This is where I write things down. Longer guides, honest comparisons, and the questions I answer over and over, all free to read with no email required.
Everything here comes from planning actual trips for actual people. When I say a destination is crowded in July or that a resort photographs better than it lives, that is from the work, not from a press release.
Guides and Stories
Destination Wedding vs. Traditional Wedding
An honest comparison of the guest list, the real cost, the timeline, and the honeymoon, so you can tell which one actually fits you.
The Best Time to Visit Hawaii by Island
Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island do not share a best season. Weather, crowds, whale watching, and where the value is.
The Louisiana Food Road Trip: Eating Your Way Down I-10
Lake Charles to New Orleans on one highway, through the towns that made Cajun and Creole food. Boudin, crawfish, jambalaya, andouille.
Where to Start
If you are weighing a destination wedding against a wedding at home, start with the destination wedding comparison. It covers the guest list conversation, what each one actually costs once you count everything, and the timeline difference, which is the part most couples do not see coming.
If Hawaii is on your list and you are trying to pick a month, read the best time to visit Hawaii by island. The four main islands do not share a season, and choosing the wrong island for your dates is the most common Hawaii mistake I see.
If you plan your trips around where you will eat, the Louisiana food road trip down I-10 maps the whole route from Lake Charles to New Orleans, through the towns that made this food, including the one I live in.
If you are thinking about traveling alone for the first time, how to plan your first solo trip is the one I wrote from my own experience, including navigating Japan by myself without the language.
More Guides Coming
I add to this as questions come up. Next on my list is a plain English explanation of what a travel advisor actually does for the fee. If there is something you want covered, tell me and I will write it.
Rather Just Ask Me?
Reading is optional. Call or text me at 337-288-4032, email rachel.falgout@fora.travel, or send me your dates and ideas through my planning form. If you are nearby, my Lafayette page has the local details.
About the Planning Room
What is The Planning Room?
It is where I put the longer guides, the questions I get asked most, and the things I would tell you over coffee if we had an hour. Free to read, no email required. If a guide answers your question and you never contact me, that is fine.
How often do you add new guides?
As often as a question comes up enough times to be worth writing properly. I would rather publish one guide worth reading than a post a week that says nothing.
Can I ask you a question that is not covered here?
Please do. Call or text 337-288-4032 or email rachel.falgout@fora.travel. There is no charge to ask, and the questions I get are what tell me what to write next.