Let your bliss find you: the perks of being an under-planner

by Suzannah Woodward (United States of America)

I didn't expect to find USA

Florida. The only known state named after Flo Rida. It gets a bad rap because any time someone gets high and eats someone’s face off, it’s in Florida. Still, the beaches are beautiful and the night life is famous. So I decided to check it out for my 21st birthday. I’d only been to Florida once before, and that was during an 8 hour layover on my way to Peru. During the layover, we got an uber from the airport and were fortunate enough to get in a little beach time before our next flight. I believe in finding enjoyment however you can on long layovers. This time, I went at the end of February during the off season. This is the best time to go! Flights and hotels are all cheaper during this time. Being a broke gen Z kid, I found the cheapest flight available at $89 round trip from Newark to Ft. Lauderdale. I went with two other girlfriends who were flying out of Baltimore. We had our flights and hotel booked 3 weeks in advance. I am always proactive about picking a hotel since I have worked in them for 5 years and know the industry. We found a wonderful place right on the beach. Our room was big with two queen beds. We had access to a mini fridge, wifi, pool, and bar/restaurant. The restaurant had great views of the water and although breakfast wasn’t included, you could get a filling breakfast for about $8. Plus, $5 mimosas all day long. It was truly a paradise. Our location was great not only because of our proximity to the beach, but also our proximity to other attractions like the Bonnet House. The Bonnet House is a historic estate with extensive gardens and beautiful nature. It was a lovely 10 minute walk to the house from our hotel. Admission is $10 and it is definitely worth it. You can see all kinds of native Florida animals on the grounds, sometimes even the occasional manatee! If you want to do more than just lay on the beach, this house is a really fun and affordable day activity. One night, we took a lyft down to Miami to go clubbing. Having done no research or planning beforehand, we walked around Miami until we came across a place that looked fun. It was outdoor, had a DJ and a pool, and most importantly no cover charge. We ended up sitting with a really great group from Brooklyn. They were getting pitchers delivered to their table and we were lucky enough to party with them. I still talk to them to this day! On the last day, all 3 of us had red eye flights. We spent some time on the beach, got lunch, walked around, then split a car to the airport. All in all, a really unforgettable 4 days in Florida and one for the books! It easy easy to fall into the trap of over-planning for vacations. By not sweating the small stuff, we had amazing experiences that we otherwise would have missed.