Many thanks. You're spot on. And it's so obvious in hindsight, but alas.
We've already had a contest asking for accomm recommendations and it worked surprisingly well. That person paid a $200 finder's fee and it was great to see experts who'd been to the same places recounting their experiences in detail and giving highly practical advice. Of course you can get this for free elsewhere, but the whole package is worth paying for. This person saved a fortune on the flights alone.
Likewise. When we went to Spain last year I was trying to understand how to book tickets and this site was invaluable in explaining how it was all set up and what we could and couldn't do online or in advance.
Some underwear in carry on in case you stay at the airport. Some cash if your cards fail. Ticket bookings with not the cheapest companies in case you need to rebook the next (significant) leg.
I really appreciate seat61.com when I need to book train travel. The site is full of info as to when and where to book to get the best price, as well as what level of service various trains in various countries provide.
When I used to work in corporate, the company travel agent sorted out serious crap every time it mattered. Once showed up at the airport, Friday evening, everyone on the way home. Surprise snowfall closed the airport and all flights cancelled. Called the booking people and they sorted out a taxi, hotel and other flight in 5 minutes while everyone else was struggling to find a cab. When I got to the hotel, there was a massive queue at reception which I just sailed past. I love a good travel desk.
My general sequence for an overseas trip is to use a slew of tools:
1. Choose the dates based on compatibility with my work schedule or particular events I want to visit (e.g. festivals)
2. Use Google Flights and matrix.itasoftware.com to get a idea of prices
3. i. Use a shared Google Sheet to list out options and my schedule (e.g. plotting out a row for each day of the trip, to allocate out days to each destination)
3. ii. Check Google / Wikipedia / TripAdvisor to see the top attractions - add these to the Sheet for reference while I'm on the trip, and also use this to make sure I've allocated the right amount of time to each place.
4. Use booking.com or Expedia to find the best deals for accommodation (usually I use hotels)
5. Book directly on the airline's website, since that often has the best price.
HN is nothing if not helpful and well-adjusted.
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