Even booked tours leave a little room for taking in other sites, or doing whatever you want. Yet, when I come across people who plan out every single thing they’re doing, they seem overwhelmed, exhausted, and generally seem like they’re not having any fun.
Now, on the opposite end of the spectrum, I’ve been on trips where I had to walk for 2 hours just to get to the place we wanted to for lunch. That just doesn’t seem like a good idea! That kind of thing left me really hungry/cranky, feeling like I was wasting my time (you could check out a whole museum in 2 hours!), and really cheap (why were we walking instead of taking transit or a cab?).
I think there definitely has to be a balance when it comes to making travel plans.
Having insurance for travel helps me to feel more spontaneous, since I have one less thing to worry about!
Here is one way you can leave room in your travel plans for spontaneity:
Have a general area where you will spend time. For instance, the Capitol Hill area in Seattle is several streets and many blocks worth of fun shops, cafés, and entertainment. One could spend a few hours wandering around, having something to eat, and grabbing a coffee or two.
So, you can call it FOMO (fear of missing out), with a dash of “don’t tell me what to do” rebellion. I want to have some ideas for what to do and where to spend my time, but I don’t want to follow a rigid schedule.
What if I’m checking out a cool museum, or heading to a restaurant and see an interesting looking street with lots of great-looking shops down it? I’d want to have the flexibility in my day to be able to wander around for a bit.
With a central place to put all my travel ideas, lists of vegan-friendly restaurants to check out, and the don’t-miss museums that I’m sure to enjoy, I can feel spontaneous and like I haven’t wasted time wondering what to do next at the same time.
To re-cap, there are a few ways you can plan a great trip, while still allowing time for spontaneity:
Start by having a central place to keep your travel ideas. Then, choose a few can’t-miss things to do/check out. Use the location of those things to plan to spend a few hours wandering around/eating/doing whatever you want.
Finally, be sure to leave time in the evening to unwind, enjoy a long dinner, or go to something local that catches your eye (a show, movie, or play).
Do you have any trips coming up? How do you like to spend your time when you travel?
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