spontaneous travel tips

Why You Should Try Spontaneous Travel This Year

Senior Reporter, HuffPost Life

Planning a vacation often entails months of researching, asking friends for recommendations, strategizing around costs, making reservations and otherwise preparing for a nice escape from your everyday life. But that’s not the only way to travel. In fact, many people enjoy more last-minute getaways.

“Spontaneous travel is one of my absolute favorite ways to travel,” travel blogger Rocky Trifari told HuffPost. “The spontaneity takes away a lot of the stress that comes from the arduous planning and anticipation of a trip. It can even be empowering to recognize that in some cases, those planning procedures we typically follow aren’t nearly as necessary as we brainwash ourselves to believe.”

Taking a spontaneous trip is a great way to let flexibility be your guide and explore destinations that weren’t necessarily on your radar. Don’t hesitate to go outside your travel comfort zone. And it doesn’t necessarily mean you need to spend more money.

“It’s unlikely someone comes back from a trip regretting they took it, and additionally, the spontaneous travel doesn’t have to mean booking a flight the day before and traveling for a month,” said Katy Nastro, a spokesperson for Scott’s Cheap Flights . “It can even be seeing a great fare pop up, booking a week or long-weekend stay when you had no intention of taking that trip at all.”

Below, travel experts break down the benefits of spontaneous travel and share their top tips for making the best of a last-minute trip.

A spontaneous trip allows you to be more present.

“The benefit of spontaneous travel is that it allows you to be more present,” said travel blogger Esther Susag . “Instead of needing to make sure you check everything off of your planned itinerary, you are able to take it all in and not feel the pressure of needing to rush to your next stop.”

These types of trips tend to comes with more bare-bones itineraries ― or no itinerary at all ― which makes for a slower, calmer experience.

“With spontaneous travel, you don’t have the time to figure out every ‘top spot’ to see, so instead when you arrive and you find something you are enjoying, there’s not that pressure to leave immediately to fit everything in,” Susag said.

There’s greater openness to the endless possibilities in travel.

In October, the team at Skyscanner released a report about the happiness benefits of traveler spontaneity created in consultation with psychologist Emma Kenny.

Kenny “pointed out that spontaneous travel helps foster a ‘can-do’ attitude and reminds travelers of the limitless possibilities that await them,” said Laura Lindsay, Skyscanner’s travel trends expert. “When travelers are able to live in the moment, they’re able to experience the thrill of adventure without the stress of planning a trip and making all of the decisions that entails.”

Trifari echoed this sentiment, noting that he recently took an excellent last-minute trip to Chicago and unexpectedly made lifelong friends in the process.

“Spontaneous travel is a way to meet new people, discover destinations that maybe you wouldn’t have gone to ordinarily, and helps prevent decision paralysis, which stops many people from traveling in the first place,” he said.

You can discover new sides of your travel personality.

“For the more organized and ‘Type A’ kind of traveler, spontaneous travel may allow them to take a new and different approach to travel, and they might be surprised at how much they enjoy having a more flexible schedule, maybe they will even find that they are less stressed overall,” Susag noted.

Of course, there are benefits to planning ahead for a trip, but having to be more spur-of-the-moment in your travels can lead to pleasant surprises and amazing adventures.

“You may not have found that amazing hole-in-the-wall restaurant where you got to chat with some locals about their country for hours as opposed to planning your meals around the highest-rated restaurants on Tripadvisor,” Susag said. “Instead of having your trip already planned out when you arrive, it may push you to ask locals some of their favorite hidden gems or places to see and that can lead you down some really unique and fun adventures that you wouldn’t have known about had you planned far in advance.”

The mental health benefits are real.

“There are countless surveys that affirm travelers are more healthy, happy and productive than non-travelers, and with the addition of spontaneity to the mix, you can expect an increase to all of the above,” Nastro said. “Spontaneous travel can have the power to release us from daily stresses, spark creativity and an overall sense of adventure when we immerse ourselves in a new place.”

In a time when many of us live über-scheduled lives, she emphasized the value of breaking away from routine by taking a last-minute trip. It can be especially helpful if you’re feeling a little stuck in a rut.

“And while going on a super long and well-planned vacation can be amazing, it may not necessarily mean you’ll be feeling transformed the entire trip,” Nastro said. “ A Dutch study at Radboud University in Nijmegen showed that trip length may not necessarily correlate to increased health and well-being as respondents said their health and wellness peaked at day eight, returning to pre-trip levels, so three one-week trips may be better than one three-week trip for overall well-being, for example.”

Here’s how to make spontaneous travel work for you.

Taking a spontaneous trip may feel daunting and unfamiliar at first, but the experts HuffPost spoke to shared their tips for making the most of it as well.

Be strategic about your flights.

“My advice for anyone wanting to try out spontaneous travel is to be strategic about how you buy your flights,” Susag said. “This is a great opportunity to use those credit card points you’ve been racking up and save some money.”

Don’t be afraid to book each leg with a separate airline, especially if you have a small number of loyalty points with different companies.

“Try to fly during the weekdays. Flight prices tend to be cheaper during the week as opposed to the weekend,” Susag added.

Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the best days to fly in terms of cost, crowds and cancellations, so consider booking those days if you can.

“Being able to work remotely in a location for a day or two can help to maximize your time away as well if you are short on vacation days,” Nastro noted.

Snag deals when they pop up.

“If an opportunity presents itself, take it!” Trifari urged. “Monitor flight prices, keep in touch with friends or family who may share an interest in traveling with you, and look for good deals online.”

There are lots of websites and apps that share good travel deals, like The Points Guy and Scott’s Cheap Flights.

“If you happen to see something that makes sense for your wallet ― a flight, accommodation, or itinerary ― book it,” Trifari said. “You can ask around and create a trip with memories that’ll last you a lifetime. Even if you go on your own, solo adventures can be some of the most rewarding ones a person can take.”

Keep the itinerary short and simple.

Resist the urge to cram a bunch of last-minute adventures or reservations into your itinerary. That goes against the spirit of a spontaneous trip.

“For people who are big planners but are thinking about doing their first spontaneous trip, try to only plan one big activity or place to see a day,” Susag said. “That way you cross something off your list that you are wanting to do, but still allow yourself to leave room for flexibility and unplanned adventures.”

Book accommodations with free cancellation.

“One thing I do even before I have fully decided if I am going to go on a spontaneous trip somewhere is I will book a hotel with free cancellation as soon as I’m even thinking about a trip,” Susag said. “That way I have decent accommodation as a backup, and I can always look for better options after.”

Location is another important factor when picking lodging as well.

“I also try to get my accommodation as central as I can and, I promise, that makes doing a spontaneous and unplanned trip somewhere much easier and more stress-free,” Susag said.

Be flexible with your destination.

“For a leisure traveler, price is almost always the deciding factor when booking airfare. However, oftentimes we are stuck by dates or location, and don’t consider being flexible with either, when in fact flexibility is key to finding amazing deals,” Nastro said.

She recommended searching for flight options based on a broader region like Western Europe, rather than a specific country like Spain. You may come across an amazing destination that’s less familiar or find the opportunity to rediscover a place you haven’t visited in years.

Travel search engines and other third-party sites make it easy to spot good deals if you cast a wide net.

“ An ‘Everywhere’ search on Skyscanner for December reveals great value flights from New York for as little as $35 to Nashville, $55 to Miami, $79 to Turks & Caicos, $85 to Chicago, $89 to San Francisco, $170 to Cartagena, $246 to Rome, $266 to Paris for those willing to be a little spontaneous,” Nastro said.

Consider the off-season.

“Try going to places during an ‘off-season,’” Nastro advised. “Not only is airfare significantly less, but during a low-season, all aspects of travel are more affordable such as car rentals and hotels.”

Research the peak and low seasons in destinations you’re considering. For many, it’s right after the winter holidays.

“January and February are the least traveled months of the entire year, yet this is the time when airfare tends to be cheapest, as well as there is an abundance of cheap deals to be found, regardless of warm or cold weather destinations,” Nastro said. “A lot less people are traveling due to just traveling over the winter holidays so for those of us looking to find spontaneous last-minute deals, this might be a great time to consider.”

Be flexible with your dates, as well as your destination.

“Searching by multiple dates and airports will give you the best chance of a bargain,” Lindsay said. “Flight prices are all based on supply and demand. Because some dates are more popular than others, prices will vary. The ‘whole month’ search tool allows you to see cheap flights at a glance and pick the right deal for you.”

Find a spontaneity buddy.

“If you struggle to be spontaneous and you know that you need that extra push to get you out of your comfort zone, enlist the help of your partner, best friend, or parent,” Lindsay recommended. “Get them to plan some fun trips away and agree that they will only tell you where you are going a few hours before you need to set off!”

Then, you can repay the favor by taking on the next surprise trip. The key to making spontaneous travel happen is to find what system works best for you. Channel the Nike slogan and just do it.

As Trifari remarked, “You can make the decision to travel somewhere, ask a buddy to join if you’d like, book the trip and go!”

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Spontaneous Travel: A Detailed Guide to Travel On A Whim

January 23, 2019.

Take A Spontaneous Trip This New Year

A common myth: to travel spontaneously means you simply pack a bag, choose a destination, and leave for that locale within a few hours. How whimsical! Or potentially, pretty problematic. It might not be the best idea to abandon all reason simply because you want to do something unplanned. In fact, it’s important to note the difference between planning and research when traveling spontaneously! You can forgo planning, but successful execution of a spontaneous trip occurs when you do thorough research. It is imperative to understand certain requirements like visas, driving permits, and vaccinations before you even enter a country. That is when you can feel confident deviating from any plans when the opportunity presents itself. And, when done properly, the unplanned experiences you have on that trip will probably be the highlight of your entire adventure! That is why I partnered with HotelTonight — a mobile app and website that lets you book last-minute deals on accommodations — to share exactly how to create those elevated experiences that come from spontaneous travel.   

Photo by @journeywithjorge

If you want to take more spontaneous trips this 2019, you don’t have to start with a three-month solo adventure somewhere international. Start with a local day trip and learn the basics about navigation, safety, booking, etc. Choose a destination that is less than an hour and a half away from your hometown, and read up on the best local attractions and restaurants in that city either on the tourism board website, a travel blog, or online publications like Timeout or Thrillist. From there, practice your skills by booking a domestic overnight or weekend trip. After taking a few of these shorter trips this year, I can almost guarantee that by the end of 2019, you will be booking a two-week European jaunt to drink mulled wine and eat chestnuts at eight different Christmas markets across the continent.

Read More: Spontaneous Summer: Europe Trip

Do Research Prior to Your Spontaneous Trip

How much research actually goes in to traveling spontaneously? Well, that is dependent on when and where you are going. The first thing to do is ask the following questions:

• What time of year are you visiting? Is it peak season?
• Are there any special events happening around the time of my visit that might make booking more difficult?

If you answered yes to any of those questions , then you might want to consider planning that part of your trip in advance. I spent three weeks island hopping in Greece this past summer. I had initially thought it would be fun to see “where the wind took me,” which became a little too literal when I missed my first flight ever due to high winds. However, after looking at ferry timetables and accommodation availability, I quickly realized that I could not leave this part of the trip up to chance. There were such limited options in my budget on many of the islands, and the ferries ran too sporadically for me to not plan ahead during August. The same advice holds true if you are visiting a destination during a major festival like Mardi Gras in New Orleans, St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin, or Oktoberfest in Munich because everything will book up early.

• Famous Festivals in Europe: Best Annual Cultural & Music Festivals
• St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin, Ireland: A Complete Guide
• 10 Tips to Survive Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany

If you answered “no,” to the above questions, then traveling spontaneously to that destination might just be the best decision you have ever made. For your first international trip, I recommend visiting a large city like Barcelona, Rome, Lisbon, or Budapest during their shoulder season — the period between high and low seasons. There will be plenty of options for places to stay, the weather should be mild, and the cities not overcrowded with tourists.

Book Flights On A Whim

Google Flights, Skyscanner, and Hopper have features where you can put in your starting destination under “Departures” and then choose from an entire continent or region for “Arrivals.” This allows you to quickly see the best flight deals from a variety of cities at a glance, rather than having to tediously check flights for each potential city. I typically use Google Flights as a starting point, as I believe the site gives a very clear overview of potential options, and then verify that I found the best deal by checking the other aforementioned sites.

Tip #1: La st-minute airfare is more costly than when booked in advance. To combat this price discrepancy, choose a destination where your native currency is strong. Hungary, for example, uses the Forint. I recently spent a month in Budapest and paid an average of 5 US dollars for all meals. Transportation cost me $35 for the entire month; I could ride the metro, buses, and trams an unlimited amount. This way you have a bit more of a cushion if flight and accommodation prices are high.

Find The Perfect Accommodation

After booking that last-minute flight, you’re probably going to need a place to stay. I end up in all types of accommodations when I travel because I strongly believe that each serves its own purpose. When I travel solo on a spontaneous trip, I typically stay in hostels so that I have the opportunity to meet people. But, after a number of days in a hostel, I have other needs which include pampering, a bathtub, and a great night’s sleep in a cozy b ed in a hotel.

You would think that traveling solo at the last-minute while sticking to an affordable price point would be a recipe for disaster; but, HotelTonight provides great deals and multiple property options, affording you the opportunity to be choosy. HotelTonight breaks down the hotels into categories t o clearly identify   the service level and overall vibe of the property. If I am on my own, I will usually pick a property from the “Solid” category and if I am traveling with a partner, “Hip” or “Charming” are my go-tos. And my favorite feature — because swiping is so satisfying — is the Daily Drop. Each day, you have the opportunity to swipe right on a mystery property and the rate will be at least 30% lower than the rest of HotelTonig ht’s already low rates. T he catch? You only have 15 minutes to book it!  

HotelTonight has helped me numerous times when I needed to book a same-day hotel. There were many a Sunday at Coachella (you think I would have learned my lesson the first time) when I did not want to drive home late at night, but couldn’t afford to spend a fortune. Picture th is: it is Sunday night, 8:30 PM, with the headliner starting in 15 minutes. I go on the app to book a room for the evening and I actually find reasonable rates. I now not only get an excuse to stop by Tommy Bahama for lunch on M onday for the best salad on the planet, but I also drive home refreshed after a glorious night of deep sleep.

Tip #2: HotelTonight is perfect if you need an affordable same-day place to stay, but you can also book accommodations on HotelTonight up to 100 days in advance, for up to two weeks at a time.

Tip #3 : It is import ant to know in advance how to get from the airport to your accommodation. Sure, nowadays most airports have WiFI, but if you don’t have an international plan or a wifi device with you, it is best to rely on printed directions as opposed to frantically asking the information desk at an airport where there could very well be a language barrier.

Choose Excursions Without a Plan in Place

While you can typically show up at a tourist attraction same-day with no issue, there are the “Alhambras,” “Warner Bros. Studio Harry Potter Tours,” and “Uffizis” of the world, that need to be booked a month or so in advance. If you do travel spontaneously and find that these attractions are sold out, look into alternatives. Spending a bit more money on a guided tour or visiting at an off-beat time of day are potential workarounds to this problem. There are typically ways to visit even the most popular attraction in a city, you just have to work a little harder to find a solution.

Tip #4: Even if your trip has been organized in advance, you can still be open to spontaneous activities during your travels! I recently returned from a three-month trip to several destinations in Europe. One of the standout moments was canoeing up the Danube river in Budapest. While my trip to Hungary had been planned for months, canoeing hadn’t even been on my radar as a possible excursion. But, prior to arriving, I had joined Facebook groups like Girls Gone International Budapest and International Meeting Point Budapest. Both of those groups host local events every week, so I went to an event on my second night there.

I met a Hungarian at that event who was looking to launch a canoe tour company. I offered to take some photos for him; and, two days later, three of us (always go in a group to be safe) went canoeing up the Danube to a nearby town called Szentendre. By the end of my time in Budapest, I was celebrating a neighborhood bookstore’s anniversary and attending an exhibition for a local artist, all because of the connections I made on that second night!

The best travel experiences are not found on an itinerary. It’s the people that you meet that make a trip memorable and that simply cannot be scheduled into a 10:30 AM breakfast. Just like with solo travel, when you travel spontaneously, you will have the highest highs and the lowest lows. It’s the times when you get ill on a ferry in Greece and end up in York, England, 10 hours later with a new loving family that will stick with you forever. I will get to writing about that soon! So, I encourage you to go outside of your comfort zone this year, even if that means starting with a simple day excursion and building up to a well-researched spontaneous trip. It will not only be one of the most exciting adventures you have ever taken, but it will ultimately be life-changing.  

 Where would you like to travel spontaneously this 2019? Share below!

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How to Travel Spontaneously

Last Updated: February 14, 2023 References

This article was co-authored by Carmela Resuma, MPP . Carmela is the Executive Director of FLYTE, a non-profit organization headquartered in Georgetown, Texas that empowers students living in underserved communities through transformative travel experiences. Carmela has a Masters in Public Policy Analysis from New York University and is passionate about youth empowerment, social impact, and traveling. This article has been viewed 73,362 times.

Traveling can be a pleasant, carefree experience, but the large amounts of planning and preparation which usually precede actually traveling can make the process seem like more trouble than it’s worth. If you’d like to travel without putting in so much work beforehand, try to travel more spontaneously. Making spontaneous travel plans can open doors to new experiences that you wouldn’t have taken part in otherwise. However, you’ll need to leave yourself open to occasional misadventures, getting lost or wandering, and relying on local advice and assistance.

Arriving in Your Destination

• For example, if you’re interested in touring the American northwest, you could spend a full week in a large city like Seattle, or you could divide your time between several cities, like Seattle, Tacoma, and Portland.
• If you’re traveling abroad, you may need to obtain a travel visa for the country you’re visiting. These can take some time to obtain. Contact the State Department of the country you’re planning to visit to find out if you need a travel visa and how to apply for this document.

• Whether you’re traveling with a group or alone, avoid wearing flashy jewelry or clothing, and each member of your party should carry more than one form of official identification (e.g. a passport and a driver’s license).

• If you were to stay on the outskirts of a city, in a rural area, or in a small town, for example, it would be much harder to find locations to spontaneously travel to and visit.

• Having only a single bag will enable you to move quickly from one city or region to another, and you’ll be able to use any type of transportation that you please: plane, train, renting a car or Uber, hitchhiking, bicycle, or just walking.

Limiting Planning on the Ground

• For example, plan on one significant cultural experience per day: if you’re in Rome, you may wish to visit the Colosseum; if you’re in Paris, plan a trip to the Louvre.
• After that, do something spontaneous that appeals to you: sit in a café and watch people passing by, visit a local market, wander into a nearby museum, or take a hike or rafting trip through nature.

• “I’m spending a few days here without a travel itinerary. What are some places you’d recommend I visit, other than big tourist attractions?”
• If you’re open to any type of spontaneous experience in the region you’re traveling, ask locals about their favorite outdoor activity (weather permitting): you’ll likely receive recommendations for hiking location, but perhaps also fishing, swimming, bird-watching, or mountain biking.

• Avoiding review sites will leave you open to enjoyable surprises as you use your own intuition and the advice of locals to find interesting travel destinations.
• Sometimes tourist destinations plant reviews in order to drum up business. A high rating may not be entirely legitimate.
• Go to touristy sites to scout out more hidden local treasures. One benefit of going to a "tourist trap" is that locals (bartenders, tour guides, waiters, hotel staff, shopkeepers, cab drivers, etc.) expect outsiders--and these people are often great informers to local favorite places.

• You can also look for last-minute bookings at hotels and through travel apps like Priceline, HotelTonight, Blink (for travel in Europe), and Booking Now. [5] X Research source

Making Spontaneous Travel Decisions

• For example, if a restaurant isn’t enjoyable, leave and wander through a food-heavy district of town until you find a better place to dine. If you can’t spend the day hiking, rent a car and drive through the countryside instead.
• One of the major benefits of spontaneous traveling is that unexpected changes of plans become part of the norm. Leave yourself open to this, and enjoy where the trip takes you.
• Being open and flexible also allows for optimizing vacation time. A rigid schedule may not allow for spending less time at places that are not of high interest, and more time at another.

• If you do end up seriously lost, don’t panic. Avoid areas that seem unsafe or feel uncomfortable, and use your phone or map to find your way back to your hotel or hostel. If you’re lost in a town or city, you can call a cab (or find someone to call a cab for you), or book an Uber on your phone.
• It’s important to consider safety issues when wandering through a foreign city or region. If a part of a city makes you feel uncomfortable, trust your instinct and leave. Always have an idea of how far from your hotel or hostel you are by car, and avoid getting lost in areas without a phone or internet signal.

• These local events could include large concerts or musical festivals, cultural holidays (e.g. Day of the Dead), religious holidays, food festivals, sporting events, or any other number of local events.
• On the other hand, large holidays, festivals, or holiday weekends may increase your travel costs or increase congestion on highways. An increase in a city’s population—say, due to a large ongoing music festival—will also make hotel and hostel rooms both more scarce and more expensive. [9] X Research source

• If you plan ahead before you travel, you can take advantage of a group hotel discount through a site like HotelPlanner or even directly through a hotel website itself.

Expert Q&A

• If you’re traveling into a region that you’re unfamiliar with, check out the weather ahead of time. You don’t want to arrive unprepared in an unfamiliar region in the middle of a freezing winter or a mid-summer heat wave. [10] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://trekhard.com/blog/2012/08/24/13-tips-spontaneous-travel
• ↑ http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/specialty-travel/single-travel-tips-for-going-solo
• ↑ http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/travelers-ed/12-ways-to-be-more-spontaneous-when-you-travel
• ↑ http://mashable.com/2014/04/16/spontaneous-travel/#uymkjD1TsGqw
• ↑ http://www.travelandleisure.com/blogs/trip-doctor-how-to-get-last-minute-hotel-deals
• ↑ http://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/city-vacations/how-to-take-spontaneous-vacation

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Spontaneous Travel: How to Book a Last Minute Trip

December 5, 2023 by Janice Waugh

Spontaneous travel, a trip at the last minute, is truly possible when you travel solo.

Gone is the hassle of coordinating with others. You can leave home at a moment's notice. As you travel, you can change plans, leave a place early or stay longer, or turn left rather than right, whenever you want.

A spontaneous trip is an adventure. Your travel choices will be based on timing, availability, and pricing rather than a specific destination.

On short notice, pricing for flights will likely be higher. To compensate, this could push you to less expensive destinations you might not otherwise consider. There may be great deals on tours and cruises as companies try to fill the last available spots. Again, the destination selection may be not be your first choice but one of them could turn out to be that surprising trip of a lifetime.

So, how do you make spontaneous travel happen?

With the right attitude and the right tools.

9 Tips for Booking a Spontaneous Trip

On a spontaneous trip you need to take care of the basics of travel planning: transportation and accommodation. With that figured out, you'll be good to go, unless you are going out of country. Traveling abroad, you will need a few more things like travel insurance, visas, and a phone plan that will work for you.

1. Start your road trip at a moment's notice.

A road trip is so easy. Pack a bag, hop in the car and go in any direction you want. It could be to visit a friend in another city or to a destination that is just for you. As long as there is accommodation and a grocery store on route, you'll have what you need.

2. Use the “everywhere” search for affordable last-minute flights.

Skyscanner has a cool feature where you can search for a flight based on dates but without specifying a destination. It will then present flight options based on the least expensive by country. Dig into the countries of your choice and book an affordable flight.

3. Use Rome2Rio to plan a multi-destination trip.

Rome2Rio is my favorite site for planning to get from one place to another. It works just about anywhere in the world. Put in your starting point and where you want to go to and it will let you know your travel options as well as approximately how long each option will take and what it will cost. I use it for big picture planning but also for figuring out small details like how to get from the airport to my hotel.

4. Book your first three nights before leaving.

A last-minute trip won't be as well planned as one that you've spent a long time researching. You will likely do a lot of planning while you are there. It is, therefore, important to land and stay put for a bit while you get oriented and make a plan that is realistic for your time, budget, and interests. I book using Booking.com .

5. Be aware of your booking commitments.

The cancellation policies for accommodation and transportation are important for the spontaneous traveler. Know what your commitment is when you book.

6. Stay central.

For the same reason as above–the fact that you have not researched this trip extensively–plan to stay in a central location so that you can easily enjoy your first few days of travel while you are also planning the rest of your trip. You'll also have better access to public transport, giving you more opportunities to explore in more directions.

7. Resist overpacking.

When you're heading out at the last minute it's easy to overpack. You look at your clothes and think that you may need this or that and end up overstuffing your suitcase. Resist this, especially if you've booked a budget airline which will ding you at the airport for your luggage being overweight. Our packing list will help you stay on track.

8. Don't forget travel insurance.

I don't travel without insurance but it's easy to forget as you get organized for a spontaneous trip. Here's our guide to buying travel insurance . If you're American, go right to travelinsurance.com , a comparison site that will help you book quickly.

9. Get your phone ready for travel.

If you're a little reckless with your phone when traveling out of the country you can end up with a very large bill. I have an account with UBIGI . Once it's set up on your phone, you can quickly and simply buy data for just about any destination. Read more about how to use your phone when traveling here .

How to Find a Last-Minute Tour or Cruise

1. sign up for emails from your favorite tour and cruise companies..

All tour and cruise companies have a mailing list for future deals. If you have favorite travel companies, sign up for their newsletter so that you know when there's a deal. You can be spontaneous on your schedule but it can also be on the schedule of a special deal.

2. Look for the Special Offers links.

The larger tour and cruise companies will have a menu link to their special offers which often point to last-minute trips. Sometimes it's a great deal. If there are no options for solo travelers, you may want to call the company directly if the trip departs within a week or two. They may be willing to negotiate on the single supplement of a double room in order to have some revenue on the spot.

3. Look for the search function by date.

Not all companies have a special offer section on their site but some will let you search based on dates as well as destination. Active Adventures has this feature. Click here and drag down to choose the year and month.

4. Book a cruise with an Online Travel Agent – OTA

Cruises can be incredibly cheap at the last minute. Go to a site like Expedia, choose cruises in the top menu, enter your dates, and see what pops up. The deals can be shockingly cheap.

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12 Ways to Be More Spontaneous When You Travel

Ed Hewitt started traveling with his family at the age of 10 and has since visited dozens of countries on six continents. He wrote for IndependentTraveler.com for more than 20 years, producing hundreds of columns on travel and offering his expertise on radio and television. He is now a regular contributor to SmarterTravel.

An avid surfer and rower, Ed has written about and photographed rowing competitions around the world, including the last five Olympic Games.

He's passing his love of travel on to the next generation; his 10-year-old son has flown some 200,000 miles already.

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Considering how precious vacation days are and how expensive travel can be, the urge to plan things out so you get the most from your travel time and dollar is almost irresistible. And it’s never been easier, considering the thousands of websites, apps and guidebooks full of travel information on just about every possible destination.

But something is lost when you can anticipate — nay, almost script — nearly every component of the travel experience. Not so long ago, the vagaries of travel were considered a normal and even welcome part of the experience; with daily life being so predictable, a good antidote was a wildly unpredictable trip to a faraway place.

To recover some of that wildness, many travelers are pulling back from “overplanning” and trying to craft a slightly more spontaneous trip — easier said than done for folks who are planners by nature. If you’re not sure where to start, I’d suggest thinking of spontaneous travel not so much as letting things happen to you, but more like “planning on the fly.” Have a general idea of what you want to do and see, plan out those things that you feel you just can’t leave to chance, and then improvise from there.

Below are 12 tips for having a more spontaneous trip.

1. Choose lodging in a central location, then wing it.

If 80 percent of life is just showing up, then the most important things you need to plan are how to get where you want to be and a place to stay once you get there. If you choose a central location that has ready access to attractions and public transit, you are 80 percent of the way to a successful trip, even if you plan almost nothing else. With at least a few of the things you know you want to do nearby, once you tick those off you can wing it almost completely without feeling like you missed something important.

2. Get a hotel room you can cancel, or book for a shorter term.

As I talked to folks about their most memorable spontaneous travel stories, a fair number involved scrapping a careful plan almost entirely, usually in favor of something impromptu. Of course, you’re less likely to change your plans if you’ve already dropped a couple hundred nonrefundable bucks on a hotel room. If possible, don’t keep yourself tethered to one spot for your whole trip. Unless it is peak season, most hotels can extend your reservation while you are still there — so book a shorter stay, and then if you decide not to move on, extend it. Booking a nonrefundable hotel for your first and last nights is less risky, since your flights are unlikely to change, but leave yourself a little more flexibility in between.

3. Plan only one major attraction per day.

Turning your travels into a forced march from one attraction to the next can be grueling. It’s a vacation, not a whistlestop political campaign. If there are some things you absolutely must see, assign a time to get that done (early in the morning often works best), and let serendipity rule the rest of the day.

4. “Plan” an unplanned day.

It’s hard to resist assigning at least one activity to every day, and then to start ticking them off once you arrive. We visited Berlin last week, and I admit that my thinking went a little bit like this: “Berlin … the Wall, Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag, the East Side Gallery, LEGOLAND for a kids’ outing, Potsdamer Platz … one or two per day, done.” As it went, we didn’t have the sightseeing stamina to go into the Reichstag, and instead ended up playing a game of tag on the giant lawn out front — which continued through the Tiergarten, past a very cool rock art exhibit.

Which part of the visit sticks with us the most now that a few days have passed? The Berlin Wall has few equals as a historical attraction with staying power — but the game of tag in the Tiergarten is up there.

Leave at least one entire day open, even if you have to crowd another day with a couple of activities. This way you can either fill the day or be content to wander around and find your own rock art adventure.

5. Plan after you arrive.

No matter how much planning you do, it is almost inevitable that the facts on the ground once you arrive will be different from what you expected. Distances are shorter or farther than you thought, you see stuff on the cab ride into town that seems interesting, or you overhear chatter about local attractions that aren’t in your guidebook. Leave yourself the option of figuring things out once you see how things really are.

6. The things you do plan, go full bore.

For those things for which you do feel the need to have a solid plan, use all the tricks at your disposal to make them happen smoothly and as intended. Knowing the operating hours, taking the best route to and from, and having advance tickets to avoid lines will help you free up more time for spontaneous activities.

7. Don’t over-rely on review sites.

Thanks to capacious and information-packed review sites, travelers can make far better choices about almost every part of the travel experience. But if the review sites lead to fewer unpleasant surprises, they also present the risk of fewer pleasant surprises, which are of course an important part of exploring the world as a traveler.

The days of walking into a restaurant with no idea of what might show up at your table are mostly history, but you can reintroduce the element of surprise by not making every meal choice based on a Yelp review. This isn’t the best approach for everything — review sites can help you avoid hokey attractions or awful meals — but if the menu looks appealing and the place is bustling, why not skip the star rating and try your luck?

8. Use apps to help you be spontaneous.

A smartphone can be the ultimate way to plan on the fly. The simplest and often most useful function on your phone is the “near me” or “explore nearby” options on your mapping app; you can type almost anything into the search field — museum, restaurant, grocery store, coffee — and receive a decent suggestion.

Location-based apps like Foursquare can also offer superb results, with the added benefit of frequent use by locals. I checked results on Foursquare in a few cities that I know very well, and the suggestions were pretty good — all places I would recommend to a friend who was visiting the area, plus some others I didn’t know about and will have to check out myself.

9. Check local weeklies.

While many daily newspapers are in trouble, locally owned (usually weekly) community newspapers are thriving. They’re packed with listings for activities, festivals, concerts, classes and more. Many big cities have alternative/entertainment weeklies, while smaller communities may have more news-based publications — but all of them are geared toward getting information out to the locals, and to travelers who are clever enough to have a look.

10. Ask a local.

Few tactics rival learning about nearby attractions from a bona fide local. You can find them everywhere — the hotel front desk, restaurants, bars, grocery stores — anywhere you come into contact with folks who are working, shopping for mundane items and going about daily life.

11. Stay at B&Bs or homestays instead of hotels.

Staying at a B&B may offer the ultimate in “ask a local” opportunities; the folks running the house usually live on the premises and understand that helping their lodgers get the most from their stay is part of the reason to choose a B&B over a hotel. To be sure, I have run into a few curmudgeonly B&B hosts over the years, but these places tend not to get the best reviews. You’ll definitely want to use the review sites when picking a B&B, paying particular attention to how helpful and available the proprietor tends to be.

12. Do “normal” stuff and chase your own interests.

Getting off the tourist circuit can offer up plenty of opportunities for unexpected encounters and experiences. Going to a swimming pool or library or taking a yoga class, for example, can put you into contact with people who might get you off the rutted tourist roads and into the places and even homes of the locals, and then you never know what might happen.

Pursuing your own passions can often be the best way to open yourself up to these kinds of experiences. For example, when wearing a rowing shirt while traveling in Hawaii, I was approached by a local who owned a two-person ocean rowing scull who could rarely find another rower to go out with him. He asked me to join him, and we rowed out into the ocean and around a small island, where swells wrapped around the back of the island to meet in an explosion in the middle. We caught one of the waves, blitzed along at full speed and maneuvered at the last second to avoid the exploding waves as they met. Talk about an unplanned adventure.

Have any tips to help inveterate planners loosen up a little? Add them in the comments!

You May Also Like From Spontaneous to Safe: Does Travel Change as You Age? 10 Ways to Plan for a Better Trip 9 Creative Ways to Save for a Vacation How to Be a Less Annoying Travel Companion

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How to Travel Spontaneously: Breaking Out of Your Routine

Aug 25, 2022 | Travel Tips | 0 comments

We all love to travel and see new places, but often we get stuck in the same routine. We plan our trip for months and follow the same itinerary each time. While there’s nothing wrong with having a plan, breaking out and being wild and free occasionally is essential.

Spontaneous trips make us feel alive, with our hearts beating with enthusiasm, and it’s a great way to create lasting memories. In everyday life, we are generally stuck in the space of following routines in a 9-5 job, so why follow the same rules on vacation?

So pack your bags and get ready to explore the world! If you’re looking for spontaneous travel tips, you’ve come to the right place! This blog post will discuss some of the best ways to do that.

Are you planning a spontaneous getaway? Find a hotel at Booking.com!

How to Travel Spontaneously and Break out of Your Routine

The best spontaneous trips happen on a whim; it’s the whole point. There’s no point in fearing going outside your comfort zone because that’s when the best memories are made. How do you make the most of your travel and break your routine? 

Say yes to new experiences. 

This is the number one rule for spontaneity. If you’re presented with an opportunity, say yes! You never know where it might take you. You don’t need to say yes to bungee jumping or sky diving; it’s not about going to extremes but more about opening your mind to new experiences.

You can say yes to unfamiliar local cuisine that is odd for you but normal for the locals. Of course, you should visit South Korea and try Kimchi. How else would you know whether you love it or hate it?

You can say yes to that new activity you’ve wanted to try. How do you know you won’t like it if you don’t give it a go?

The possibilities are endless, and by saying yes to new experiences, your life will be enriched in ways you never thought possible.

Don’t be afraid to go solo.

Sometimes the best experiences are had when we venture out on our own. Travelling solo is an excellent opportunity to explore a new place without distractions. When we travel with others, we often do things to please them and don’t get to do what we want.

When you’re on your own, you can move at your own pace and make decisions without consulting anyone else. This is your trip, so make it count!

Of course, solo travel isn’t for everyone, but it’s worth considering if you’re looking for a spontaneous trip.

Be open to meeting new people.

Opening up to new people is a great way to leave your comfort zone while travelling. Talk to the person on the plane or someone in line at the coffee shop. You never know who you might meet.

Like myself, you may be an introvert, but being open to meeting new people can enhance your travel experience. I’ve met some amazing people while travelling, and I would have missed out on those experiences if I hadn’t been open to it.

If you visit an unfamiliar country, there is no better place to earn about cultures than opening yourself up to the locals; you’ll learn much more when talking to people.

Open up and meet the locals of the country you visit; you never know what you’ll learn.

Visit a country that is a little unfamiliar.

If you’re from Australia, the popular destinations away from the country are Bali, Fiji or Thailand. There’s nothing wrong with that; those beautiful countries are famous for tourists for the right reasons.

How about breaking this routine? Why not try somewhere less familiar , like Sri Lanka, Laos or Cambodia? By doing this, you’ll experience something new and unique, which will be a great story to tell when you return home.

I’ve had some of the best experiences visiting countries like Laos, Nepal and South Korea. I would never have had those experiences if I hadn’t stepped out of my comfort zone, and sure, you can have the same travel experiences.

Related Content: Method of Travel – Find Your Ideal Travelling Style Now

Break your usual routine.

What are your usual routines while travelling? Is it booking accommodation at a luxury resort and barely leaving the resort’s fine amenities? That’s not travelling; that’s pampering and paying good money for the privilege.

How about breaking that routine and getting to know the place you are visiting?

Here are some ideas:

– Check out the local markets for some bargaining and people watching

– Get a map of the area and explore all the nooks and crannies

– Talk to the locals and get some insider tips on the best places to go

– Visit some of the less touristy areas to get a taste of the real country

Breaking your routine will give you a much richer and more authentic travel experience. So go out there and explore!

Plan less for your trip; I dare you.

In some aspects, of course, you need to plan your trip; you don’t want to miss the best tourist attractions in the destination you visit. However, don’t forget to leave some time in your itinerary for spontaneity.

If you’re used to planning everything in your life, it can be challenging to break that habit, but try! It will make your trip more enjoyable, I promise.

Doing something different on vacation is a great way to refresh and recharge. After all, we all need a break from our routines occasionally. So explore the world, and don’t be afraid to do things differently! How else would you make spontaneous memories?

These are just a few tips on travelling spontaneously and breaking the usual routine. The most important thing is to let go, be open-minded, and have fun! Breaking out of your comfort zone can be daunting, but it’s worth it.

So what are you waiting for when seeking spontaneity? Start planning your next spontaneous trip today!

Have you ever travelled spontaneously? What was your experience like? Let us know in the comments below!

Go on; I dare you; break out of your usual routine.

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Traveller | Australia | Asia A Fair Dinkum Aussie travels Australia and into Asia. #travel

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How to Go About a Spontaneous Travel

We all have that moment when we wake up one morning and have that sudden urge to go on a trip. You have that certain place in mind but you haven’t prepared anything. I’ve been there too many times and I can say, an unplanned trip and spontaneous travel is the best.

So before you panic and say that your trip will be a disaster, here are 5 easy tips to remember for a successful trip!

Table of Contents

1. Don’t Rush

Packing in a hurry is always a problem for rushed moments like a hurried trip. You pick whichever and sometimes get the ones you don’t need for the trip just because it’s an arm away, kind of like a young lady who gets her allowance and sees a 90% off at a clothes store then goes on a shopping spree.

It’s not wrong, and people would not judge you if you sit down, make a list and go about it thoroughly.

READ :  Masasa Beach: Camping in Paradise

2. Be Organized

Don’t pack stuff like dirty laundry! Every now and then, my boyfriend and I go on trips like these and needless to say being the klutz that he is, packs things in a hurry. Having your duck – printed briefs fall off your bag when you are reaching for your wallet for a fare on a jam-packed jeep is not a good experience that I tell you.

Investing time in organizing the things you need saves more time in the long run. Knowing where the things you need are is better than going on a treasure hunt tossing your things around whenever you need something.

Being organized also means that you’re fully prepared for the trip that awaits you. You can click here and find some useful travel guides for your destination and get a better understanding of the place you’re visiting. For example, if you’re visiting a popular tourist destination like Japan, it would be best to know the culture and locals’ customs beforehand.

3. Get Directions

A simple browse on google maps, reading up on a few blogs and making a sound plan on what kind of transportation you’re going to use and when to drop off is a serious matter you should not overlook.

I may be a proud supporter of not planning at all but having a sound plan on where you’re going and how to get there ensures that you get the actual getaway rather than a ride on buses going nowhere.

4. Keep Calm

Having expectations and setting the bar high might affect your decision making when problems arise. So when things don’t go your way, the place you wanted to go is closed, you forgot something and it turned into a stress-inducing moment, sit down and clear your mind. Think of a plan B and execute it with a smile.

5. Make it about you

Pleasing people that aren’t even there, making sure you put something worthy of envy on Facebook or Instagram, isn’t the right way to go on a trip. You don’t wake up early in the morning and gasp I need to show off!  It’s supposed to be I need a vacation . So make it about you.

Disregard the itineraries, forget that time exists and let the sky tell you when to rest. Eat that delicious burger. Do what you want when you can. Don’t restrain yourself, and just make it a vacation for you, by you.

Remember, the best moments are the unplanned ones that just happen but make your day perfect.

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The planning perfectionist’s guide to improvising a trip

Planners of the world, we understand. Travel can be tricky, so why leave anything to chance when you can create a spreadsheet, checklist, color-coded itinerary that will cover your entire journey? Why open the door to chaos and confusion? Because while improvising things does invite some risk, there are also huge rewards. Taking that spontaneous road trip, ducking down that random roundabout, joining that stranger for a pint, or eating that dish you can barely pronounce—these are all the things that give a trip its magic. These are the stories you tell your friends after. We asked two travel coaches for their best tips for clinging less to your best-laid plans and embracing a bit of the unknown. ​​If you’re ready to let go a little to get on an uncharted path, read on.

Tip one: Practice spontaneity at home first

If you came out of the womb building detailed spreadsheets for every occasion, you won’t throw your plans to the wind just because you’re on vacation. That’s too big of a first step. Instead, travel and work-abroad coach Geneva Lutomski recommends practice runs loosening up while at home. Try the first coffee shop you pass in a nearby town, wander to a walkable area and eat at the restaurant that smells the best, or pick a direction on the highway and take the exit based on a number you’ve drawn out of a hat.

“Try it in smaller doses in the days leading up to the trip,” she says. “Practicing flexibility in your day-to-day is something that I think makes a big difference.”

Tip two: Follow your senses

User reviews are invaluable, but when it comes to spontaneity, it can be nice to go a little more primal. “Consider making decisions based on sites, sounds, and smells, as opposed to a Google search,” says Lutomski. What smells delicious? That’s what’s for lunch. Where is that music coming from? Use your ears to get closer. What’s that tall spire in the distance? Go find out!

This trick is also useful on planned destinations. Travel and life coach David Alport , who is a self-described Type-A traveler, tells his clients to go back to their senses when things aren’t going to plan. It’s so effective that he uses it on his own trips. “I stop myself and say: ‘What am I seeing, hearing, smelling around me?’ Check-in with the senses and decide if you want to go back into planning mode or be where you are in the moment.”

Tip three: Create a game for yourself

No, we’re not talking board games. Lutomski likes to set little challenges for herself to get out of her comfort zone. Her favorite place to start? A scavenger hunt or a photo challenge. With a scavenger hunt, give yourself a list of things you want to see on your trip, like “a cave” or “a native plant” or “a sign that says ‘World’s Best!’ on it.” Then go hunting for these things while you travel—they’re great for road trips—letting the search lead you where it may.

For a photo challenge, you might have only one item on your list that you seek out again and again. When Lutomski backpacked Europe, her item was simple and common. “There were these beautiful doorways, and they all looked different,” she says. Looking for that singular item helps you focus on your surroundings instead of having it wash over you in a blur. And post-trip, your set of photos can become the ultimate keepsake.

Tip four: Talk to strangers

While Alport admits this is easier for extroverts, he stands by the idea that talking to strangers is a key component of opening things to chance.

“It introduces the possibility of serendipity,” he says. These passing conversations can lead to little gems, say, insider tips from a local or an extra seat on a tour that was booked out months ago. Tidbits like this are often the most memorable part of any trip.

Of course, keep your wits about you and be mindful of safety measures. But beyond gathering travel recommendations, you just might make a new friend.

Tip five: Prepare instead of plan

Does this sound familiar? You got an Instagram feed’s worth of photos at the most iconic spots in a destination, but you feel as if the whole trip could have happened to… anyone. There wasn’t that special magic of knowing you were making memories, that deeper connection to a place that makes it more than a checklist of landmarks.

“Strict itineraries often create predetermined outcomes. They do not take into account environment, intuition, or the spirit of exploration,” says Lutomski.

Instead, use your planning energy to prepare for possibilities instead of plans. For example, rather than scheduling three activities into your Tuesday and booking tickets, give yourself a list of five or six possibilities. When the day comes, pick what feels good—or maybe throw out your options altogether and tag along with a new friend to the beach.

Too freeform? You can pare down this approach by building in a half-day of “free time” where you can go with the flow.

Tip six: Allow for a little planning

Okay, yes, we’re advocating for the planners among us to embrace improvisation. But winging it completely can torpedo a trip, too. Lutomski recommends having at least your first few nights’ lodging nailed down. Having a solid launchpad means you can settle in, get the lay of the land, and determine your next move.

Beyond that, the only other thing you must plan is the top attraction that will make the trip worthwhile for you. Do you dream of hiking Machu Picchu? You’re not going to want to show up to Peru with a backpack and the hope that the timing works out. Do what you’re good at: Book the tour, and let your spontaneous plans orbit around that raison d’être. In other words, put up the framework for a good trip, and leave room for the rest.

How To Embrace Spontaneous Travel

There’s a secret in the travel world that not many people talk about…a way to take fantastic trips and experience the world with minimal preparation. No expertise or fancy itinerary needed. I’m talking about spontaneous travel, an alternative to the tedious task of planning a trip. Keep reading to learn more about how to plan your trip . I’m sharing 5 benefits of spontaneous travel, tips on how to use this approach, and how to not lose your mind in the process.

Raise your hand if you:

consider yourself a list maker …

feel lost without your daily planner …

love to make plans and be organized…

drive your friends and family nuts by planning way in advance?

Hey, no shame. I’m right there with you. I wish I could say I’m “go with the flow” kind of person, but I’m not. I’m a planner through and through, queen of the spreadsheets !

I’ve applied this mentality throughout my life. As a kid I was always trying to plan step-by-step the path my life would take, always making lists and making plans. But really? Those plans ended up changing almost 100% of the time. So it does make you stop and wonder, why am I exerting all this effort? My life, with it’s twists and turns, is a good one.

“Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans” Allen Saunders

Now don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy planning. And if you do too, there’s nothing wrong with that. Having a plan, a course of action to follow, can be very helpful. It gets you focused, keeps you organized…

But what if there’s another way?

The Beauty Of An Unplanned Trip

Some people truly enjoy the process of planning a trip. Researching destinations, finding things to do, booking everything – it can be fun! It gets you excited for your trip.

But for others, it can feel stressful, overwhelming, (or just plain time-consuming). Planning a trip is not an easy task, there’s lots of work and coordination involved.

No matter which perspective you most relate to, the idea of spontaneous travel is one worth learning about. Keep an open mind! In this post, we’ll explore:

• what is spontaneous travel
• which is better, an unplanned trip or a planned one?
• how it feels to travel without plans
• why unplanned trips are great
• how to take a spontaneous trip

What Is Spontaneous Travel

So what exactly is spontaneous travel? There are several different ways to look at it. Some people refer to spontaneous travel as taking a last-minute trip , something you don’t plan months in advance.

Others consider spontaneous travel to be a trip booked with no specific destination in mind , where you simply buy a plane ticket to somewhere cheap. There’s even a way to take a surprise vacation , which is a pretty cool concept too.

Those are all great options as a means to travel more spontaneously. There’s a whole spectrum of ways to implement this concept , and you can adjust it to meet your needs. The nature of spontaneous travel (and the amazing thing about it) is that it’s flexible!

So don’t worry that you have to completely go off-the-grid or take extreme measures to add some spontaneity to your travel plans. It’s just a new way of looking at travel planning that’s simpler and easier. Here’s how I define it:

Minimalists Rejoice!

As much as I love planning and having all the details lined up, sometimes simpler is better.

For this post, we’ll look at spontaneous travel through a slightly different lens: you can think of it as travel with minimal planning .

Life gets so busy, so crowded with things, places to go, things to do… it’s a relief to have something be minimal.

But minimal doesn’t have to be any less enjoyable or fulfilling. What I mean by “minimal planning” is this: there will be some research ahead of time, but not every detail of the trip will be planned out. There’s wiggle room, and freedom to change your mind.

Which Is Better, An Unplanned Trip Or A Planned One?

So here’s the million-dollar question: to plan, or not to plan?

Put simply, there are benefits to both. It’s not a matter of which is better , it’s about deciding which is best for you . I’ve taken some great unplanned trips (I’m actually on one right now!) and I’ve taken some that were fully planned out.

To help you decide, let’s compare an unplanned trip to a planned trip and how they’re different:

An Unplanned Trip

• it’s exciting!
• you spend less time and effort spent planning
• you have the freedom to change plans as you go (because everything isn’t already reserved and scheduled)
• you can take advantage of last-minute travel deals
• it’s a more relaxed approach to travel
• it can feel nerve-wracking if you’re used to planning
• you haven’t planned ahead, so there’s more uncertainty in general
• you won’t have reservations made ahead of time, so some things may be sold out or unavailable
• prices may be higher (in some cases) because you’re booking last minute

A Planned Trip

• you know the ins and outs of your destination and what to expect
• it feels organized and there’s a sense of control
• you can maximize your time, because you won’t be scrambling for information in the moment
• you can take advantage of things that require advance booking or reservations
• it takes significant time and energy to plan
• you’re on a timeline and have less flexibility to change your plans
• there are more trip details to keep track of, which can distract you and keep you from enjoying the moment
• the timing you thought would be perfect may not work out, throwing a wrench in your plans and causing frustration

Remember, you don’t have to choose one or the other – it’s possible to come up with your own custom blend and combine aspects of each one . It’s kind of like when you go for fro-yo and can’t decide between your two favorite flavors (for me that’s coconut and caramel). So what do you do? You mix them of course!

An example of this would be the trip I’m on right now. My husband and I decided to road trip across the U.S. to visit family. I wanted to plan every detail, but he wanted to be more spontaneous . We compromised by planning a few details ahead of time and leaving other aspects of the trip unplanned to allow for flexibility.

We planned ahead on: travel dates, destination, and scheduled a few things once we’ve arrived. We didn’t plan: our hotel stays, which cities we would stop in.

How It Feels To Travel Without Plans

I have mixed feelings about traveling without a plan . Part of me likes the excitement and the sense of the unknown. It’s definitely a more carefree way to travel. I’ve noticed that I’m worrying less about the details and I’m able to relax and enjoy the journey. All good things!

On the other hand, my nature is to be more organized and thoughtful. So it feels a little unsettling to not know where we’ll spend the next night. There’s a tiny bit of discomfort that comes along with being spontaneous.

I’m sure everyone will have a different perspective on this . Some people will love the excitement and anticipation while others will prefer the comfort of planning ahead.

If you tend to overthink things (like me), or if you’ve never taken an unplanned trip, I would encourage you to give it a try! You might just be surprised how much you like it. There’s a freedom in it that feels amazing.

Why Unplanned Trips Are Great

I used to think planning a trip ahead of time meant everything would go smoothly. But it just doesn’t work that way! There’s no magic formula (planned or unplanned) that will insulate you from travel mishaps. That’s just life, and the uncertainty is part of traveling.

Have you read my post about international travel mistakes ? It gives a few different examples of what went wrong on a trip to Italy, and what I would do differently the next time around.

My opinion is that you need a nice balance between planned and unplanned . For me, it’s too risky to go completely unplanned, because some things simply require it. You wouldn’t want to show up in another country only to be turned away because you don’t have the required documentation.

But planning every. single. detail. can be exhausting and distract you from truly enjoying your trip. It’s nice to leave some things up to chance and allow flexibility and spontaneity. Otherwise, how would you ever stumble onto the hidden gems and surprises along the way?

Unplanned trips are great because life isn’t meant to be dictated by a schedule. Where’s the fun in that? Here’s how to tap into your spontaneous side…

How To Take A Spontaneous Trip

Are you ready to take a spontaneous trip? Here are a few ways you can start today:

• Be intentional (and resist the urge!) to plan every single detail
• Share your vision – tell someone else about it to help keep you accountable
• Spend some time reading about your destination so you feel kinda sorta prepared (but don’t actually book or schedule anything)
• Decide for yourself what level of spontaneity you want: Will you only book flights? Or book flights and accomodations? The choice is up to you

Finally, Remember This

JUST GO FOR IT! Embracing uncertainty isn’t always easy, but I promise you it gets better with each step you take. Are you with me on this? One of my goals this year is to embrace spontaneous travel and just go with the flow . I’d love you to join me! Comment below and let me know if you’ve ever taken a spontaneous trip of any kind.

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5 Steps for Planning the Unplanned Trip

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“I t is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” ―Ernest Hemingway

We’ve all heard it, the famous quote splattered across the internet on travel blogs and inspirational imagery. It instills a sense of freedom, exploration, and bliss; of losing oneself in the moment. I heard it, I felt it, and five months ago, with these words ringing in my head, I stepped out into the world without a plan, ready for adventure.

Sure, I had an end to journey toward , but it was the journey I was seeking—and I decided that no plan was the best plan. My dad was a pilot and agenda is his middle name. Growing up, my family trips were a blur of checking things off “the list” and the frantic flurry of jolted experiences left me exhausted and depleted by travel. A 5-month unplanned trip seemed to be the perfect anecdote to an over-planned past. My first step was a one-way ticket to Bangkok. Five months ago, that ticket was all I had. Now, after journeying throughout Thailand, The Philippines, Bali, California, and Mexico, I know that the unplanned definitely needs to be planned.

What I experienced along the way were golden moments paired with missed opportunities. I had taken Hemingway’s words to heart but overshot the meaning. While I wasn’t bogged down by a stressful itinerary, trying to fit it all in, I hadn’t done my homework and wasn’t aware of the unique and diverse offerings the regions I passed through had to offer. I didn’t know about local traditions or festivities, the accessibility of neighboring countries, or the main attractions and dishes that I should seek out—I was missing the things that made these places destinations in the first place.

So, how do you do it? How do you take a trip (of any length) without tying yourself to an itinerary so thick that you lose sight of where you are? The truth is, an unplanned trip—a trip that is flexible and fluid, leaving space for spontaneity and genuine interaction—takes some planning.

1. Do Your Research

Where are you going? Read about it. Wikitravel is a great place to start and will help you build a foundational knowledge of the most basic and important travel information. Continue your research with area-specific travel guides and blogs that provide a local’s insight. The tips and tricks you learn before you go may very well be game changers on the ground.

2. Pack Light

Don’t lose out because of “stuff.” The best decision I made for my trip was to leave home with a single backpack, half full. Sounds crazy and intimidating doesn’t it? But the simplicity and light weight allowed for ultimate travel ease. Planes, trains, buses, bed to bed—I was quick to my feet and not weighed down by excess material.

How often do you go on a trip and arrive home with clean clothes still folded in the corners of your suitcase? A half-full backpack also allows room for must-haves along the way—those things that go beyond your standard souvenir, that will be adorning your walls and floors as you grow old.

3. Don’t Book Accommodations for Your Whole Stay

Staying in one place can prove to be rather limiting. Choose a destination for arrival and book for only a night or two, then use that time to get a feel for where you are. If you like it, stay. Or if you find there is a different part of town you prefer, find a place there for a night or two. And then the next, and the next. When you find a place worth staying longer, you’ll know.

4. Make Friends with Locals

Baristas, bartenders, waitstaff, store owners, cab drivers—engage! The more open you are to the people and experience, the more open they are likely to be with you. When you start with a smile and a question, you will find that conversation easily follows.

5. Ask a Lot of Questions

Don’t be shy. As a traveler in a new destination, there is no limit to the amount of questions you can ask in one day. Where am I? Where is this? Who are you? Where are you? Ask locals what they prefer. What do you think? Where do you hang out? Where would you stay? Where do you eat? What do you eat? The answers you receive will be better than any guide book could possibly curate.

Nicole Lindstrom , along with Sasha Juliard , are the modern globetrotters behind GLDMNE .

>>Next: The Packing Hack That Will Solve All Your Suitcase Woes

It’s a romantic and wildly adventurous way to travel; to rock up in a new city with no script, and wing it after you arrive. To have the freedom to wander where and when you please, get a late cruise deal , or stay longer in a place that truly intrigues you.

There’s something dangerously thrilling about traveling without a fixed itinerary, and I’ve always fantasized about what it would be like. I envy spontaneous travelers, though OCD means that not having a solid travel plan makes me break out in hives!

But I’ve vowed to build more spontaneity into our trips for 2018, and pull back from over planning. So if you too are looking to recover some wildness in your trips, the following tips are how to successfully manage travel without a script.

How to Be a Spontaneous Traveler

You can hover over these (or any image) to quickly pin it.

Save for Travel Even When You’re Not Planning It

You can’t very well wake up and decide to jump on a flight to Paris if you don’t have the funds to pull it off. So save for travel even when you’re not planning it.

Cut out luxury purchases, make do with your current wardrobe, quit smoking, cut down on coffee, share the car, ride to work, cook your own meals. I might sound like captain buzz kill, but if I hear about a last minute cruise to Bali, I want to have enough money to go.

Sort Out Cheap Portable WiFi

A smartphone can be the ultimate way to plan on the fly, so sorting out a cheap WiFi solution should be your top priority. That connection means access to information, money, and methods of communication when you find yourself in a foreign land.

TEP Wireless offers a very convenient device; a  pocket-sized personal WiFi hotspot,   to keep you connected to high speed internet across 100 different countries. (High speed,  secure  internet).

Their  portable wifi for traveling  is the best way to enjoy unlimited internet (on up to five devices at a time) seamlessly between countries,  without having to rely on local SIM cards or unsecure public hotspots.   Plans start at $6.95 a day.

Click here to read more about portable WiFi.

Download the Free Skyscanner App for Last Minute Flights

Regardless of whether you’re spontaneous, every traveler should have the free Skyscanner app on their phone. It’s an all-in-one travel app which lets you search, compare and book the cheapest hotels, car rentals, and flights, and because it’s on your phone, you can book everything at once while you’re on the go.

Features of the travel app include receiving price alerts of daily cheap deals, and for the truly spontaneous, if you enter “everywhere” instead of a specific destination, it will pull up cheap flight prices to different destinations around the world from your closest airport.

The app offers the same services as their website—just more handy, convenient and fast. It’s simple and easy to use, and has been downloaded over 40 million times.

For Carryon Travelers: Cabin Zero Backpack

For those heading on a spontaneous trip and planning on throwing together a quick carryon,  Cabin Zero is a fantastic cabin backpack brand. They have a wide range of cabin sized bags for the light packer, the short adventure, or the weekend trip, and for being cabin size, their designs offer a lot of space.

Choose from a variety of different colors; each bag in their range includes a built in global tracker (powered by Okoban), YKK lockable zippers, thick padded shoulder straps, 44L capacity, are super lightweight, and made with strong durable materials.

Price: From $64 .

Get a Hotel Room You Can Cancel

You’re less likely to change your plans on a whim if you’ve already dropped a couple hundred non refundable dollars on a hotel. So if you want the flexibility to make spontaneous decisions, make sure you’ve booked a hotel room you can cancel (Skyscanner app has revamped hotel listings so you can easily see hotel information at a glance).

Unless it’s peak season, most hotels can extend your stay while you’re still there, so book a shorter stay, and extend if you need to. Nonrefundable bookings will usually offer a cheaper price, but they do tether you down to one location.

Talk to Strangers

Forget what your mother told you about talking to strangers – chatting with locals is a great way to meet amazing people who can teach you about their country and it’s culture.

Locals can tell you about the parts of a destination that the guide books don’t, and the best part is you can find them everywhere! They’re at the hotel front desk, restaurants, bars, grocery stores — anywhere you come into contact with folks who are working, shopping for mundane items and going about daily life, strike up a conversation with them!

It’s also a great idea to pick up a community newspaper for inspiration on things to do. They usually have listings for activities, festivals, concerts, classes and more.

Remember That You Don’t Need to Go Far

Far too many people operate under the mistaken belief that travel doesn’t count unless you’ve packed a 20 kg bag and jumped on a long haul flight. On the contrary, you can capture the same feeling discovering something new without having to go too far.

It’s highly likely there’s at least one street you’ve never walked, a town you haven’t explored, or a trail you haven’t hiked nearby, and it’s equally as spontaneous to jump in the car instead of jumping on a flight! Become a tourist in your own state and check out a place you’ve been missing.

Planning is Not the Enemy

Being spontaneous “doesn’t mean you have to end long-term thinking or planning. Ideally, you should be able to create a plan, execute it, and then deviate from it   whenever you wish.”

Remember that planning is not the enemy, and you can still have a general idea of what you want to see and do. Planning for a comfortable travel will also help ease the journey ahead.

Even if you’re not someone who plans anything in advance, it’s a good idea to check the visa, international driving permit and passport validity requirements for every country you think you might visit to make sure your travel documents are in compliance.

INSPIRED?! PIN THIS TO YOUR TRAVEL PINTEREST BOARDS ↓

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Megan is an Australian Journalist and award-winning travel writer who has been blogging since 2007. Her husband Mike is the American naturalist and wildlife photographer behind  Waking Up Wild ; a website dedicated to opening your eyes to the wild & natural world.

Committed to bringing you the best in adventure travel from all around the globe, there is no mountain too high, and no fete too extreme! They haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on their list.

Follow their journey on Facebook , Twitter ,  YouTube , Pinterest and Instagram .

Photo credit:   Holi festival photo (Pinterest) by  Steven Gerner .

42 Comments

I’m so NOT a spontaneous traveler. I make excels..and plan every single day. I’ve gotten better about just planning one activity a day and saying we’ll see what happens, but still a planner. I recently did a trip where we totally let go, my boyfriend picked a country, did not plan anything and just asked when we got there + hitchhiked. It was so refreshing and I was surprised how much I loved it.

So glad to hear that you had a great time on your spontaneous trip even though you’re normally a planner Karen :)

We don’t have to take spontaneous trips every single time, and I genuinely believe that planning is never the enemy lol … but as you said, you can plan out the overall structure of a trip, but leave room for spontaneity in each day. Or totally let go if you want a big change!

Great tips! I want to me more like this. Going to try next year:)

Thanks Cherene! Happy travels in 2017 X

It is really exciting to just hop on an airplane and go to a destination you have never been to before. I remember the first time I did it, I called a couple of my friends and told them we were going on a trip. We all met at the airport and up to this day that was one of the best trips we had been on. We ended up in Barbados. That day we were spontaneous travelers. I have never done it since, but I should!

Sounds like a blast! They’re always the best memories too, and it’s even better that you had a group of friends to share the experience with. Usually I find I can’t get more than 2 or 3 people organized at the last minute or same time lol so I applaud you for spontaneously organizing a group! :)

I seem to be becoming a very spontaneous traveller with lots of last minute trips! Thanks for these useful tips, I’m a big Skyscanner fan

So glad to hear that Suze! It’s quite exciting deciding to drop everything and go :D! Skyscanner is definitely a huge help in that regard :)

Happy travels!

I love spontaneous travel. It’s relatively easy in the UK at the moment but I think we all worry how it might change with Brexit. Fingers crossed we don’t lose our friendship with mainland Europe

I’ve always been jealous of those who live in Europe and the UK for that lol you’ve got a great base!! For us in Australia it’s a little more difficult … the closest trip would be NZ or Asia which are a minimum of 4 or 8 hours away. Anything in Europe or the America’s and we’re looking at upwards of 15 hours :( But means we have an excuse to embrace local travel a lot more too!

Great tips! The only time I have ever gone on a spontaneous International trip was a last minute all inclusive vacation to the Dominican Republic. But, that was 12 years ago in the days before smart phones and Skyscanner. I’ll do the odd weekend road trip to various cities in the States, however.

Thanks Ray! A last minute all inclusive vacation to the Dominican Republic sounds like it would have been wonderful! We enjoy taking off on the odd weekend roadtrip on a whim too – it’s nice to be able to just decide to pick up and go sometimes!

Happy travels :)

Such an inspiring read with lots of helpful tips but not sure I could be completely spontaneous without having hotel or train tickets securely deposited and / or paid. As for everything else, sights, meals, etc., I am all for it!!!

Thanks Jeff! Glad you enjoyed the post :) Hotels have always gotten me on that – for some reason I can’t bring myself to rock up in a city and not know where I’m sleeping that night … I get mad anxiety otherwise!!

But we’re loosening up, and finding that with access to technology it’s not as bad as it seems. We had a flight cancelled in Bolivia last year and ended up in La Paz for a week when we weren’t supposed to be – booked a hotel from the airport wifi and rocked up an hour later. Wasn’t as stressful as it could have been! :)

You have captured a set of workable ideas, Thanks.

Thanks Nisha :) Glad you enjoyed the post.

YES! And being spontaneous is a good example for your kids, too – teaches them that going with the flow is doable (and fun)!

Absolutely Jessie – great point!

Skyscanner is my go-to place for last-minute flights. Also, not having to go far is a great tip. Sometimes we miss the things in our own backyard.

Absolutely Leah – I was saying to Gokul above, that we’re the same with Australia – I’ve traveled all over the world but haven’t yet explored places closer to home – it’s a little embarrassing actually!! So we’re dedicating this next year to being spontaneous with more local travel :)

Love this! Get’s me all excited to drop what I’m doing and head out into the great unknown. A lot of people ask me how I afford to constantly adventure. Cook your own meals, stop caring so much about material living, and don’t go out to bars :). You’d be AMAZED how much that saves you! Also, picking free activities when you travel is always helpful. Activities like camping, hiking, backpacking or just people watching in a park often provide better experiences than an expensive dinner. Splurge where it’s worth it and enjoy the adventure!

So glad to hear it Meg! And yes, I’m totally behind you on splurging when it’s worth it but cutting out the material living when you’re at home.

I’ve found that since we’ve cut the excess out of our lives, you get to a stage where you don’t even want it anymore, and it’s always nice to know that money is going towards something far more memorable than a cup of coffee :D

I totally agree with the Skyscanner tip! It led to our spontaneous, inexpensive trip to Ireland, which was one of the best trips we’ve taken!

Awesome Lillie! Skyscanner is so great for finding those last minute deals which lead to an epic trip :)

It has always been planned travels for me. several reasons have bogged my mind to embark on spontaneous travel. Looks like most are just mind blocks and I need to set off. Thanks for these encouraging tips.

You can definitely start out small with some spontaneous local trips, t ease yourself into the idea, and then see if you can work your way up to bigger, international travel :)

Glad you enjoyed the post Indrani … happy travels in 2017! X

I tend to have my travels all mapped out before I go too but I would love to allow myself the freedom of winging it. I think it would give you a whole different perspective. Flexiroam looks like it would be extremely useful. I’ll certainly check it out.

We’re the same Christina – longing for a bit more flexibility in our plans. Winging it does give you a completely new perspective though so it’s nice to change it up once in a while.

Do check out Flexiroam – I used it for data while in the Philippines recently and it was a lifesaver :)

My husband and I are spontaneous as well. Even our kids start to enjoy the “get up and go” way of living. Once we get somewhere, we like to wander, just get lost. It helps us discovery the small things about towns, rather than only the big touristy stuff. Thanks for posting this!

Glad to hear you’re a spontaneous fan Meghan! I agree that getting lost, and having the flexibility in your travel schedule to do so, is one of the best ways to truly immerse yourself in a new place :)

Happy travels for 2018!

The Skyscanner App is a staple on every device I have. It’s just so useful! Definitely agree with the speaking to strangers- so important when traveling!

For us too – it’s probably the most used app across my iPads and phone! I always try to connect with at least one local in each different place we go – gives you a whole different perspective on a destination :)

Contrary to popular belief, spontaneous travel involves a lot of work. I agree with all of your tips. In fact, we were on Skyscanner this morning planning our next “spontaneous” trip.

Yes it does – and can be quite stressful if you’re used to having plans and all of a sudden you dont. We aim for the best of both worlds with a little bit of pre planning and a little bit of spontaneity thrown into the day to day once we’ve reached a place :)

You are right. We don’t have to always travel overseas. I am from India and there is so much for me to explore in my own country. I am just waiting for the season time to get over before getting started.

Absolutely Gokul – we’re the same with Australia – I’ve traveled all over the world but haven’t yet explored places closer to home – it’s a little embarrassing actually!! So we’re dedicating this next year to being spontaneous with more local travel :)

thanks for this info

You’re welcome – happy travels!

These are some marvelous speculations here! Never tried an unplanned travel trip, might definitely try the coming year! Thank you for the pieces of advice! All the love from Nepal! xoxo

Glad you enjoyed the post Ushmana! Let us know how you go with your first spontaneous trip :)

Hey, I have something to share with you. I also love travelling and that’s why I had not been doing any job but after a long time, I realized it now I have been working in a travel agency. I also have started my blogging site and enjoying my life. Your site inspired me to move on. Thanks.

Congratulations Ranbir! It’s fantastic to hear that you’re following your dreams and achieving your goals to incorporate more travel into your life :)

All the best with your new career as a travel agent, and running your blog :)

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I am Megan Jerrard, professional travel blogger/journalist with a focus on adventure, discovery, immersion and inspiring you to explore!

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What Is a Spontaneous Road Trip? (How to take one)

• Date: September 27, 2021
• Time to read: 5 min.

A spontaneous road trip is a great way to spend a long weekend or even a lazy Saturday. What exactly is a spontaneous road trip and how can you enjoy one?

A spontaneous road trip is a road trip that is not planned in advance. Spontaneous road trips can be hours or days long, but it must not have any itinerary or previous planning. Spontaneous road trips make a great affordable vacation. 

What is considered a road trip?

There is some debate in the travel community about when a trip is considered a road trip. I ran some numbers and found that most people consider a road trip to be a trip of about 2 hours or more. 

The truth is that you can decide if it is a road trip or not , but it should include:

Driving in your car

An Exciting Destination 

Make your destination a place you have never visited before, and make it outside your normal travel radius. 

There are some good reasons to do this, there was a super interesting twitter study that showed that there is an optimal distance to travel from home to be the happiest. Read more about it in this post which gives you the details and some extra tips to plan a stress free road trip. 

You can also up the road trip vibes you can also add these classic activities:

Sleeping Away From Home

A Road Trip Playlist

Packing Snacks

Eating in The Car

Buying a Car Sticker at Your Destination 

What should I bring on a spontaneous road trip?

Embrace the unknown in a spontaneous road trip, and do not overpack. You should grab a few things to be ready for a spontaneous road trip:

Change of clothes

Sweater or Sweatshirt

Phone Charger

Closed Toe Shoes 

Water Bottle

Cash (or another method to pay tolls)

Pen and Notebook (Document!)

You don’t need too much , but a backpack full of essentials will make you more flexible. 

I am a gear freak, I like to have a very stocked van, so that we can be ready to adventure at any time. 

Here is what I keep in my van:

• Antibiotic Ointment
• Plastic Utensils
• Kitchen Knife
• Aspirin (in case of heart attack)
• Toothbrushes
• Flip Flops (for everyone)

These things cover the basic things we need if we want to split a fast food meal, or someone gets stung by a bee. 

Having these basic things in the van makes it possible to just go. If we decide to spontaneously spend the night away we can stop for extra clothes at a thrift store. 

We have 4 young kids and we have done some pretty spontaneous trips with just what we keep in the van and the baby bag. 

How to plan a spontaneous day trip?

So, you cannot plan a spontaneous trip, but you can have a plan for how you will decide what to do once you are on the road. 

Write down your ideas

Once you are in the car write down a few very general ideas

Throw all the ideas into a hat, or a bag or a cup holder. Then draw out the winner, this will give you a good spontaneous trip idea!

Choose a Timeline

When you know what you will be doing, decide how long you want to be gone. This will give you an idea of how far you can travel. 

If this is a day trip, plan to drive no more than 2 hours from home. 

Travel in a new direction. Maybe you commute an hour North each day, see what lies out West. 

Fill in the Details

When you have your timeline and your objective, start driving. 

You can use these cool Google Maps features to find great places to visit or restaurants to visit. Google Maps has some lesser known features that will really help you out. 

My family recently went on a trip to a new state and a big highlight was trying the local fast food chains that are not available in our area. 

Try local favorites. Use that Google Maps trick to find pictures and browse the area. 

Ideas for a Spontaneous Road Trip

Here are my best tips to get you inspired to take a spontaneous road trip:

Try Only In Your State to find the prettiest hikes in your state, you may find a new favorite getaway! Look for stunning views, accessible trails, waterfalls or wildlife. 

Check out HipCamp to find a unique campsite for your trip. I am obsessed with getting to these trampoline tents in Tennessee . These campsites can be a destination in themselves. 

Visit A Museum or Historical Site

I have a few friends who love to seek out the historical markers that they find roadside. They stop and read them all. 

You can find a great map of these places on this site . This was a great quarantine adventure for my family. 

You can also look for interesting things on Roadtrippers, which shares attractions along any route you choose. 

Scavenger Hunt

A great way to spend a spontaneous road trip is to do a scavenger hunt. 

You could make a list together or find one online. I went ahead and made one for you, you can download it and print it here. 

Drive for Hours

You should get lots of inspiration from Within Hours . This is a site where you can enter your location and it will show you cities that are within hours or miles of your current location. 

I think this is an amazing tool for any road trip. 

Bucket List

Make a family bucket list, then divide the things on the list into categories. 

If you have some time, pull from the bucket that fits your limitations, but you have to promise that no matter what you pull from the list, you will do it!

My husband and I did this when we were first married, and it made for some really cool adventures. 

Go ahead, binge watch Diners Drive Ins and Dives, then go eat at one of the featured restaurants!

Take the trip for the food and see what you discover along the way. 

Should I take a spontaneous road trip?

A spontaneous road trip is a good idea for those who want an affordable vacation and have a reliable car. The costs of a road trip are gas, lodging and entertainment. By leaving the itinerary open you are able to travel within your budget without sacrificing adventure. 

Instead of wasting a three day weekend, jump in the car and see what adventure unfolds. 

If you do not have a reliable car, you may find that renting is a good option. 

As long as your car is reliable and you have enough money for gas, a spontaneous road trip is a great idea. 

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9 Reasons to Book a Last-Minute Vacation

From living in the present to scoring eleventh hour deals, reap the benefits of an impromptu adventure

Going on a spontaneous vacation? A train or bus ride may be cheaper than flying.

When you’re looking to travel, planning ahead has its benefits. From booking flights to making hotel reservations, everything is perfectly planned out so you don’t have a worry. Even so, there is something to be said for a little spur-of-the-moment action.

Getting into a free-spirited mindset with your trip can lead you down surprising paths, boosting your creativity and happiness. Spontaneous travel decisions like packing your bags and hopping in the car or on a flight allow you to embrace your sense of adventure and curiosity.

There are also countless psychological benefits of flying by the seat of your pants. Taking a spur-of-the-moment vacation can teach you how to be more flexible, manage stress, trust your intuition and allow you to live in the present. Also, not to be overlooked, by embracing spontaneous travel, you can score some great deals too!

Keep spontaneous travel stress-free with these tips

• Many airlines list last-minute deals for the current and following weeks. Pro tip: Choice Privileges (CP) members can also redeem their points for airline miles , including round-trip flights for stateside and international destinations.
• Airline websites like Frontier and Allegiant have everyday low rates. Some airlines slash prices on Sunday and Tuesday for later that week.
• When you book the tickets for your spontaneous travel, fly on weekdays, especially Tuesday or Wednesday, which are more affordable.
• Don’t be afraid to mix and match flights on different airlines. It’s sometimes more cost-effective to buy a one-way ticket.
• Rather than pay full price weeks in advance, you can book the day of and receive significant discounts. And handy apps and sites like GTFO Flights let travelers easily book day-of flights for spontaneous travel.

Enjoy every moment of your impromptu vacation.

On the ground

• Rather than renting a car through different outlets, consider using your CP points to get a car rental deal . It’s not only a great way to cut the costs of your spontaneous travel, but it’s also a faster way to earn even more CP points!
• If you aren’t going far, consider train over plane. A three-hour train ride for spontaneous travel is more affordable than taking a puddle jumper from one city to another. Amtrak’s discounts extend from national routes to regional travel.
• If you are in a big city, avoid renting a car and instead take public transportation. Or if a ride-sharing company like Uber or Lyft is available, consider using the carpool function to cut costs by pairing up with other riders in the area.
• Become a member of loyalty programs like Choice Privileges , where spontaneous travelers (and those who plan ahead too!) can earn points to get special rates and save money on future reservations. Members can also rack up airline miles and Amtrak Guest Rewards points during their hotel and vacation rental stays. Redeem accrued points for a free or discounted night’s stay. (Bonus: There are no blackout days and points don’t expire as long as you’re an active member .)

Feeling inspired to take a trip? Find a hotel for your last-minute vacation and pack your bags!

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Savvy Tips Guru

15 Tips on How To Plan Your Memorable Spontaneous Trip

Diane Silva | Posted on September 4, 2023 |

Are you tired of the same old routine and craving some excitement in your life? It’s time to leave your routine and go on unexpected trips that will make you remember them forever. Traveling on the spur of the moment can be one of the most exciting and satisfying things you can do because it forces you out of your comfort zone and into the unknown.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll provide you with 15 valuable tips on planning your spontaneous travel, ensuring that your journey is filled with thrilling experiences, whether alone or with friends. So, let’s dive into spontaneous travel and discover the secrets to making your next adventure extraordinary .

1. Embrace Spontaneity – A Mindset for All

The essence of a spontaneous trip begins with embracing the unexpected. Let yourself be open to new things, whether traveling alone or with a group. The beauty of surprise is that it can’t be planned for.

2. Flexibility Is Your Best Friend

When planning a spontaneous trip, flexibility is the key to success. Avoid rigid schedules and detailed itineraries. Instead, sketch a rough outline of places you’d like to explore and be prepared to adapt as the journey unfolds.

3. Packing Essentials – Less Is More

Whether you’re traveling alone or with companions, packing efficiently is crucial. Focus on clothes that can be worn with many different things. Don’t forget essential documents like your passport, ID, and travel insurance.

4. Harness the Power of Travel Apps

Utilize travel apps to your advantage. Apps like Skyscanner, Kayak, and Airbnb can help you find last-minute deals on flights, accommodations, and activities, making spontaneous travel more affordable for solo adventurers and groups.

5. Stay Informed & Safe

Stay updated on travel advisories, weather conditions, and local news for your destination. Whether solo or with a group, knowledge is your best ally regarding safety on the road.

6. Establish a Budget

While spontaneity is vital, responsible planning is equally important. Determine your budget for the trip, whether you’re going solo or as part of a group, and adhere to it as closely as possible.

7. Explore Nearby Gems

Spontaneous trips don’t always require long journeys. Whether you’re traveling alone or with a group, you might want to check out nearby towns, cities, or nature sights that you haven’t seen before. You may discover hidden treasures just a short distance away.

8. Travel Light on Gadgets

Whether traveling alone or with a group, try to limit the number of things you bring. Focus on capturing moments with your smartphone or a compact camera rather than hauling around heavy equipment.

9. Connect with Locals for Solo or Group Travel

Engaging with locals is one of the best parts of traveling on the fly. Whether solo or in a group, initiate conversations, savor local cuisine, and learn a few basic phrases in the local language to forge deeper connections.

10. Safety Is Paramount

While spontaneity is thrilling, safety should always be a top priority for solo travelers and groups alike. Share your travel plans with someone you trust, keep your phone charged, and have emergency contact information for the region you’re visiting.

11. Last-Minute Accommodations

Avoid booking accommodations too far in advance. Solo travelers and groups can save money and remain adaptable by searching for last-minute deals on hotels, hostels, or vacation rentals.

12. Explore Diverse Transportation Options

Consider various modes of transportation when doing a spontaneous vacation, whether traveling solo or with friends . Trains, buses, and even hitchhiking (if it’s safe and culturally acceptable) can be adventurous ways to get around.

13. Document Your Journey

Capture your spontaneous trip with a travel journal or blog. Share your experiences, thoughts, and photos to create lasting memories. Inspire other visitors to be spontaneous, whether on their own or with a group.

14. Embrace the Unknown

Spontaneous travel often leads to unexpected discoveries . Solo travelers and groups should be willing to deviate from their original plans and explore off-the-beaten-path attractions and experiences.

15. Reflect & Learn Together

After your spontaneous trip, whether you embarked on it solo or with a group, take time to reflect on your experiences. What did you learn, and how can you make your next spontaneous trip better? Share insights and grow together.

Traveling Solo or With a Group – More Tips for Spontaneous Vacation

Spontaneous trips are like a fun playground where everyone can join in, whether you want to explore all by yourself or with friends. When you go on a solo adventure, it’s like having your own magical map – you get to decide where to go and what to do on your own. But, if you like being with friends, group trips are like a big colorful painting, where everyone adds their own special colors and stories.

In a group, you make decisions, face challenges, and share lots of laughs. So, whether you pick the solo path or the group journey, spontaneous trips promise exciting moments, new friends, and memories that will make you smile. Here are some additional considerations to keep in mind:

For Solo Travelers

• Solo travelers have more autonomy when making decisions. Embrace this freedom but remain vigilant about safety.
• Connecting with locals may be easier for solo travelers, as locals are often more inclined to approach individuals rather than larger groups.

For Group Travelers

• Group dynamics can be both rewarding and challenging. Ensure that everyone in the group is on board with the spontaneous nature of the trip and willing to adapt.
• When booking accommodations and transportation, consider the preferences and needs of the entire group.

Enjoy Your Spontaneous Trips Now!

Because of this, being spontaneous is the key to having great travel experiences, whether you go on a trip by yourself or with a group of friends. When you hear that, your inner explorer starts to yearn for adventure. You want to find new places and, maybe even more deeply, parts of yourself that you didn’t know existed. These 15 helpful tips for planning last-minute trips will be your guide on this exciting journey, making sure that every moment is filled with the joy of the unknown.

As you pack your bags and get ready to leave, welcome the world with open arms, whether you want to go it alone or with other people. Let chance lead you as you search for memories that will last a lifetime. Know that every step you take and every unexpected turn will add to the story of your life. Let’s look forward to the exciting journeys, the gifts we’ll find, and the growth that comes from being open to the unknown. Have a great trip!

Diane is a travel enthusiast, content creator, and master storyteller, capturing her adventures through captivating blogs and engaging vlogs. With a passion for the great outdoors and a love for literature, she brings a unique perspective to the travel world. Whether she's exploring hidden gems or discussing the latest trends, Diane is your go-to source for all things travel and beyond.

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3 Tips for Finding Affordable Rates for Spontaneous Travel

Planning a vacation is often a meticulously thought-out process that involves research, arranging time off work, and finding someone to water your plants or look after your pets. For others, however, the luxury of spontaneous travel is far more appealing. Whether it’s a family weekend away or a last-minute glamping escape , setting aside weeks of planning and choosing to be impulsive instead is all part of the holiday experience.

While opening yourself up to a world of travel on the spur of the moment may be exciting, it often comes with a substantial price tag. However, do not let this deter you. Instead, read on for some tips to help you stay within your budget while enjoying spontaneous travel.

Table of Contents

In today’s digital age, online is one of the best places to find excellent deals on flights and accommodation. Plenty of apps and websites are available that cater to last-minute holidaymakers’ needs, making it easier for them to pack their bags on a whim.

Thanks to data analytics used in hotel rate management , hotels can consider factors such as competitor rates, local market conditions, and real-time demand, allowing them to offer exclusive deals to travelers no matter how early or late they choose to book their stay. As a result, these travelers can often take advantage of flash sales and offers on hidden gems or lesser-known destinations and enjoy special promotions on more popular resorts. 

Flight Flexibility

The less rigid you are with your flight plans when booking an impromptu trip, the better. Traveling at off-peak times will be in your favor regarding both cost and comfort, so it is best to avoid busier days of the week. 

According to research by Experian , Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are the cheapest days of the week to fly with the cheapest flight times typically being in the early morning or late night. 

It can also be cost-effective to book each leg of your journey separately, enabling you to explore flight prices on different airlines and create a schedule that works best for you regarding flight times and overall affordability.

Explore Alternative Accommodation

While hotels and holiday resorts can offer you comfort and convenience, they can significantly eat into your budget when booking at short notice. Instead, consider eliminating this cost altogether or at least significantly reducing it by exploring alternative accommodation options. 

For those who plan to be on the go for much of the day and well into the night, a place to leave their luggage and rest their head is all that is needed. Rather than paying for an expensive hotel room, a low-cost hostel room can be a better solution. If a trip involves exploring the great outdoors instead, a camping ground can be the perfect place to pitch a tent and enjoy the simplicity of being one with nature. Depending on your destination and your interests, researching alternative types of accommodation can add to your enjoyment while saving you money.

Go Out and Affordable Rates for Spontaneous Travel

In wrapping up our guide on “Tips for Finding Affordable Rates for Spontaneous Travel,” it’s evident that with careful planning and savvy strategies, embarking on unplanned adventures doesn’t have to break the bank. By leveraging our insights on securing affordable rates for spontaneous travel, you can make the most of your impromptu journeys without compromising your budget. Here’s to more affordable and exciting spontaneous travel experiences!

What say you? Thoughts on these tips on Affordable Rates for Spontaneous Travel ? Let’s hear it!

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Solo traveling basics: Expert advice for your first trip

Boarding the plane to head to another country alone is often an emotional experience – there’s the excitement, the anxiety, the anticipation.

It can also be totally nerve-wracking.

When Angie Orth made the bold choice to leave her job and embark on a solo yearlong journey around the world in 2011, her friends and family cautioned her about safety concerns. “Everyone was horrified,” the Florida native told USA TODAY. “The fear was all I heard.”

The then New York City-based Orth kicked off her 12-country solo trip in Fiji before making her way to New Zealand, Australia, and Southeast Asia. Then she trekked through Europe, including Greece, Spain and England, and stopped in Turkey and Egypt before ending in Kenya and South Africa.

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It wasn’t always smooth traveling. At times, Orth said she survived “by the skin of my teeth.” Orth was in Egypt during the Arab Spring , got unbelievably sick in Thailand, and had a bike accident in Bali. She was also robbed of 400 euros. “I was in Greece for a half an hour and had already been pickpocketed,” she said. 

Still, to Orth, the solo journey was invaluable. “It’s a confidence that I don't think there’s any other way to get that confidence than by solo travel,” she said, referring to the problem-solving that inherently comes with navigating travel on your own. Then there’s also the compassion you gain from meeting and experiencing other cultures. 

Now more than ever, more people are deciding to forgo travel companions and embark on their trips alone. Solo vacation package searches on Google shot up by more than 200% over the past 90 days as of Feb. 2.

Increased connectivity on our phones makes it easier to feel secure and social media shows more people – especially women – traveling the world alone. 

“Women are not waiting for permission or their 401(k) to mature. If my husband doesn’t want to go, fine. Women are having more confidence,” said Orth, who is also the author of the upcoming book “Flirting with Disaster,” which chronicles her yearlong solo trip. 

Here’s everything you need to know about solo travel. 

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Safety is always top of mind when traveling, and it’s especially important for solo travelers who have to look out for themselves. 

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“Isn’t it fun to meet a person in a hostel and say yes, let’s go hiking right now? That’s fun, but it’s risky,” Orth said. “It’s about balancing it out and researching ridiculously.” 

◾ Start your research by heading to the State Department website to see if there are any travel advisories for the destination you’re interested in. These advisories are based on changing conditions and also inform you about the specific region you’re visiting.

For the most direct updates, enroll in the agency’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), a free service that sends you the most up-to-date information on the destination. It can also help connect you to the nearest U.S. embassy and consulate if traveling and something happens.

◾ One thing Orth always searches for is “the destination plus scams” to see what she has to look out for when in that place. Many European cities are notorious for petty theft, like pickpocketing in popular tourist hotspots like the Trevi Fountain or public transportation.  

When doing research, it may feel like an information overload. "There is so much information now, you could read 1,000 reviews and get so many sources of conflicting information," Orth added. "It’s hard to wade through all that and find trusted sources."

◾ To help sift through everything, Orth recommends reaching out to others who have traveled to your ideal destination. She also recommended cleaning out your feed and only following travel content creators who “give you the good and the bad.”

“You don’t want the glossy, glossy, oh, it’s so magical because travel isn’t always so magical,” she said. 

◾ At your destination, you’ll also need at least a basic understanding of the language used there. “Translation plays a big role in safety, just being aware of your surroundings,” said Craig Ewer, Google Communications Manager for Search. 

Besides direct translation between 133 languages, the Google Translate app offers pronunciation help – “such a lifesaver,” according to Rose Yao, vice president of product management at Google. You can also snap a picture of a menu and have it translated in real time. 

The Google app also has a feature called Lens that allows users to search using a picture of something like a sign. “You’d be surprised at what you can Lens: menus, what is that building or what is that statue,” Yao said. You can also capture a screenshot of your social media feed and then search for it on Google to incorporate it into your travel plans.

Staying healthy on your travels

◾ To safeguard yourself and others against preventable illnesses while exploring new places, look up any recommended vaccinations for the countries you plan on visiting. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website is a good starting point, with in-depth travel health notices and recommended vaccines and medicines posted. 

The CDC website also offers travel advice on managing nonpreventable illnesses, like preventing bug bites to reduce the risk of contracting diseases like dengue or Zika.

◾ Typically, you’d want to give yourself at least a month before departing on your trip to get everything you need from your doctor. And if you don’t know who to go to, the CDC can help you find a clinic as well. 

Orth recommends having a doctor help you put together a medical kit with some necessities and medications, such as for food poisoning. “It’s helpful to have some things on hand so you’re not scrambling on a remote island and no one knows what you’re talking about,” she said. 

◾ As you’re making the big purchases for your trip, don’t forget about travel insurance for the unexpected. Orth said she never travels without this layer of protection. Travel insurance not only helped with her medical costs from her bike collision but also replaced her camera, which was smashed in the accident. She also recommends a service called  MedJet , which offers worldwide security crisis and medical transportation assistance for its members.

What are the most popular solo travel destinations?

According to Google, the top-searched destinations for American solo travelers are: 

◾ Puerto Rico

Tips for solo travelers

◾ The Google app’s generative AI search allows you to “ask really detailed questions like you would ask a friend,” Yao said. “Ask what’s off the beaten path, what’s not crowded. What’s a great time to visit the Louvre that’s not super crowded?” 

◾ For your first trip alone, it’s OK to start small and dip your toes in the solo travel pool. “Start in an easier destination, something more familiar where you speak the language or you don't have to fly far away,” Orth said. “A lot of folks see ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ and travel content creators trekking in Borneo for it to count but it doesn’t.” 

◾ It won’t always be rainbows and butterflies, despite what you see on social media. Expect decision fatigue from having to make many micro-decisions, like if this taxi driver seems safe. “I think this probably hits women a lot harder than it hits men because we are never not thinking about our safety, and that’s if we’re going to Target in our hometown or hopping on a plane to a remote island,” Orth said. 

◾ Make an itinerary for yourself with at least one thing planned every day, so you don’t feel aimless but still have space for flexibility, said Madison Pietrowski, U.S. brand director at GetYourGuide, a marketplace for travel experiences, where each company listed is thoroughly vetted. It can be as casual as wanting to eat at a certain restaurant for dinner or more intensive like a whole-day tour. (On that note, make sure to read the fine print and be aware of cancellation policies for your excursions.)  

Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. You can reach her at [email protected] .

What Slow Travel Is and Why You Should Try It

A personal perspective: when you do slow travel, your trips become more exciting..

Posted March 25, 2024 | Reviewed by Abigail Fagan

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I always wanted to be like explorers Marco Polo or Ibn Battuta. They traveled the world with wide eyes, curiosity, and a desire to share with others the marvels they discovered. Everything was new, fresh, and surprising, and they were constantly learning and having unexpected experiences.

They had no Internet, guidebooks, social media , blogs, vlogs, reviews, or slideshows. And with so much information available, how can one possibly be like these travel writing pioneers?

The answer may shock you as it did my travel journalism students. I plan nothing in advance except for a place to stay, especially for the first few nights. I just show up in a place and let it reveal itself to me on its own terms. And how does that work out? I have contributed to 130 international publications with articles about what I discovered.

I do not recommend this approach to everyone. But what I do suggest is that you give up your desire to have everything planned in advance. That you stop obsessing about all the trip details and trying to make it a perfect trip. Whether you are traveling with a tour group, friends, family, or solo, leave unstructured time so magic can happen. To me, travel should be transformative. It should lift you out of your daily life and transport you to a place where the food, the language, the customs, the culture may be different from yours. And that’s where the excitement begins.

Many people I know approach travel like a job, and a stressful one at that. They scour the Internet, read what everyone else says, plan a detailed itinerary, and make reservations. They want to make sure they cover all the bases and don’t miss anything. But in my opinion, they are missing a lot if they bring all of their information and expectations to a trip before they’ve even gotten on a plane or into their car. They replicate what others have done before them and check each site off on a list.

So how do you make your trip unique? I call it slow travel. It’s not just about slowing down. When you decelerate, your trips get more exciting. Instead of running from place to place, you look around you, you take your environment in, you notice things that perhaps no one has ever noticed before. And you start talking to people. Random people you meet and talk to are a key element you cannot plan for. They may tell you about places and events that will enrich your trip. They give you local insider tips. They may even accompany you or invite you to join them for an experience. They have enriched every trip I have taken. And the more you talk to people — even if you are shy — the more you develop the self-confidence to do more of it. And then you are really in the present, having an experience that is uniquely yours.

During the pandemic, my husband — a photojournalist — and I couldn’t travel around the globe like we always did, so we regrouped. We decided to travel around New Mexico, where we live. And we would look for special experiences.

We did this for two years. The experiences were artistic, historical, and culinary. We went on special hikes, attended indigenous ceremonies, met healers, naturalists, ecologists, and the manager of a natural wildlife refuge. We picnicked inside an ancient volcano. We saw the tracks of animals who lived tens of millions of years before the dinosaurs. We rode in a lowrider. And the question we always asked was, can other people do this as well?

If the answer was yes, we included the experience in our new book, Slow Travel New Mexico: Unforgettable Personal Experiences in the Land of Enchantment. The name of the book includes New Mexico, but the slow travel lessons are applicable anywhere.

It was a dream of mine to teach readers how to do slow travel. And now it’s a reality.

Once people ditch their over-planned approach to travel, who knows? They may even begin to consider changing their over-planned approach to life.

You don’t have to travel halfway around the world to have an exciting, meaningful trip. It can happen every time you leave your house, even to go to the grocery store, or when you visit the town next to yours. Start with talking to people — really talking with them — and you’re already well on your way.

Judith Fein is an award-winning international travel journalist who has contributed to 130 publications, the author of three books about transformative travel, an inspirational speaker, and an opera librettist.

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Spontaneous Travel Tips: How To Take A Last-Minute Trip

Planning a vacation often entails months of researching, asking friends for recommendations, strategizing around costs, making reservations and otherwise preparing for a nice escape from your everyday life. But that’s not the only way to travel. In fact, many people enjoy more last-minute getaways.

“Spontaneous travel is one of my absolute favorite ways to travel,” travel blogger Rocky Trifari told HuffPost. “The spontaneity takes away a lot of the stress that comes from the arduous planning and anticipation of a trip. It can even be empowering to recognize that in some cases, those planning procedures we typically follow aren’t nearly as necessary as we brainwash ourselves to believe.”

Taking a spontaneous trip is a great way to let flexibility be your guide and explore destinations that weren’t necessarily on your radar. Don’t hesitate to go outside your travel comfort zone. And it doesn’t necessarily mean you need to spend more money.

“It’s unlikely someone comes back from a trip regretting they took it, and additionally, the spontaneous travel doesn’t have to mean booking a flight the day before and traveling for a month,” said Katy Nastro, a spokesperson for Scott’s Cheap Flights . “It can even be seeing a great fare pop up, booking a week or long-weekend stay when you had no intention of taking that trip at all.”

Below, travel experts break down the benefits of spontaneous travel and share their top tips for making the best of a last-minute trip.

A spontaneous trip allows you to be more present.

“The benefit of spontaneous travel is that it allows you to be more present,” said travel blogger Esther Susag . “Instead of needing to make sure you check everything off of your planned itinerary, you are able to take it all in and not feel the pressure of needing to rush to your next stop.”

These types of trips tend to comes with more bare-bones itineraries ― or no itinerary at all ― which makes for a slower, calmer experience.

“With spontaneous travel, you don’t have the time to figure out every ‘top spot’ to see, so instead when you arrive and you find something you are enjoying, there’s not that pressure to leave immediately to fit everything in,” Susag said.

There’s greater openness to the endless possibilities in travel.

In October, the team at Skyscanner released a report about the happiness benefits of traveler spontaneity created in consultation with psychologist Emma Kenny.

Kenny “pointed out that spontaneous travel helps foster a ‘can-do’ attitude and reminds travelers of the limitless possibilities that await them,” said Laura Lindsay, Skyscanner’s travel trends expert. “When travelers are able to live in the moment, they’re able to experience the thrill of adventure without the stress of planning a trip and making all of the decisions that entails.”

Trifari echoed this sentiment, noting that he recently took an excellent last-minute trip to Chicago and unexpectedly made lifelong friends in the process.

“Spontaneous travel is a way to meet new people, discover destinations that maybe you wouldn’t have gone to ordinarily, and helps prevent decision paralysis, which stops many people from traveling in the first place,” he said.

Westend61 via Getty Images

You can discover new sides of your travel personality.

“For the more organized and ‘Type A’ kind of traveler, spontaneous travel may allow them to take a new and different approach to travel, and they might be surprised at how much they enjoy having a more flexible schedule, maybe they will even find that they are less stressed overall,” Susag noted.

Of course, there are benefits to planning ahead for a trip, but having to be more spur-of-the-moment in your travels can lead to pleasant surprises and amazing adventures.

“You may not have found that amazing hole-in-the-wall restaurant where you got to chat with some locals about their country for hours as opposed to planning your meals around the highest-rated restaurants on Tripadvisor,” Susag said. “Instead of having your trip already planned out when you arrive, it may push you to ask locals some of their favorite hidden gems or places to see and that can lead you down some really unique and fun adventures that you wouldn’t have known about had you planned far in advance.”

The mental health benefits are real.

“There are countless surveys that affirm travelers are more healthy, happy and productive than non-travelers, and with the addition of spontaneity to the mix, you can expect an increase to all of the above,” Nastro said. “Spontaneous travel can have the power to release us from daily stresses, spark creativity and an overall sense of adventure when we immerse ourselves in a new place.”

In a time when many of us live über-scheduled lives, she emphasized the value of breaking away from routine by taking a last-minute trip. It can be especially helpful if you’re feeling a little stuck in a rut.

“And while going on a super long and well-planned vacation can be amazing, it may not necessarily mean you’ll be feeling transformed the entire trip,” Nastro said. “ A Dutch study at Radboud University in Nijmegen showed that trip length may not necessarily correlate to increased health and well-being as respondents said their health and wellness peaked at day eight, returning to pre-trip levels, so three one-week trips may be better than one three-week trip for overall well-being, for example.”

Ippei Naoi via Getty Images

Here’s how to make spontaneous travel work for you.

Taking a spontaneous trip may feel daunting and unfamiliar at first, but the experts HuffPost spoke to shared their tips for making the most of it as well.

Be strategic about your flights.

“My advice for anyone wanting to try out spontaneous travel is to be strategic about how you buy your flights,” Susag said. “This is a great opportunity to use those credit card points you’ve been racking up and save some money.”

Don’t be afraid to book each leg with a separate airline, especially if you have a small number of loyalty points with different companies.

“Try to fly during the weekdays. Flight prices tend to be cheaper during the week as opposed to the weekend,” Susag added.

Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the best days to fly in terms of cost, crowds and cancellations, so consider booking those days if you can.

“Being able to work remotely in a location for a day or two can help to maximize your time away as well if you are short on vacation days,” Nastro noted.

Snag deals when they pop up.

“If an opportunity presents itself, take it!” Trifari urged. “Monitor flight prices, keep in touch with friends or family who may share an interest in traveling with you, and look for good deals online.”

There are lots of websites and apps that share good travel deals, like The Points Guy and Scott’s Cheap Flights.

“If you happen to see something that makes sense for your wallet ― a flight, accommodation, or itinerary ― book it,” Trifari said. “You can ask around and create a trip with memories that’ll last you a lifetime. Even if you go on your own, solo adventures can be some of the most rewarding ones a person can take.”

Keep the itinerary short and simple.

Resist the urge to cram a bunch of last-minute adventures or reservations into your itinerary. That goes against the spirit of a spontaneous trip.

“For people who are big planners but are thinking about doing their first spontaneous trip, try to only plan one big activity or place to see a day,” Susag said. “That way you cross something off your list that you are wanting to do, but still allow yourself to leave room for flexibility and unplanned adventures.”

Book accommodations with free cancellation.

“One thing I do even before I have fully decided if I am going to go on a spontaneous trip somewhere is I will book a hotel with free cancellation as soon as I’m even thinking about a trip,” Susag said. “That way I have decent accommodation as a backup, and I can always look for better options after.”

Location is another important factor when picking lodging as well.

“I also try to get my accommodation as central as I can and, I promise, that makes doing a spontaneous and unplanned trip somewhere much easier and more stress-free,” Susag said.

Thomas Barwick via Getty Images

Be flexible with your destination.

“For a leisure traveler, price is almost always the deciding factor when booking airfare. However, oftentimes we are stuck by dates or location, and don’t consider being flexible with either, when in fact flexibility is key to finding amazing deals,” Nastro said.

She recommended searching for flight options based on a broader region like Western Europe, rather than a specific country like Spain. You may come across an amazing destination that’s less familiar or find the opportunity to rediscover a place you haven’t visited in years.

Travel search engines and other third-party sites make it easy to spot good deals if you cast a wide net.

“ An ‘Everywhere’ search on Skyscanner for December reveals great value flights from New York for as little as $35 to Nashville, $55 to Miami, $79 to Turks & Caicos, $85 to Chicago, $89 to San Francisco, $170 to Cartagena, $246 to Rome, $266 to Paris for those willing to be a little spontaneous,” Nastro said.

“Try going to places during an ‘off-season,’” Nastro advised. “Not only is airfare significantly less, but during a low-season, all aspects of travel are more affordable such as car rentals and hotels.”

Research the peak and low seasons in destinations you’re considering. For many, it’s right after the winter holidays.

“January and February are the least traveled months of the entire year, yet this is the time when airfare tends to be cheapest, as well as there is an abundance of cheap deals to be found, regardless of warm or cold weather destinations,” Nastro said. “A lot less people are traveling due to just traveling over the winter holidays so for those of us looking to find spontaneous last-minute deals, this might be a great time to consider.”

Be flexible with your dates, as well as your destination.

“Searching by multiple dates and airports will give you the best chance of a bargain,” Lindsay said. “Flight prices are all based on supply and demand. Because some dates are more popular than others, prices will vary. The ‘whole month’ search tool allows you to see cheap flights at a glance and pick the right deal for you.”

Find a spontaneity buddy.

“If you struggle to be spontaneous and you know that you need that extra push to get you out of your comfort zone, enlist the help of your partner, best friend, or parent,” Lindsay recommended. “Get them to plan some fun trips away and agree that they will only tell you where you are going a few hours before you need to set off!”

Then, you can repay the favor by taking on the next surprise trip. The key to making spontaneous travel happen is to find what system works best for you. Channel the Nike slogan and just do it.

As Trifari remarked, “You can make the decision to travel somewhere, ask a buddy to join if you’d like, book the trip and go!”

Why travel feels longer on the way home

How can one leg of a trip seem so much different than the other psychologists and travel experts explain..

The vacation is over. You’ve soaked up sun in the Caribbean, and now you must embark on the slog back to reality. On the way there, you were jazzed and distracted (did I pack enough underwear ? Did we turn off the heater ?); the travel day went by in a scramble.

Going home is another story. The same three-hour journey seems to drag on between layovers, traffic and rest stop food . The Biscoff has lost its novelty; the in-flight movies fall flat. As the minutes drip, you start to wonder “How did we ever do this?” and “Why god, why?” You swear to never to leave the house again.

How can one way feel so different than the other?

How optimism impacts your perceived ETA

When they say “it’s the journey, not the destination,” it’s the trip there we romanticize, not necessarily the trip home.

Yonason Goldson , an author and ethicist, says when we travel to a new place, we’re in a better head space. “There’s the expectation that something more exciting, something more interesting, something new, something fun is waiting for us,” he said. “That makes the trip part of the experience.”

By contrast, the trip home feels anticlimactic, Goldson says.

Neuropsychologist Sanam Hafeez , who practices in New York City, says it’s similar to the experience of your daily commute. On the way to work, you’re starting the day fresh with a lot on your plate. But when you’re exhausted at the end of the day, the sentiment is more, “I just want to get home already,” she said.

Hafeez experiences this after long weekends at her vacation home in the mountains. She’s done the drive enough that there’s no mystery as to how long it takes; just the mounting pile of chores looming in her future.

“That’s been my experience, especially flying coast to coast,” Gary Small, chair of psychiatry at the Hackensack University Medical Center and author of “The Memory Bible.” “You’re really anticipating getting home, seeing the family. You’ve had enough.”

Small likens it to being back in school. Toward the end of the day “we were always looking at that clock and waiting for it to hit 3:15, and those last minutes seem to take forever,” he said. “We wanted to get out and go home and play. The psychological component really colors it.”

Or maybe it’s the oncoming weight of post-vacation blues . The Germans even have a word for it, says travel planner Sandra Weinacht: Post-Urlaubsdepression. Translation: the depression after the vacation. As the saying goes: time flies when you’re having fun. Perhaps time crawls when you’re sad.

When the trip home doesn’t feel longer

In a highly unscientific poll I conducted on Instagram Stories , 126 responders said travel feels longer on the way home, while 41 said it feels longer on the way there. A handful of participants from the latter camp sent messages emphatically defending their experience.

Sometimes the journey back feels shorter because it is shorter thanks to the phenomenon of tailwinds — particularly when flying east — which can speed planes up. This could obviously work in reverse, making the trip there shorter.

But sometimes, it’s just a feeling. Hafeez and Small point to the “ return trip effect ” which argues that the first leg of a trip can feel longer because of our tendency to inaccurately predict how long it will take. We may guess the way there will go by quicker than it does, and end up having a “ violation of expectation ” as a result.

“On the way back, because you’ve already experienced the longer trip, the return can actually feel shorter by comparison,” Hafeez said.

It could also be that by the return trip, you’ve had some practice. The way there may feel mentally strenuous, but once you’ve gotten to know the route, Small says it can feel less challenging.

No novelty, no shortcuts

The return trip effect usually occurs when you’re traveling somewhere for the first time. So if you’re taking your usual summer vacation — the kind of trip you know so well you could get there with your eyes closed — the return can seem to stretch.

Small recommends introducing some novelty into the trip home to take the edge off. “That’s where the time distortion comes in,” he said. “Focusing on the anticipation of getting there rather than focusing on the moment and enjoying it.”

As a brain health and memory expert, Small often recommends people “train but don’t strain your brain.” He says that can be doing puzzles (if you’re not driving, obviously), engaging in conversations or taking different routes to challenge your mind during transit.

“When you don’t know the route and you’re discovering it, you’re kind of in the moment rather than anticipating the future,” Small said.

Hafeez recommends downloading plenty of podcasts or audiobooks , or arranging phone dates with people you’d like to catch up with if you’re going to be in the car a long time.

Or you can tweak how you travel altogether. Susan Sherren, founder of the travel agency Couture Trips , encourages clients to plan trips with a “bell curve” itinerary. Ease into the vacation, crescendo into the exciting, action-packed days, then slow down the pace before it’s over so you’re not left feeling as frazzled.

You can also plan activities to look forward to when you get home to soften a crash landing back into your normal routine. Every time I pad my trip with a buffer day , I am eternally grateful.

More travel tips

Vacation planning: Start with a strategy to maximize days off by taking PTO around holidays. Experts recommend taking multiple short trips for peak happiness . Want to take an ambitious trip? Here are 12 destinations to try this year — without crowds.

Cheap flights: Follow our best advice for scoring low airfare , including setting flight price alerts and subscribing to deal newsletters. If you’re set on an expensive getaway, here’s a plan to save up without straining your credit limit.

Airport chaos: We’ve got advice for every scenario , from canceled flights to lost luggage . Stuck at the rental car counter? These tips can speed up the process. And following these 52 rules of flying should make the experience better for everyone.

Expert advice: Our By The Way Concierge solves readers’ dilemmas , including whether it’s okay to ditch a partner at security, or what happens if you get caught flying with weed . Submit your question here . Or you could look to the gurus: Lonely Planet and Rick Steves .

Watch CBS News

Want to book a last-minute 2024 spring break trip? Experts share tips on saving money on travel

By Kris Van Cleave, Analisa Novak

Edited By Camille Knox

March 22, 2024 / 11:32 AM EDT / CBS News

As the countdown to spring break ticks closer, airlines are bracing for an unprecedented surge in travelers, with an estimated 167 million passengers expected to fly during March and April, marking a 6% increase from last year. But finding a deal may require some flexibility, experts say.

Among the millions looking to escape the daily grind is the Ayala family, who have chosen to spend their spring break soaking in the excitement of spring training in Arizona. 

"It's our spring break, and they gotta see some players, get some signatures," said Angela Ayala.

Airports are bracing for the influx, with the TSA reporting a 6% increase in checkpoint activity over last year's already record pace. United Airlines,  is expecting its busiest spring break ever and is planning for a 10% increase in passengers over 2023.

For the Lancaster family of Houston, this season marks their first international spring break. They chose Cancun as the destination.

"This is our first time traveling international on spring break with our daughter … so we're in for a treat," said Samantha Lancaster.

Finding a good deal, however, requires flexibility with travel dates and destinations, advises Lindsay Schwimer, a consumer travel expert with Hopper. Warm weather spots like Orlando, Las Vegas and Miami top the domestic charts, while Cancun, London and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic lead internationally. Even so, bargains are still within reach, including notable deals from New York to Cancun for $250 round trip, Chicago to Dublin for under $500 and Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for about $140.

"If you're eyeing Miami, maybe skip some of the more crowded beach destinations, consider a Fort Myers, a Tampa, a Fort Lauderdale, that's gonna help you save a little bit more and you'll avoid the crowds," said Schwimer.

Emily Kaufman, also known as The Travel Mom, said flexibility in travel plans is key when it comes to savings. 

"You've gotta be flexible. You may be taking a road trip. You may be taking a cruise. It depends where the deals are," said Kaufman.

She noted that "cruises are a terrific value because the closer we get to the departure time, the less the price becomes."

She also advises travelers to explore discounts available through memberships such as the AARP, AAA and teacher's unions, or deals associated with being in the military or geared toward first responders. 

"All of them get travel perks and benefits you might not realize you have," said Kaufman.

Kris Van Cleave is CBS News' senior transportation and national correspondent based in Phoenix.

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We asked, you answered: Parent-approved tips on traveling with kids under 2

Becky Harlan

Last month, Life Kit asked parents to share their go-to advice for traveling with babies and toddlers under age 2 as part of an episode we did on the subject. Over 200 folks responded with tips they wish they'd known before taking a big trip with a little one.

Reading through these responses, it became clear there's no magic hack that works for every kid. Some parents swore by sticking to their kid's sleep schedule on a trip, others said their vacation was smoother when they let the usual routine go. Some sang the praises of the overnight flight (so their child would sleep on the plane), others said their child has never slept more than 10 minutes on a plane no matter the timing.

I flew to Japan with my baby. Here's the travel advice that helped me survive the trip

A few pieces of advice held true throughout. A hungry kid is an unpleasant kid, and children are messy. So packing lots of snacks, extra diapers and a change of clothes ranked high on the list of must-dos. Almost 40 of over 200 responses suggested packing extra outfits in your carry-on for your kid and for you. (If your charge spits up, throws up, blows out or spills it will also get on you!)

So here's a non-exhaustive, impossible-to-be-comprehensive, but-hopefully-still-helpful round-up of your top advice for traveling with little kids. These responses have been edited for length and clarity.

What to pack

A stroller that can be stored in the overhead bin. It's a game changer to not have to check clunky strollers at the gate or check-in counters. —Amy P.

A change of clothes for yourself. If the baby spits up or has a blowout, there's a high likelihood that the mess will end up on you too, especially if you're holding them. Also, be sure to bring a bag to put messy clothes in. Reusable waterproof bags are great and they keep the smell in! —Jenna Yount

Extra diapers. You think you will be fine but if something comes up it's not a good situation to be in. —Jeanna Limtiaco

Overnight diapers. Fewer diaper changes in transit makes everyone happier. —Samantha Warren

Snacks. Remember, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration allows for any size baby food [and baby or toddler beverage], so pack those pouches! —Clara W.

Meds you and your kids might need in flight. That includes chewable Tylenol, Imodium, Dramamine, Zofran, ginger chews, Band-Aids and alcohol wipes. —Paige Ellis

A dark-colored bath towel. It's a blanket, it's for tidying up, it's a tablecloth, it's a sun cover, it shields bottoms from hot slides, it dries off swings. It's a multi-tasking powerhouse. —Judith Heise

Consider what may make sense to buy, rent or borrow upon arrival. You don't need to stuff everything into your suitcase. Buy some of your diapers and snacks at your destination. See if you can borrow or rent large, bulky items like car seats or travel cribs from Facebook Marketplace or your hotel or Airbnb. —Jocelyn Newman

How to get through the flight

Get to your gate an hour before boarding. It gives you time to feed your child, change their diapers, have a cup of coffee and fill your water bottle. It can also help your kid let out their energy before they have to sit on the plane. —Shelly C.

Check the airport for family friendly spaces. Use nursing spaces or pods and family restrooms to reset as needed. Check lounges for nursing and play rooms. —Sara Conger

Take an early morning flight. Those are least likely to get delayed, which is important when traveling with kids. —Carina Ochoa

Parenthood Is A Shock To The System. These Tips Can Help You With The Transition

Board with your partner separately. If you're traveling with two caregivers, have one go on the plane first with all the stuff and do the gate-checking of the stroller while the other hangs back with the kids until the last minute. It gives kids more time to run around! —Andrea De Francesca

Get a plane seat for your kid. Even though many airlines allow kids under 2 to fly for free as a lap baby, if you can afford to get them their own seat, it is worth it. It is recommended for safety to have them in a car seat, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, and the extra space for them to move around is nice. —Nicole Shelledy

Be ready for motion sickness. We were not prepared for how easily some little ones get motion sickness on an airplane. Have throw-up bags handy at all times. —Tiff Bankhurst

Prevent ear discomfort. Sucking during take off and landing may help relieve ear discomfort. My babies have flown with me from 4 weeks onward and never had a problem as long as they had a bottle or sippy cup or straw to suck on. —Shelly Ransom

Don't plan on them sleeping on the plane. It's great if they do, but if it doesn't happen, you'll be frustrated. —Colleen Mayerhoff

Don't worry too much about your kid "bothering" other people. The vast majority of people don't care, and many have been in the same situation you've been in and feel nothing but empathy for you. As for those who do care, they are not guaranteed a child-free existence in public. Kids are part of society too, and they are also allowed to take up space. —Jenna Yount

Make friends with the flight crew. They're going to help, they've got more experience than you, and they also want the flight to be pleasant. —April Graham

Save the screens for the flight. If you're using a screen, wait until you're on the plane. While you're waiting in the terminal, let them move as much as possible. Find an empty gate and play Simon Says, see who can jump in one place the longest, do animal charades. Let them go wild. —Paige Ellis

Download age-appropriate shows for your child on an iPad. (But know that if your kid is under age 2 they'll mostly just want to push the buttons.) —Chantel Dockstader

Travel hacks

Find a lodging close to a grocery store and a park. It makes it easy to buy last-minute things and burn off their energy easily at a park. —Gillian Molina

Dress your young kids in bright, matching shirts. I once traveled alone when my kids were 2, 4 and 6. We all wore matching yellow shirts so people could see we were together. —Emily Hernandez

If you want to let your little one crawl around , bring a pair of socks that you can put over their hands. Then you don't have to worry about dirty hands afterward. —Shannon Geraghty

Hire a photographer. You'll have photos with everyone in them, maybe get to see some scenic parts of the city you hadn't seen before. Dress up, wear matching outfits, be extra! They're only little once. —Tina Doyle

Helpful mindsets

It's not a vacation. It's a trip. You're just parenting in a new place. Set your expectations accordingly. —Laura Henriquez

The airport/train/bus/car is not the time to enforce the normal at-home rules. Do you want Doritos at 7 a.m. at the airport? OK. Do you want to watch 20 episodes of Blippi on the plane? No problem. There are no rules when traveling. This also makes traveling fun for kids because they get to do something different. —Meg Houston

Build in extra time to do things. It will decrease the chances of you and your child getting into stressful situations. —Cori DeLano

You're not going to get as much done as you think with a kiddo in tow. Think about things like nap schedule, traveling with a stroller, meltdowns, diaper changes. On my most "successful" trip with my kiddo, we planned one big activity a day and left the rest of the day open with some general ideas and left room for flexibility. —Whitney Winters

They might not remember, but you will. —Nina Hartman

The digital story was edited by Malaka Gharib. The visual editor is Beck Harlan. We'd love to hear from you. Leave us a voicemail at 202-216-9823, or email us at [email protected].

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