Dinner plans pay, as does flexibility

ThANK you for the piece by David Shaw, “The Perils (and Joys) of Spontaneous Dining Overseas” [Traveler’s Journal, Feb. 13]. My wife appreciates my extensive research and flexible plans, especially on trips to Italy. I use the same resources Shaw mentions, plus a few others. I make few restaurant reservations in advance. I seek recommendations from locals I trust.

My prescription for a great vacation: Start early, vicariously, with some research. Create a plan that nails high points with reservations, provides plenty of additional options and flexibility once there.

David Young

Venice

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Shaw’s dining piece was fabulous. My husband swears I am writing a column for the Los Angeles Times on the side. I couldn’t agree with Shaw more about wasting one of my valuable vacation days on unplanned restaurants.

Linda Beuret

Santa Barbara