10 Hot Tips to Plan a Perfect Day Out When Travelling

As the ‘Planned’ half of Planned vs Rogue, I take a lot of pride in my ability to craft exciting, diverse and ultimately successful travel itineraries. From early starts to late nights, beach escapes to city skylines, with a bit of planning you can fit hit all of your dream travel targets and maybe even have time to spare! Read on to see what hot tips I have gleaned to ensure I am putting my best foot forward in the battle of Planned vs Rogue.

Hot Tip 1: Understand the Destination’s Identity

A visit to the Guinness Storehouse is a fun and interactive way to enjoy one of Dublin’s most famous exports.

I strongly believe that the number one focus when planning a day out in a new city should be on what makes the destination unique. Whether it is a global export, such as Guinness from Dublin, a famous dish, such as chilli mud crab in Singapore, or some other defining characteristic, these are the reasons we visit new places. Getting to understand a destination’s identity encourages travellers to seek out an authentic experience, and can provide vital pointers in avoiding tourist traps.

I love to read local guides to cities, from as many different sources as possible. From here, I can identify common themes, experiences and food that locals are proud to share. For example, when I was researching Genoa, pesto and focaccia consistently jumped out as proud representatives of the city. From there, I was able to deep dive into where locals and visitors alike consider to be the greatest places to find them. This lead me to Antico Forno della Casana and Trattoria Rosmarino and suffice to say, we were blown away.

If it is your first time trying chilli mud crab in Singapore, Jumbo Seafood offers a great set meny with a whole crab, sides & dessert (as well as the bib and gloves) to test the waters.

Doing this also opens up doors to lesser known but still culturally significant experiences for the destination. For example, during my research of Berlin I learned that it is the vegan capital of Europe, and so I let that guide my planning first the first stop of the day. Factory Girl stood out as a popular breakfast spot for vegetarian and vegan dishes, with a strong focus on community and sustainability which are such strong themes in Berlin as a whole. Also in Germany, we learned all about the kolsch culture of Cologne, in which small glasses of kolsch beer that are constantly replaced is the preferred method of beer drinking (as opposed to the classic stein that Germany is known for). Getting to know these unique features of a city meant that we would always walk away from my days feeling like we had not only learned a lot about a city, but were thoroughly immersed in it.

Hot Tip 2: Get Your Head Around the Public Transport

Getting your head around a city’s public transport network before arriving can save a whole lot of time, hassle and money.

While many cities share similarities in their public transport networks, their differences can throw you through a loop if you haven’t read up on them before venturing out. In Europe, options include single-use paper tickets (such as the Paris metro), an app where tickets can be bought and validated (such as the Milan trams, trains & buses), and simply tapping on and off with a debit card (such as the London network). Many cities, including many in Germany, offer tourism tickets that can be bought in ticket machines and last anywhere from 24 hours to 7 days.

I often incorporate public transport into my planning as it is generally cheaper than taxis or Ubers, efficient (depending on the city), and a way to travel amongst the locals. In Milan, we made good use of it on my day not only to save time, but also to escape the blistering heat. Likewise in Singapore, knowing exactly how we would get from A to B without exhausting ourselves walking or trying to figure it out on the fly scored my day major points when it came to judging. Knowing the various methods of transport, lines around the city, and means of purchasing tickets may take a bit of time of learn ahead of arrival, but at least you can do it from the comfort of your couch rather than in a bustling city train station when you could be doing something else!

Hot Tip 3: Check the Weather Forecast

Indoor activities that involve cold beverages (ideally cocktails) is a great way to beat the heat in tropical countries like Singapore. 

The biggest weather challenges we’ve faced during filming have been extreme heat, rather than rain, wind, or snow. Whilst you can’t control the weather, you can make adjustments or preparations as needed. As I mentioned in the previous Hot Tip, knowing how to make the most of public transport proved to be a great method for combatting the hear in cities like Milan, Genoa and Singapore. Of course, I always keep a small umbrella in my bag and try to build in wet weather plans where possible, too.

The view from the observation deck at the top of the Koln Triangle is best enjoyed on a clear, sunny day.

Keeping on top of the weather forecast not only gives you an opportunity to amend plans, but can also encourage you to take full advantage of existing plans. For example, in Cologne, we took a short trip out to the Koln Triangle to visit the observation deck. Had the weather been poor, I likely would have subbed this out for something else (probably beer knowing me), because the views just wouldn’t have been worth the effort and cost. Seeing that we had a beautiful clear day on the forecast meant we could enjoy my plans as intended, and minimised the stress of having to have a back up prepared.

Hot Tip 4: Get Your Accommodation Bearings

Genoa is a relatively small, walkable city - but it still helps to know how to minimise travel time.

Where you choose to stay in a city is influenced by many factors, including budget, proximity to attractions and time of year. In small cities, such as Genoa, it didn’t matter too much that we were just outside of the historical centre as most attractions were still walking distance. However, when it comes to planning days out, your accommodation can act as an anchor point for easy attractions, bars and restaurants to visit. In Genoa, I realised that the side of town that are apartment was on was the same as an area known as Castelletto. This residential quarter is perched above the city centre and harbour, giving it incredible sweeping views of the streets and ocean below. It can be reached either on foot or by funicular train, and was an easy addition to my planned day once I saw how practical it would be for us.

Staying near one of Dublin’s biggest attractions simplified my plans.

Dublin is also a fairly walkable city, given the size and flatness of its centre. Our apartment was in an area called Kilmainham, known for Kilmainham Gaol (which we did not visit). It was a bit of a walk to the city centre, or a short tram ride. What was a short walk though, was the Guinness Storehouse, one of the most famous attractions of the city. Seeing our apartment’s proximity to the Storehouse made it a no-brainer for me to include it in my day out, and whilst it is a very touristy experience, it is a lot of fun! The food options inside are also great (although you need a ticket for Storehouse entry to visit them). Add the freshly poured Guinness at the top of the Storehouse into the mix and it is a great afternoon out, all within a short walk of our apartment! It pays to research what is low effort and high reward within the immediate vicinity of your accommodation to save not only time, but also money in transport costs.

Hot Tip 5: Build the Bones with Meals

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day so make it count with amazing kaya toast when in Singapore!

Naturally, one of our favourite parts of travel is eating new and interesting foods. Ideally, we are trying ingredients and dishes that are local to the area and showcase what the destination contributes to the culinary world. As a result, I find it very useful to base my whole itinerary around when and where we will stop for food. This usually consists of breakfast, lunch and dinner, or brunch, snack and dinner. I don’t necessarily plan them in order, but let inspiration come to me as I learn about the city.

Breakfast or brunch is generally the first stop on any itinerary I make, so its important that I get it right! Kaya toast in Singapore (pictured above) was an easy win since we already knew we loved it. If it is going to be a bit of a journey to get there, I usually account for time at home to have coffee before we go so that I can function enough to get there.

Keeping lunch light and locally sourced ensures you can enjoy some leisurely afternoon activities before heading to dinner.

For lunch, I tend to look towards fairly light options so that I don’t weigh us down for the rest of the afternoon (this is a lesson I learned the hard way one year when I took Benny out for a big foodie birthday and by dinner we were both ruined). In Genoa, we had the classic Italian riviera seafood lunch of fried fish in a cone. We shared it with a beer after swimming at the beach and it was the perfect amount of refuelling.

There was no escaping the Swiss theme in Geneva when we had fondue for dinner at Restaurant Les Armures.

Dinner is my personal favourite meal of the day. I love to pig out and have a few drinks after a big day of exploring, and as it is often my final stop on my itinerary I take it very seriously! Finding a restaurant that is known for doing regional dishes well, has a great ambience and ideally has an interesting story behind it are my dinner wish list when planning a day out. Restaurant Les Armures in Geneva ticked all of the boxes - beautiful fondue and other dishes made with local produce, friendly waitstaff and a fascinating story dating back to the 17th century all attracted me to this as my final dinner choice. Similarly in Berlin at Max und Moritz, we enjoyed delicious food and service, beautiful surroundings and niche German culture in the form of menus and decor themed around the illustrated novels of Wilhelm Busch.

Once I have my food stops for the day locked down, I can turn my attention to what will link them together in the most cohesive and enjoyable way. I have always found this framework to be fool proof, and it can be applied to any location!

Hot Tip 6: Go Left of Centre for Culture

It might seem obvious that Eau de Cologne comes from the city of Cologne, but the dedicated museum is small and exclusive.

Once I’ve sussed out the main aspects that make a destination unique, I like to find ways to incorporate them into my day without always doing the most obvious options. Of course, sometimes the most obvious is best (such as the Guinness Storehouse or the Longbar at Raffles in Singapore). But even when doing those, I like to mix it up with experiences such as Derek King’s Experience Irish Whisky Masterclass at the Palace Bar in Dublin, or the Cologne Fragrance in (you guessed it) Cologne.

There are ample opportunities to drink Irish Coffee in Dublin, but only one masterclass teaches you how to make it perfectly.

These were both very fun, intimate experiences where we felt like we gained a lot from the location as well as from our guide. In Antwerp, I knew I wanted to get mussels given they are one of Belgium’s most famous foods. But to make it more interesting, we had mussels at a Grandma-themed restaurant where I was able to bring a photo of my own Grandma to hang on the wall (see below). In Genoa, to embrace Italy’s espresso culture but with a bit more excitement, we started our day at Caffetteria San Luca, where you can find a large menu of exciting and unusual espresso-based drinks.

My Grandma (centre) proudly hanging on the wall of De Bomma.

Hot Tip 7: Consider Your Travel Companion/s

Unless you are travelling solo, chances are you need to consider other people’s wants and needs when creating your travel itinerary. This is particularly true for me as I am trying to put forward a day that Benny has more fun doing than when he goes rogue. Finding the sweet spot between what I enjoy, what Benny enjoys, and what is specific to our destination can be a fun but rewarding challenge.

Kristina’s Water Colour Class in Paris was a great experience all round.

I am not at all a visually creative person (as you can tell by my painting above), but Benny quite enjoys dabbling in different creative mediums. I decided to do this morning water colour class in Paris as I knew it would be fun and education, and absolutely stunning as it was held within the Luxembourg Gardens which is full of beauty and history. Knowing that Benny would enjoy the activity and would likely walk away with a great painting that he could be proud of was the final incentive to book this class. It was a highlight not only for the day, but genuinely for the entire trip as we were both able to have a lot of fun and take something home from it!

Milan’s Castello Sforzesco has beautiful grounds and amazing museums within.

When it comes to music, Benny is very experienced, particularly in stringed instruments such as guitar. He is also a massive sucker for a castle. So when I found out that Milan’s biggest castle had a dedicated museum for ancient musical instruments, I stuck it onto the itinerary instantly. Of course I enjoyed it and found it fascinating, but this was really a stop for Benny and it did not go unappreciated. Making sure that all travellers in your party have a chance to experience their own niche interests keeps the trip interesting and everyone happy!

Hot Tip 8: Your Chosen Maps App is your Best Friend

Stepping out of random train stations in London is overwhelming without my trusty Maps app.

This is an obvious one, but potentially all of my planned days could have been derailed without the use of Maps. Not only is it essential for me to navigate from one stop to another, but it also plays a very important role in the actual planning of my itinerary. Using Maps is how I can plan my stops to be in a logical order, and with the correct amount of time allocated between each. I know in theory it isn’t wise to be so reliant on technology, and it very nearly did come back to bite me in Singapore when my Maps tweaked out hard and drained my battery before we made it to the final stop. I was able to recover just in time but it was a very close call! But most of the time, I find Maps not only useful but imperative to pulling off a successful itinerary.

Hot Tip 9: Account for Down Time

Riposa, similar to a siesta, is something that you should absolutely do in the Italian Riviera.

As fun as it is to have a jam-packed day of sights and delights, accounting for downtime ensures you can sustain the energy to start early and finish late. Many times, my ability to account for this was improved by the location of our accommodation - if we could literally go home to rest and refresh, it made all the difference for the second half of the day. Genoa was the best opportunity to experience this, as they culturally observe ‘riposa’, similar to a siesta in which people are encouraged to go home for a nap after lunch. We did this multiple times during our visit, and it never failed to enhance our afternoons and evenings.

Enjoying some down time in nature can also recharge the batteries.

If you find yourself too far from home during your day to duck back for a rest, finding a nice park or green space is another great option. Grab a cold drink and a spot in the sun (or shade if it is a hot day), and relax for 30-60 minutes before charging onto your next stop. Alternatively, a laid back venue like a pub can be a nice way to switch off for a bit and get your breath back. Trust me, it makes a huge difference to take a break!

Hot Tip 10: Consolidate Your Plans

My itinerary is stored on my phone for easy reference.

If you have multiple bookings and binding time slots to hit on your day out, it is so useful to have them all listed in order either on your phone or printed out. I then add in the other plans for the day (even if they don’t require bookings), and end up with a type of very basic run sheet for the day. It might seem like overkill, but if you have breakfast at 9am, a museum at 11am, lunch at 1:30pm, dinner at 7pm and any other experiences in between, time can get away from you very quickly.

If you are as neurotic and thorough as me, you can even add in your ‘scheduled down time’ and the expected transit time between each stop on the itinerary. If I wasn’t literally competing for the better day, I wouldn’t be so concerned with this level of detail. But in saying that, my OTT run sheets never let me down, so there’s that! At the very least, have all of our bookings noted together somewhere so you don’t miss anything and lose the money and opportunity.

Bonus Tip: Be Ready for Obstacles

I was excitedd to see the Stravinsky Fountain in Paris but it was not to be.

One thing I have learned is that no matter how much research and planning you do, sometimes you will encounter an unexpected barrier. Sometimes I had a back up ready to go, and other times I just had to suck it up. In Paris, despite all of my research, I did not know that the Stravinsky Fountain would be drained and closed for maintenance during my day out. I still took the opportunity to share the stories of the fountain with Benny since I’d made the effort to learn them, so this was a relatively low impact barrier. Irritating, but definitely not a day-ruiner.

For better or for worse, Rum Baba was not on the menu for breakfast but we perservered.

When a plan doesn’t work out on the day that you wanted to do it, it doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t be able to do it at all. In Paris, the first stop on my itinerary was Stohrer, Paris’ oldest patisserie. We enjoyed croissants, pain au chocolat and pain aux raisins, but I really wanted to get a Rum Baba as this is the shop where it was invented. Unfortunately they were not selling them when we stopped in, which looking back on the fact that it was 8am, seems completely logical - a rum soaked sponge cake would not be a great way to start your day. However, we passed by Stohrer the next afternoon as Benny was going rogue, and he took it as an opportunity to try the elusive Rum Baba. So while I didn’t get to incorporate it into my plans as expected, we are still able to experience this dish - watch our episode in Paris to see if we enjoyed it!

So there you have it - my 10 Hot Tips for Planning a Day Out. Do you think I’ve missed anything? Check out our episodes to see how many careful planning stacks up to Benny’s Rogue efforts!