Wild & crazy travel plan, for us at least

[Midpack]

In a few weeks, we’re heading off for 8 days, with nothing booked and no itinerary - that’ll be a first for us and a huge departure from our past. We’ve had vacations as long as two weeks where activities and every meal was planned for every day, and of course hotel(s) were booked.

This time we’ll head for a city 800+ miles away in a state we’ve never been to, and spend at least one day there, more if it’s interesting. Then off to wherever else we want to go, though we have a handful of likely other city/states (more than we’ll have time to visit so we’ll have to make choices). We’ll book hotels as we go, since we don’t know how long we’ll stay or where we’ll go. And we’ll decide what we want to eat or what we want to do by maybe researching online, maybe just listening to local suggestions or maybe just whatever we drive up on that looks interesting. We’re doing a little advance research online, but nothing rigorous. Admittedly smartphones certainly make this approach much easier, it would’ve been harder to manage pre mobile/internet.

Any else made such a radical change in travel MO? And how did it go (he asks with some trepidation)? I’d imagine it’s more common with RVers, but pure guessing on my part.

If we don’t like it, we won’t do it again. Life is short, why not try new things, that’s how I see it anyway...

 

[ivinsfan]

Are you going to tell us where so we can share our collective wisdom about fun things to do?

 

[audreyh1]

When we switched from occasional RV trips to full time we totally made that change - no reservations, just wandered as we pleased. Of course, we had no time limit and carrying our own house with us we could literally stop anywhere.

Went on for five years! LOL!

 

[RetireAge50]

Cool. Sounds great!

Last month we did a 3 week one like this.

Ended up seeing Bryce, Zion, Las Vegas, Palm Springs, and Disneyland before heading back home.

 

[exnavynuke]

A few years ago I asked a friend to help me find an all inclusive resort, on a beach, with a Casino on a Wednesday. I booked my all-inclusive trip to Punta Cana the next day. I arrived there the following Monday. That was pretty unusual planning for me.

 

[cathy63]

We did a trip like that some years ago. DD was still living at home and went off on a school trip, so we decided to take a road trip ourselves.

We knew our first destination would be Williams, AZ and the train to the Grand Canyon, but after that we just wandered, staying in motels and stopping at whatever roadside attractions seemed interesting. We went as far east as Albuquerque before turning south and then west again towards home. We had a great time and definitely saw some fun places we'd probably never have stopped at on a planned trip.

 

[flintnational]

Before the internet or wide spread cell phones, we took a trip to England and Scotland for about 10 days. We only had reservations at a couple of spots. We used a "Good Pub Guide" and a "Good B&B Guide". We hit the road in a rental car and stopped for lunch using the Pub Guide. If we liked the area we would start calling the B&B's. It was one of our favorite trips. Have fun.

 

[Just_Steve]

When me and DW take off on our own that is often our MO for traveling around.
We pick a direction of travel and go.
Late last summer picked north to New Hampshire wound up on top of Mt Washington, then decided to go to Boston spent two days then wound up on Cape Cod for a few days.

Early last summer picked south, stopped in Ocean City MD for a few days, then had a craving for cheese steaks and went to Philly for a couple of days then wound up in Atlantic City trying my luck at the casinos.

No pre booking hotels no research into dining just a wing and a pryer.
When we traveled with the kids we always pre booked, DW and I travel well together and are fine with 1 star lodging for a night or two.

 

[Midpack]

Very encouraging replies so far! Only took us 60+ years to be “spontaneous”...we’re really looking forward to our adventure. We’re headed to VA and may end up in NC too this trip.

 

[Gumby]

Due to time constraints imposed by the need to w*rk, we have always planned out our trips. However, after we retire next year, I expect to travel in the manner you describe. Good luck! I look forward to hearing about your adventure.

 

[txtig]

DW and I will be heading out around the first of April for 6 to 8 weeks on an RV trip with no firm itinerary other than meeting up with some Bay Area friends for a four or five day Napa Valley wine tour. Hope to see some of the western National Parks, but try not to plan more than a day or two in advance. Only constraint that DW doesn’t want to be away from the grandbabies for too long.

 

[Bamaman]

Good for you. This world could use more free spirits.

Coming out of Chicago area? Try Nashville, Gatlinburg and Asheville.

 

[Nemo2]

Back about ten years, when DW was still employed, we'd take road trips on her vacation.......had a rough itinerary 'planned'......but after overnighting with friends in Southern Ontario I took a wrong turn on the highway......said "The hell with it, I'm not going back...let's go counterclockwise instead of clockwise"......serendipity, I hear your call.

 

[Dtail]

Very interesting. Was thinking about this traveling concept, but not just ready to "schedule" it. lol

 

[Teacher Terry]

txtig: you may find it difficult to find lodging close to the western National Parks if you just win it. They get very crowded during summer and it can take a while just to drive through the park to a motel right outside of it let alone being a long ways away. YOu may end up spending much of your time driving. We usually have reservations, etc but on the last month RV trip after seeing the last of our planned sights we just winged it the last week on the way home. We ended up finding a RV park on a river with natural hot springs and originally planned to stay for 1 night and stayed 4. In general if taking the RV we need reservations because not all parks take dogs and some will not take 3 even if 2 are around 5 lbs. Chains are bad about this but individually owned are usually more flexible. Also when we fly somewhere and travel I like to have reservations so I can find the best deals for the nicest places. So while we know where we will be staying we don't decide on activities until we arrive.

 

[sengsational]

When we travel by car, we never have advanced hotel reservations. Our destination usually is a set place and date (typically family). When we RV'd (rented), I booked all stops, but with the car, it's nice to just say "we'll take 5 days to get there". We're not real picky about a place to sleep...modern and clean, but so what if we overlook the dumpster? We're only there to sleep. We even did that type of travel in Spain, thanks to the increased confidence of knowing the price and even paying for it before arriving (mobile booking). There, we ended-up with some really fantastic spots, but only because there were no hotel chains to pick from, lol! Maybe one of these days I'll use mom and pop places routinely (but only after checking other user feedback, methinks).

If you end-up in the piedmont of NC, give me a shout.

 

[Ronstar]

We’ve done several multi state road trips each year since we’ve retired. I book hotels in advance with somewhat of a plan. I do allow time for unexpected stops. But I would like to try a crazy plan where we just take off and end up staying places and doing things that are unplanned.

 

[Taxman59]

When I retired, we had plans for 4th of July and the week after. Then at the end of the month, we needed to be in Wisconsin for a family reunion. In between, we drove and stopped when we wanted to. Once we had trouble finding a place to stay and had to drive about 45 minutes out of the way to find a place (overpriced and crowded). other than that one time, it was fun and all worked out.

BTW, DW likes to plan every stop and have reservations for everything. It was uncomfortable for her at first, then she relaxed and had a good time.

 

[omni550]

I've done a ton of free-form travel (in U.S., Canada, Europe, New Zealand, etc.) and feel somewhat stifled if I am on an over-organized trip or cruise.

I remember heading out on a car trip about 30 years ago with then-BF...having no literally idea where we were going and flipping a coin when we got to the interstate to select which direction we would head (East or West...ended up in Boston on that particular trip.)

Different-BF and I headed out on a camping trip 20-25 years ago, driving to western NY state...but had no agenda or set plan...ended up camping around the finger lakes, visiting Ithaca, Corning (getting a wonderful kitten there, who camped with us for a few nights before we headed home with her).

A California friend and I met up in Vancouver and drove 2500 miles in 2.5 weeks. We only had reservations (for us and rental car) for a ferry to/from the Haida Gwai Islands and another reservation (for us and rental car) for the Intercoastal trip from Prince Rupert to the northern tip of Vancouver Island. We stayed at hotels, motels, and BnBs.

Great times and memories.

With cell phones, free-form traveling is a walk-in-the-park these days.

Try it, you might like it!

omni

 

[Nemo2]

BTW, DW likes to plan every stop and have reservations for everything.

About 34 years ago, on an R&R from Saudi, I hooked up with my ex-wife and the guy she was with, (a Toronto cop).............he very proudly told me about a road trip they'd made, from Toronto to Florida.

"I planned it like a military operation" he said, (even the rest stops/potty breaks were scheduled...with no deviations).

My (unspoken) reaction was "I'll bet she just ***** loved that".

 

[Dtail]

About 34 years ago, on an R&R from Saudi, I hooked up with my ex-wife and the guy she was with, (a Toronto cop).............he very proudly told me about a road trip they'd made, from Toronto to Florida.

"I planned it like a military operation" he said, (even the rest stops/potty breaks were scheduled...with no deviations).

My (unspoken) reaction was "I'll bet she just ***** loved that".

Hopefully the lines weren't long at the potty breaks.

 

[txtig]

Wild & crazy travel plan, for us at least

txtig: you may find it difficult to find lodging close to the western National Parks if you just win it. They get very crowded during summer.

I thought about that. But, we plan to be traveling the months of April and May, so maybe the parks won’t be so crowded since school won’t be out yet? Anyways, that our plan (or lack thereof). Hope it works out. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[ivinsfan]

I thought about that. But, we plan to be traveling the months of April and May, so maybe the parks won’t be so crowded since school won’t be out yet? Anyways, that our plan (or lack thereof). Hope it works out. Thanks for the feedback.

Certain parks never really have off season...that just means you might not be in close proximity to the park. Was in Moab one September and every motel had a note on their front door that said no rooms available.

 

[KCGeezer]

A buddy of mine and I took off in his ‘68 Shelby convertible towing his folks pop up trailer back in 1977 heading west. Spent June through October traveling a little less than 5000 miles throughout the western half of the US. We had spent weeks making 8 track tapes to play while we drove.

The only ‘snap’ decision we had to make was when a ranger came to our campsite and said we’d either need to get over a pass in Colorado before they closed it or plan on being snowed in for a few days. Good times.

 

[ocean view]

Very encouraging replies so far! Only took us 60+ years to be “spontaneous”...we’re really looking forward to our adventure. We’re headed to VA and may end up in NC too this trip.

What type of personality do you have? Are you a “planner” for non-vacation living? Are you comfortable being spontaneous in general?

I ask because a year or so ago we planned to take a vacation similar to what you’ve described, but I am a planner and had a VERY hard time being spontaneous. I’d like to try again, maybe with an RV next time, hopefully with a better result...

I hope it works out for you. Let us know the outcome.