I Planned and Booked a Trip to Europe in Less Than 5 Days
Credit: Somewhere Else Studios
Let’s get this straight: I’m a type-A, must-have-a-plan, need to know the itinerary, kind of person. But when the opportunity arose to visit Europe in mid-September with very little time to plan, I couldn’t pass it up. The few other times I’ve traveled to Europe, the trips were planned well in advance with a long list of must-eats, must-dos, and must-stays. This time would be different, leaving me with an exhilarating sense of thrill and spontaneity.
I debated several European destinations, but my partner and I ultimately settled on traveling to Portugal. A few things played into this decision. Firstly, we wanted to stay in one country since our trip would be for just seven days (no trains or additional planes!). Second, Portugal seemed to have everything we wanted during this time of year—beautiful beaches, an incredible food and wine scene, and charming cities to explore. Lastly, I honestly didn’t know too much about the country of Portugal before visiting—which, for me, helped lessen any expectations or must-dos that I would typically have before a trip.
Credit: Somewhere Else Studios
After spending three hours researching flights and boutique hotels and mapping out our route for our quick road trip across Portugal, everything was coming together pretty seamlessly. The flights were booked with some help of credit card points, a car was rented for when we arrived at the Lisbon airport, and (most) of the hotels I discovered happened to have availability. We planned a route based on our booked hotels, traveling through Lisbon, Lagos, and Comporta. A couple of dinner reservations were made (certainly thrilled we booked Cervejaria Ramiro and Cielo), but other than that, our days were wide open for wandering a new destination, stumbling upon hidden gems, and taking the journey day by day.
Coming from the West Coast, the flight chosen wasn’t the most ideal. However, there wasn’t a direct flight to Portugal, so a long travel day with a (long) layover was unavoidable.
Overall, planning and executing a trip to Europe with very little time to plan was well worth it. Although I’m an itinerary type of traveler, I have a newfound perspective on exploring a destination without having everything mapped out beforehand. Surely, there is a time and a place for a well-planned trip with a thoughtful schedule—but it’s reassuring to know that doesn’t always have to be the case.
To travel is a privilege and this trip was a reminder of what traveling is all about: disconnecting from an everyday routine to be surrounded by a new culture, saying yes, stumbling upon the local weekend market, and ultimately coming home with a new perspective.
Credit: Somewhere Else Studios
