Tuesday

**Cash only**

Restaurants: St. Malo

La Corderie

https://www.lacorderie-restaurant.com/

Open 12-2:00 and 7-9:00. Closed Mondays.

**Bistro autour du beurre**

7 rue de l’Orme

Open 12-2:00 Tuesdays through Saturdays

Le Bistro Autour du Beurre

Museums and print shops (Paris)

Musée D’Orsay 

Open daily 9:30-6:00 except Mondays

https://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/accueil.html?tx_kleemobileredirection=1

Degas at Musee d’Orsay

https://en.parisinfo.com/paris-show-exhibition/193996/Degas-at-the-Opera

Musée Rodin

Open daily 10am to 6:00. Open until 8:45pm on Wednesdays. Closed Mondays

https://www.introducingparis.com/musee-rodin

Art galleries in the Marais

http://www.parismarais.com/en/arts-and-culture/art-galleries-in-le-marais

***Le Pont Traverse (6^th arrondisement, by Luxembourg gardens)

62 Rue de Vaugirard, 75006 Paris, France

Open 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, Saturday 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Closed Sundays

Le Pont Traverse – Paris

 Le Coin des Arts (6^th arrondissement) 

open daily except Sundays

https://www.yelp.com/biz/le-coin-des-arts-paris

Paul Proute (6^th arr)

Open daily 9:30-12:00 and 2-7:00. Closed Sunday and Monday

https://www.yelp.com/biz/paul-proute-paris

https://galeriepaulproute.fr/

MAPS

Hotel in Paris to landmarks