How to Turn your Holiday into an Adventure
It might sound absurd, but if you travel often, it can become tedious. You go through the same motions over and over again: book the tickets, arrange accommodation, bookmark sights you want to visit, check all the info online… This routine, although effective, can take half the fun out of exploring. So if you want to go on an adventure instead of a tour, let’s see how to add some spontaneity to your trip!
Don’t Book Anything
Not knowing where you’re going to sleep tonight may sound unsettling, but the truth is that reservations put a strict frame on your trip and don’t allow you to improvise. If you book as you go, you can change your plans at any moment. Want to move to another place? Just pack your bag and check out. Want to stay and explore this city more? Ask for another night. This is your adventure, after all. Besides, there is nothing to be afraid of, really. In every at least half-developed country there are so many accommodation options that there’s no danger of having to sleep in the street. You can either book straight from your phone or just ask around for recommendations.
Pack Light
Having just a small backpack with you is half the trick to making spontaneous detours. You don’t need to think where to leave it and you can easily start the day in one place and end in another while visiting three more on the way. Not to mention all the cheap low-cost flights that you can take without baggage penalty.
Talk to People
You will meet a lot of people on the road: locals and travelers like you. Often they will have great ideas about what to visit or where to stay. This is a much better way to learn about hidden gems of places than on the internet which is full of recommendations for touristy places. Also, who knows, maybe you’ll get an invitation to dinner, find company for a day trip or even meet the love of your life?
Be Flexible
You were thinking of moving to one place tomorrow, but a cool company of backpackers in your hostel is heading somewhere else? Forget your plans and join the fun! The good thing about adventure traveling is that you’re not a slave of your plans and can change them at any moment. It’s good to have at least a vague idea of what you want to do, but let the circumstances guide you in immediate decisions. Do what will make you happier at the moment, regardless of if it was in your plans.
Put your Smartphone Down
Yes, technology makes traveling easier, but it also makes it more predictable. And who knows how many things you’re missing out on while carefully following the route plotted on Google maps? Try wandering without heading anywhere in particular or even knowing where you are – and you’ll find awesome things! Instead of opening TripAdvisor to help you with every decision, try asking people or information centers for advice, or just trust your intuition – you will be surprised at the results!
