When evaluating, it is most important to define the set of goals that I was trying to accomplish, especially since those goals may have changed slightly over the course of the project. In this exercise, I was attempting to plan a trip that was at a convenient and pleasant time, affordable, and included numerous attractions that I would find interesting (often locations with high historical and cultural significance).
After all my information gathering, I am confident of the time of year I would choose to travel, the sites that I would most likely use to ensure a low-cost trip, and, most importantly, the places I would most like to visit. It helped me prioritize which locations were most important to me, especially to see them mapped out. If a location was far away from most of the others, it was something that I placed at a lower priority, since the travel time that would be needed to get there would not have a high enough return on the time invested.
The process may have been a bit more roundabout than I would have liked, but this was my first attempt at planning a trip of this magnatude. The next time the situation arises, I'll have reliable sources that I've used before (both online and in print) that I'll be able to use more effectively the second time. Even if the trip is dramatically diffferent in location or goal, those same resources will continue to prove to be valuable.
Finally, at the conclusion of this process, I feel very confident in my choices; there is very little that I am still unsure of in regards to the trip. There's certainly the sense of satisfaction described by Kuhlthau at the successful conclusion of this type of inquiry. I have clear steps to take from this point forward, and am able to take decisive action toward acheiving my goal of a successful trip.
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