Planning a holiday is a project in itself. There are travel videos to watch, restaurant reviews to read, places to save, and countless lists of things that can’t possibly be missed. Some people by the time the tickets are booked already have a pretty good idea of what they’ll be doing every hour of the trip.
But does a holiday really need that much planning?
It is nice to have some things sorted out in advance. Flights, accommodation and possibly a couple of attractions that need to be booked in advance. Things can get a bit over the top after that. Not every meal needs to be booked at a restaurant, and not every afternoon needs to be spent seeing a famous landmark.
Also there is something rather tiring about constantly checking a list to see what is next. A place you thought you’d spend an hour in could be much more interesting than you thought. The one on your phone may not be as good as a restaurant recommendation from someone at the hotel. These things happen. But a very tight schedule doesn’t allow for them.
Social media hasn’t helped either. Search for a destination and there are hundreds of videos telling you what to do, where to eat and what places are worth your time. Soon, even a three-day vacation will seem like a major expedition. And somehow, missing a popular attraction feels like you’ve done the holiday wrong.
That’s a rather silly way to look at travel.
A few days off should be more than just another exercise in ticking off tasks. Some of the best things about a trip are pretty mundane: finding a good breakfast spot, lingering too long in a bookstore, or wandering a neighborhood without checking the time.
This flexibility can start right at the booking stage. Skyscanner’s Everywhere search is useful when there is a desire to travel but no fixed destination in mind. Whole Month search also helps compare flight prices across different dates, which can make planning around a flexible schedule easier.
Make the important bookings, keep a few places on the list and leave the rest alone. There is no need to return home with every attraction ticked off. Nobody is going to check.
