How to choose where to stay and plan a whole itinerary in minutes

Most people plan a trip by listing sights. The BaseFirst method starts with one decision that shapes every day of the trip: where you stay. I've used it for years, first on paper maps and later on Google Maps, to plan 4–7 day trips anywhere without a travel agent or a tour guide.

Step 1: Read the map

Before anything else, zoom out on the map. Where is the city core? Where are the mountains, coast, lakes, rivers or volcanoes? Which way does the land rise, and which main roads lead out to the scenery? Ten minutes with a map tells you more about a trip than hours of reading lists.

Step 2: Name the draw

Ask honestly why people travel to this place. In Central Asia it's the terrain: mountains, valleys, lakes and the weather. In Bandung it's the cool volcanic highlands. In Bali it's coast and rice terraces. The draw decides which side of the city your base should face.

Step 3: Choose the base (the most important decision)

Pick one area that sits between the city centre and the main scenic cluster. It should still be inside the city, so restaurants, ride-hailing and evening life stay 15–25 minutes away, but on the side facing the scenery, so you never cross the whole city to get out.

Rule of thumb: about 8–15 km from the centre in big cities, 3–8 km in small towns. If the scenery is in two opposite directions, or far away (more than about 2.5 hours), split the trip into two bases instead of commuting.

Step 4: Hang the days on the base

Give each day one direction from your base. Spend mornings and afternoons on the scenery, and evenings in the city. Any place more than about two hours away gets its own early-start day. Put the arrival day in the city and keep the last day flexible, so a bad-weather day can be swapped.

With the base fixed, the itinerary almost writes itself. That's why it usually takes 5–10 minutes instead of an evening of research.

See it on real trips

FAQ

What is the best area to stay when travelling?

Usually the area between the city centre and the main scenic cluster, still inside the city and on the side facing the scenery. That keeps day trips short and evenings in town.

How far from the city centre should I stay?

As a rule of thumb about 8–15 km in big cities and 3–8 km in small towns, on the road that leads to the main sights, close to an anchor such as a mall, metro station or main junction.

When should I use two bases instead of one?

When the scenery lies in two opposite directions far apart, or a cluster of sights is more than about 2.5 hours away and deserves several days. Then move once instead of commuting every day.

How long does it take to plan an itinerary this way?

Once the base is chosen, a 4–7 day itinerary usually takes 5–10 minutes, because every day simply points in one direction from the base.