It is strange how some of the most improvised-looking acts can be the best rehearsed. We all love the idea of doing things on the spur of the moment, and those experiences can be among the most memorable, but they can also involve wasted opportunities and disappointments. It pays to have some tricks up your sleeve for those occasions when spontaneity is called for.
Don’t Ditch the Planning
Spontaneity may mean doing things at short notice, but it doesn’t usually mean no notice at all. Even if you have only got a couple of hours, you can usefully draw up an outline of where you want to go and what you want to do. Wherever you go, there may be special things that you can do only in a few places, like swimming with beluga whales; if you don’t know what they are, you may miss the chance to do them at all.
Book Ahead
It may seem to defeat the object of being spontaneous, but if you are away for one or more nights, it’s never a bad idea to book your sleeping stops. The bigger your family the more important this is. With tired kids in the back, turning up and being told there is no room for you is no fun. If you only book ahead one day at a time, it won’t restrict you too much.
Know Your Budget
Before you go, have a rough idea of how much you can afford to spend, and make sure everyone knows the limitations. It can put a damper on the break if one parent is fuming gently as each dollar disappears. If your budget is limited work out together how you are going to save money. Part of your plan will be to discover every free attraction, like these in Ottawa, on the way.
Don’t Break Down
Nothing spoils a quick getaway adventure like spending half a day by the side of the road waiting for a breakdown truck. Even a famously reliable car like a Dodge Journey needs to be checked to make sure that it is ready for a long trip, with a full tank and tires correctly pressurized.
Pack Light
Most people take far too much stuff with them when they travel. Part of the fun of the last minute vacation is to see how little you can get away with. Take the lightest clothing you can for the weather you expect. Pack in soft bags rather than suitcases to make the most of the available space. Don’t forget a first aid kit—you don’t want to have to go miles out of your way to find a pharmacist for a minor injury.
The Perfect Last-Minute Trip?
Last-minute trips are always going to be a bit of a gamble. They can turn out to be among the most memorable of your adventures, or they can become the times you would most like to forget. You don’t need to plan everything weeks ahead, but a few minutes forethought can make all the difference.
