I usually try to plan things out as well as possible when I travel. I like knowing where I'm going, where I'm staying, what things cost, and what I want to see. But I've also found that some of my best trips have been the surprise voyages I put together at the last minute. Sometimes having everything planned months ahead is great, but other times, leaving yourself a little room to change direction can lead to a much better trip.
That's one reason I think flexibility is an underrated part of traveling. You don't have to throw planning out the window. In fact, I think good planning is important. But if you leave yourself some options, you can take advantage of a better deal, a different destination, a change in circumstances, or simply an opportunity that wasn't there when you first started planning.
I Like Having an Escape Plan
One thing I have started doing when I look at trips is paying close attention to cancellation policies. If I find a hotel or other travel arrangement that offers free cancellation, I like having that flexibility. I can make a reservation so I have something lined up, but if I find another trip that looks better later, I can switch without being stuck with my original choice.
That may sound like a small thing, but I think it makes a big difference in how you shop for a vacation. Instead of feeling like you have to make one decision and live with it, you can continue looking. Maybe you find a better hotel, a better price, a more convenient location, or even a completely different destination that suddenly looks more appealing.
I don't always change my plans, of course. Sometimes the original reservation turns out to be exactly what I want. But I like knowing that I have the ability to change my mind.
Some of My Best Trips Have Been Last-Minute
I've found that some of my best trips have been the ones that weren't carefully planned months in advance. Sometimes an opportunity comes up, I start looking around, and before I know it, I've put together a trip.
There is something exciting about that. You start with an idea rather than a rigid itinerary, and then you see what you can make happen. You might find an airfare that works, a hotel with free cancellation, or a destination that you hadn't even been considering. Suddenly, you're going somewhere.
I've traveled enough to know that a trip doesn't have to be perfect on paper before it's worth taking. Sometimes you just have to recognize a good opportunity and go with it.
Try Somewhere You Haven't Been
Another thing I like to do is visit places I've never been before. I enjoy seeing different sides of things and experiencing destinations that are unfamiliar to me.
That doesn't mean every trip has to be an adventure into the unknown. There are certainly places I'd return to because I enjoyed them. But if I'm looking for a new trip, I'm usually interested in seeing something different rather than simply repeating the same experience.
Being flexible makes that easier. If you're completely locked into one destination, you may never notice another place that could be just as interesting, or perhaps even better suited to what you're looking for. Sometimes it pays to step back and ask, "What else could I do with this trip?"
Don't Wait for Everything to Be Perfect
This is probably one of the biggest lessons I've learned about traveling. I don't like putting things off, and I try not to be a perfectionist when it comes to taking a trip.
It's easy to keep waiting. Maybe the timing isn't perfect. Maybe you want a better hotel. Maybe you think you should save a little more money. Maybe you want to find the absolute best airfare. Maybe you keep telling yourself you'll take the trip when everything lines up exactly the way you want it.
The problem is that everything may never line up perfectly.
If I really want to go somewhere, I try to figure out a way to make it happen. That doesn't mean being irresponsible with money or ignoring obvious problems. It means not allowing the pursuit of the perfect trip to prevent me from taking a good trip.
Flexibility Can Save You Money
Being flexible can also make it easier to get more out of your travel budget. If your dates are flexible, you can compare different departure days. If you're flexible about hotels, you can look at several properties instead of automatically booking the first one you find. If you're open to different destinations, you have even more opportunities to compare prices.
This fits with the way I normally shop for travel. I don't just look at one option and decide that's what I'm doing. I like to run through different possibilities and see what makes the most sense. Sometimes changing one part of the trip can make another part better or less expensive.
That's another reason I like free cancellation when I can get it. It gives me the ability to keep shopping without necessarily giving up the reservation I already have.
Don't Let Your Itinerary Run Your Vacation
Flexibility also matters after you arrive. You can have a list of things you want to see and places you want to visit without making yourself follow that list no matter what.
Maybe someone recommends a restaurant you hadn't considered. Maybe you discover a beach, neighborhood, attraction, or little town that wasn't on your original itinerary. Maybe the weather changes and your plans no longer make sense. If you have some flexibility built into the trip, you can adjust rather than feeling like you've ruined the day.
I've always liked the idea of seeing what a destination has to offer rather than simply checking things off a list. Planning gives you a starting point, but you don't necessarily have to follow the plan exactly.
Sometimes You Just Have to Make It Happen
I think this is especially important for people who have been talking about taking a particular trip for years but never seem to get around to it.
There will always be a reason to wait. Work gets busy. Something else comes up. The timing isn't quite right. You decide you need to save more money. Then another year goes by.
I'm not saying everyone should suddenly book an expensive vacation they can't afford. But if there is somewhere you've really wanted to go, I think it is worth asking yourself what is actually stopping you. If the problem can be solved with a little planning, some flexibility, or a willingness to compromise on a few details, maybe it's time to make it happen.
You don't necessarily need the perfect hotel, the perfect flight, the perfect weather, and the perfect itinerary. Sometimes you just need to decide that you're going.
Plan Well, Then Give Yourself Some Room
For me, flexibility doesn't mean being careless about travel. I still like to plan. I want to know what I'm getting into, what things cost, and where I'm staying. I just don't want my plans to become so rigid that I can't take advantage of something better when it comes along.
That's why I like having reservations that can be canceled, keeping an eye on other options, and remaining open to destinations I've never visited. It gives me a basic plan while still allowing me to change course if I find a better opportunity.
And sometimes that change of course is what makes the trip.
Don't Put Off the Trip You're Waiting For
Travel doesn't always happen under perfect circumstances. Sometimes you have to work around your schedule, make some compromises, or take a chance on a destination you've never visited.
I've found that I'm happier when I stop worrying about making every detail perfect and concentrate on making the trip happen. Some of my best travel experiences have come from being willing to change plans, try somewhere new, or put together a trip that wasn't originally on my calendar.
So plan your vacation. Shop around. Look for good cancellation policies. Keep your options open. But don't let the planning process become another reason not to go.
Sometimes the better vacation is simply the one you were flexible enough to take.
