Excel is perfect for checking distances, recording where you've booked and when, monitoring costs (so many different things to purchase it soon adds up), and just general planning. On the last trip I still managed to 'misplace' a day and found out at the last minute I had an extra day in Texas!
Road Tripping in the USA!
- Thread starter [TW]Fox
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Feel free to not book anything in advance and miss tons of stuff or spend your evenings on your laptop in the hotel on WiFi planning what to do the next day.
My spreadsheet has hotels and their costs and a list of things to do in each place. We'll decide on each individual day where we want to go and what we want to do but I'll do loads of research before. Why spend all the money going out there to miss things because you didn't plan them?
Bonneville Salt Flats, Park City, some cool restaurants and bars. Still need to do more research into SLC as it was the last place I added to our trip.
Soldato
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Why would you miss tons of stuff?
I just think the idea of going on holiday then checking you're excel spreadsheet that says, 9am breakfast, 10am mountain trail, 11am stop here, 12pm lunch at mcdonalds, 3pm stop here, 7pm get to hotel, 8pm dinner at olive garden, 11pm sleep...
Surely you could just pick a few main attractions that 'must' be seen like golden gate bridge or Alcatraz or something in different locations and work around that, i.e. see whats local.
I just think the idea of going on holiday then checking you're excel spreadsheet that says, 9am breakfast, 10am mountain trail, 11am stop here, 12pm lunch at mcdonalds, 3pm stop here, 7pm get to hotel, 8pm dinner at olive garden, 11pm sleep...
Surely you could just pick a few main attractions that 'must' be seen like golden gate bridge or Alcatraz or something in different locations and work around that, i.e. see whats local.
What makes you think my spreadsheet is like that?
The only bit I've actually cropped are the hotels we are staying in and the price we paid.
I then have another sheet which has a list of things to do at each destination (no times or dates, just a list of things I want to see and addresses for Google Maps).
At no point have I or anyone said we plan out our driving holidays like you seem to assume we would?
Get to San Fran wanting to do Alcatraz and you'll be disappointed or forced to buy tickets way over face value.
Soldato
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My post wasn't completely directed at you, also at Fox who said he does a similar thing.
I've not been to America so I guess I don't know.
I've not been to America so I guess I don't know.
I don't think anyone in this thread has said they plan a driving holiday how you've described it.
Fox certainly doesn't as he often books hotels whilst he is out there or a few days before (as he has posted about doing previously).
It sounds like a stupid reason to not go on the trip of a lifetime because you assume some people plan the entire holiday on a spreadsheet
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Nobody plans every hour with a spread sheet, it's just to help plan the route and which hotels to book
You just use it for the start and finish point each day and that nights hotel.
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Soldato
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Or just book hotels before going there in the first place?
Never mind, where did I say I don't want to go lol, of course I do and will at some point.
Never mind, where did I say I don't want to go lol, of course I do and will at some point.
Thats what we do, but to know where to book, when and for how long you need......
.... a plan! Excel is just a helpful way of collating one. It's not looking book a two week resort trip with inclusive flights - its all done separately and you need something to help you piece it all together.
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I would agree that a SS is a good place to track costs etc.
However another useful tool if you want to track your trip in an itinerary fashion is Tripit. Basically you sign up for a (free) account and then whenever you get a hotel/flight/car hire confirmation email just forward onto an email address at Tripit. It recognises your email address and builds the itinerary for you.
It also has driving directions as an option. You can view either on the website but also has an app for iOS and Android so you can track on the go.
I would highly recommend. They also do a paid version where it will track your flights and SMS you if one is cancelled or delayed (plus other benefits).
You can also get it to integrate directly into your calendar.
However another useful tool if you want to track your trip in an itinerary fashion is Tripit. Basically you sign up for a (free) account and then whenever you get a hotel/flight/car hire confirmation email just forward onto an email address at Tripit. It recognises your email address and builds the itinerary for you.
It also has driving directions as an option. You can view either on the website but also has an app for iOS and Android so you can track on the go.
I would highly recommend. They also do a paid version where it will track your flights and SMS you if one is cancelled or delayed (plus other benefits).
You can also get it to integrate directly into your calendar.
Google does pretty much this too.
I'm struggling to understand your objection here.
When we went to Thailand in 2013 we booked all of the internal flights and accommodation and such in advance, and I collated all of the relevant info in a logically laid out spreadsheet, i.e. where we'll be, when, how we're getting there, etc. It's the best way to have all the information in one place. I'm doing the same for our holiday to Malaysia this year.
No, it's not necessary if you're just going for a week or two to Spain to chill out in the sun, but for a more 'involved' holiday, it's somewhat helpful.
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[TW]Fox;27937077 said:
In my experience Google makes a decent stab of it and in some ways is better at putting the information up front but it tends to fall over when your plans change.
It seems to read the booking emails, but not the cancellation or amendment ones. Likewise you don't have the single itinerary view which is useful for spotting missed or conflicting plans. Hence I use Tripit instead.
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I bank with Nationwide. Using the Flexplus account. This costs £10 a month but comes with WW travel insurance, Mobile phone insurance and Breakdown cover. It also comes with a debit card where you don't get charged Cash Withdrawal fees whilst travelling.
I also have one of their Select credit cards where you don't pay transaction fees overseas.
...and whilst on the subject of Money saving tips if you have a Three mobile the US is included in their 'Feel at home' destinations so you don't pay any extra for using your mobile there.
I also have one of their Select credit cards where you don't pay transaction fees overseas.
...and whilst on the subject of Money saving tips if you have a Three mobile the US is included in their 'Feel at home' destinations so you don't pay any extra for using your mobile there.
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This might sound daft but if I am in for example, Vegas. Can I go up to an ATM and withdraw cash using my visa debit card (hsbc)?
Or do you get stung with exchange rates and other charges?
Or do you get stung with exchange rates and other charges?
You'll get an absolutely crap exchange rate and then the bank will charge you too.
I've used a Post Office travel card whenever I've travelled here and to Europe. You can go and get one in a branch and they top up instantly from within the app which takes 2 seconds (I've done it stood at the checkout when I didn't realise that I'd used all my money up on it). The only downside is that you can't transfer money back to your bank. I think it has ATM fees though :\
My parents used CaxtonFX when they came over here last. That didn't have any ATM fees and worked just as well as the Post Office card. The only downside is that you have to apply for one and can't pick one up same day from anywhere.
I've used a Post Office travel card whenever I've travelled here and to Europe. You can go and get one in a branch and they top up instantly from within the app which takes 2 seconds (I've done it stood at the checkout when I didn't realise that I'd used all my money up on it). The only downside is that you can't transfer money back to your bank. I think it has ATM fees though :\
My parents used CaxtonFX when they came over here last. That didn't have any ATM fees and worked just as well as the Post Office card. The only downside is that you have to apply for one and can't pick one up same day from anywhere.