Why You’re Missing Out if You Don’t Have a Plan

I went tailgating for the Eagles game yesterday and I had a lot of fun. 

🦅

Thank god I wrote this the day before because I didn’t do anything post tailgating. LOL

Being back home feels good. 

A couple of weeks ago I criticized “over-planners,” but then I remembered that some people make no plans at all! In my experience, not having any plans can ruin your trip for the following reasons:

More susceptible to tourist traps: The locals prefer to go to lesser-known, local spots rather than popular attractions that tourists flock to.

Inefficient: Without a plan, you might end up revisiting multiple places unnecessarily, wasting time that could have been better spent. This is especially important for Americans who have limited vacation time and can't afford inefficiency.

More time waiting in line: Going with the flow means you won't know how to skip long lines, which can greatly diminish your travel experience. Waiting in line for an entire trip is frustrating, particularly at popular destinations like Paris where you can spend the entire day waiting.

Lack of appreciation for what you're seeing: For example, many people dislike museums because they don't understand the context, history, and connections between exhibits. Without doing any research, you're missing out on fully enjoying your trip and immersing yourself in the culture.

Exploring the wrong locations: How do you know which areas to explore? There's a significant difference between exploring a corporate city center versus a bohemian neighborhood where artists reside. Many travelers spend their time sightseeing at tourist traps without experiencing the local culture.

The common excuse is that trip planning is difficult and requires a lot of effort. Yes, that's true. That's why you should read my blog and share it with your friends.

But wait…there's more! People who rely on others to do all the planning may not have their preferences fully considered. They might miss out on the best bars and attractions.

The inconvenient truth is that those who plan their own trips and do the research often enjoy themselves more because they get to experience the excitement multiple times during the planning process and truly understand what they’re seeing.

Are you on team “over-planner” or on team “go with the flow?”

Cocktail of the Week

The international cocktail from Japan is called the Yuzu Sour. Yuzu is a Japanese citrus fruit that is similar to lemon, and this cocktail originated in Japan as a way to highlight the unique flavor of yuzu.

Recipe:

• 2 oz. Japanese whisky
• 1 oz. yuzu juice
• 1 oz. simple syrup
• 1 egg white
• Ice

Instructions:

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Add Japanese whisky, yuzu juice, simple syrup, and egg white into the shaker.
3. Shake well for at least 30 seconds.
4. Strain mixture into a glass filled with ice.
5. Garnish with a slice of yuzu if desired.
6. Enjoy your refreshing Yuzu Sour!

Random Travel Thought

Go Eagles!

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The Plug

Cheap flights:

• Going.com*: This might be the only discounted flights website you need. It’s a paid service that sends you notifications when deals become available, but they expire in a couple of days so Act Fast!! 
• Secret Flying 🤫: This website emails you about free flight opportunities and even better… it doesn’t cost a thing!!
• Skyscanner: An older, but still reliable website that’s also *FREE* so there’s no reason not to use it. Use the "Explore the World" feature and set your departure date to "Whole Month" to find the cheapest deals.

Insurance:

• Safety Wing*: I use Safety Wing as my travel insurance because the plans are flexible. You can easily insure a 1-week trip for like $11 dollars which is less than the cost of a cocktail at the bar.
  
  *Affiliate links at no additional cost to you.

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