Research and Create Lists of Places

Do your research at home in weeks and months prior using digital websites, guidebooks, and many other sources, especially AI, to figure out what you want to see. This is another advantage of making a map: it encourages you to find out a LOT about a place before you go and clearly organize the information.

Sometimes if you are just making travel notes in a computer, or ripping pages out of guidebooks, the information can be easily lost or hard to locate while traveling. A well-made map organizes that information making it easily accessible.

Make several lists of places

Create your lists of places using AI and basic research, with individual lists for each of your themes, like restaurants, monuments, shops, plazas, hotels, etc.

Arrange the list in a column with each place on its own line including the description and city name on that line. Use separators so the list can properly be formatted for batch import.

AI is most useful

The best way to quickly gather a list of places is use AI. These tools are all important to use together in compiling information.

Some excellent AI sources:

Prompting

When asking the prompt, tell your AI source to create the answer as a list using plain text, no bullets, no photos, add semicolon after each place name, single paragraph per place.

Examples of Prompts

General Information:

What are the top attractions in _______ /// Can you tell me about the history of _______ /// What is the best time of year to visit _______

Accommodation:

What are some highly-rated hotels in _______ /// Are there any unique or boutique hotels in _______ /// Can you recommend budget-friendly accommodations in _______

Dining:

What are the best restaurants in _______ /// Where can I find local cuisine in _______ /// Are there any famous food markets or street food spots in _______

Activities:

What are some must-do activities in _______ /// Are there any popular festivals or events in _______ /// Can you recommend any live music venues or theaters in _______

Local Tips:

What are some hidden gems or off-the-beaten-path spots in _______ /// Are there any local customs or etiquette I should be aware of in _______ /// Can you suggest any day trips or excursions from _______

Research

next up:

Organize & Format

Make Map

Icons & Lines

Using Map