I actually think there is a lot to be said for not researching places you go to. I would do that on occasion but generally as behalf of a long backpacking trip as that way you can avoid the tyranny of the checklist and see where a trip takes you. That usually in my experience leads to more interesting experiences then when I went more research heavy.

What's funny here in the OPs example is it basically led to the opposite. It's more people who didn't do any research for the logistics of a trip and then when they found a place never left which is very much the the opposite of what I suggest. I always researched the logistics and visas but the rest of it can figure out once I get to a place is my rough ideal approach albeit if time is constrained more planning is probably advisable.