As my regular readers reader knows, I am an obsessive planner and organizer. I like time frames, explicit directions, and general, minutia-like detail. When I travel, I like to know what to expect when I arrive, how I am going to get from Point A to Point B, and what I need to bring along to make things go smoothly; otherwise, a major flip-out might ensue.
And because of this, I have been toiling obsessing preoccupiedplanning this trip to Germany for, um, 6 months now. I’m quite sure that there’s not a Web site in the Googleverse related to Germany that I haven’t already visited. I own a total of 10 travel books that cover Germany and Austria. I am a freak of nature, and I would like to invite you to take a further look into the hysteria that is in Lulu’s mind.
- I created a travel binder with tabs separating days of the week that contain our plans for the day, hotel information, and directions to and from each location that we plan to visit.
- I created an Excel spreadsheet containing my shoe-string budget costs for hotels, subway fares, sight-seeing activities, car rental, and estimated petrol usage (outrageous! $8/gallon…thank God I’m driving a clown car). Just looking at this spreadsheet makes my eyes bleed German sausage blood. As of this moment, 1 US Dollar = .707 Euro, which is better than it has been over the past several months, but still…
- I purchased a dual-voltage flat iron (I am vain).
- I purchased a dual-voltage hair dryer (I am truly vain).
- I purchased a dual-voltage travel iron (I am truly vain and a spend-thrift).
NOTE: It took me a while to figure out this whole dual-voltage thing. In a nutshell, Germany uses 220V, while the US uses 120V. While I could have used all of my regular 120V appliances with a simple C-plug adapter instead of buying all new dual-voltage appliances, I would have either a) rendered the appliances useless forevermore, or b) overloaded the hotel’s electrical wiring and caused a major international incident. Or fire. Regardless, I will now have them for future travel and renting lending to friends traveling abroad.
- I purchased a travel pillow, blanket, sleep mask, noise-cancelling ear plugs, Airborne, and No-Jet-Lagâ for the overnight flight (one must be healthy and well rested for scheduled touring, right?).
- I purchased a German SIM card and set up an account with OneSuite so that I can make and receive calls from home for only 2 cents a minute (GR cannot go a day without talking to me, the big baby).
Seriously, do you want to hear more? I can totally switch to my packing list if you want…
I want you to plan my next trip — I’m in awe of your skills.
I have found my Queen Mother. Take me home, Leader, take me home!
I completely understand this language of obsessive travel planning of which you speak.
angie’s last blog post..Getting Back on Track
Um… That’s obsessive? Oh dear. When Hubby and I took our trip to Las Vegas to buy our car, I had a notebook, with tabs for the days. And under each day I inserted our plane tickets, and copies of our flight schedules, and our hotel reservations, and Google maps for our route home, and .. and…
I even saved all of our receipts in there of everything we shelled out money for.
But our trip turned out great!
momhuebert’s last blog post..What We Did Saturday
You are awesome! I wish I was going with you!!!!
What?
I’ve never heard of such travel-planning-obsessiveness. I must suffer from the exact opposite syndrome–plannus nutticus lackitus. I suppose I probably miss some Very Important Sightseeing Milestones, but I always seem to feel very relaxed and happy on those rare vacations.
I guess I like to be unencumbered, and a spur-of-the-moment visitor to another city.
Most of my trips have been work-related up to this point, anyway–it was impossible to guess how much free time I’d have.
I remember in Geneva one trip I never left my hotel room unless it was to go to work, or come back from work. All of my dinners were taken in my room after-hours so I could snarf and go to sleep to Friends in French.
Amanda’s last blog post..A Giveaway at Joy of Desserts
I love it.
I want to hear everything!
Mz. Nesbit’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday…well kinda
You’re tough to please when you’re not obsessing over knick-knacks or travel plans!
You know the difference between a female laundry blogger and a pitbull?
Lipstick…
Lee (laundromat guy)’s last blog post..More old news about socks
So, I’m glad to know that I am not alone in my obsessive behaviour.
Momhuebert? We would make wonderful traveling partners. But then again, there should probably only be one planner/organizer/dictator lest someone mysteriously takes a tumble down an Alp. Or off a gondola.
Lee? You are a scream.
You are one organized woman.
And I thought I was bad! LOL! I’m impressed!
kailani’s last blog post..How to Get a Firefighter’s Attention
My brother in law creates spreadsheets to coordinate tailgate parties.. the family loves them.
I would be like you..and used to be before I was married..husband won’t play along.
mp’s last blog post..I only play a doctor on my blog
I wish I had your discipline. I tend to do everything at the last minute. Which can still lead to organized binders with tabs and such… it just gets assembled the day before we leave.
Jul’s last blog post..Norway: the Lofoten Islands
Lulu– Oh, if we traveled together I would totally be okay with somebody else, i.e., YOU, doing all that obsessive planning. Then for once I could relax, because at least one of us knows what’s going on! (And yes, that does imply that Hubby is a lousy planner….)
momhuebert’s last blog post..Which Way Is Up?
Lulu,
Thanks. You just made my head ache. WOW!!! And some people have the nerve to tell me I’m super organized? You just stole my crown. I’m headed to Ethiopia, London and Dubai this Sunday and I still don’t have an idea about exact outings for either London or Dubai. I’m just going with the wind.
I do have to say though that the travel iron looks like a good idea. I hate being wrinkled - even in a 3rd world country like Ethiopia. That’s the only real vanity thing I’ve got going on. Otherwise my purchase list includes techie gadgets and organic bug spray!
If I don’t make it back to your blog before you leave - ENJOY!!!
Adrienne