Travel Planning

Setup

On first use, read setup.md for onboarding guidelines. Start helping naturally without technical jargon — users can always ask about storage details if curious.

When to Use

User wants to plan a trip, track travel expenses, organize bookings, coordinate group/family travel, or build packing lists. Agent handles the full travel lifecycle: dreaming, planning, booking, traveling, and documenting.

Architecture

Memory lives in ~/travel-planning/. See memory-template.md for structure. ~/travel-planning/ ├── memory.md # Preferences + travel history summary ├── wishlist/ # Dream destinations │ └── {destination}.md ├── trips/ # Active and upcoming trips │ └── {trip-name}/ │ ├── overview.md │ ├── itinerary.md │ ├── bookings.md │ ├── packing.md │ ├── budget.md │ └── travelers.md # For group/family trips ├── completed/ # Past trips with notes ├── templates/ # Reusable packing lists └── documents/ # Passport, visa info, insurance

Quick Reference

TopicFileSetup processsetup.mdMemory templatememory-template.mdBooking timingbooking-guide.mdPacking templatespacking-templates.mdMulti-city planningmulti-city.md

1. Check Memory First

Before any trip planning, read ~/travel-planning/memory.md for: Travel style preferences (budget, pace, accommodation type) Past trip patterns (average daily spend, packing habits) Document status (passport expiry, frequent flyer numbers) Family/group composition if applicable

2. Trip Lifecycle

PhaseActionDreamAdd to wishlist/ with why, when, budget estimatePlanCreate trip folder in trips/ when dates confirmedBookTrack confirmations in trip's bookings.md, update budgetTravelReference itinerary, log actual expensesReturnMove to completed/, document highlights and lessons

3. Booking Timeline Reminders

Proactively remind based on trip dates: 90 days out: Complex visas (China, Russia, India), group bookings 60 days out: International flights, travel insurance for pre-existing conditions 45 days out: Hotels, standard visas, rental cars for groups 30 days out: Activities, restaurant reservations, special requests 14 days out: Travel insurance (general), kids' documents check 7 days out: Bank notifications, packing list finalization, check-in reminders

4. Budget Tracking & Optimization

For each trip, track in its budget.md: ## Budget — {Trip Name} ### Per-Person Breakdown (for groups) | Traveler | Share | Notes | |----------|-------|-------| | Adult 1 | $X | Organizer | | Adult 2 | $X | | | Child | $X | 50% activities | ### Planned | Category | Estimate | Optimization Applied | |----------|----------|---------------------| | Flights | $X | Shoulder season ✓ | | Hotels | $X | Kitchen saves meals | | Transport | $X | Off-airport rental | | Food | $X | ~$Y/day/person | | Activities | $X | City passes ✓ | | **Total** | **$X** | **Saved: $Y** | ### Actual (update during/after) | Category | Spent | vs Planned | |----------|-------|------------|

5. Multi-City & Complex Itineraries

For trips with 2+ cities: Plan minimum 2 nights per city (avoid one-night stays) Group geographically close destinations Consider open-jaw flights (fly into A, out of B) — often same price Build connection buffers: 4+ hours international, 2+ hours domestic Track different currencies and exchange rates per leg

6. Family & Group Travel

When traveling with kids or groups: Create travelers.md in trip folder with each person's details (dietary, medical, seat prefs) Plan kid-friendly activities with energy breaks Book accommodations with kitchen access (saves 30%+ on food) Check child visa/consent requirements (some countries need notarized letters) Pack shared items list to avoid duplication Assign roles: navigator, budget tracker, activity planner

7. Document Safety (with user consent)

Only store document info if user explicitly shares it: Passport expiry dates (for validity warnings) Visa requirements per destination Travel insurance policy numbers Emergency contacts (embassy, bank, family) Never store full document images — only reference numbers

Timing

BookingOptimal WindowWhyDomestic flights6-8 weeks outPrice sweet spotInternational flights3-4 months out10-20% savingsHotels2-3 months outBest selection + ratesRental cars2-6 weeks outPrices fluctuate lessGroup activities4-6 weeks outAvailability for large groups

Cost Optimization Tactics

StrategyTypical SavingsWhen to UseShoulder season30-40%Flexible datesOff-airport car rental30-40%Any rentalKitchen accommodation30%+ food costsFamily trips, 5+ daysCity passes20-40% on activities3+ attractions plannedOpen-jaw flights$0-100Multi-city, different endpointsTuesday flight booking5-15%Flexible booking dayBundle hotel+flight10-20%Package deals available

Group Booking Tips

Book flights separately for flexibility (one delay shouldn't cancel all) Hotels: request adjoining rooms at booking, confirm before arrival Activities: ask for group discounts (10+ people often qualify) Car rentals: compare 2 cars vs 1 large van (often cheaper + more flexible)

Itinerary Structure

• # Day X — {Date} — {Location}
• ## Morning
• [ ] {Activity} @ {Time}
• - Address: {address}
• - Kid-friendly: ✓/✗
• - Notes: {hours, tickets, tips}
• ## Afternoon
• [ ] {Activity}
• ## Evening
• [ ] Dinner @ {Restaurant}
• - Reservation: {time}
• - Confirmation: {number}
• - High chairs available: ✓/✗
• ## Logistics
• Transport: {how to get there}
• Accommodation: {check-in time if applicable}
• Backup plan: {if weather/energy fails}
• Keep 2-3 hours buffer daily. Mark must-dos vs nice-to-haves.

Multi-City Connection Planning

• ## City Connections — {Trip Name}
• | From | To | Transport | Duration | Cost | Booked |
• |------|-----|-----------|----------|------|--------|
• | Paris | Amsterdam | Train | 3h20m | €80 | ✓ |
• | Amsterdam | Berlin | Flight | 1h15m | €65 | ✓ |
• ### Connection Risks
• Paris→Amsterdam: Low (frequent trains, no checkin)
• Amsterdam→Berlin: Medium (need 2h+ at airport)
• ### Luggage Strategy
• Full luggage: check at origin, pick at final destination
• Day bags: carry essentials for city transitions

Common Traps

Over-scheduling → leave discovery room (max 3 planned activities/day) Forgetting to document after trip → memories fade in days, not months Booking without checking visa requirements → some need 90+ days Ignoring passport validity → many countries require 6 months beyond trip dates Not saving confirmation numbers → create bookings.md immediately One-night stays in cities → exhausting, skip or extend Ignoring jet lag recovery → plan light first day after long-haul Group booking all together → one problem cancels everyone

Scope

This skill ONLY: Manages travel planning in ~/travel-planning/ Reads/writes markdown files for trips, budgets, packing Reminds about deadlines based on trip dates This skill NEVER: Makes actual bookings (provides info for user to book) Accesses email or calendar directly Stores payment information Reads files outside ~/travel-planning/

Related Skills

Install with clawhub install <slug> if user confirms: daily-planner — daily task management plan — general project planning expenses — expense tracking

Feedback

If useful: clawhub star travel-planning Stay updated: clawhub sync