Plan around the coffee, not the itinerary

Most itineraries are built backwards: pick the sights, then squeeze a life around them. I like to build forwards — start with the two or three hours a day you'd genuinely look forward to, and let the rest of the day arrange itself around them.

The morning test

Ask yourself: on the best trip you've ever taken, what did the mornings look like? For some people it's a slow espresso on a quiet terrace; for others it's being on a trail before sunrise. Neither is wrong, but they lead to very different journeys — and very different hotels, guides and pacing.

Design for energy, not for sights

A well-designed trip protects your energy the way a good week protects your focus. That might mean fewer stops, longer stays, and the space for one unplanned afternoon — which is usually where the story you tell for years actually happens.