Is it uncommon to plan a trip without a schedule? Does preparing ahead of time really make a difference?
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I always make a plan for my trips, jotting down all my flight or train times, where I’m staying, and any reservations. I like to keep things chill, so I only schedule one main activity each day, usually in the morning.
For the rest of the day, I have a list of cool stuff I want to check out, like museums, nice streets, or tasty food spots. I put it all on a map so I can see what’s close together and make the most of my time. This way, I stay organized but still have the freedom to explore without a strict schedule after my morning plans are done. And I make sure to have at least one day where I can just go with the flow, with no plans besides where I’m crashing for the night.
I once landed at IJmuiden with three kids in the car, and the only fixed item on the itinerary was the ferry trip back to Newcastle four weeks later!
But…
I’ve missed out on some great opportunities in the past by not knowing about them in advance, so even though I don’t always have a fixed timetable (or even necessarily accommodation booked), I now make sure that I’ve thoroughly researched the region I’m going to visit so that even the most off-the-cuff decisions are based on the best possible information. That’s what’s critical.