Research your trip or… Don’t?
Honestly, I did all this research & downloaded all the apps for luggage storage options, but when we got to the train station in Glasgow I asked a security guard and with a smile he showed us the cheapest luggage storage at a nearby convenience store. It was a good reminder for me that sometimes just showing up and asking nicely is the best way for everything to work out in your favor. 🌎
Spontaneous visit to Alcatraz, anyone??
This was a solo trip where things worked out with almost no planning… when the hotel I was planning to book sold out, I found another (cuter!) one using the Hotel Tonight app. Though not my beloved Marriott, it was so memorable.
Especially if you’re deep into planning a trip right now, consider giving yourself a break. 😊
One of my favorite trips in recent memory was Scandinavia 2022… and we booked the flight on Monday and left on Thursday. When we got to our layover in NY we still didn’t have a thing booked yet—not even a place to sleep for any nights of the trip! We booked the next night’s hotel sitting in the airport lounge.
I may not have mastered Miles, but I’ve got a good handle on Points! Especially Marriott points and the first booking without cash felt so good. My quick tips are:
Don’t be overwhelmed — it will always feel like you don’t know enough… just learn a little bit and be kind to yourself!
Earn ‘Em and Burn ‘Em — don’t treat miles & points like money because they always lose their value over time.
Pick a Brand ASAP — one major hotel brand & one major airline. Stay/fly with them as much as it makes sense to do so.
I think eliminating high hopes is the secret sauce that makes last-minute planning (or next-to-no planning) so great. When you show up with low expectations, you will be delighted by whatever you find. 🥰 The trick is to figure out how to do this artificially when you’ve invested tons of hours in research and planning. I have yet to conquer this one. 🤫
Sure, it’s fun in life to look forward to things. I’m already looking forward to a 2025 trip to Greece, but the spontaneous adventures have my heart. ♥️