The beauty of not over-planning your trip

There’s something to be said for spontaneity.

When it comes to traveling, planning has its place, but over-planned, tightly-scheduled trips sometimes feel like work rather than play. Throwing plans out the window has led to some of the most fun-filled, unexpected trips that I have ever taken. Exciting experiences, I am convinced, center on the places and people — not deadlines or timetables.

What makes travel so memorable are the people you meet along the way. Wherever you have the option, opting to stay at a backpacking hostel with a common room (rather than an impersonal hotel) may lead to new acquaintances and interesting conversations — you’ll run into people from every corner of the world, people who most likely share a common interest in the culture and area surrounding you.

Reading hostel reviews on a Web site like www.hostelworld.com can help you select the right hostel for your interests — small vs. large, party hostel vs. quiet sanctuary — you get the idea. For those among us who like to just show up, it’s easy to find available, affordable bookings on this site on short notice.

On my last trip, I chose to stay at a quiet, funky hostel away from the tourist hubs, and ended up bunking with and hiking around a tropical island with four good-natured hippies from three different continents. You don’t always know what you’ll come across, however; at the same hostel I also encountered a fellow traveler who claimed he was a modern-day Viking and vigorously attempted to refute all of the negative stereotypes associated with Vikingdom. I returned from my trip with some wonderful memories and amusing anecdotes, as well as a word of warning to my readers that you may not want to pursue friendships with every random backpacker you meet.

I am also a huge fan of the Web site www.couchsurfing.org, which connects travelers in need of a couch to crash on with couch-owners around the world. It’s especially helpful for traveling in the U.S., where hostel culture lags behind that of, say, Europe and Latin America. Hosts are often friendly, outgoing people (who come with references and evaluations from past couchsurfers) who can help you navigate around a new place and give you insider tips on what to do or see at your destination. My friends who have couchsurfed in the past have had such positive experiences that they often become hosts themselves, although offering up a couch is not necessary to join the couchsurfing community. If you show up in an unfamiliar place, you can also use the website to connect with fellow travelers for coffee or a joint travel excursion.

There’s also something to be said for traveling solo. I love traveling alone — I can set my own pace and do what I want to do without limits. Small groups (two or three people max) of like-minded people are also a good way to go, especially if your destination is less than secure.

Avoid large travel groups, however, at all costs. Even if the group members are close friends, most of the time groups are stress-inducing, tear-your-hair-out logistical nightmares. Hostels, restaurants, public transport, cabs, you name it, have difficulty accommodating large groups on short notice, and traveling with groups means less flexibility and slow decision-making. Travel “groupthink” becomes more common — it’s much easier to get swept along into doing whatever activity you perceive that the group wants to do, and miss out on pursuing your personal interests.

The same rule applies to group tours, cruises and resort vacation packages; save the tame spa vacations for after you’ve had your first hip replacement. Though they require less planning, these options are costly for a college budget and underwhelming in the programming options they offer.

You get a more intimate view of the place you are experiencing when you are away from a suffocating mob of rowdy tourists. As for resorts and spas, why bother traveling to a destination if you remain in the confines of a hotel compound for days on end?

If it is adventure you want, getting out on your own and exploring off-the-main drags of a destination can make all the difference in getting to know the place you are in (disclaimer: this doesn’t mean I think walking down dark allies of crime-ridden cities in a solo effort to get off the beaten track is a good idea. I advocate using common sense and staying alert when traveling).

When scoping out eateries, peek in and look at the patrons before sitting down — if the place is popular and filled with locals, rather than camera-toting sightseers, chances are you’ve stumbled upon a good meal. If you’re a college student, you can stretch your budget by picking up a few meals from a market or a street vendor or by cooking for yourself rather than dining in a restaurant. Contacting friends, or friends of friends, familiar with your destination can lead to some great recommendations or even a place to crash for a night.

Some readers may be resistant or uncomfortable with what I am advocating here: getting off the beaten path and embracing the unexpected. Never fear; for those among us who thrive on order rather than chaos, I recommend using www.tripit.com, which allows you to forward confirmation emails for flights, accommodations, appointments and other information to a free personal account.

Tripit automatically consolidates everything into a neat, printable itinerary compete with maps, phone and tracking numbers and contact information; you can also share your travel plans with fellow travelers, friends and relatives.

For the less-than-organized among us, me included, this site is a life-saver. The important thing to remember, however, is that the best parts of a trip are often the parts that aren’t found on any itinerary.