No one has mastered the art of globe-trotting quite like Parts Unknown host Anthony Bourdain. So when he graces the internet with wise words about wanderlusting like a pro, it’s best to take the tips as travel gospel. A few months ago, the all-star chef and best-selling author let it be known that Tokyo is pretty much the only place he would ever even consider settling down, and more recently, he shared a hack for making the most of your next big adventure.
“The sort of frenzied compression of time needed to take the tour, to see the sights, keeps you in a bubble that prevents you from having magic happen to you.” —Anthony Bourdain
Once you’ve secured your airfare and your hotel or Airbnb, skip the planning portion where you overbook yourself with three tours, two museum visits, and an elephant ride in a single afternoon. Instead, Bourdain suggests keeping your travel itinerary as minimalist as your suitcase. “The sort of frenzied compression of time needed to take the tour, to see the sights, keeps you in a bubble that prevents you from having magic happen to you,” the former chef told Money.
Not only will avoiding tourist attractions save your wallet from endless fees, but Bourdain added a wide-open schedule will leave room for all kinds of accidental and astonishing serendipitous happenings. “Nothing unexpected or wonderful is likely to happen if you have an itinerary in Paris filled with the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower,” he said.
As the French would say, voilà: You now have an excuse to do close to zero travel prep for your next vacay.
Looking for even more travel hacks? Here are 35. And if you want to make sure your minimalist itinerary still includes those sweat sessions, read up on how 11 wellness pros keep up with their workouts while on the road.
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