Journal
Notes from
planning trips
What we have learned booking other people's holidays — the order to book things in, when to travel, why visas get refused, and how to read a quote properly.
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18 July 2026 Book the long-haul leg first Hotels release rooms all year. Good flights, in the seats you want, do not. Here is the order we build every trip in. Read the note
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30 June 2026 Shoulder season is doing more work than it used to Peak weeks get busier and dearer every year. Moving a trip a fortnight either side often buys a better room and a quieter city for the same money. Read the note
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2 June 2026 One fewer stop, every time The most common regret we hear is trying to fit in a fourth city. Depth beats coverage on almost every itinerary we have rewritten. Read the note
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14 May 2026 Why visa applications get refused Almost always paperwork, almost never eligibility. What consulates are actually looking for. Read the note
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21 April 2026 Planning a trip with elderly parents The things that matter are rarely the things on the brochure. Lifts, walking distances, and where the nearest hospital is. Read the note
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9 March 2026 What "inclusions" actually mean Half board, transfers, sightseeing — the words are doing a lot of quiet work. Here is how to read a quote properly. Read the note
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