Expectations: Is this vacation good enough?

I stare at my screen, the glow of travel blogs and destination guides casting shadows on my desk. Every website screams urgency—top-rated attractions, hidden gems, itineraries down to the hour. The pressure builds in my chest.

I never used to plan trips. That was my wife’s domain. I followed, enjoyed, appreciated, but never took the lead. Then one day, I was expected to contribute. When I did, I heard the offhand comment—maybe we had missed out on some exciting places. The following trip also did not turn out well, I tried to plug in the gaps in between, and my wife said, "Maybe we should take it easy". I had never envisioned what a perfect trip looked like.

And now? Now, it's just me.

This trip is my own. No expectations, no one to please, just a blank itinerary that I struggle to fill. How do you plan a vacation when you’ve never dreamed of one?

I never grew up longing for adventure. Travel was a foreign concept—my family never crossed borders, never planned getaways. My first trip was with school, my later trips were my wife’s vision. I played the accompanying role gratefully, but now, I have to decide what I want.

The overwhelming flood of information kills the spontaneity I crave. In the past, all we had was Lonely Planet. A simple book, a handful of recommendations, and the rest was discovery. Now, every corner of the world is mapped out, rated, reviewed. How do I explore when there’s nothing left to find?

So I close my laptop. I need a different approach.

Planning a “Good Enough” Getaway

Maybe the secret isn’t in perfection—it’s in stripping travel down to its simplest form. I start with a new mindset:

Pick a Place That Calls to Me – Not the “hottest destination,” not what’s trending. Just somewhere that feels right—whether that’s a sleepy town with great coffee or a city with no expectations attached. Keep it to just one or two.

Set a Loose Plan - A couple of activities, a few places I’d like to see, but mostly, I’ll leave space for the unexpected. The best moments happen when plans fall away.

Know Your Constraint or Set some limits - I will be on a road trip and rest is important. I have a dog with me so there should be time for walks and I should not barge into pet-prohibited attractions.

Trust the Process – I won’t spend hours reading every review. I’ll choose a hotel that looks comfortable enough, a restaurant that feels inviting or car parks and camp sites. I’ll let the journey unfold naturally.

Embrace Solo Travel for What It Is – Maybe I’ll feel a little lost. Maybe I’ll have moments of loneliness. But I’ll also have freedom—something I’ve never fully known while traveling.

This trip isn’t about proving anything. It isn’t about finding the perfect location or crafting the ideal experience. It’s about stepping into the unknown and knowing that whatever I find will be enough.

And maybe, for the first time, that feels exciting.