General Travel Planning - Case Study: The Ultimate Guide (15 Days in 🇮🇹)
Planning, notes, and tips before you travel.
We are using an incredible 15-day (15 nights) trip to Italy as an example, but this process is the exact roadmap we apply to all of our trips.
1. Hunting for Cheap Flights ✈️
Once we have a mental list of destinations and a defined travel period, finding airfare is the top priority.
We use two key tools to search for cheap flights:
- Google Flights 🌐: Ideal for a broad view and using the interactive map.
- Kayak 🛶: Perfect for quickly comparing and filtering prices.
Where to buy the ticket?
After selecting the airline and date, we check with local travel agencies. We usually buy directly on the airline's website or through reputable agencies, as they generally match prices while offering additional support (e.g., in case of cancellations).
👉 Pro Tip: Buy the flight first, then structure the itinerary.
2. Mapping Out the Itinerary 🗺️
We research interesting places to visit across various platforms. After creating a list, we set priorities: must-sees, doable stops, and the necessary days in each city. That's how our preliminary itinerary is born (and it can always adapt!).
Moving Strategy: Move Forward, Don't Backtrack
A key strategy is to keep advancing along your route, avoiding unnecessary round trips (sleeping directly in destinations of interest).
| ✅ Benefits of "Moving Forward" | ❌ Drawbacks to Consider |
|---|---|
| Experience tourist spots during crowd-free evenings (e.g., Bruges in Belgium, Pisa in Italy). | Frequent check-in and check-out times at hotels. |
| Saves time and transit costs. | More luggage handling (though luggage storage services are a great ally). |
This doesn't mean you can't establish a "base" in major cities. Decisions can depend on the weather—for instance, we visited Pompeii and Herculaneum near Mount Vesuvius only because the weather cooperated. Similarly, we took day trips from Rome to Tivoli and from Milan to Lake Como using the base approach, returning to our main stay at night.
In our case, the Italy itinerary was:
- Rome: 1 night (returning later)
- Venice: 2 nights
- Milan: 2 nights
- Cinque Terre: 1 night
- Pisa: 1 night
- Florence: 3 nights
- Rome: 5 nights (final stop)
🚨 Key takeaway: The main costs for longer trips in Italy are hotels and intercity transport.
3. Accommodation: The Initial Dilemma and Final Choice 🏨
The initial dilemma is: Booking.com vs Airbnb. (We choose Booking.com for security and lower risk of cancellation). Next comes the second choice: Apartment vs Hotel.
Our Success Formula on Booking.com:
- Select accommodations with a rating above 8.0 ✨.
- Ensure it has at least 100 reviews.
- If the rating is lower, it must be offset by over 1,000 reviews.
- Always check the most recent reviews of candidate properties.
⚠️ Italy Alert! Read taxes and extra charges carefully (usually city taxes). Sometimes fees can exceed €100, especially cleaning fees for apartments. Keep an eye out!
Apartments vs. Hotels
The advantage of hotels is peace of mind: you arrive and everything is clean, tidy, and ready for rest. However, apartments offer their own set of pros and cons:
| Apartments: ✅ Pros | Apartments: ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| Comfort and the ability to cook (saves money 💰). | Coordinating check-in/check-out times with hosts. |
| Occasionally, laundry facilities are available. | Sofa beds are generally very uncomfortable. |
| Cleaning is your responsibility or carries a steep extra fee. | |
| No regular replenishment of toiletries or daily housekeeping. |
On our last trip, despite the drawbacks, we booked three apartments and they were exceptional. The secret was thoroughly reading recent reviews before booking.
4. Intercity Transport: High-Speed Trains 🚅
We traveled between major Italian cities primarily using high-speed trains. We generally prefer trains over flights because airports are usually far from city centers, consuming extra time and transit costs.
- We chose Italo 🚄, which was more economical than Trenitalia. Both companies offer clean and comfortable service.
- To compare schedules and prices, we used Omio 📲. This app/website aggregates all transport options (trains, buses, ferries) with schedules and rates.
With Trenitalia, we used Regional and Intercity trains. We prefer rail transit over buses due to superior comfort.
Notes on Omio
Omio is an excellent price and schedule comparison tool. Although the platform lists flights, we don't purchase air travel through it due to negative reviews regarding flight bookings. For trains, however, it is reliable, rarely charges high commissions, and is very convenient.
Pro Tip! Discounts and Reward Points:
- It pays to create discount accounts with Trenitalia and Italo (Italo Più) to earn points. Even when buying through Omio, you can often collect points and apply discounts.
- Points accumulated with Italo Più can grant access to their VIP lounge at train stations (perfect for breakfast at Rome Termini!).
🎁 Gift for your first Omio purchase! Use our code viajop0d4c8p to get €10 off your first booking.
5. Why Book EVERYTHING in Advance? 🎟️
Hotels, transportation, activities... Booking ahead ensures that:
- You save valuable time.
- You get better choices.
- You bypass endless ticket lines.
Time wasted waiting in line equals missing out on at least one additional sight.
Our Favorite Activity Apps: Tiqets & GetYourGuide
We booked through Tiqets and had a fantastic experience—it allowed us to skip the line at several attractions. Another big perk is the free cancellation policy offered by both Tiqets and GetYourGuide for many activities, adding peace of mind.
Recommendation: at least purchase tickets in advance for your must-do attractions.
💸 Try a Discount on Tiqets! Use code APP10 for a potential 10% discount if the promo is active. Booking through this Tiqets link or this GetYourGuide link supports us in creating more travel content. Thank you!
📱 Extra Tip! Download the GetYourGuide App here and email us at viajoxmicuenta@gmail.com to request an exclusive discount code for your first purchase.6. Essential Tips: Digital vs. Printed & Connectivity 📱
- Double Backup: Keep digital copies on your phone AND printed versions! Having a printed QR code is a lifesaver when your battery runs out.
- Google Drive: Save a dedicated folder with all your tickets organized by city on Google Drive and set them to available offline.
- Mobile Data (Essential!): We recommend BNeSim 🌍. It works in over 200 countries and has worked flawlessly for us across continents.
🌟 BNeSim Discount! Get 30% off your first top-up using code VIAJOXMICUENTA.
7. Free Apps That Saved Our Trip 📲
Transport & Navigation
- Google Maps 🗺️: Usually sufficient for navigation.
- Citymapper 🚇: Best transit experience in major capitals.
- Moovit 🚌: Great for public transit and buying bus/metro tickets (e.g., in Rome).
Culture & Audio Guides
- my colosseum: Free official audio guide for the Colosseum.
- Y&co: Free audio guide for the Roman Forum.
- Cicero: Helpful guide for the Vatican and beyond.
- Izitravel: Excellent app with various user and official audio tours.
- audioguidesapp: Another solid option for audio tours.
Essential Convenience
- Toilet Finder 🚽: App to locate restrooms worldwide.
- app aquea 💧: Locates public water fountains (essential during long walks in Italy).
Public Restroom Tip: For walking around Paris, check out this interactive map of clean, free public restrooms (Sanisettes): Paris Sanisettes Map.
8. Other Tips: Shopping & Food 🛍️🍽️
- Duty Free Shops: Check if they participate in Club Avolta to claim a 5% to 10% discount. Membership is free!
- Dining: For lunch or dinner, we search on Google Maps 🍽️ and head to spot with high ratings matching our preferences. Works reliably everywhere!
- Free Walking Tours: Keep in mind that they are not completely free—guides expect a fair tip. To guarantee guide quality, consider booking a paid tour with verified reviews on platforms like Civitatis, Tiqets, or GetYourGuide.
