5 place collections to start before your next trip

Most people default to one giant list of saved places. Then they open it on the trip and cannot tell which saves were essential, which were mood-board fantasy, and which came from a friend who knows the city.

Collections work better when they match questions you will actually ask.

1. Must-do anchors

Places you would be genuinely disappointed to miss. Keep this list short — five to eight spots max. If everything is a must-do, nothing is.

2. Food queue

Restaurants, cafes, markets, and bars worth a dedicated visit. Add notes on what to order and when to go. This is usually the collection people use most on the ground.

3. Nice if we have time

The scenic viewpoints, shops, and walks that enrich the trip but should not dictate the schedule. Permission to skip without guilt.

4. Places [friend] sent me

Named social collections preserve who recommended what — especially useful in cities where friends have already done the scouting.

5. Neighbourhood wander

A looser collection for areas you want to explore without a fixed plan: one arrondissement, one suburb, one coastal walk. Great for afternoons with no reservation.

How to use them together

Save into the right collection the moment you discover a place. On the trip, start with must-do anchors and food queue. Pull from the others when you have gaps.

Captured intent becomes a plan without turning the trip into a spreadsheet.

Read next: Captured intent vs experienced memory.