planning overload.
Hi all,
I've posted a couple of times on the blog and found the information really useful, so i'd like to know your views on this question please.
This is what i'm planning to do: Get a one way flight into Buenos Aires or Lima (from san francisco) and book no other flights and transport, basically seeing what happens, who I meet and where to go and what to do whilst i'm there. I dont like planning and dont want to be stuck to specific dates and I want to have an actual real adventure and the only way I can think of having that adventure is being flexible. I'm British but lived overseas for 3 years in the U.S. in San Francisco and been to uni in Newcastle in England so know how to meet people, have fun, party, be independant etc etc. I have my backpack and my guide books, will book accomadation for the first night in a hostel and take it from there. I have no time constraints and am wanting to travel throughout south and central america, travelling to any place as and when I feel like it and therefore not pre booking flights and not having a set itenary, for me its all about the people I meet and the experiences I want to have.
I find thats there is so much information out there and im getting planning paralysis, I just want to go and take it as it comes. Would this be reckless in your opinions or not? I've travelled before but only for a month at a time to China, Oz, Fiji, Thailand, Bali, Cayman Islands, US, Canada so have a pretty good idea of safety etc, but have not done long term travelling (reading the guide books some countries require a return flight to enter so i'll have to deal with that when I come across it) Thanks for your replies and advice
Reply to this Hello Jodewoir 😊
Nothing wrong with what you are doing in my opinion. I dont think it is reckless as long as you have read all the safety and health information in the guide book.
You dont really need a stiff itinery to have an experience. I usually just make a loose plan. Anyway, it is not the first time you have travelled so you basically know what you are doing. A month of backpacking is not much different to several months of it. The only thing I suggest, (but you probably realise this already) is to have some kind of budget to make sure you have the money to cover the amount of time you are going to travel. That does not have to be a rigid plan either. Just an appoximation of how much you will spend every day, with a margin of error for emergencies, replacements....
And, thinking about it before going always makes it seem more complicated than it actually is while you are doing it.
Mel
Reply to this I'm usually a planner but I've only got a rough plan of what I want to do in Europe and I'm going to go with the flow also. The idea makes me a little anxious but there's no point planning heaps and then chaging your mind as you meet people and get different ideas on the road. I figure so long as you've got money anythings possible right? You should be fine. I hope so anyway!
Reply to this I figure so long as you've got money anythings possible right?
Yeah, just make a loose plan about how much you can spend per day and find out if that is realistic. Also, be aware of the safety and health precautions you should take, without getting paranoid. These are the only essential pre travel plans needed.
Reply to this to be honest, i wish id thought of this before heading out, knowing that i have a flight to catch out of the country on a certain in the near future kinda plays on my mind alot, it also stops me from taking another path to my destination (in case it turns out i miss my flight). Ive found that plans changed while traveling so being as flexible as possible can only be a good thing.
Of course its reassuring to know that i have a flight back home should everything go tits up and it does motivate me to try and see as much as i can before boarding the homeward plane.
Traveling one flight at a time with (hopefully) no time constraints is probably the way im gonna travel in future. It will be interesting to read how it differs from having a tight schedule to keep to. All I can say is good luck and happy travels.
Reply to this Keep in mind though, that some countries wont allow you to enter without having a leaving ticket. And sometimes airlines dont want to allow you to board a flight, unless you also have a ticket out of the destination.
Reply to this 
