travel-planner · travisjneuman — Claude Code skill: trip planning and budgets

---
name: travel-planner
description: Travel destination research and daily itinerary creation with logistics planning, budget tracking, and experience optimization. Use when planning trips, creating travel itineraries, comparing destinations, or organizing travel logistics.
---

# Travel Planner

Comprehensive travel planning frameworks for destination research, itinerary building, budget tracking, and logistics coordination.

## Destination Research Methodology

### Destination Evaluation Matrix

| Factor | Weight | Assessment Criteria |
|--------|--------|-------------------|
| **Climate** | 15% | Temperature range, rainfall, best season, weather risks |
| **Safety** | 20% | Travel advisories, crime index, health risks, political stability |
| **Budget Fit** | 20% | Cost of living index, flight cost, accommodation range |
| **Interest Alignment** | 25% | Activities, culture, cuisine, nature, nightlife match |
| **Logistics** | 10% | Visa requirements, flight duration, language barrier |
| **Timing** | 10% | Peak vs shoulder vs off-season, local events, holidays |

### Research Protocol

```
1. DEFINE: Trip purpose, travel dates, group size, budget ceiling
2. SHORTLIST: 3-5 destinations matching purpose and budget
3. EVALUATE: Score each destination on the matrix above (1-10 per factor)
4. VALIDATE: Check visa requirements, travel advisories, vaccination needs
5. DECIDE: Weighted score comparison, gut-check alignment
```

### Climate and Timing Guide

| Season Strategy | Benefit | Trade-off |
|----------------|---------|-----------|
| **Peak season** | Best weather, full services | Highest prices, crowds |
| **Shoulder season** | Good weather, fewer crowds | Some closures possible |
| **Off-season** | Lowest prices, authentic feel | Weather risk, limited services |

## Itinerary Structure

### Daily Timeline Template

```
DAY [N] — [Theme/Location Name]

07:00  Breakfast: [Venue/Hotel] — [Notes]
08:30  Activity: [Morning activity] — [Duration: Xh]
       Address: [Location]
       Cost: $XX | Booking: [Required/Walk-in]
12:00  Lunch: [Restaurant] — [Cuisine type, $-$$$$]
13:30  Activity: [Afternoon activity] — [Duration: Xh]
       Address: [Location]
       Cost: $XX | Booking: [Required/Walk-in]
17:00  Free time / Rest
19:00  Dinner: [Restaurant] — [Cuisine type, $-$$$$]
       Reservation: [Yes/No, confirmation #]
21:00  Evening: [Optional activity or return to hotel]

TRANSPORT: [How to get between locations]
DAY TOTAL: $XXX
NOTES: [Tips, alternatives, weather contingency]
```

### Itinerary Pacing Guidelines

| Trip Duration | Pace | Activities/Day | Rest Days |
|--------------|-------|----------------|-----------|
| **3-4 days** | Moderate-fast | 2-3 major | 0 |
| **5-7 days** | Moderate | 2 major + 1 minor | 1 |
| **8-14 days** | Relaxed | 1-2 major | 2-3 |
| **15+ days** | Slow travel | 1 major | Every 3-4 days |

### Multi-Destination Routing

```
ROUTING OPTIMIZATION:

LINEAR: A → B → C → D (best for one-way flights, trains)
LOOP: A → B → C → A (best for round-trip flights)
HUB-SPOKE: A → B → A → C → A (best for day trips from a base)
FIGURE-8: A → B → C → A → D → E → A (two loops from home base)

ROUTING RULES:
- Minimize backtracking
- Place high-energy activities early in trip
- End with relaxation before travel home
- Account for jet lag direction (east = harder adjustment)
- Allocate transit days between destinations (no activities)
```

## Budget Planning Framework

### Budget Category Breakdown

| Category | Budget % | Tracking Method |
|----------|----------|----------------|
| **Flights** | 25-35% | Book 6-8 weeks ahead, price alerts |
| **Accommodation** | 25-35% | Per-night rate x nights |
| **Food & Dining** | 15-20% | Per-day allowance x days |
| **Activities** | 10-15% | Pre-book major, cash for minor |
| **Local Transport** | 5-10% | Day pass vs per-ride calculation |
| **Contingency** | 10% | Emergency fund, minimum $200 |

### Budget Estimation Template

```
TRIP BUDGET: [Destination], [Duration] days, [N] travelers

FIXED COSTS:
  Flights:          $_____ x [N] travelers = $_____
  Accommodation:    $_____ x [N] nights    = $_____
  Travel Insurance: $_____ x [N] travelers = $_____
  Visa Fees:        $_____ x [N] travelers = $_____

DAILY COSTS (per person, per day):
  Breakfast:        $_____
  Lunch:            $_____
  Dinner:           $_____
  Local Transport:  $_____
  Activities:       $_____
  Snacks/Drinks:    $_____
  Daily subtotal:   $_____ x [D] days x [N] = $_____

PRE-BOOKED ACTIVITIES:
  [Activity 1]:     $_____ x [N] = $_____
  [Activity 2]:     $_____ x [N] = $_____

CONTINGENCY (10%):  $_____

GRAND TOTAL:        $_____
PER PERSON:         $_____
PER PERSON/DAY:     $_____
```

### Cost-Saving Strategies

| Strategy | Savings Potential | Effort |
|----------|-----------------|--------|
| Shoulder season travel | 20-40% | Low |
| Accommodation alternatives (Airbnb, hostels) | 30-50% | Medium |
| Local markets over restaurants | 40-60% on meals | Medium |
| City tourism passes | 20-30% on attractions | Low |
| Public transport over taxis | 60-80% on transport | Low |
| Booking.com / flight aggregators | 10-20% | Low |
| Travel credit card rewards | 5-15% back | Low |

## Packing List Framework

### Universal Packing Template

```
PACKING LIST: [Destination], [Duration] days, [Climate]

DOCUMENTS (carry-on only):
  [ ] Passport (valid 6+ months beyond travel)
  [ ] Visa / eTA / entry permit
  [ ] Travel insurance documents
  [ ] Flight confirmations (printed + digital)
  [ ] Hotel confirmations (printed + digital)
  [ ] Emergency contacts card
  [ ] Copies of all documents (separate from originals)

ELECTRONICS:
  [ ] Phone + charger
  [ ] Power adapter for destination country
  [ ] Portable battery pack
  [ ] Camera (optional)
  [ ] Headphones

CLOTHING (adjust for climate):
  [ ] Tops: [Duration/3 + 1] items (mix-match)
  [ ] Bottoms: [Duration/4 + 1] items
  [ ] Underwear: [Duration/2 + 1] pairs
  [ ] Socks: [Duration/2 + 1] pairs
  [ ] Sleepwear: 1 set
  [ ] Jacket/layers: 1-2 based on climate
  [ ] Shoes: 2 pairs (walking + dressy/sandal)

TOILETRIES:
  [ ] Travel-size essentials (100ml containers for carry-on)
  [ ] Prescription medications (in original packaging)
  [ ] Sunscreen, insect repellent (if applicable)
  [ ] First aid basics (band-aids, pain relief, anti-diarrheal)

CLIMATE-SPECIFIC ADDITIONS:
  Tropical: Reef-safe sunscreen, quick-dry clothing, rain jacket
  Cold: Thermal layers, warm hat/gloves, waterproof boots
  Urban: Smart casual outfit, comfortable walking shoes
  Adventure: Hiking boots, daypack, moisture-wicking base layers
```

### Packing Weight Targets

| Trip Type | Carry-on Only | Checked Bag |
|-----------|--------------|-------------|
| **Weekend (2-3 days)** | 5-7 kg | Not needed |
| **Week (5-7 days)** | 7-10 kg | Optional |
| **Two weeks** | 10 kg carry-on | 15-20 kg checked |
| **Adventure/Hiking** | 8-12 kg pack | Not needed |

## Transportation Planning

### Inter-City Transport Decision Matrix

| Factor | Flight | Train | Bus | Rental Car |
|--------|--------|-------|-----|------------|
| **Best for distance** | 500+ km | 200-800 km | 50-400 km | Flexible routing |
| **Speed** | Fastest (door-to-door varies) | Fast, city-center | Slowest | Self-paced |
| **Cost** | Medium-high | Medium | Low | Medium (split OK) |
| **Comfort** | Moderate | High | Low-moderate | High |
| **Scenic value** | Low | High | Medium | High |
| **Luggage** | Restricted | Generous | Moderate | Unlimited |

### Airport Transfer Planning

```
AIRPORT TRANSFER OPTIONS (evaluate for each destination):

PUBLIC TRANSIT: Cheapest, may require transfers, luggage challenge
AIRPORT EXPRESS: Direct train/bus, good balance of cost and convenience
SHARED SHUTTLE: Moderate cost, door-to-door, longer due to stops
PRIVATE TRANSFER: Pre-booked, door-to-door, fixed price
TAXI/RIDESHARE: Convenient, meter or surge pricing risk
RENTAL CAR: Best if driving during trip anyway

SELECTION CRITERIA:
- Group size (3+ people = private transfer often cheaper than 3 tickets)
- Luggage volume
- Arrival time (late night = fewer public transit options)
- Language barrier (pre-booked = less negotiation)
```

## Dining Recommendations Approach

### Restaurant Research Framework

```
DINING RESEARCH SOURCES (ranked by reliability):
1. Local food blogs / city-specific food guides
2. Google Maps (4.0+ rating, 500+ reviews, read recent ones)
3. TripAdvisor (filter by cuisine, check recency)
4. Instagram geotags for the area
5. Hotel concierge / local recommendations
6. Food tour operators (for curated experiences)

FILTERING CRITERIA:
- Cuisine authenticity (locals eating there = good sign)
- Price range alignment with budget
- Location proximity to day's activities
- Reservation requirements
- Dietary accommodation capability
- Atmosphere match (casual lunch vs special dinner)
```

### Meal Budget Tiers

| Tier | Description | Per-Person Range |
|------|-------------|-----------------|
| **$** | Street food, markets, fast casual | $5-15 |
| **$$** | Local restaurants, casual dining | $15-30 |
| **$$$** | Mid-range, recommended spots | $30-60 |
| **$$$$** | Fine dining, special occasion | $60-150+ |

## Travel Document Checklist

### Pre-Trip Document Checklist

```
ESSENTIALS (12+ weeks before):
  [ ] Passport validity check (6 months beyond return date)
  [ ] Visa application (if required — check iVisa or embassy site)
  [ ] Travel insurance purchased (medical, cancellation, baggage)
  [ ] Vaccination requirements checked (WHO, CDC recommendations)

BOOKINGS (4-8 weeks before):
  [ ] Flights booked and confirmed
  [ ] Accommodation booked for all nights
  [ ] Major activities/tours booked
  [ ] Restaurant reservations for special meals
  [ ] Airport transfers arranged
  [ ] Car rental reserved (if applicable)

PREPARATION (1-2 weeks before):
  [ ] Bank/credit card company notified of travel
  [ ] Travel card loaded / currency exchanged
  [ ] Phone plan: international roaming or local SIM plan
  [ ] Emergency contact list prepared
  [ ] Digital copies of all documents stored in cloud
  [ ] Travel app downloads (maps, translator, transport)
  [ ] Check-in for flights (24-48h before)

DAY OF:
  [ ] Passport and boarding pass accessible
  [ ] Phone charged, battery pack charged
  [ ] Accommodation address written down (for customs/taxi)
  [ ] Local emergency numbers saved in phone
```

## Emergency Planning

### Emergency Contingency Framework

```
EMERGENCY CONTACTS:
- Local emergency number: [Country-specific, e.g., 112 EU, 911 US]
- Embassy/consulate: [Address + phone]
- Travel insurance hotline: [24/7 number]
- Hotel front desk: [Number]
- Emergency contact at home: [Name + number]

CONTINGENCY SCENARIOS:
  Lost passport → Embassy visit, police report, emergency travel document
  Medical emergency → Insurance hotline first, nearest hospital
  Missed flight → Airline rebooking desk, insurance claim if covered
  Natural disaster → Embassy registration, local authority guidance
  Theft → Police report, cancel cards, insurance claim

FINANCIAL BACKUP:
- Two credit/debit cards from different banks
- Small amount of local cash as backup
- Emergency funds accessible via bank transfer
- Card cancellation numbers saved offline
```

## See Also

- [Health & Wellness](../health-wellness/SKILL.md)
- [Recipe Card Creator](../recipe-card-creator/SKILL.md)