I’m not typically someone who plans personal vacations last minute. Especially when I’m traveling halfway around the world. I appreciate a spontaneous trip as much as anyone else, but half the fun of a trip for me is planning it – choosing a location, creating a tentative schedule, preparing for time away from work and “real life,” the countdown to takeoff, etc…this all brings me a lot of joy! Hence why I am a travel agent 🙂
Recently, however, my family found ourselves in a situation where our long-standing vacation plans had to change last minute. We were booked for a trip to Disney World in Florida during my son’s fall break. Unfortunately, there were multiple hurricanes in the area and our hotel was planning to close to visitors during our planned vacation. We had to change plans – and quickly! Here are the steps we followed to switch gears and plan a trip to Paris in only five days. If you’re feeling spontaneous or have to change your travel plans last minute, it is possible to plan an amazing vacation in a short period of time! Here’s how:
CHOOSE A DESTINATION
When choosing a vacation destination, it’s important to consider major factors. The type of trip you want is a primary consideration – adventure, relaxation, city exploration, some combination of all of the above? It’s also important to decide whether you want to stay closer to home or if you’re prepared to travel internationally (read: have a passport that will be valid for at least six months after your return to the U.S.).
For us, we knew that we wanted to explore a city, visit a Disney property if possible (which really limits the number of destinations) and we were prepared to travel internationally. My husband and son had never visited France, so France checked all of the boxes for us. We arranged to spend time in the heart of Paris, Disneyland Paris, and Epernay in the Champagne region of France.
BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS
The cost of airfare for last-minute trips can be high, depending on the time of year and departure/arrival cities. This may also factor into your decision when you select a travel destination. Important factors to consider: whether you want to travel with a specific airline or are open to other airlines, direct flights vs. those with a layover, different airport options, flight timing, etc.
When we booked our flights five days in advance, we decided to fly from Denver to Paris with a layover. We were fortunate to have enough miles for each of our flights on United, and selected times that made the most sense for us. However, when I was looking for flights I considered alternate airports within a few hours of driving and looked at other airlines, in case there was a better fit for our trip. These are personal decisions and having some flexibility can bring the cost down for a spontaneous trip.
SELECT AND BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATIONS
Once you have a location and travel dates selected, it’s time to search for hotels/resorts/rental properties to use while you’re traveling. It’s good to check this out before you finalize your flights because some locations fill up due to special events (Chicago marathon, for example). If booking an accommodation in a prime locations is cost-prohibitive, consider alternate properties. As an example, many European cities have fantastic public transit, making it easy to get around – this creates additional opportunities for convenient lodging outside of your desired area.
My family was able to utilize a time share transfer at a resort near Disneyland Paris, which was a lucky draw. We decided to establish that location as our home base. Shout out to Marriott’s Village d’ile-de-France! While this property is very close to Disneyland, it is 45-60 minutes from downtown Paris by train or car. For that reason, we booked a hotel in Paris for one night so we could spend more time downtown and reduce our travel time. Near the end of our trip, we also booked a night at a boutique hotel in Epernay, in the Champagne region of France. Our hotel, Les Suites du 33, was absolutely fantastic and we cannot wait to visit again!
PLAN YOUR ACTIVITIES
The hard part is over – you know where you’re going, when you’ll be there and where you will sleep at night. But now it’s time to decide what you want to do on your vacation. Check out our destination guides or identify local experts who can provide schedules and itineraries. If you’re staying at an all-inclusive resort or taking a cruise, look for a Facebook group of others traveling there at the same time.
When we visited Paris, we wanted to find activities that were family-friendly and accessible for our six-year old son. I discovered The Petite Guide on Instagram, who is an American living in Paris. She hosts family-friendly tours and sells multiple guides for families to enjoy self-guided tours at their own pace. We purchased her Montmartre and Central Paris guides and they were life savers! We followed them to a T and had a fantastic time.
PACK YOUR BAGS
What to wear and bring?! This can be a challenge for many of us, even when a trip isn’t planned on short notice. Aside from daily clothing, you may need other specialty items depending on where you’re traveling. For example, if you are traveling to another country, look online to make sure you have the right adapters for any electronics you plan to bring. And if you have a Dyson Airwrap – don’t do it! The wattage may still be different and you don’t want to risk ruining something nice like that. I also recommend checking with your accommodations to determine whether laundry service is readily available. Doing laundry while on vacation can allow you to pack much lighter.
When we traveled to Paris, I made a list for each family member of clothing, toiletries, electronics chargers and other items we would need on our trip. Each item on the checklist was marked off when it was added to a suitcase. I like to use the Notes app on my phone to keep track of these items, but a sheet of paper and a pen can be equally effective.
HAVE FUN!
And now, the most important part! The hard work is done and you can enjoy your vacation. It’s easy to feel stressed out while traveling, especially if there was a big crunch time right before you left home. But once you’ve made it to your destination, I hope you can relax and enjoy your trip. Safe travels!