My neighbor's story made me rethink how I plan trips

I was chatting with my neighbor Mrs. Garcia last week about her trip to Portugal. She's 72 and travels on a fixed income, so I figured she'd have some good tips. But what really hit me was when she said she never books anything more than two weeks ahead. She told me 'planning too much locks you into spending more.' At first I thought that sounded risky. But then she explained how she finds last minute deals on bus tickets and hostel rooms by just showing up and asking around. She spent 3 weeks in the Algarve for under $800 total. It made me realize I've been overplanning my trips and probably missing out on cheaper spontaneous options. Has anyone else tried this kind of loose planning? How do you handle it when popular spots are booked up?

2 comments

2 Comments

rosew371mo ago

Wait, under $800 for THREE weeks in the Algarve? That's wild.

wilson.emma1mo ago

Oh totally! I stayed in a little place near Lagos last year and it was like 25 euros a night for a studio (not even a hostel, mind you). The trick is going in May or September when flights are cheap and the crowds thin out. Plus you can live on grilled sardines and pastel de nata for basically nothing - eating out is crazy affordable if you skip the tourist traps. I honestly spent more on sunscreen than accommodation.