I have always been indecisive and scared of wasting money. When it came to travel, this meant I was forever desperate for someone to tell me where to go, what to see and what to eat. Before any holiday or day out, I’d already scoured the area on Google Earth, watched endless videos on social media, and read scores of online reviews. I knew exactly where I was going before I’d even left my house.

My Google Maps would be filled with saved spots and I would build a plan to cram them all into a few days’ holiday. I was reluctant to go anywhere without a well-recommended “hidden gem” in my back pocket. Sometimes, one of those places I’d scouted out weeks in advance would truly be sensational. Bistrot Victoires in Paris, for instance, really did earn its spot on a top 10 list (the duck confit was incredible), and I was glad to have done the research to find a good, affordable place to eat in a notoriously expensive city. But more often than not, reality fell far short of what was promised. The images of colourful, likely Photoshopped views, unspoilt historical landmarks and huge, gourmet, mouthwatering sandwiches I’d come across online would turn out to be utterly underwhelming in real life.

However, I realised that in the process of trying to curate the perfect day, I had completely forgotten what it is that makes these experiences joyful in the first place: spontaneity. Even on holiday, the one time of the year when routine is supposed to go out of the window, every day was planned with military precision – and it was sucking the fun out of it. Without realising, I’d turned travelling into admin.

So, a year ago, I made a change. I banned myself from reading reviews and excessive planning for a trip to Barcelona. No longer would I scramble to get between places that I’d packed into a whistle-stop itinerary; instead, I chose an area I wanted to explore. Once I was in the Gothic Quarter or Eixample, that was it. I couldn’t rely on my phone, which meant no Google Maps, no Tripadvisor, and certainly no TikTok.

It wasn’t easy at first. I felt rudderless without my phone to guide me while wandering through unknown neighbourhoods. I was so accustomed to knowing every detail about each place I visited and without that, I was exposed.

But that’s exactly why it’s so fun. Going in unprepared opens you up to surprises. Without being glued to directions on my phone, I was taking in so much more of my surroundings, noticing details that would otherwise have completely passed me by. I wandered into museums I’d never heard of and mooched my way around interesting side streets, following anything that looked – and smelled – interesting.

Now, it’s the only way I’ll travel. Sometimes, I’ll find myself down a dead end, and sometimes the random spot I chose will be random for a reason. There have been plenty of times when it has quickly become clear why the cafe or bar I’m in isn’t on any Time Out lists. But for every miss, there have been many more hits. In Barcelona, the places I returned to were ones I’d found on my own, like Bar Cantonada, an inconspicuous little cafe that served the biggest sangrias I’d ever seen, and Flassaders, a hole-in-the-wall bodega bar with a sunny courtyard – the perfect place for people watching.

Travelling without planning has made me more comfortable with making decisions. I no longer care if I have a bad sandwich or if the view isn’t as breathtaking as in the photos – because I’m not comparing my experience to anyone else’s.

Trying to have the perfect holiday is no longer the point for me; it’s about living in the present and making good memories. And in an era where we can see the best of everything through our phones, it’s been completely freeing to have an experience that’s totally mine.