• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Halfway Anywhere

Halfway Anywhere

  • About
  • Blog
  • PCT
  • CDT
  • Hikes
    • Arizona
      • Arizona Trail
      • Buckskin Gulch/Paria Canyon
      • Royal Arch Loop
    • Australia
      • Outback Bicycle Tour
      • New South Wales
        • The Coast Track
      • Tasmania
        • Federation Peak
        • Frenchmans Cap
        • Mount Anne Circuit
        • Overland Track
        • Western Arthurs Traverse
    • California
      • Cactus to Clouds
      • Kings Canyon High Basin Route
      • Southern Sierra High Route
      • Trans-Catalina Trail
    • Brazil
    • Japan
      • Alps Traverse
      • Fuji Area
      • Hokkaido
      • Hokuriku
      • Kansai
      • Kita Alps
      • Kyushu
    • Nepal
      • Everest Base Camp
      • Three Passes Trek
    • New Zealand
      • Ball Pass Route
    • Oregon
      • Timberline Trail
    • Washington
      • Wonderland Trail
  • Gear
    • Current Gear List
    • Gear Reviews
    • Gear Lists
    • PCT Gear
    • Best Backpacking Quilts
    • Best Satellite Messengers
    • Best Sun Hoodies
    • Best Thru-Hiking Shoes
    • Best Thru-Hiking Socks
    • Deals & Discounts
  • Surveys
    • PCT Survey
      • PCT Survey Results
      • PCT Gear Guide
      • PCT Resupply Guide
      • Women’s Gear Guide
      • Couples’ Gear Guide
      • Demographic Breakdown
      • PCT Horror Stories
      • PCT Hiker Advice
      • PCT Social Issues
      • All PCT Survey Articles
      • PCT Survey Sign-Up
    • CDT Survey
      • CDT Survey Results
      • CDT Gear Guide
      • CDT Resupply Guide
      • CDT Horror Stories
      • CDT Hiker Advice
      • All CDT Survey Articles
      • CDT Survey Sign-Up
    • JMT Survey
      • JMT Survey Results
      • JMT Gear Guide
      • All JMT Survey Articles
      • JMT Survey Sign-Up
  • Contact
    • Say Hello!
    • Support

Why I Never Plan Ahead of Time

By Mac 1 Comment

Planning ahead of time is a sure-fire way to ensure that things go wrong.

Rarely does one formulate a plan and then proceed to flawlessly execute said plan (especially in the world of travel).

My philosophy is simple: if you don’t have a plan, then nothing can ever “not go according to plan” (for those who struggle with double negatives: if you don’t have a plan, then everything goes according to plan).

My travel nightmare (well, not my nightmare (that would involve bears and robots), but let’s call it a “least desirable scenario”) would be to have all my plane tickets, lodging, tours, transportation, and visits planned prior to walking out my front door. One of the aspects of travel that I enjoy most is the freedom to do as I please. To move about freely from place to place, to try out different hostels and hotels, to get local feedback on attractions and tours, to decide spur of the moment to hop on a train to a neighboring country – because that’s what travel is all about.

Now before you get upset, I am not saying that I foolhardily venture out into the world without having done my research beforehand – research and education are the keys to successfully traveling in this fashion.

Warning - SHARKS
Shit, sharks? Better adapt to this.

THE ART OF ADAPTATION

In order for this strategy to work, you need to be adaptable.

Adaptation is an inherent part of travel. The same food, services, and luxuries you are used to back home, are not going to be readily available to you. However, adaptable does not simply mean that 400 instead of 800 thread count sheets are okay with you.

Instead it means that you can go to sleep after a night of exploration (read: heavy drinking with the locals), wake up before checkout, pack your things, move to a new place, enjoy a full day of activities, and then repeat. It means that you are able to make spontaneous decisions without having to rearrange your itinerary as a result, and that if your new friend wants to take you to their home tomorrow for a home-cooked meal, then you are ready, willing, and most of all able to do so.

It may sound appealing to book a hotel for six nights ahead of time and know where you will be staying, but what if circumstances change? What if the hotel’s toilets have no seats? What if the included continental breakfast was a sham!? If you’ve only committed to one night at the hotel, then you can easily move on in the morning without having to worry about cancellation fees or losing deposits.

Germany Train View
Feel the freedom in your hair.

NO PLAN BENEFITS

Not having a concrete itinerary only adds to the adventure that is traveling.

I love the freedom of meeting new people, finding out what they are up to, and then joining in should it fit my agenda. Trying to plan a trip ahead of time can (and will) result in you doing everything you “planned” to do, but not everything you ended up wanting to do.

When you have a “plan” it can seem as if you are touring a place as a museum exhibit instead of experiencing that place as a local. Spending your days surrounded by other tourists being chaperoned around by your “guide” is a travel sin, and will result in you fabricating and embellishing tales for friends and family since you have failed to experience anything genuine on your trip. By guessing and booking everything ahead of time, you are going to miss out on the true offerings of your destination.

Weather is a perfect example. If the anticipated weather decides to turn, then you may end up losing out even more. Rain today? Looks like you can’t go hang gliding. What’s that? No unplanned days to fit it back into your schedule? AND you lost your deposit? Wow, sucks to be you. Next time don’t plan so hard.

TOP REASONS NOT TO PLAN

Gonna Have A Bad Time
Possible outcome of planning.
  • No need to worry about cancellation fees
  • You’re not tied to some guesswork you did ahead of time
  • You have the freedom to be spontaneous
  • You’ll end up seeing more of what you want to see
  • You’ll learn to rely on your instincts and you’ll learn to adapt

Granted, sometimes you will need to obtain visas, permissions, clearances, or some sort of confirmation prior to either arriving at your destination or participating in some activity (elections). But when it comes to “planning your trip”, you are better off letting it develop organically. Again, that does not mean you do no research ahead of time; research is your most valuable asset while traveling, and your being educated it what allows you to be so flexible in your travel plans.

Don’t be a slave to your itinerary.

You'll Like These Too:

Share this post:

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on WhatsApp Share on Email

Travel Tips Solo Travel,  Travel Advice

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
guest
1 Comment
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Primary Sidebar

Most Recent Posts

  • Building Out a Van: An Exercise in Being Overwhelmed
  • Hayduke Trail Grand Canyon Itinerary
  • The Best Pacific Crest Trail Moments in 2022
  • Hayduke Trail Permits: A Detailed Guide
  • The Most Popular Thru-Hiker Trail Names
Backpacking Gear Pacific Crest Trail Continental Divide Trail Mac's Backpack

Footer

STAY IN TOUCH

You've made it this far, you're either into this site or you're still looking for something. Either way, best to sign up for my newsletter, yeah?

NAVIGATION

  • Recent Posts
  • Backpacking Gear
  • Continental Divide Trail
  • Pacific Crest Trail
  • Brazil Trekking
  • Japan Trekking
  • Nepal Trekking
  • New Zealand Trekking
  • Tasmania Trekking

LEGALESE

  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Copyright © 2023 · Halfway Anywhere