Do you plan your own travel itinerary?

I love to plan my own travel. I have had friends tell me I have been around the world and haven't even left my living room. I like to start planning a trip at least 6 months ahead of time, especially if it is going to be a week or more. I can look at all there is do and choose for myself what it is I would like to see. So far 40 of the United States and 3 other countries!

I am very keen traveling. I am an independent traveler, planning my own itinerary. I like to book a flight then find accommodation once I reach my destinations. I always visit a number of different places because I find going to just one place boring. For example I bought a flight to Cancun in Mexico. I got buses as far south as I could that day. The next day I got a bus over to Belize city and then a boat to Caye Caulker. I had a delightful time there where I did much snorkeling to see nurse sharks, sting rays and colorful fish. Then I got a boat back to Belize city and then a bus to an rural area inland. There I enjoyed staying in a tall tree house. From there I took an exciting day trip to the most amazing caves. I had to wear a crash helmet and swim into the cave then do much climbing around. I saw old pieces of Mayan pottery up there. Wow! Next I got a bus over to Guatemala. First I went to Tikal, a gorgeous area of jungle with Mayan ruins. Climbing one of the great Mayan temples for sunrise was very memorable. Secondly I went to Flores, a pretty lakeside town for a few days. Then I had enough time to stop in orange for a couple of days. From there I went on a boat trip, passing crocodiles on my way to some Mayan ruins. Lastly my trip I stopped off in Mexico to spend time palm fringed beach and look at some more Mayan ruins. Then I flew home from Cancun. Once I booked a package holiday at a beach hotel in Kenya. I left it less than half way through it when I took a train to Nairobi and then went off on a safari to the Masai Mara. I saw giraffes, lions, zebras, hippos, rhinos and a leopard. Doing this was much cheaper than booking a safari in my home country. Coming home the plane refueled in Cairo. It gave me the most fantastic view over the pyramids.

I guess it depends on the place where I wanna go. Sometimes I go on a tour which is much easier, but I also would like to have my own time to explore the place and maybe do some shopping. Sometimes if we go on our own, we might join a group tour there or we'll just go around ourselves. no matter what, i always do some research on the places that i will be visiting, so that i know the places of interest and where to go.

i always plan my own itinerary... its much cheaper for me.. i hate the idea of being herded to a bus and being told what to do and where to go next... i love the idea of reading blogs online and trying the unknown tourist destinations in a city.. thats what i love in making my own itinerary.. i control my expenses and time!