When you think about how valuable vacation time is and how expensive travel can be, you almost can’t help but want to plan things out so you can get the most out of your time and money. The great thing about this is that it’s never been easier, since there are thousands of websites, apps, and guidebooks with information about almost every place you could go.
Yet something is lost when you can plan for, or even almost script out, almost every part of a trip. Not too long ago, the randomness of travel was seen as a normal and even desirable part of the experience. Since everyday life is so predictable, a trip to a faraway place where nothing goes as planned was a good way to shake things up.
To get some of that wildness back, many travelers are trying to stop “overplanning” their trips and make them a bit more spontaneous. This is easier said than done for people who are naturally planners. If you don’t know where to start, here are some tips to help you.
1. Book Key Activities
We’ve said you don’t want to plan out everything hour by hour, and that’s true, but if you pick one or two things to do that you absolutely must not miss out on, you can use these things as anchor points, and be spontaneous around them.
If you’re traveling to Philadelphia, for example, you can search things to do in Philadelphia and choose from the list. Book those things in advance if you can, or at least plan out when you’re going to do them, and then let the rest of the trip be spontaneous.
This is a great way for people who usually like to plan everything to feel more in control; it’s a starting point when it comes to being more spontaneous.
2. A Central Hotel
Although spontaneity is fun, and the whole point of this post is to help you do more of it when you’re traveling, there is one thing you won’t want to leave to chance, and that’s your accommodation. It would be horrible to reach your destination only to find there is nowhere to stay, or you have to pay outside of your budget just to get a room.
Therefore, book your hotel before you go, but make sure it’s a centrally located one. In that case, you can feel at ease knowing you’ve got somewhere to sleep and leave your belongings, but you can also just go wandering and see what you come across with a base to go back to whenever you want. You’ll feel much more adventurous when you’re in the middle of all the action.
3. Have One Entire Unplanned Day
Make sure you have at least one day on your trip that isn’t planned at all. When you wake up, you’ll have no idea what the day will bring. You won’t know where you’re going to eat, what you’re going to do, who you’re going to meet, and so on. For some, this will be incredibly exciting. For others, it might feel a little scary. Yet no matter what side of the fence you are on, it’s worth trying.
This is how you’ll find some of the hidden gems that you would otherwise miss. It’s also how you start to get a feel for where you’re staying, and understand the place, the people, and the culture a lot more, enabling you to get the most out of your trip.
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