After a trip is finished we feel a little sad. But after a good night’s sleep in our bed and a cuddle with our pup, we are happy to be home- for a little while. Here’s what we do the day after a trip:

Unpack

We unpack immediately, wash all of our clothes, and do a quick check of our travel essentials. I like to replace any toiletries, worn-out clothing/shoes, etc., as soon as I get home so that I don’t have a big to-do list before the next trip. For example, I realized that my portable charging block needed to be updated, and my travel purse needed a good wash. If I don’t do these things immediately, I might forget!

Write a Review

Did you rely on TripAdvisor or Viator reviews to make booking decisions?

I complete reviews of great hotels, restaurants, and tours because I value the reviewer community. I also want the great places to stay in operation. I try to write my reviews as soon as I can. Sometimes I write them while waiting for my return flight. Since I appreciate up-to-date reviews when I do trip research I try to return the favour by submitting my reviews promptly.

Say Thank-You

Being a pet and homeowner requires extra help when we are away. We would not be able to travel in the same way without the support of friends and family. We show our appreciation to those caring people in our lives. We don’t buy souvenirs as thank-you gifts; rather we try to gift an experience. Last time, we bought a Guess Where Trip gift certificate and a gift card for a local business which were well received.

Reflection

Take the time to think about your experience. Was it a once-in-a-lifetime memory or the first of many return trips?
My reflections are around these questions:

What would we do differently next time?
What did we learn about the place/people?
What did we learn about ourselves?

We have learned that we prefer to travel more slowly than we did 10 years ago. This means we see fewer places but stay in each place for at least 2 or 3 nights. This helps with travel fatigue as it reduces the number of packing and unpacking events. Sometimes there are discounts at hotels when you stay multiple days. We no longer have to see all the Instagram-worthy photo shots. Instead, we try to find less crowded activities or enjoy what the locals are doing instead.

Book Your Next Trip!

We love coming home but always look forward to our next adventure! We book our next trip as soon as we return to maximize its anticipation. We find that booking 6 months out for flights and car rentals and at least 3 months out for accommodations gives us a good choice and price. We try our best not to travel in a place’s high season.

We love to share about our adventures, but only to those who wish to hear about it!!

What are the first things you do when you return from a trip?

Here are the things we consider when we plan for a trip https://lifeafter50travel.net/2024/08/14/how-we-plan-a-trip-our-research-and-steps/