Not everyone likes trip planning, and that's ok. Here's a guide to quickly figure out what to see in a given area. 

Use Google Flights - Google flights is a fantastic resource. I'm not going to go too much into detail because I have a guest writer appearing soon who will give you her tips on Google Flights. The "Things to do" feature shows you the main sites in a given area. There's also an option to sort "Top sights by interest." Use it! 

Ask the wait staff - This seems obvious, but I approach it differently. Instead of asking the staff where to eat, ask where they eat. Insist that you want delicious food. They'll probably give you a recommendation with better food, more reasonable prices, and a better vibe. 

Ask locals - Along the same lines as the wait staff, ask, "Where do you like to eat on special occasions?" I promise you that their recommendation is not a tourist trap. 

Ask the right person: Ask a person that's been there and has similar interests. I specifically wrote the right person because everyone has a bias and the trick is to uncover their bias quickly. So many people fail because they ask the wrong person for advice. For example, asking an adventure traveler for input is not the best idea if you're into luxury travel.

Watch video - If sitting down and reading a guidebook is not appealing, try watching videos instead. There are many good resources on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Knowledge is knowledge. Don't get caught up on the medium.

Sign up for my newsletter: If you haven't done this yet, what are you doing?! Also, follow me on Instagram, where you'll see my travels in real-time (i.e. Instagram stories). 

I'm working on a master framework for trip planning that is comprehensive and quick. If this is interesting to you, let me know.