When you think about travel, the first things that tend to come to mind are the itineraries, the list of must-see attractions and places, and the big plans for everything you want to do, from sightseeing to where you’re going to eat. And planning definitely is important, especially when you’ve not got a lot of time or you’re going somewhere you’ve not been to before, but the reality is that some of the best travel moments don’t come from a plan at all – they happen when something unexpected pops up and you decide to just go with it. With that in mind, keep reading to find out more about why some of the best travel moments aren’t planned.
Photo by Guilherme Stecanella on Unsplash
Why Some of the Best Travel Moments Aren’t Planned – The Magic Of Getting Lost
Some of the best travel experiences start with a wrong turn, as strange as that might sound. Perhaps you take a different street, miss a train, or just decide to wander without a map, and you’ll suddenly stumble across a little cafe, a much quieter beach, or a local market you didn’t even know existed.
And what’s great about these places is that they feel a lot more authentic and real because they’re not designed for the tourists (although you’ll still be welcome). You’re actually seeing everyday life, and that can feel a lot more special than seeing the famous things that everyone else sees as well.
Why Some of the Best Travel Moments Aren’t Planned – Conversations You Didn’t Expect
Unplanned travel moments can very often come from people – you strike up a conversation with someone on a train, or in a bar, or in a hostel common room, and they suggest a place, invite you to join them, or tell you a story that gives you a bit more insight into wherever it is you are.
That’s not something you can schedule because it’s going to happen spontaneously, and it’ll generally be a case of being in the right place at the right time. Of course, you don’t have to take every piece of advice, and you don’t have to join people if you don’t want to (and be careful if you do), but it can open up all kinds of possibilities you wouldn’t have had otherwise.
Why Some of the Best Travel Moments Aren’t Planned – Spontaneous Decisions That Turn Into Highlights
Sometimes the best travel days are the ones where you haven’t got any plan at all, and you just decide to do things on a whim, depending on what you come across when you go outside, or who you talk to at breakfast, or anything else.
These decisions can be the best ones to make, and they’re often pretty easy too, and that’s because there’s no pressure. You weren’t expecting to do anything, so doing something is always a bonus, and even if you decide the idea wasn’t for you in the end, you’ll still have given it a go and tried something new. And if you did love it, that’s something that’s going to stick with you forever, and you just can’t beat that when you come home from traveling.
Why Some of the Best Travel Moments Aren’t Planned – Food Discoveries You Didn’t Research
Researching restaurants is definitely a good idea, and it’s going to be helpful when it comes to making sure you’ve got somewhere to eat, but just as good an idea is wandering into a place and, if they can seat you, you eat there. If you’re passing by and it smells good, why not pop in and eat there? It could be the best food you have while you’re away, and you would have missed it if you’d just stuck to the usual ideas.
And we’re not just talking about restaurants, either. You could find street food stalls, tiny family-run cafes and bars, or food trucks that offer the most incredible food that isn’t going to be found anywhere online or in the guides because people don’t know it’s there.
Why Some of the Best Travel Moments Aren’t Planned – Unexpected Entertainment And Nightlife
Evenings are where you can be really spontaneous, even if the rest of your trip is neatly planned out (and sometimes, especially when you’re traveling with a group, that’s just how it has to be).
By not planning anything and just heading out of the hotel or hostel to see what you can find, you might come across a great bar, the restaurants and cafes we mentioned above, a fun theater show, a casino, live music, and plenty more. And even if you decide to have a quiet night in, you can still have some fun playing blackjack on your phone while you eat a snack from a food truck and watch the nightlife happen outside your window – the options are limitless.
Why Some of the Best Travel Moments Aren’t Planned – Weather Changes That Improve The Trip
Bad weather can certainly ruin plans, but guess what? It can lead you to all kinds of unplanned adventures as well, so although you might be negative at first, you can easily change things around. For example, a rainy day might mean you end up in a cosy cafe, a museum that wasn’t on your list, or a long lunch somewhere while you wait for the sun to come out.
And a sudden heatwave might push you to find somewhere to swim. Snow could turn a city into something truly magical. It goes on and on, and these moments can feel very special because it reminds you that plans can easily come undone, and there are always alternatives out there if you just look for them.
Why Some of the Best Travel Moments Aren’t Planned – Why Over-Planning Can Backfire
Planning everything might seem like the best idea, but in the end, it just puts a load of pressure on you because when every minute of the day is scheduled, you’ll get really stressed when something changes (and very often, something will change).
However, when you leave room in your schedule for spontaneous ideas, you’ll be less stressed, and you’ll probably have more fun.
Why Some of the Best Travel Moments Aren’t Planned – Final Thoughts
Some of the best travel moments can’t ever be planned because they can’t be – they just happen. So the next time you travel, plan enough to feel comfortable and then leave the rest to chance, and it could be the best trip you ever have.