How long in advance to contact people in places I want to go?

[Nomad]

I will be doing a 4000 mile trip and their are a few places I would like to stay at with families to better get a grasp of their lives how far in advance should I contact them 2 months 6 months or a year in advance I just cant decide maybe those here can help me out thanks...

 

[rvwandering]

Once you get on the road all of the structure in your life will tend to disappear. Where you were planning on going tomorrow or next week may turn out to be somewhere totally different depending on the weather, where friends are heading or if you spot a more interesting place that you want to see. This makes it really difficult to make long range plans. After a few times of telling family that we would visit at a certain time then changing it more than once now I just give them a time frame so that all of us can settle on a fairly good time to visit. I let them know about a week before that we're on our way and call them the day before we arrive.

Tell them your plans to travel as soon as possible and that you'd like to stop and see when you're in their area but don't make definite plans. Just tell them when you think you'll be passing through their state but make sure they understand that setting a firm date probably won't be possible.

 

[MrNoodly]

If someone would actually be glad to spend time with you, then I don't think they're going to be upset about you not calling them at exactly the right time in advance. And if they don't really want to see you, then no time is the right time to contact them.

Put the shoe on the other foot. How would you react if a good friend called on short notice, or long notice, or whenever? Would you get bent out of shape?

 

[LMTLMT]

Do an Elaine Benes - Pop-In!!! lol nah nah I usually give at least 3-4 weeks of heads up just in case they have something planned or out of town.

 

[poncho62]

Do you know these people or are just going to hope they want you to stay with them?
I think that has a lot to do with the planning.

 

[Weight]

Are these just random families? Are they part of your family? Are they just families with your same name? Are they friend's family? It all is in the details.

 

[DuneElliot]

I'd let people know your rough plans as far in advance as you can then you can fine tune as you get closer.

If you're talking about staying with families you don't know but are wanting to contact to stay with them, kinda like AirBnB then I would say 6 weeks to a month ahead and again fine tune as you get closer

 

[TrainChaser]

Talk to them ahead of time, and give them a rough estimate of your arrival date. It seems pointless to head in their direction when they're just leaving for an African safari, or a cruise to the South Pole.