An ode to spontaneous travel

The world is becoming an increasingly organised and bureaucratic place. I write these words during a time when the British government has recently begun to lift restrictions and allow shops, bars, and, amongst others and perhaps most important of all, hairdressers. The feelings of relief to have these freedoms returned to us is palpable. The news is filled with images of winding queues to enter Primark’s all over the country and people shivering as they drink their pints and cocktails in cold beer gardens.

Given the long lockdowns faced both here and all over the world, this freedom is of course to be welcomed and celebrated. However, for me it seems that society will be divided into two factions at this time: the organised and the disorganised (not to be confused with the unorganised). With many places requiring pre-booked appointments, those who enjoy living life according to schedules will prosper; they will dominate the beer gardens whilst others sit regretfully at home because they failed to anticipate they would crave a beer one week in advance.

I use the word disorganised not in a negative sense, the opposite in fact. I use it to define those people, myself included, who don’t plan their every move; those people who are always ready for a spontaneous trip to the bar after word; those people whose weekend with no plans can transform into a spontaneous, wild weekend on one simple suggestion.

Neither way of being is better than the other, they are simply two alternate lifestyles that are suited to different people with different mentalities and personalities. However, as life becomes more scheduled, hopefully temporarily, for the loyal members of the ‘disorganised’ clan life will lose those most enjoyable unplanned moments in which they thrive.

Even more so than in everyday life, the freedom of spontaneity can lead to so many opportunities and experiences when travelling (as I hope this blog testifies too). I understand that for some people they will never be comfortable without a comprehensive itinerary, nevertheless I hope they can be inspired to try it even on a far smaller scale. You don’t have to take a one-way flight and have no plans for an entire trip, but simply try leaving your accommodation and exploring a neighbourhood until you find a bar or cafe that catches your eye and give it a chance.

After finishing university in 2019, and with minimal travelling experience, I took this concept to its extreme. I booked a one-way flight to Copenhagen, packed my bag (at the last minute, naturally) and left. I had no itinerary, no advanced bookings, only the knowledge that until my graduation ceremony in three months time I had no responsibilities.

For the next three months I lived one day at a time. I traveled to a city, found a hostel and booked one night. If I was enjoying the city (for example, Ghent became one of my favourite cities) I extended my stay by one more night and so on; if I wasn’t then I found a bus/train and moved on (I spent little more than a couple of hours in Pisa). I was never stuck in a location I didn’t enjoy for more than an evening, rarely bored.

Moving from hostel to hostel I met countless fellow travellers, from weekend visitors to backpackers who had been on the road for months or even years. These people were a treasure trove of information and recommendations and with no commitments I could comfortably fit them into my plans. Places I had never heard of, unknown to the vast majority of tourists, became some of my favourite memories from the trip.

Similarly these people are more than just information sources to be exploited, they are like-minded individuals having the same experience as you. In the space of one evening it is not uncommon for someone to go from a stranger you met in the hostel to a travel companion for days if not weeks into the future. There is something about talking to a stranger in a hostel that allows you to open up often more than you would do to a close friend, a phenomenon I intend to write about further in the future.

Unscheduled travel allows for the spontaneity that can often lead to adventures and experiences that are simply impossible to be planned, like those evidenced on this website. The freedom of flexibility, combined with a willingness to take chances and an openness to new experiences, leads to exciting opportunities. At times things may go wrong, but more often than not can lead to the highlight of your trip.

Posted: 15/04/2021

Written by: Tom Taylor (@tomtayloor)