Much To Be Done Travel FAQ
Welcome to the Much To Be Done travel FAQ, your go-to resource for questions about the site, how we travel, and the places we’ve been. These are the questions we get asked most often, about the site, about how we travel, and about the places we’ve been. If you don’t find what you’re looking for here, reach out through our Contact page. We’re happy to help.
Much To Be Done Travel FAQ: About the Site
What is Much To Be Done?
Much To Be Done is a family travel journal documenting the destinations, attractions, and restaurants we’ve experienced along the way. It started with a simple idea: trips fade faster than you expect. The places that don’t make it into photos deserve to be written down. We built this site as much for us as for anyone reading it, especially for our son, so that someday he can look back and remember exactly what it felt like to be there.
Who writes Much To Be Done?
Pete Van Baalen is the primary writer. He spent more than 30 years in the media business writing, broadcasting, and running newspapers across the Midwest. He travels with his wife Ruth and their son Eric. Every post reflects a real experience from the three of us.
Why did you start the site?
Partly to preserve memories before they fade. Partly because people kept asking us for travel advice and we figured a website was easier than repeating ourselves. And partly because we genuinely believe that experiences matter more than things, and we wanted a record of the ones we’ve been lucky enough to have.
Does Much To Be Done accept payment for reviews?
We write honest reviews based on our own experiences. What you read here is what we actually think, including the parts that weren’t perfect.
How often do you post?
We aim for at least a couple of posts per month, though that can vary when we’re out traveling. The best way to stay current is to sign up for our newsletter or follow us on social media.
How do I find posts about a specific destination?
Use the navigation at the top of the site. We organize content into Destinations, Attractions, and Restaurants. You can also use the search function to find something specific.
Much To Be Done Travel FAQ: How We Can Help
The Much To Be Done travel FAQ covers the most common questions we receive, but if something is missing, we’re always happy to help directly.
Can you help me plan a trip?
We’re happy to offer suggestions based on our own experience. If you’re heading somewhere we’ve been and want a recommendation on where to eat, what to see, or what to skip, reach out and we’ll do our best to help. That said, if you need full trip arrangements, a travel agent is the right call. That’s not what we do.
How do I contact you?
Through our Contact page. We read everything and respond when we can.
Can I suggest a destination for you to visit?
Absolutely. We’re always building our list and we love a good tip from someone who’s been there. Use the Contact page or reach out on social media.
Much To Be Done Travel FAQ: Our Travels
What is your favorite trip?
Genuinely tough to answer. London and Edinburgh are both so special to us in different ways that we’ve never been able to choose between them. London for the history and the energy. Edinburgh for the beauty and the people.
What is your favorite cruise?
Another impossible choice. Alaska and the Panama Canal are both extraordinary for completely different reasons. Alaska for the scenery and wildlife. The Panama Canal for the sheer engineering marvel of it and the sense that you’re watching history every time a ship passes through.
What is the most unique thing you’ve ever done while traveling?
Taking a float plane deep into the Alaskan wilderness. Nothing else comes close. There are no words for what it feels like to land on a remote lake in the middle of nowhere with mountains in every direction and complete silence when the engine stops.
What is the most unexpected travel experience you’ve had?
Playing skittle (a Scottish form of bowling) in the back room of a 700-year-old pub in Scotland. The Sheep Heid Inn in Edinburgh has its own skittle alley that has been in use since the 1600s. We had no idea it existed until we wandered in for dinner. That’s exactly the kind of discovery that makes travel worth doing.
Is there anywhere you didn’t enjoy?
Honest answer: yes. Granada and Colombia both left us underwhelmed. Every traveler is different and plenty of people love both places. They just weren’t for us, and we’d rather say that than pretend every trip is magical.
Much To Be Done Travel FAQ: Travel Planning
What is the best advice you can give a first-time traveler?
Slow down. The biggest mistake first-timers make is trying to see too much in too little time. Pick fewer places and go deeper. You’ll come home with better memories and fewer regrets.
How do you find great restaurants while traveling?
We do our homework before we go. We look for places with a story behind them, spots that have been doing one thing well for decades, and restaurants locals actually go to rather than the ones closest to the tourist sites. Some of our best meals have come from places most people drive right past.
How do you avoid crowds at popular attractions?
Travel in shoulder season when you can, just before or after peak season. Arrive when doors open. Do a little research on the best time of day to visit before you go. A small amount of planning makes a significant difference at busy sites.
What is the one thing most travelers overlook?
The journey itself. People spend so much energy getting somewhere that they forget to enjoy the getting there. Some of our best travel memories have happened in transit, on trains, on planes, and in ports.
How do you plan your trips?
Good research pays off. We read widely before we go, identify the experiences that matter most, and make reservations early, especially for popular attractions and restaurants. A loose plan with room for spontaneity works best. We also keep a running Google Map with green pins for places we’ve been and red pins for places still on our radar. You can explore it here.
Closing
We hope this Much To Be Done travel FAQ answers your questions. If something is missing, reach out through our Contact page. And if you have a tip for somewhere we should go next, we genuinely want to hear it. There is, after all, still so much to be done.