I recently returned from almost a month in France, and I honestly didn’t want it to end.
From quiet mornings at a chateau, to wandering the gardens of Versailles, to strolling along a cold northern beach in Trouville‑sur‑Mer…. this trip was everything I didn’t know I needed.
And the truth is, I almost didn’t go.
Have you ever planned a trip you weren’t fully excited about because your mind wouldn’t stop offering reasons to postpone it? The timing isn’t quite right. I’ll miss ___ on that day. The economy is wild, should I really spend the money? I don’t want to leave my dog. Or the classic: maybe next year.
That was me.
Before leaving, I was incredibly stressed. I felt the familiar pressure to make sure both of my businesses were humming along without me. I’m a chronic over‑planner when it comes to work, life, and things I do for others: but when it comes to my own trips, I plan very differently.
I focus on just three things:
– My hotels (and any others I want to see for clients)
– One or two experiences that truly matter to me
– Transportation, so everything flows easily and I go from place-to-place with the most efficient route.
That’s it.
I don’t like to feel rushed when I travel (or well…ever). I’d rather see a few things well than rush through many things frantically. I want room to wander, to sit with a coffee, to linger in a bookstore, to simply be present. I can always go back: and honestly, that’s part of the joy.
Want to make your next trip slow, spacious, and restorative? Grab my free Slow Travel Checklist.
I also travel while balancing chronic illness, which means I never quite know how I’ll feel day to day. Strangely, when I travel, I often feel better: almost like I’m cured. Someone should really prescribe travel.
So despite the doubts, I packed my bags and went anyway. And that decision — to go even when it felt inconvenient, emotional, and imperfect — changed me.
This month in France gave me space to breathe, to rest, and to reconnect with parts of myself I didn’t realize I’d been holding at arm’s length. It reminded me that sometimes the trips we hesitate over the most are the ones that give us exactly what we need.
If hearing about this trip sparked something for you: a destination, a feeling, or a sense that you’re overdue for travel that actually feels good – I help plan thoughtful, unrushed trips like this for my clients. You can learn more about my planning services at Styled Getaways, or reach out when you’re ready to start dreaming.
Stay tuned for part two of this 6-part travel diaries series…
