How to make the best trip itinerary

As I’ve been planning for my upcoming trip to New York, I thought it might be helpful to document my process for anyone looking to be better trip planners. I don’t like to make a minute-by-minute itinerary, but rather I highlight my top priorities and then create a schedule of where to go based on location, with mornings, afternoons, and evening plans that are all interchangeable.

Organizing my must-see spots by location will be especially important for New York, because my friends and I only have three days and it is a BIG city with SO MUCH to do. Can you tell I’m already a little stressed about doing everything I want!? That’s where my trip planning process comes in clutch. I can eliminate (ahead of time) the things that I don’t feel the need to do this trip, and make sure I have time for what’s on the top of my list.

Without further ado, here’s my formula for creating the best itinerary…

ONE. Start a note on your phone.

Maybe it’s just me but I have a million notes on my phone. I always start one the minute I book flights so that I can jot down things or places I see on Instagram, or that I hear from friends once I start telling people about my upcoming trip.

TWO. Make yourself lists–to see, to do, and to eat.

This is the time to sit down and hop on pinterest and travel blogs. I spoke about this a little bit when I posted Best Ways to get in the Mood for a Trip. This is also a good time to get together with whoever I’m traveling with to make sure we’re all on the same page. It’s fun to talk about what our goals and top priorities are for the trip, so that everyone gets to do what they most want to do. For this trip, one of my friends wants to see a show on Broadway, the other wants to eat all the New York staples, and I want to go to museums, visit Little Italy, walk through Central Park, and stay out late in the city that supposedly never sleeps!

THREE. Consider booking a tour.

It’s best to schedule a tour of the city–by walking, bike, or bus–to get the lay of the land when you first arrive. I’ve found it easier to appreciate the place when I know the history and the background of its main landmarks. It also makes a difference in navigating the city for the rest of the time. While I’m at it, I book any restaurant reservations or other tours that I want to take.

FOUR. Layout a rough itinerary.

Once I’ve identified restaurants, museums, landmarks, etc., it’s the right time to make a rough layout of what my days will look like. This is when I like to look up the city to see what’s near each other, what’s walkable from where I’m staying, and what I’ll need to take public transit for. It’s best to have a very set plan for the first day so I can hit the ground running straight from the tarmac, then I usually figure out what the rest of the trip will look like over lunch or dinner my first day!

FIVE. Fly away…

…Itinerary in hand! Ahh, the feeling of being in a new place is so exciting, I can’t wait to feel that feeling again! I love allowing for flexibility and always remind myself that often the best memories are the most spontaneous ones, and the unexpected events of the day have a way of becoming the best stories. Happy travels, buon viaggio!