Well, isn’t everyone supposed to be doing this in the first place? Well, this is more about the actual traveling itself rather than being in the destination. So yeah, thinking about it for just a moment, to a degree, travel days aren’t exactly the most glamorous, right?
Like, your average person isn’t doing what influencers and general content creators are doing, the whole sipping lattes in a fancy airport lounge and then sitting in first class, living up the dream.
Yeah, obviously that would be great, but again, that’s not how it actually is for your average person.
Instead, you’re probably running on about three to six hours of sleep, you probably need a show, your carry-on somehow weighs more than your checked bag, and you feel like cattle being herded, right?. Well, planes are like flying buses.
But yeah, this isn’t the dream. So, how can you make the most of your trip—even when it's hard? Like, can you be realistic with your expectations while still finding all of this glorious? Well, there are some things you could do.
How to Maximize Your Travel Days: Savor Every Mile
Source: Unsplash.
Stop Trying to Speedrun
Why is everyone so obsessed with “maximizing” their travel time? Like, calm down.
You don’t have to wake up at 5 a.m., down a gas station espresso, and sprint through ten attractions before lunch. It’s not a competition.
Okay, sure, it makes total sense if you have an early morning flight and maybe some bad layovers, all of that makes total sense.
But if you’re technically not in a hurry, like having a train ticket that doesn’t have a specific time slot, well, why not just take things slow?
Okay, what if you’re trapped in the airport? Well, if you’re waiting for your next flight, or still showed up a little too early, that’s not such a big deal either. Just try and make the most of it.
Just buy some overpriced snacks, enjoy that overpriced coffee, and just people-watch. You’re tired, sure, but you’re tired in another country. That’s at least a little bit glamorous.
Source: Unsplash.
Treat Yourself Like You’re Fancy
You know those moments when you’re so tired, like you just want to cancel the whole entire trip and just head home?
Yeah, everyone has or will get to that point (hence why you should take things a bit slow). Well, yeah, when it happens, that’s usually your sign to stop and indulge yourself.
Sure, it was mentioned above to just enjoy some overpriced coffee and snacks, and you’re welcome to do that. But during your travels, it might help to just take it up a notch, like having afternoon tea in your hotel (if they offer it), or going out to a nice sit-down dinner rather than fast food.
Honestly, if you’re still traveling around, but like a train, for example, it doesn’t even hurt to just ride first class, or even pick a four or five-star hotel. These little indulgences are the best way to romanticize all of it, and just make the travel aspect more tolerable.
Source: Unsplash.
Fall in Love with the Boring Stuff
Now, you really need to keep in mind that half of travel is romanticizing the boring parts. Like, sitting on the train watching landscapes blur by, there’s something special there.
The same can be said for walking to the train station, or bus station, or whatever; you’re just seeing what’s around you.
Yeah, none of this is fun, glossy, fancy, none of that, but it still feels special. Like, there’s something at least a little bit special in the mundane here.
Source: Unsplash.
Conclusion
Look, travel days are messy, exhausting, and rarely Instagram-worthy—but they're still part of the adventure. The key is shifting your perspective: those “boring” moments between destinations? They're not obstacles to endure; they're part of the story you're creating.
When you stop treating every second like it needs to be optimized and start appreciating the weird, unglamorous bits, you actually make the most of your trip. The overpriced airport coffee, the random train conversations, the jet-lagged wandering—it all counts.
So next time you're feeling like cattle in an economy cabin or dragging your overstuffed carry-on through yet another terminal, remember: you're still out there doing it. That's something worth romanticizing, even when it's hard.
Ready to plan your next adventure? Start browsing destinations and booking those flights—because the messy, beautiful chaos of getting there is half the fun.
Disclaimer:
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