You need a lot of money.

If you pick your destinations/activities/accommodations carefully, you can make your money go a long way. Oftentimes the most expensive thing is the flight. (I use Skyscanner to find the best flight deals.) Airbnbs will usually always be cheaper than hotels. Also, hot take, but I find international trips to be more bang for your buck (depending on where you go!) (Do you know how expensive it is to rent a car these days/Airbnbs for an extended period of time?)

You need to go with others to have fun.

I’ve travelled alone around 10 times in my life, and can attest that I’ve had arguably the most fulfilling experiences during these trips **I love my friends/family!!! (but you get a different type of experience when you go somewhere alone!) Also, you’re never really alone. While the first time I did it it was hard and lonely (it was the summer of 2016 in Copenhagen), I have since found that there are so many places and opportunities to meet new people. If you’re open to being vulnerable (in a safe way), stepping outside your comfort zone, and being open to new experiences, you’ll have the most spontaneous and fun adventures of your life! (More on this topic later!)

It’s still difficult/unsafe to travel now due to covid.

While there are more restrictions in place (you’ll need to get a negative covid test to return back to the U.S. if you travel anywhere internationally), and countries/states each have different restrictions/covid protocols, all it takes is a little more patience and Internet sleuthing to find open places to go. As long as you are fully vaccinated (!!) and follow local regulations wherever you’re going (ie. Wearing a mask, getting regular covid tests if necessary etc.) you can stay protected and keep others safe as well.

You need a lot of time.

You can do a surprisingly amount in just a short period of time. Since we’re all constrained by the number of our PTO days, it pays to make the most of them! It’s hard to imagine two or three days seeming like a long time (after all, in a normal work week that’s just two days of work!) However, you can do a lot in two days while on vacation if you plan correctly.

You need a lot of planning.

I’ve taken many a spontaneous trip where I booked my flight one to two weeks before I left, and they all turned out amazing. Plan smarter, not harder. What would you most like to see/get out of the place(s) that you’re going to? For me, I heavily prioritize eating good, authentic food and visiting local, non touristy attractions, and so I spend most of my time researching places to fit those priorities. I usually use a mix of blogs, TripAdvisor/Yelp reviews, sites like Culture Trip, recommendations, Instagram, Pinterest etc. to plan. (Hopefully you can use my page/site to help you plan your next trip to save you time and energy!) Also, having a healthy mix of planned activities and free blocks allow for spontaneous and unexpected discoveries!