Synopsis: My simple 6-step process should be useful:
    (1) Create a List Form, with 2 columns (town & sites/activities)
    (2) list all towns where your tour overnights that has ‘free-time
         segments
    (3) List all your Tour’s officially scheduled site/activities to avoid
         duplication
    (4) discover & list all your Travel Buds, 
    (5) Prioritize all sites/activities by town &/or ‘free-time’ segment, 
    (6) Tailor prioritized sites/activities to ‘free-time’ segments.

 This process may seem simplistic, but it works.
    1. List Form: Create a simple Site/Experience List form, written or computer, with 2 columns for towns/cities your tour visits.

    2. List all towns where your tour lodges that have ‘"free-time"’ morning, afternoon or evening segments, particularly afternoon & evening pairs.                                    
       CAUTION:  confirm 'free-time' units with Tour …. before booking.

    3. List all Tour’s official scheduled sites & activities to avoid duplication.

    4. Discover & list your Travel Buds for each overnight town or city for which you have a 'free time' segment.
        a. Search your mind for your Travel Buds:  Throughout our lives, each of us has been exposed to Travel Buds: — those places & experiences that we have always dreamed of seeing. Once you begin to look for them, you’ll discover Travel Buds fill your mind. [pplk; Resources: “Future Travel” document ] [pplk: Future Travel list]. 
        Anecdote:  some of my Travel Buds:
              Audrey Hepburn’s “Two for the Road’ romantic European travel fantasy movie, 
              Russel Crowe’s “Gladiator’s Coliseum; my Rome visits.
              Brad Pitt’s “Seven Years in Tibet.”; triggered 3 months in China . 
              Art History class: exposed Athen’s Pantheon’s intentional optical illusion of slightly bowed steps & bulging columns.

Historical Anecdote: In 1897, the original dirt-poor Alaska Klondike miners: .... dragged heavily loaded 'Sacks of Gold' worth millions today off the Excelsior steamboat onto San Francisco’s pier. What valued travel nuggets will you return home with?    PIK miners

           StockCake* https://stockcake.com/i/gold-panning-miners_468231_735279

        b. Online search your ‘free-time’ towns, for all tourist sights & experiences that you didn’t know about ….that may excite you enough to add to your list.

        c. Watch TV or Netflix travel shows for more Travel Buds 

• Rick Steves' Europe: several steaming sources
• Public Television: streaming episodes on Rick Steves' website, through PBS's platforms, & Amazon Prime Video. 
• YouTube: official YouTube channel: clips, full episodes, travel tips, & behind-scenes stuff
• “50 of the Best Travel-ish Shows to Watch ….”: https://www.going.com/guides/best-travel-shows

        d) Explore Travel blogs in search of Travel Buds. (Don’t search “Travel websites” yet because most are Cruise company adverts)
            “FeedSpot”: ”100 Best Travel Blogs To Read”:                    
                   https://travel.feedspot.com/travel_blogs/

As you build your list of Travel Buds, some country, region or city sites & activities will truly speak to your interest. It will happen. Trust me.

5. Prioritize & curate ALL your Travel Buds; of most desired sights & activities.   TIP: I use a different color circled numbers to left of items.
      Examples: 
           Tier 1: (1) Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, (2) Vatican, St Peter’s Basilica, Trevi Fountain & Spanish Steps.

           Tier 2: Baths of Caracalla, Trastevere neighborhood, Galleria Borghese museum, (3) Michelangelo’s Piazza del Campidoglio,
 Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore,  and so on.

6. Tailor prioritized Travel Buds within each “free-time” segment you have. Map out a hypothetical route from one site to the next estimating both travel time & on-site time (just like your tour company does)

Example:
     - Afternoon Segment (1pm > 5pm): site-linked self-guided walking tour.
          CAUTION: Double-check the Tour Schedule so you are not late for next ‘Scheduled’ Tour activity. UNLESS you choose to skip. Your trip remember! 😀…
     - Evening Segment: (5pm > ?): maybe dinner & a river cruise (London)
     - Afternoon & Evening Pair: return to hotel when you like. NO worries except tomorrow's early & busy day. 😀

All this planning you can do BEFORE you leave home magnifying your anticipation & excitment

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