The Journey Before the Journey

Marked-up map of Venice. Apps? Maps? I use both. (Maps are more fun!)

The old way of planning travel still holds up. I’ll take a guidebook over AI any day.

Our friends are going to Venice—to live in the Cannaregio district for two weeks. My family went to Venice eight years ago, so my wife and I invited the couple over to show them some pics, offer some tips, and talk travel.

It’s great to be able to look through photos, videos, and notes from a trip and recall how special it was. I had not looked back at that vacation in years, so it warmed my heart to realize that I would not change a thing.

It also got me thinking…

My daughter and I—gondoliers on the Venetian Lagoon! Rowing lessons with Row Venice. A trip highlight.

Eight years ago there was no AI. I was not on Instagram. I certainly didn’t follow any “influencers.”

I planned that trip with good old-fashioned research and resourcefulness. In other words, I put in the time. And the payoff was tremendous.

Part of the great joy of travel is in the planning… the anticipation… in learning about a place and watching your journey come together. 

I used several guidebooks to plan that trip to Venice and Rome. I combed through countless websites and blogs, watched videos, spoke to friends (and strangers) who had been there, visited travel forums, cut and pasted, took notes, and dug deep to find shops, restaurants, sights, and activities.

Planning that trip was a commitment. It required patience. Some might say it was “work.”

I loved every minute of it! And still do.

Today I plan trips the same way. And my advice to everyone is…

Roll up your sleeves and plan your vacations!

Enjoy the process. Have fun with it. There’s no better way to learn about your destination, its people, its history, and make your upcoming trip truly yours. 

Loft at our incredible airbnb, right on a canal, far from the tourist throngs. It took serious research to find this place.

Only you know the subtleties of your heart and soul, desires, interests, and family. AI sure doesn’t.

I’ve explored AI for travel. It has ranged from disappointing to laughable. It rarely offers inspired ideas. Often it’s just plain wrong.

Yes, AI will get better. I know I will use it more often as one of my many tools to plan trips.

But AI alone? Never.

Ciccetti! Every afternoon. (Aperol spritz not pictured.)

I want humanity. I don’t want the cold, soulless touch of yet another algorithm in my life, telling me what’s best for me.

I know people are busy. I know this approach to travel planning isn’t for everyone. But if you can carve out some time and get into the spirit, deep planning is profoundly rewarding.

I look at travel research and all the discovery that comes with it as “the journey before the journey.” When you break free from the grip of the huge, corporate tour and booking sites, that’s where surprises, authenticity and magic emerge.

Try it sometime.

We loved buying fresh fruit and vegetables from boats that dock along the canals each day. So Venetian!

Amo Venezia!