21 Jan 5 Reasons Why Traveling Without a Plan Is Amazing

Last week, I was interviewed by OWG Voyages about my habit of traveling with no plans. Yes, you read this right! Usually, when I travel, I like to keep it light and not plan anything and try to wing it. This was the case for Aruba and Martinique in 2018 and it turned out to be two amazing trips. However, this is probably the worst nightmare for people that love to have a plan. In this blog post, I want to share with you 5 reasons why making no plans while traveling might be just what you need for your next getaway!

1 – You are more aware of what is going on

When traveling with a plan, you spend your time looking for where you are going. You are looking for directions and focus on where you need to be over where you are. When I travel with a plan, I tend to not be aware of the little things that are happening at the moment because I am on a schedule. However, if you decide to go with the flow, you pay more attention to your surrounding. You will also be more immersed in the culture since you don’t know what is really happening.

Traveling With No Plan Tip: No matter what you have plans, take time to take in where you are.

2 – You will visit places that you probably wouldn’t if you plan your trip

When I was in Martinique, we asked the locals about what we should do since we are there. This turned out to be our best trip advisors since they told us about beaches, waterfalls and other attractions that wouldn’t be part of our trip if we would have organized it. Of course, there is a balance between what needs to be organized and what could be ”freestyle” but for me, I try to just flow with it. I am an impulsive person and love to plan what I want to with the way I feel.

Read more about my trip to Martinique here

Locals will suggest you great restaurants and walking around will make you discover others. When I was in Berlin, we discovered so many restaurants simply by walking around town. When I came back to Montreal, I tried to find them on trip advisor and I couldn’t (and they should be there!). This will not only apply to restaurants, but also to the place that you will visit. One of the doner restaurants had a cook that was doing magic tricks, this was quite funny!

Traveling With No Plan Tip: Talk to locals, they know the spots.

3 – Keeping the odds on your side

You might read this title and wonder, what does he mean by keeping the odds on my side. Imagine that you book a trip to a country, and later realize that your Airbnb is not at a favorable place. Far from all attractions, this may change the dynamic of your trip. By not making any plans, you are keeping yourself ready and open to any suggestions that could make the trip WAY better than if you would have planned it. While away, you meet so many people and everybody have their own agenda. By not having any, you are making sure that you can take the best opportunity that comes to you.

Traveling With No Plan Tip: When going away, book your Airbnb for half of the length of your trip just in case you want to move half-way in your trip.

4 – Better Stories

While traveling with a plan will make you have great moments and great stories. Traveling with no plan gives room for failure and funny stories. By doing stuff that you wouldn’t have usually plan, you are definitely about to do things that will be great to share when you’ll be back.

One of the best stories I have from traveling with no plan has to be in Costa Rica. I would have never planned to save turtles and guess what, I did it. Simply because I was hanging at the beach and thought that it would be great to help and be involved.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq8vccdnVMt/

5 – Let the adventure begins

This is my favorite reason, life is an adventure and not planning anything makes it more fun. You don’t know what to expect and you are constantly on the edge. The feeling of adrenaline of traveling and to be free of doing whatever you want is priceless. For me, life is an adventure and not planning my getaway makes it even more fun. Let it go, and trust what the universe has for you and you won’t regret it! Be spontaneous.

Now that I shared with you my 5 reasons why I think you should travel without planning, I want to know more about your tips. I understand that planning a trip will optimize the time that you spend away but then what? Going with the flow makes it more organic. Looking back at my trip to Martinique, Guatemala and Aruba I realize that not planning our moves made them much more special.