The Year in Itineraries
🗓️ A look back at the plans I looked forward to this year.
My 12th grade English teacher instilled in me a love for the syllabus. On the first day of class, she bestowed upon each of us a four page document detailing every single course reading and assignment due date for the next 9 months. “I’m only going to say this once: I don’t want anyone asking me when something is due, if you ask me this, I’m going to tell you to refer to the syllabus1.”
I like a master plan. Knowing what to expect in the future fills me with calm—it’s why I find Bullet Journaling2 to be such a relaxing activity. My plans are on paper, laid out neatly in front of me.
Travel, for me, is rarely a solo activity. Friends and family are involved, and thus, a communal resource is needed: the vacation itinerary. Flight numbers, hotel addresses, dinner reservations, museums, points of interest, and that one shop I want to visit are a challenge to fit onto a single page — and I enjoy that challenge. I’ll admit it, I love control, but I think I’m using my powers for good when I volunteer to create the the master plan for a trip. Itinerary-making as an act of service?
With years of experience, I’ve learned that being too rigid, or too ambitious with an itinerary will set you up for failure. The goal is to create a helpful reference document with all the information you need so that you can accomplish everything you’ve set out to do with your precious PTO3. The tasks to “accomplish” being: visiting every stationery shop in Paris, or swimming at most beautiful beach on the island. Sh*t happens, some things can’t be helped, the important thing is to be: prepared, yet, spontaneous, organized, yet flexible, and make the most of it!
Some more tips from a control freak for a well-executed itinerary:
Excel is great! Design is an important element when creating a functional itinerary, sometimes that means a no-frills Excel sheet. If it works, it works. These Canva itineraries are created by a person who also creates their own planner from a blank notebook, so, I love making work for myself.
Be collaborative. If you’re going to take over, at least get input from the other parties involved. Take a survey, ask people what they’re interested in doing on vacation, and work it into the itinerary.
Let it breathe. Always leave time to dawdle, to wander, to have an espresso and people-watch. This is often when you’ll discover something new, or really take in the place you’re visiting. Sometimes I’ll just write “explore this neighborhood,4” or “free time.” Am I planning spontaneity? Maybe…but it’s the key to a well-balanced itinerary! Do not exhaust yourself with an overstuffed schedule.
Interlude I: Year-End Media Consumption Highlights
My Favorite 2024 Film Releases 🎞️
Why yes, I am AMC A-List. In no particular order because these are all my favorites of the year.
Problemista - Technically a 2023 release, but there was no theatrical release until 2024 so, this is one of my top films of this year. A funny, fantastical, life-affirming film by Julio Torres about finding the courage to bring your wildest ideas to life.5 A surrealist masterpiece! I consider this essential viewing for creatives.
Challengers - What more is there to say? One of my all-times. I saw this in theaters 3x.
Love Lies Bleeding - Part Thriller part Crime part Body Horror part Romance! Ed Harris goes sicko mode, Kristen Stewart’s comedic timing is perfect, and I fell in love with Katy O’Brian a little bit. An unexpected, gross, movie and one of the most interesting things I saw this year.
Perfect Days - (2023/US release 2024). A quiet, tender, introspective film about finding the beauty in the every day.
Conclave - YEP. The Pope gossip movie. The direction (by Edward Berger, All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)) is superb. I’ve never seen such beautiful blocking, and I love all the touches6 included to remind us that these people are flawed humans. Perfect script, perfect cast. My mom loved it so much I got her the Conclave socks for Christmas.7
Didi - I was 14 years old and growing up with immigrant parents in Northern California in the summer of 2008 and so was Didi. (He was 13 years old but it’s very close!) I am now old enough to have seen a period piece about my own childhood - and it is so well done. A coming-of-age film about feeling out of place, understanding your mother, and loving your family. 🥲
La Chimera - (2023/2024) yes I saw La Chimera at IFC Film Center, contributing to its well deserved, 6-month residency at the famed West Village theater. An Orpheus and Eurydice type tale about how some things should be kept sacred — incl. Josh O’Connor’s linen suit8.
Honorable mentions: The Wild Robot, Queer, Monkey Man, Dune pt II, Twisters, Babes, and I am very excited to see Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl in a few days.9
The Year in Itineraries:
The amount of travel I do annually (trying to lessen this) is often confusing to others. I do have a full time, flexible-wfh job, and I’m a planner, I plan things! I book flights as far as 6-7 months ahead, and holiday weekends are carefully used to my advantage. I often “sandwich” vacations with WFH (domestic travel only) so I can fly on cheaper days (especially when staying with friends/family, additional hotel nights are not a factor).
Typically, an itinerary is used to plan for the future, but it can also be used to reflect on the past, and all of the amazing things you did while you were away! Below you’ll find six itineraries, in chronological order, complete with strikethroughs/edits to document what actually took place, and a tally of PTO/WFH/Continuous days off to reveal how it all works.
A look at how I organized my way into some amazing vacations this year:
Escape from New York - Escape from LA
This Canva Template (modified) works well for a (relatively) short trip. I was due for a visit to LA10 , my friends, old neighborhood, and old haunts. +I’ve made an annual habit of going to Palm Springs11. Since these were destinations I have already been to multiple times, this is a relaxed itinerary. I was able to focus on filling in gaps from previous trips (finally took the Palm Springs Tramway), and revisiting places I love (Sticker Planet in LA). Only one dinner plan was scratched (sad, I wanted to try Saffy’s!), but visiting an old favorite (Jones) with an old friend was more than satisfactory.
PTO Days used: 1
WFH Days: 1
Continuous days off: 5 (Memorial day weekend)
Vega$ Baby
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