The ultimate guide to ruining your vacation—step-by-step.
How to Ruin Your Vacation in 6 Easy Steps
As you read this, I'm attending an improv class.
I'll share how it went in my next post.
Keep your fingers crossed for me!
Everyone finds happiness in different ways while traveling, so instead of telling you how to have a great trip, I'll share how to guarantee a miserable one from my personal experience.
Want the worst trip ever? Here's how:
Be
late: Missing your accommodations (especially if you paid upfront), excursions, or even your flight is a great start. Sure, you might smooth-talk your way out of it once or twice, but aim to be late for everything and you'll surely be on your way to having a miserable trip.
Overpack your schedule: Fill every minute with activities and stack multiple events at the same time. Visit a museum, eat at a restaurant, and take a tour back-to-back with no breaks. Stay up late, wake up early, and keep going non-stop. Better yet, skip sleep entirely — who
needs rest anyway?
Have unrealistic expectations: Assume every experience will be perfect and feel like one big party. If anything goes wrong, like your rideshare arriving a few minutes late, consider your entire trip ruined. Master this mindset and even a smooth trip will feel disappointing.
Ignore your travel companions: Don't consider their wants or needs because clearly, they know nothing. Your ideas are always the best. When they object, carry on like nothing happened. After all, you're doing them a favor by giving them the opportunity to hang out with you.
Overpack everything: Pack every "just in case" item imaginable. Bring five pairs of
shoes because you might need options. Pack so much that you need help carrying your bags, forcing you to upgrade to a larger vehicle and making public transportation impossible. Turn packing and unpacking into a time-consuming chore that feels like another activity on your itinerary.
Skip all planning: Research is unnecessary if you want a truly miserable trip. Just follow the
crowds of tourists. See people waiting in line? Join them! It must be worth it, even if it's just an overpriced restaurant serving food you could get at home.
Warning: If you don't follow these tips precisely, you might accidentally have fun, even if things start badly.
Keep traveling,
Andrew
Which one of these miserable travel habits are you most guilty of?
Cocktail of the Week
Invented in San Francisco, USA during the late 1800s, the Pisco Punch became legendary at the Bank Exchange Saloon near Montgomery Street. It was crafted by bartender Duncan Nicol, who used Peruvian pisco—a grape brandy—as its star ingredient, giving the cocktail both
exotic flair and unexpected potency.
Ingredients:
• 2 oz Peruvian pisco (preferably Quebranta or Acholado)
• ¾ oz pineapple gum syrup (or simple syrup as substitute)
• ¾ oz fresh lemon
juice
• Pineapple chunks (optional, for garnish)
• Ice
Instructions:
• Fill a shaker with ice
• Add pisco, pineapple syrup, and
lemon juice
• Shake well until chilled
• Strain into a chilled coupe or rocks glass
• Garnish with a pineapple chunk or citrus twist
Random Travel Thought
Plan it once, live it twice — first in thought, then in flight.
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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.
Travel Gear
Compression socks: Sitting for extended periods of time is not good for the body, so keep yourself healthy enough to go on more trips.Link
Apple AirTags: Consider getting Apple AirTags for the peace of mind of always knowing where your luggage is. Link
Smart Phone holder: It's a foldable sheet that can be used as a stand for your iPhone or iPad.Link
Packing cubes: Having a separate container works wonders for keeping
clothes wrinkle-free. It also makes packing/unpacking much easier.Link
Donut Power Strip: Power outlets are always in demand, but sometimes they're in weird spots. I use this bagel because it's lightweight, and I don't have to think about it.Link
Travel Case Organizer: Cable organizers can be a pain, but this is what I use to keep my cables organized. Link
Backup batteries: I like these backup batteries because they have three important components for me: 1. They have enough power to recharge my phone multiple times at once, 2. Are small enough to put in my pocket, and 3. Are sturdy enough to survive a fall. Link
Yoga Mat: I use this thin mat to get my stretching in even when I'm traveling. Link
Jump Rope: It's so easy to bring a jump rope with you for exercise because it
weighs almost nothing and takes up no space. Link
Liquid IV: Great for hydration to keep you from dying. When you're traveling, it's time to live it up! Link
*Above are Affiliate links at no additional cost to you.
