We both enjoy the anticipation that comes with a trip: the maps, the lists, the first glimpses of a place we have never seen. But we have also learned, sometimes the hard way, that a tightly planned itinerary can crowd out the very things we travel for. Over the years, we have settled on a way of planning that leaves room to breathe.
Decide what the trip is for
Before we look at flights or hotels, we ask ourselves a simple question: what do we want from this trip? Rest, adventure, good food, time with each other, a change of scenery? Knowing this shapes every other choice. A trip for rest looks very different from a trip for exploring, and being honest about it saves us from trying to do both.
Book the anchors
We book only the essentials in advance: transport, somewhere to sleep, and perhaps one special meal or experience that we really care about. These act as anchors. Everything else is left loose.
Choose a few possibilities, not a schedule
- Make a short list of things that interest you, perhaps five or six.
- Note roughly where they are, so you can combine them sensibly.
- Pick no more than one main thing per day.
- Let the rest of the day be unplanned.
Leave space for the unexpected
Some of our best travel memories were never on any list: a tiny bakery we stumbled into when it started to rain, a conversation with a stranger at a viewpoint, a festival we did not know was happening. By leaving gaps, we give these moments somewhere to land.
Know your own pace
We have found we are happiest when we do one thing in the morning, rest in the middle of the day, and do something gentle in the evening. You may be different. The point is to plan around the way you actually enjoy a day, not around someone else’s idea of a perfect itinerary.
Be flexible with yourself
If the weather turns, if one of us is tired, or if we simply find a place we love, we change the plan. A plan is a tool, not a promise. The best trips are the ones where we feel free to follow our curiosity.
Next time you are preparing for a trip, try planning a little less. Choose your anchors, trust yourself, and leave some room for the journey to surprise you.
