The Luxury of Doing Nothing—and the Joy of Getting Intentionally Lost

Sometimes the best travel experiences happen when you leave a little space in the itinerary.

When was the last time you spent an afternoon somewhere new with no particular plan?

No reservation to get to. No guided tour starting in ten minutes. Just comfortable shoes, a little curiosity and the freedom to see what catches your attention.

I recently heard someone describe this as “getting intentionally lost.”

I love that expression.

You know how to get back, but for a while, you let curiosity choose the route. You turn down a cobblestone street because it looks interesting. Stop at a café because the terrace looks inviting. Follow the sound of music into a town square.

You give yourself time to enjoy being somewhere.

Have We Overscheduled Our Holidays?

We spend so much of everyday life trying to make the most of our time. It’s easy to bring that same approach on holiday.

We research the attractions, compare restaurants and work out how much sightseeing we can fit into a day. Before long, the itinerary is full—and we’re hurrying through a place we’ve waited years to visit.

Planning matters. It’s a big part of what I do for my clients. A thoughtful plan helps you enjoy the experiences that are important to you.

And a thoughtful plan can include an afternoon left open.

Room for a longer lunch. A shop you want to browse. A conversation you don’t need to cut short.

When every hour is accounted for, it’s harder to say yes to something unexpected.

Making Room for Rest and Curiosity

I think of wellness as including the pace we choose for ourselves.

For some people, a wonderful holiday means active days and plenty of discovery. For others, it means sleeping in, lingering over breakfast and choosing one outing instead of three. Many of us enjoy a mixture.

The useful question is: Does this pace feel good to you?

An open afternoon gives you the freedom to answer that question in the moment. Perhaps you feel like walking. Perhaps you want to sit in the shade with a book.

You don’t have to turn every day into an achievement.

There’s pleasure in noticing the ordinary details of a place: someone buying flowers, friends gathering over coffee, a market stall closing for the afternoon. Those moments deserve our attention, too.

The Joy of Wandering on a River Cruise

One of the things I love about European river cruising is the opportunity to explore towns and cities on foot.

A guided excursion can provide a wonderful introduction. You learn the history, hear the stories and begin to understand what makes a place distinctive.

Then, when the sailing schedule allows, you might have time to explore independently.

Walk along the waterfront. Browse a market. Return to a square that caught your eye during the tour. Find a café and order something you’ve never tried.

You don’t have to go far to enjoy that sense of discovery.

Of course, keep track of your route and your ship’s all-aboard time. Getting intentionally lost works best when you know when—and how—you need to get back!

For me, the combination of guided discovery and personal wandering is part of river cruising’s appeal.

Give Yourself an Extra Day to Settle In

This is also one reason I like discussing time before or after a cruise with my clients.

An extra night or two can give you room to enjoy a city at a gentler pace. Instead of trying to fit everything around embarkation or departure, you can choose a few priorities and leave space between them.

Perhaps you visit the museum you’ve always wanted to see in