Trip Planning: Prepared, Not Perfected
By Laura, co-founder of Sundays Online
Let’s start by squashing a common misconception: that a well-planned trip leaves no room for spontaneity.
In reality, good planning isn’t about controlling every moment — it’s about creating the conditions for a smoother, more enriching experience. A thoughtfully planned trip to a faraway place means you’ve done your homework: learned a few key phrases in the local language, figured out whether most places prefer cash or card, and checked if reservations are needed ahead of time.
Taking the time to plan isn’t about perfection — it’s a form of respect. It shows you’ve made the effort to understand how things work where you’re going, rather than expecting your destination to bend to your habits. With endless resources available online, there’s no shortage of ways to prepare thoughtfully.
When I think about my own approach to travel, I call it “prepared, not perfected.” It means I plan the essentials — how to get from Point A to Point B — but leave space for curiosity and unplanned moments. Maybe I have a restaurant in mind for lunch, but I know it’s in a busy area, so I’ll allow extra time to wander and explore along the way.
I break this approach down into five actionable steps here, where I share how I plan trips today and what I believe forms the backbone of thoughtful travel planning.
In short:
Trying to learn the train system for the first time while standing in the station = not an effective use of “unplanned” time.
Lingering over an extra-long picnic in the park = exactly the right kind of unplanned time.
Why this matters to Sundays Online
This balance — between structure and freedom — is exactly what inspired us to build something better. It’s not about scheduling every minute of your trip; it’s about creating a plan that leaves space to explore.
If you’re curious about how we’re building a smarter, more flexible way to plan travel, sign up here to test the beta version and get early access.
