Using the Trip Planner on a PC: Adding The First Location

Our quest to simplify the taking of European rail journeys has led to the creation of a wholly unique journey planning tool.

To make the putting together of a multi-location adventure as simple of possible, we've anticipated every need and question - Using the experience of founder, Simon's past planning of multi-destination trips to 218 locations across Europe.

Though ensuring that those needs can be met has led to multiple innovations that you won't have been seen before, hence this guide and video.

Because using the Trip Planner on Conductor Sam, is easy, fun and super-useful... when you know how to make the most of all of its features.

Btw - Sam uses AI in its Ask Sam chat service, but we don't use it to write the Info Guides.

Setting Your Beginning and Ending Locations

1 - We've assumed that you'll be most likely taking a trip which will loop back to your start point, so if that's the case you can click 'Return to...'

2 - Setting up a plan has six quick steps to help Sam know what you want to do.

Setting the Travel Dates

1 - If you do enter dates when setting up the trip, you need to click this button to set them, because...

2 - ...you don't have to enter your dates at this stage.
It can be useful to initially be flexible, due to potential changes to the usual train times etc.

So you can opt to set the dates for your itinerary, once you're in the planner - Which can be most easily done by using the Trip Menu.

If you don't set dates here, what Sam will do is select journeys a couple of weeks ahead, so that they can then be adjusted.

3 - At this setting up of the trip stage, these buttons at bottom right, move you on to the next step.

Opting to Select A Travel Style

1 - To make the planning simpler you can opt to tailor it to your travel preferences - so the selection you make here, will streamline the choosing of journey options.

Because they will then hone in on the journeys that will therefore be most likely to suit you -  cheaper, faster, simpler etc.

We're sure this Travel Style service is a good idea, but we're still deciding on how to present it.
So any Feedback using the button at the top of the page, would be much appreciated.

2 - You don't have to make a Travel Style selection on this page.
Not doing so can be a good idea if you'd rather make a selection from all of the journey options along a route, regardless of travel times and the number of connections.

3 - When you're choosing from the journey options, you'll see how the Travel Styles impact on the choices you'll have, so you'll be able to adjust them, or remove them.

The Trip checklist

The idea is that your bespoke plan can ultimately be more than a list of rail journeys from A to B.

So to keep track of things you'll find the Trip Checklist tool beside the Trip Menu tool.
For the moment it pops up when you first access the planner, but we're open to suggestion, so please send 'Feedback'.

1 - The checklist appears when you access the planner, because it's telling you that the next thing you need to do is Add a first destination.

2 - You can also use to remind you of anything that will matter to your trip outside of adding the journeys by train.

3 - Reading down the checklist will give you a good idea of what you can do on the Sam planner - the / 10 gives an idea of where you are with your plan.
How you use the checklist is obviously personal to you, so you don't need to reach 10 / 10.

Adding a First Destination

1 - Now you're at the exciting part, the putting together of the trip - with the initial step being Adding a first destination.

If you need help working out where you can easily travel to on your first journey, you can Ask Sam for ideas before you begin the planning.

Seeking out general tips and advice pre-planning, to help make your trip absolutely ideal, can be a good idea.

2 - At the beginning, the map shortcut tool shows the center of the location where you'll be starting your adventure.
Though keep an eye it, as it will also become a tool to help you discover where you can go.

Selecting a Location

1 - As you begin to type a destination in the box, it will appear as an option to Add to your plan.

2 - The idea is that the other most popular onward locations will appear here for easy access; They'll become accurate the more users Sam has.

3 - Instead of searching for your next location, you can select it on the map which shows some of the locations which can be reached on a direct train.

4 - Which locations are being suggested by Sam will be easier to see if you use the + to dive into the map.

When You Have Added a Location

1 - You can now add your rail journey to the first chosen destination and we've showcased how to do that.

The idea is that you do this  before you add the next location - because it's a good idea to know that your travel can be confirmed, before adding the next onward stop.

2 - In this 'List' mode, you can add your next location here.
List mode? You can build a plan using this List method, or by using the Map mode.

3 - Here you'll find the dates you will be spending in this location, but you haven't got to set them yet, as there are multiple ways of adjusting them...

4 - ...including changing the number of nights here: Sam will use 2 nights as a default.

5 - You can adjust your plan by removing a location

6 - You can use this to Add Notes about the location, such as things you'll want to do and reminders of what you want to check.