Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about last-minute trips. When we travel, we like to have some plans, but we also like to leave room for spontaneous travel activities. As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to share both the positives and the negatives of travel. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate about a spontaneous trip.
Hate #1: Last-Minute Prices
Sometimes you can get great deals on last-minute deals, but sometimes spontaneity can cost you. Especially when it comes to airlines; last minute flights are rarely cheap. Airlines overbook flights intentionally, so it’s not like there is extra inventory they are trying to dump at the last minute. The same applies for train tickets; the farther in advance you purchase, the more money you can save. However, you may find a package deal on last-minute vacations, so that’s an option.
Love #1: Excitement of the Unknown
The best part of spontaneous travel is the excitement of the unknown. Before you set your plans, the whole world is your oyster, and the possibilities are endless. It’s such an exciting feeling to be traveling on a whim.
Hate #2: Finding Accommodation
It can be hard to find accommodation with short notice. Especially if you are traveling to festivals like Mardi Gras or Oktoberfest. You’ll always find accommodation eventually, but you may pay a lot more, or you may end up in a hostel somewhere that’s not the best place to stay. Check with the local tourism office, or consider staying in a smaller town near your destination.
Love #2: No Schedule
There’s no rush to get up early in the morning, or racing around town to see a museum before it closes. You’re on your own schedule and you can do whatever you want. This freedom really helps you relax and enjoy your vacation so you don’t feel worn out and exhausted when you get home.
Hate #3: Spontaneous = Solo
As you get older, it’s harder for most of your friends to just take off for a few weeks to travel, so most of the time, last-minute travel is solo travel. Everyone has their own obligations and schedules, so last-minute travel is not possible for many people. Sometimes, we mix up how spontaneous we are. We might set our dates and have flights into one European city and out of another, leaving the rest of the itinerary open for last-minute whims.
Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Solo Travel
Love #3: Meeting New People
Since you are often traveling solo, it’s easier to meet new people. Even if you aren’t traveling solo, you’re more likely to rely on locals for recommendations on what to do next. I’ve met some of my best friends while traveling spontaneously. Without a firm plan, it’s easy to tag along with new friends and see where they are going.
Hate #4: Lack of Research
Chances are, if you are traveling spontaneously, you haven’t had a chance to do much research on your destination. This can lead to some problems upon arrival. Whether it’s as serious as not having the proper visa, or as simple as not knowing what sights to see, you might feel like you are lacking a bit without researching ahead of time. I recommend grabbing a guidebook on your way out of town, and studying a bit on the flight to your destination so you’re better prepared when you arrive.
Eight Rules for Choosing a Guidebook
Love #4: No Drama
Sometimes, overplanning can create a lot of drama, as everyone wants to do different things. With spontaneous travel, if you’re solo, there’s never any drama. But even if you’re traveling with others, you can all go off and do your own thing. Nobody has to stick to an agenda.
Hate #5: Finding the Time to Be Spontaneous
The hardest thing about spontaneous travel is finding the time to actually be spontaneous. The older you get, the more structured your life becomes. Once you have kids, you have school and sports schedules to work around. It just becomes harder to pick up and go. Of course, we still travel a lot, but it’s usually more planned out than when we were younger.
Love #5: Last-Minute Deals
I know I said you usually pay more for spontaneous travel, but sometimes you can get really good deals at the last minute. This usually applies more to hotels than flights or trains, but it’s worth checking anyway. Especially if you are only staying one night, hotels often drop their rates to sell rooms. Sometimes you can get great package deals, too, because they really want to fill those spots rather than leave them empty.
Spontaneous travel can be really fun, but you can also weave a bit of spontaneity into a planned trip to make it more exciting. Want more of our travel tips? Check out these blog posts, and tell us your favorite spontaneous trip tips in the comments!