As with all of us, life was busy. I wanted to take a break, visit family, and step foot into Ireland, Italy, France if I was lucky. I wanted to hear the languages swirling around me and taste that feeling of abandon rising up within me. I wanted gelato, the creamiest kind that you just can't get in America.

With very little notice, I jumped on a not-to-be-missed flight deal and headed off by myself. I neatly packed a carry-on because baggage wasn't included in my flight price. I nearly forgot my power converter right after I nearly forgot that I needed a power converter in the first place. This wasn't a trip that was months-in-the-making with lofty goals of visiting specific sites. This was spur of the moment, but I figured that there had to be beauty in spontaneity. After all, there must be something to be said for hopping on a plane and just going.

And there was, sort of. Except, as I left for the trip, I had more anxiety about it than I've had about any trip, ever. I had my lodging booked, but that was about it. The cheap airfare meant wonky flights with layovers that didn't make sense; it led to much more flying (read: time in airports) than if I had booked directly and paid full price. I sat on my first flight questioning why I wasn't more excited for the days ahead (Europe! I was going to Europe!). And I realized that there's something to planning, the very thing that I've been an advocate against in the past.

Usually, sticking to a strict plan makes my skin crawl, and that's still the case. But, there's a caveat: having a loose plan actually gives us something to look forward to and then to "succeed" in fulfilling. How much of the enjoyment of travel is really soaking in sites in the moment versus seeing sites and having the experience that you set out to have, that you've been lusting after for months, if not years?

I can hear me from the past throwing a fit right about now. "Spontaneity is the travel experience," I can hear myself insisting. "If I'd had a plan on that one trip to the Gorge du Verdon, I'd have been screwed!" It's true. But, the whole reason I even knew about that site and wanted to visit was that I had done research. I had spent a little too much time lusting over images of the steep limestone and turquoise-green water on Pinterest. Heck, I was hellbent on getting there, and rafting that canyon is one of my best travel memories to date. But it was research, reading, and planning that sparked that passion, even if I wasn't swift enough to know that at the time.

I should mention that, altogether, this trip was lovely. I spent time with loved ones. I spent afternoons wandering through museums, exploring holy wells, visiting old churches, and (praise God) eating gelato. By the end of the two weeks, I'd had more hot chocolate and delicious bread than I care to admit.

But, I also learned my lesson. Getting on a flight with little preparation might be fun in some circumstances, but having big dreams for a trip is pretty great, too.

The European Parliament has voted to end visa-free travel for Americans within the EU.

We don’t know of any swimming pools that double as portals to the Mayan underworld.