Travel Tip: Don’t Expect Perfection

Sometimes we set ourselves up.

Preliving a perfect trip inevitably leads to disappointment.

That’s not a typo. I really do mean “preliving” as opposed to “reliving” Hmm…maybe I have coined a new word…preliving.

Anyways. Reliving a perfect trip would not lead to disappointment. If the trip really was perfect, reliving it could only bring happy memories and a warm cozy feeling.

Preliving a perfect trip sets you up for disappointment because rarely is there a trip that does not have some sort of hiccup. Like the time our plane arrived late in Zurich and as we deplaned efficient airline staff informed us that sadly our booked flight to Nice, France had already departed but they would do their very best to get us on the earliest available flight. Upon reflection spending eight hours within the secure zone of Zurich airport is not all that bad…it’s a beautiful airport with lots of things to do.

Or the time a tire (tyre) on our rental car got a puncture while we were driving in rural England. Locating a tyre repair shop was not on our intended agenda but it did lead to meeting wonderful local people who went out of their way to help us and regaled us with stories about their lives and the local community while we waited.

And then there was the time…Well, you get the idea.

The point is when traveling one needs to be flexible enough to deal with what the journey presents. (And I just know  my husband is going to remind me of that statement when next something goes awry.)

Preliving a “perfect trip” assumes you know what perfection is. For me a perfect trip would include museums, art galleries, historical sites and monuments. For my husband a perfect trip would revolve around walking the streets visiting local hardware stores, electronics shops, and corner grocery stores to see what kind of products are common in this country. Obviously a “perfect trip” would be different for each of us.

Perhaps your prelived trip…maybe I really mean your imagined trip…includes the expectation that everything will be done the same way it is done at home. If that is the case, you are in for a huge shock.

Some countries do things much more efficiently than your country does. (You didn’t expect that statement, did you.) Some countries do things less efficiently than you do at home. But in every country you have to be prepared to accept that things are done differently here. What is that old saying…”When in Rome…” Well, it is true! If you expect everything to be just like at home, you will be disappointed.

But do not confuse “preliving” with “preplanning”. These are two different things. While I do know people who literally come to an intersection and decide which way to turn and that’s where they go no matter where it may lead them, that’s not my style.

Before leaving home know which transportation modes work best where you’re going and whether it is cheaper to book it from home. For example, in Argentina buses are the way to travel. In Japan, train travel is most efficient. Did you know that train travel in Japan is considerably less expensive for tourists BUT you must apply for and pay for the rail pass several weeks before leaving your home country. Upon arrival at the airport in Japan you exchange your voucher for a physical pass. These special rate passes can not be purchased once you are in Japan. Without planning I would not have known this.

Before leaving home book accommodation for at least the first night. Trying to find a place to sleep in a new city/country when you arrive tired after a long flight or drive is not the best way to begin a trip.

Have a general idea of what sightseeing opportunities exist. Read guide books. Read traveler’s reviews on the internet. Talk with people who have been there before you. Yes, local tourist information centers are helpful but sometimes you need to ask specific questions to get the best answers. Arriving back home only to discover that a wonderful attraction was only a short drive from where you just got back from can be a bummer.

Planning may not lead to a perfect trip but it certainly makes the trip go more smoothly. Preliving (imagining) a perfect trip can only set up expectations that likely can not be met, and you will be disappointed.

Just one person’s opinion.