Note: Check out #ttot (Travel Talk on Twitter) to see what other people are saying about the topic of the week.
This new set of blog posts cover the weekly Travel Talk on Twitter topic. Each week, a contributor suggests a hot topic in travel, and a community of bloggers, social media wizards and travellers flood the internet with inspiring and creative ideas about how and where to travel next.
This week, #ttot is focusing on spontaneous getaways. As exciting as taking any trip is, sometimes all the time and energy spent planning in advance can be tiring, or even stressful. Taking a spontaneous getaway can be the perfect pick-me-up after an especially rough work week, a romantic way to travel with a significant other, or a way to escape on your own for a quick trip.
Here are a couple tips for (last-minute) planning of a spontaneous getaway, and some of our dream getaway locations:
Tip 1: Pack light
No matter where you’re going, you don’t want a heavy bag weighing you down. It’s easy to pick up additional necessities when you reach you destination, but if you’re heading out of town in a hurry, there’s no reason to add the headache of checked luggage to your trip.
Image source: Wikimedia
Tip 2: The internet is your friend – at least before you leave town.
Whether you’re going to a remote Redwoods campsite or seeing the sights of Venice, you’re going to want to know what not to miss before you jump on the plane. Leave the guidebook at home, and stick to websites like Yelp, TripAdvisor and even Google Maps to give you a baseline of information about the place you’re heading to. That way, if you want to go off the grid when you arrive, you’re at least familiar with the basics of your destination.
Spontaneous Getaway 1: Wine Country, BC
Check out Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley for wine-tasting, day hikes and fine dining. This stunning part of British Columbia’s interior might not be as well-known as metropolitan Vancouver, but that just means you have more of the fresh mountain air to yourself. A beautiful 4-hour drive from Vancouver, Kelowna is perfect for a spur of the moment weekend trip.
Image source: Wikipedia
Spontaneous Getaway 2: Savannah, GA
The Southeastern US is often overlooked as a travel destination, but the picturesque architecture and tree-lined streets of Savannah are not to be missed. Known for ghost tours, trolley tours and its historic district, Savannah is full of Southern charm. With average winter temperatures staying comfortably above freezing, it’s perfect for a getaway any time of the year.
Image source: Wikipedia
Spontaneous Getaway 3: Auckland, New Zealand
The combination of urban and outdoors make Auckland an exciting destination for any type of traveller. Whether you want to lounge on the black sand beaches, climb to the rim of a volcano or get the best view of the city from the top of Sky Tower, Auckland has plenty to offer. It’s also a great place for families, with plenty of cultural attractions featuring native Maori art and performance and a massive petting zoo/wool producer that goes by the name of Sheep World.
Image source: Wikimedia
Does spontaneous travel sound good to you? Our agents would love to help you out. Have you taken a last-minute trip? We want to hear about it! Share your story in the comment section.
