itinerary-builder

name	itinerary-builder
description	Day-by-day planning patterns for family travel. Covers activity pacing, age-appropriate suggestions, geographic grouping, and rainy day backups.

Itinerary Builder Skill

Pacing Rules

• Max 2 structured activities per day with children
• At least one activity slot should be unstructured (pool, beach, wandering)
• Every 3-4 days, schedule a full buffer day (beach/pool/lazy morning + local explore)
• Arrival day = settle in, find supermarket, orient; departure day = pack, clean, drive to airport
• For 7-day trips: 1 buffer day. For 10 days: 2. For 14 days: 3.

Age-Appropriate Activity Filtering

• Calculate each child's age at travel date from data/family-profile.yaml DOBs
• Under 3: skip queues >20 min, walks >1km, long boat tours, guided museum walks
• 3-6: short excursions (max 2h), hands-on activities, animal encounters, playgrounds, shallow water
• 7-12: water sports, bike rides, easy hikes, cultural sites with interactive elements, theme parks
• 13+: most adult activities suitable — moderate hikes, zip lines, cooking classes, walking tours
• Mixed ages: choose activities that work for youngest while engaging oldest, or suggest group splits

Geographic Grouping

• Group activities by area to minimise daily driving
• A day's activities should be within the same zone (max 20-30 min driving between morning and afternoon)
• If an activity is far from base, make it a "day trip" and cluster nearby attractions on the same day
• Note driving time from accommodation to each activity

Opening Hours & Pre-Booking

• Browse to verify opening days — many museums/sites close Monday or Tuesday in Southern Europe
• Verify seasonal hours (summer vs winter schedules)
• Flag pre-booking items: popular restaurants (2-4 weeks ahead), theme parks (skip-the-line tickets), boat tours/excursions with limited capacity, cooking classes/workshops
• Note estimated cost per activity (per person or per family)
• Caveat: "verify closer to travel date" for hours/prices found during planning

Weather & Rainy Day Backups

• Check typical weather for destination in travel month (average temp, rain probability)
• Include 1-2 rainy day backups per trip: aquariums, science museums, indoor play areas, bowling, cinema
• Mark each day's primary activity as "outdoor" or "indoor" so family can swap if weather turns

Restaurant Suggestions

• 1 restaurant suggestion per day
• Criteria: family-friendly (high chairs, kids menu), good reviews, reasonable price, within the day's geographic zone
• Note if reservation needed and how far ahead to book
• Arrival day: suggest nearby easy option (no long drive after travel)
• Include 1-2 supermarket/self-catering notes since accommodation has full kitchen