5 tips for the spontaneous traveller

Good spontaneous travellers have things ready to go.

Spontaneous travel has been off the menu now for quite some time. Many put off travelling altogether in 2020, but those who wanted to brave the skies, even the idea of taking a spur-of-the-moment trip was simply out of the question. Safe travel in 2020 required more careful consideration and planning than ever before.

That’s all well and good when travellers have to make do with what they’ve got, but the hope is that it will turn around at some point this year. While things aren’t safe just yet, the gradual spread of successful coronavirus vaccinations should make the second half a safer bet when it comes to travel.

Condé Nast did an excellent write-up as to why this is the case, highlighting specific destinations (such as Tokyo and Italy), the need for wellness retreats, the opportunity to work remotely abroad, and so on.

All of these should factor into a busy latter half of the year for travel enthusiasts if things start to open, with pent-up demand ready to get the travel ball rolling.

I’d also add spontaneity to the list, as it’s simply been too long since we were able to book something when and where we wanted to go.

So, while many of us will have to remain stationary for a bit longer. I wanted to share some handy travel tips for the spontaneous traveller.

A maintained travel kit saves time

I’m not quite so spontaneous as to have a weekend bag packed at all times. However, I do quite like to have a small stash of travel-specific items ready to go at a moment’s notice. For me, that means having a stock of small travel toiletries kit, charged camera batteries, a pen and paper and some sunglasses ready to go.

On top of these personal choices, I’d also suggest making sure your passport is in-date with plenty of validity (at least six months) and is kept in a safe place. For what it’s worth, The Week estimates that it usually takes about three weeks to renew a passport these days, so plan accordingly.

Don’t put off replacing worn luggage

A man walks through London with his lugagge.

Here’s something I’ve certainly been guilty of before - recognising that my luggage is in a state of disrepair only to have a trip come up and realise I’ve done nothing about it.

It’s not quite a tragedy unless your luggage is fully broken, but this is nonetheless a good problem to take care of the moment you notice it. So, if you have bags you’d like to upgrade and you’re hoping for some trips later this year, finish reading this post and start looking for new luggage!

Even recently, when I was in Mexico, one of the zips broke off my suitcase so I couldn’t lock my suitcase, and I just had to hope for three weeks that the other zip remained intact. Suffice to say, I replaced it straight away when I got home.

Quick shipping times from UK retailers

If it comes to pass that you need something that isn’t in your travel kit, or you do need new luggage or some other item for your trip, keep in mind also that large retailers in the UK (as well as in many other parts of the world) can typically ship quite quickly.

Amazon is famously efficient if you’re a Prime member and select the right shipping option. Additionally, a guide posted by Groupon makes it clear that Very - one of the handiest all-purpose retailers in the UK - can ship items to you the next day for just £3.99 if you’re able to order before 7pm.

Booking and lodging apps are your friends

Most of your travel documentation can now be searched for and stored in one place - on your mobile device.

Another recommendation I have is to start exploring booking and lodging apps and get familiar with a few you like. I won’t point to specific options, because the truth is there are a ton of them that function fairly similarly. It’s mostly a matter of preference.

But if you get to know these apps, you’ll start to learn how to utilise them effectively and to spot the best deals. That way, if you do decide to try a trip on a whim, you’ll be able to find cheap transit and affordable accommodation wherever you’re headed.

Quick trip guides are useful when you don’t have much time

Finally - and this is as much for fun as for actual travel planning, if you happen to suffer from severe wanderlust - opt for a “quick” travel guide! Posts like 72 Hours In Budapest and Quick travel guide: Berlin, Germany and others like it you may have seen here are good for showcasing destination highlights in a way that gets you what you need to know, quickly.

Rather than simply telling you what the top-10 bars or landmarks in a given city are, well-executed mini-trip guides give you a roadmap for how to get the most out of a place.