Bright impressions and new acquaintances: why you should try spontaneous trips

Planning a vacation often involves months of research, asking friends for recommendations, developing a spending strategy, booking tickets, and other preparations for a pleasant escape from everyday life. But this is not the only way to travel. Many people like to travel at the last minute.

Spontaneous travel is a great way to let flexibility be your guide and explore destinations that weren't necessarily on your radar. Don't hesitate to step outside your comfort zone. And it doesn't necessarily mean you have to spend more money," writes HuffPost.

"Spontaneous travel is one of my favorite ways to travel," travel blogger Rocky Trifari tells HuffPost. "Spontaneity relieves a lot of the stress that comes from heavy planning and anticipation of a trip. It can even inspire the realization that in some cases, the planning procedures we usually follow are not as necessary as we convince ourselves."

"It's unlikely that anyone will come back from a trip regretting having taken it, and besides, a spontaneous trip doesn't have to mean booking a ticket the day before and traveling a month in advance," says Katie Nastro, a spokesperson for Scott's Cheap Flights. "It can even be an accidentally found favorable fare, a booking for a week or a long weekend when you didn't intend to go on this trip at all."

Below, experts talk about the benefits of spontaneous travel and share their tips on how to get the most out of a last-minute trip.

Spontaneous travel brings more pleasure

"The advantage of spontaneous travel is that it allows you to be more present," says travel blogger Esther Susag. "Instead of making sure you've checked off everything on your planned itinerary, you can enjoy it and not feel the pressure of having to rush to the next stop."

Such trips tend to have a simpler itinerary - or no itinerary at all - making them slower and more relaxing.

"In spontaneous travel, you don't have time to think of every 'best spot' to see, so when you arrive and find something you like, you don't have the urge to leave immediately to do everything," says Susan.

There is a greater openness to new experiences

In October, the Skyscanner team published a report on the benefits of spontaneous travel for happiness, created in collaboration with psychologist Emma Kenney.

Kenney "noted that spontaneous travel helps foster a "can do" attitude and reminds travelers of the endless possibilities that await them," says Laura Lindsay, Skyscanner's travel trends expert. "When travelers can live in the moment, they can experience the thrill of adventure without the stress of planning a trip and making all the decisions involved."

Tripari echoes this sentiment, noting that he recently took a great last-minute trip to Chicago and unexpectedly made lifelong friends.

"Spontaneous travel is a way to meet new people, discover places you might never have gone to, and helps prevent decision paralysis that stops many people from traveling," he says.

You can discover new facets of your travel personality

"For the more organized Type A traveler, spontaneous travel can allow them to approach travel in a new way, and they may be surprised at how much they enjoy having a more flexible schedule, and they may even find that they are less stressed overall," Susan notes.

Mental health benefits

"There are countless studies that confirm that travelers are healthier, happier, and more productive than non-travelers, and when you add spontaneity to the mix, you can expect to see an increase in all of the above," says Nastro. "Spontaneous travel can free us from daily stresses, stimulate creativity and an overall sense of adventure as we immerse ourselves in a new place."

At a time when many of us live on a schedule, she emphasizes the value of breaking away from the routine by taking a last-minute trip. This can be especially helpful if you feel a little stuck in a rut.

"And while a super-long and well-planned vacation can be amazing, it doesn't necessarily mean you'll feel changed throughout your trip," says Nastro. "A Dutch study conducted at Radboud University Nijmegen found that the length of a trip does not necessarily correlate with improved health and well-being, as respondents indicated that their health and well-being peaked on the eighth day, returning to pre-trip levels, so three one-week trips may be better than one three-week trip, for example, for overall well-being."

Spontaneous travel may seem daunting and unusual at first, but the experts HuffPost spoke to shared tips on how to get the most out of it.

Be strategic when choosing flights

"My advice to anyone who wants to try spontaneous travel is to be strategic about buying airline tickets," says Susag. "It's a great opportunity to use the credit card points you've been saving up and save some money."

Don't be afraid to book each part of your trip with a different airline, especially if you have a small amount of loyalty points with different companies.

"Try to fly on weekdays. Flight prices are usually cheaper during the week as opposed to the weekend," adds Susan.

Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the best days to fly in terms of cost, crowds, and flight cancellations, so book your tickets for these days if possible.

"Being able to work remotely in another location for a day or two can help maximize your vacation time if you're short on vacation days," Nastro says.

Grab the best deals when they come along

"If an opportunity arises, grab it!" urges Triphari. "Keep an eye on airfare prices, keep in touch with friends or family who might be interested in traveling with you, and look for deals online." Many websites and apps offer travel deals, such as The Points Guy and Scott's Cheap Flights.

"If you see something that makes sense for your wallet - a flight, accommodation, or itinerary - book it," says Trifari. "You can ask around and create a trip with memories that will last a lifetime. Even if you're traveling alone, independent adventures can be some of the most rewarding a person can have."

Keep your itinerary short and simple

Resist the urge to cram a bunch of adventures or last-minute bookings into your itinerary. This goes against the spirit of spontaneous travel.

"For people who are good planners but are thinking about their first spontaneous trip, try to plan only one big activity or place to visit per day," says Susan. "This way you'll cross things off your list that you want to do, but still allow yourself to leave room for flexibility and unplanned adventures."

Book accommodation with a free cancellation policy

"The first thing I do before I even decide if I'm going to go somewhere on a spontaneous trip is to book a hotel with a free cancellation policy as soon as I think about going," says Susag. "That way, I have a decent place to stay as a backup, and I can always look for better options."

Another important factor when choosing an accommodation is its location.

"I also try to find accommodation as close to the center as possible, and I promise that it makes a spontaneous and unplanned trip somewhere much easier and less stressful," says Susag.

Be flexible in choosing your destination

"For a traveler, price is almost always the deciding factor when booking airline tickets. However, often we are limited by dates or destination and don't think about flexibility, when in fact flexibility is the key to finding great deals," says Nastro.

She recommends looking for flight options based on a broader region, such as Southern Europe, rather than a specific country like Spain. You might stumble upon a surprising destination that is less familiar, or find an opportunity to rediscover a place you haven't visited in years.

Travel search engines and other third-party sites make it easy to find great deals if you cast a wide net.

Consider the off-season

"Try to go during the off-season," Nastro advises. "Not only are airfares significantly lower, but all other aspects of travel, such as car rentals and hotels, are more affordable during the low season."

Research the peak and low seasons in the destinations you are considering. For many, this is right after the winter holidays.

"January and February are the least traveled months of the year, but that's when airfare is usually the cheapest and you can find a lot of cheap deals, whether you're traveling in warm or cold weather," says Nastro. "Far fewer people travel during the winter holidays, so for those looking for spontaneous last-minute deals, it can be a great time."

Be flexible with the dates as well as the destination

"Searching for multiple dates and airports will give you the best chance of finding a good deal," says Lindsey. "Airfares are based on supply and demand. Since some dates are more popular than others, prices will vary. The 'whole month' search tool allows you to see cheap flights at a glance and choose the best deal for you."

Find a spontaneity friend

"If you struggle with being spontaneous and know you need an extra push to get out of your comfort zone, ask your partner, best friend, or parents for help," Lindsey recommends. "Ask them to plan some fun trips and arrange for them to tell you where you're going only a few hours before you need to leave!"

Then you can repay the favor by going on your next unexpected trip. The key to spontaneous travel is to find a system that works best for you.