Note from the Admin: John’s Duffel Thanksgiving 2009 was selected “Daily Duffel” for 2/18/10. Daily Duffel authors are invited to comment on their experiences for the Duffelup Journal.  This is what John had to say:

I created the Duffel to help me visually manage things I wanted to do while I was going to be in Washington D.C. for several different events.  It was the Thanksgiving holiday and I was spending time with family, seeing my brother perform at The Kennedy Center (it was the first-ever performance of the Nutcracker there), attending a work luncheon and, finally, having some downtime to do focused sightseeing.  Lots of variables and some that were moving targets (i.e. family time).  So, Duffel solved a few problems for me.  Not only could I visualize my itinerary - it helped the organization process in creating the itinerary too.  I had asked friends, colleagues, posted on my blog, did my own research, etc.  Duffel gave me a place to dump all this stuff and then piece it together as trip details became finalized over time.

I created it by myself but I shared it with family members in-case they wanted to add anything or tag along.  I’ve used Duffel previously to put together vacations with my girlfriend though and the collaboration aspect is very useful.  There were lots of moving parts and Duffel helped visualize and place things with the flexibility to easily move them around at a moment’s notice, etc.

The trip went great.  If you’ve been to a place several times already and done the requisite tourist attractions, it’s always fun to go off the beaten path and focus your travel to get the most out of it.  For example, instead of trying to go to all the museums - focus on one, and really explore it.  Like many other things, people are traveling to “get away” but usually don’t get a chance to really change their mindset if they plan every minute and stuff as many things as possible into one day.  What have you done then?  You’ve just stayed busy somewhere else.  I think being able to visualize my trip and really understand what a person does in one day to not overwhelm themselves helped me ensure that I enjoyed my time away - not just spent it.

Sounds like the trip was a success John.  Thanks for the insightful comments!  You can view John’s Duffel here: Thanksgiving 2009

Where are you going next?  Send your Duffel experiences to evan@duffelup.com to be featured.

Daily Duffels are users’ Duffels (either future, present or past) that we feature in our online community because we think they look fun, interesting and well put together. To see all of our Daily Duffels, follow us on Twitter.

Note from the Admin: Stina’s Duffel The Big Easy was selected “Daily Duffel” for 2/11/10. Daily Duffel creators are invited to comment on their experiences for the Duffelup Journal.  This is what Stina had to say:

I have always wanted to visit NOLA during Mardi Gras. It’s on my “bucket” list! NOLA is so rich with tradition, culture, and most importantly, FOOD! My friend is currently there for work, and during the day I plan to go sightseeing on my own.

My original reason for using Duffelup was to be able to organize my days according to which part of NOLA I was in using the map so I could be efficient and maximize the number of places to see. When I told friends that I was planning to go to NOLA, they all had recommendations for me, from beignets to the St. Charles streetcar to the French Market. Instead of having to write the ideas down on pieces of paper and carry them with me everywhere, I was able to use Duffelup’s bookmarklet to “save” the activities and foodie places with all the pertinent information. Organizing my daily list of “to-dos” was a piece of cake using the map view. 

A plus to sharing my NOLA Duffel with my friends is that they know where I plan to be each day. If for some reason anything were to happen to me (knock on wood), I have the details of all the places I plan to be at. 

I am so excited to be in NOLA for Mardi Gras! Their Superbowl victory last weekend will be sure to make my visit even more amazing!! 

Awesome Stina…Have a great time!  You can view her Duffel here: The Big Easy

Stina’s all duffeled up and ready to go.  Where are you going next?  Send your Duffel experiences to evan@duffelup.com to be featured.

Daily Duffels are users’ Duffels (either future, present or past) that we feature in our online community because we think they look fun, interesting and well put together. To see all of our Daily Duffels, follow us on Twitter.

Note from the Admin: Stefano’s Duffel was selected “Daily Duffel” for 1/28/10. Daily Duffel Creators are invited to comment on their experiences for the Duffelup Journal.  This is what Stefano had to say:

We had a great trip in Vegas. It was a ton of fun just organizing my thoughts on duffelup, placing restaurants, hotels, etc - and then letting the gatekeeper - aka “the girlfriend” organize it all and turn it into a cohesive trip. Unfortunately, despite the duffel’s name, we didn’t take vegas - vegas took us.

(Stefano and his girlfriend taking Vegas)

Thanks Stefano…I know the feeling!  There’s nothing quite like that flight home from Vegas.  You can view Stefano’s Duffel here: Taking Vegas

Daily Duffels are users’ Duffels (either future, present or past) that we feature in our online community because we think they look fun, interesting and well put together. To see all of our Daily Duffels, follow us on Twitter.

Note from the Admin: Amy’s Duffel was selected “Daily Duffel” for 1/27/10. Daily Duffel Creators are invited to comment on their Duffelup experiences for the Duffelup Journal.  This is what Amy had to say:

During my boyfriend’s vacation here in California, I decided to plan the quintessential roadtrip up from LA to Northern California to show him the sights and visit a few friends.  We kept throwing out ideas about what we wanted to do, who we wanted to see, and the stuff we wanted to eat… but nothing was getting solidified.

I took it upon myself to play the troop leader and started packing my “Duffel Up.” Since we were constantly on the move and meeting up with a few different people during our trip, the public board was a great way to link everyone and let them see when and where we were going to be at all times. This allowed us to plan accordingly and still get to do everything we originally planned.

All in all, the trip was a major success. We got to bowl all night, be awesome at Lasertag (I took 1^st place!), run around a huge trampoline arena, and eat great food with some amazing friends. If anyone needs some ideas for their trip to the Bay Area, check out my Duffel.  :-D

Very cool Amy!  You can view Amy’s Duffel here: Norcal Roadtrip!

Daily Duffels are users’ Duffels (either future, present or past) that we feature in our online community because we think they look fun, interesting and well put together. To see all of our Daily Duffels, follow us on Twitter.