Every single journey starts with Google MyMaps ➥. For those who don't know what it is: 

MyMaps is a free Google product that allows you to use the Google Maps infrastructure to attach information to locations and create custom maps of places that are of interest to you.

You can search for places and save them to your map, or add new points, draw shapes, and create routes. A variety of icons and colors help you personalize your map. You can also add descriptions to each location and even attach photos and videos (your own or from the web).

Best of all, you can access your custom maps in Google Maps under "My Places" and use them on the go and even offline.

Going into more detail here would go beyond the scope of my topic, but YouTube is full of tutorials ➥ and step-by-step instructions on how to use this invaluable tool.

Once I've chosen my destination, I start researching the places I want to visit and pin them to MyMaps, along with any useful information (opening hours, tickets, bus stops or parking options, approximate duration of visit, etc.) or links for further research.

For biblical sites, I like to use the following websites:

• www.openbible.info/geo/ ➥: to get an overview of the places per country, you need to download the KMZ map and import it into Google MyMaps or Google Earth.

• www.bibleplaces.com/sites/ ➥: they have a great collection for many of the Bible places.

• Needless to say, I check everything I find on these sites against wol.jw.org ➥.

For non-biblical sites, the Internet is full of inspiration. There, I mostly focus on photographically interesting places and how to avoid the crowds.

At the end the pins help me decide on the final route and how long the trip will take.

• Time or when to go: We always travel in the so-called "shoulder season", which is between the high and low season of a region. For example: Egypt's peak season is October through May, so traveling in late September or early June would be less crowded, cheaper, and the temperatures are still pleasant.

Also keep in mind that most sites and museums get extremely busy between 10am and 2pm. This is when buses, tour groups or whole cruise ships flood the attractions, making the atmosphere much less pleasant (or in my case: unbearable ;) ). It's also often the hottest part of the day. To beat the crowds and the heat, try to visit early in the morning, ideally right after opening hours, or after 4pm.

• Itinerary: Your approximate route should be more or less clear from the MyMaps you've created. To reduce stress that comes from changing accommodations, try to stay at least two nights in the same place. 

Also, don't plan too full days. For example, I know I have about 4 hours of energy at a stretch, then I need at least half a day to relax before I can go out again. So we usually spend the midday by the hotel pool or in a cafe, or even have a picnic and a nap between the ruins.

We also typically end our cultural/exploration time with a couple of days at the beach or a desert/nature camp.

• Transport: Once you know your route consider how you'll get around. If you can rent a car for the entire trip, that's the preferred option, as it's more comfortable and often cheaper than relying on taxis or public transportation.

If you can't have a car, like in Egypt, research the options you have. Sometimes I'm too lazy or too comfortable to do that research, so I ask the hotel to arrange a pickup for us.

To get around locally, use Uber or a similar service if available. Alternatively, consider renting a bicycle. It offers a sense of freedom, flexibility and adventure that you just can't get on a tour bus or taxi. That's what we did in Luxor and I can't think of a better way to explore this fascinating place!

For city trips like Rome, Paris, or Berlin, I recommend using Google Maps to look up the public transport options. Tip: Under "Options", select "Less Walking". Your travel time might increase a bit and you probably will have to change buses/metros, but you'll walk significantly less, keeping your energy up for exploring your destination.

Now that you know how long you'll be in each place, when you'll be there, and how you'll get there, you're ready to book:

• Flights: Since this is the biggest cost factor and will determine where you start and end your trip, you should look at flights first before booking everything else. Research the airports closest to your pins and check search engines like momondo.com ➥, booking.com/flights ➥, or kayak.com ➥, as well as airline websites, to determine which airport and days are best to fly.

• Hotels: Because you've done that wonderful MyMaps, you know the best area to stay in each of the places you'll be going.

We always book hotels with booking.com ➥ as they are the most user-friendly and guarantee the best prices, but airbnb.com ➥ is also a good option.

• Rental car: kayak.com/cars ➥ (only German: mietwagen.check24.de ➥, billiger-mietwagen.de ➥). 

• Travel Insurance: We usually book our trips with the Mastercard Gold ➥ credit card, which covers travel insurance for up to 3 months, for free. This may be relevant only for those from Germany though.

• Admission: Since Corona and with the growing masses in the travel industry many sites require a prebooking of tickets and a time slot. Make sure you check well in advance.

If the country offers tourist passes, it is the preferred option (see Jordan Pass ➥, Cairo & Luxor Passes ➥*, I do not recommend the Rome Pass).

• Else: Check if you need visas, vaccines, or what else your government site suggests. You may also want a local SIM card and cash, so find out where the nearest ATM is at your arrival airport and the stand of the local mobile phone provider.

* This is a link to my private Instagram account and only followers can access the information.

I have maps for all the different Bible lands that I slowly fill in over many years. For example, I have never been to Lebanon, but every time I come across an interesting place, I add it to my Lebanon Google Maps. That way, if we decide to go there one day, a lot of the research is already done.

I've already touched upon how I research in my FAQ: HOW DO YOU RESEARCH? ➥ and there is not much I could add. All I can say is: It takes a lot of time and energy and effort and also skills... yes, while I strongly believe that anyone can organize a trip, I have come to understand that not everyone can do proper research. And that's okay. That is one reason why I share what I have collected over the years. So feel free to use it and add your own discoveries to it!