Let me tell ya what went down planning trips for young folks
So yeah, wanna find cool spots for young adults across the States? Sounds fun, right? Figured I’d actually try booking and going myself. Gotta walk the talk.
Started like always: staring at my laptop screen way too late. Typed in “fun cheap US trips young people” and bam – drowned in lists. Buzzfeed, random blogs, you name it. Total info overload. Felt like trying to find one specific noodle in a ramen bowl.
Told myself, “Dude, just pick 3 spots you kinda know and make it happen.” Chose Austin, Portland, and Miami. Why? Honestly? Saw cheap flight deals pop up first.
Started with Austin. Thought “weird” city meant instant good times. Booked a hostel downtown that looked artsy online. Reality check:
- Bunk mate snored like a chainsaw on steroids. Zero sleep night one.
- The “famous” food truck line? Legit two hours long just for tacos. Hungry & annoyed ain’t a vibe.
- Tried catching some live music on 6th Street. Packed like sardines, sticky floors, couldn’t even see the band.
Felt kinda grumpy. But hey, Barton Springs saved it. Chilled in that cold water, hung with cool strangers actually chatting. Easy, breezy, cheap. Forgot the damn sunscreen though. Lesson learned: pack it EVERYWHERE.
Portland next. Heard “hipster paradise,” right? Flew in hoping for chill coffee shops and unique hangs.
- Rented a tiny car – cost way more than those ads said once they added all the “young driver” fees. Ouch.
- Rain. Oh man, the rain. Whole weekend drizzle. My flimsy jacket gave up fast. Looked like a wet cat exploring Powell’s Books.
- Wanna see the Rose Garden? Awesome! But everything around it? Feels deserted early evening. Was aiming for buzz, got quiet streets instead. Weirdly anti-climatic.
The saving grace? Food carts clustered together. Ate amazing Korean-Mexican fusion thing in the drizzle standing under a leaky awning. Totally messy. Totally worth it.
Miami finally. Sun! Beach! Parties! Booked a cheap Airbnb way out past Miami Beach. First mistake.
- Bus ride into the fun zones felt like forever. Like, cross-country trip kinda forever.
- South Beach clubs? Yeah, looks cool on Insta. Cover charge hit my wallet like a punch. Drinks cost triple. Felt like a sucker paying $20 for a basic vodka soda.
- Beach itself was gorgeous… until someone stole my towel and shoes while I was swimming. Barefoot walk back to the bus stop. Felt dumb.
Did find an awesome, loud Cuban spot in Little Havana though. Cheap, huge plates of ropa vieja, salsa music blasting. Forgot the beach drama real quick stuffing my face.
So look. It ain’t perfect. Things go sideways. Hostels suck sometimes, weather sucks more, tourist traps hurt your wallet bad. My big takeaways after getting burned?
- Stay CENTRAL. Pay a little more upfront to be where stuff is. Saves cash and sanity later.
- Hostels: Check recent reviews SPECIFICALLY about noise/dorms. Bunks can be nightmares.
- Famous Spots: Be ready for crowds or skip ‘em. That long line? Rarely worth sacrificing hours.
- Events: Actually research if anything cool is happening when you go. Towns feel dead without events.
- MUST PACK: Sunglasses, sunscreen, swimsuit, AND a good rain shell. Trust me.
Trip planning’s messy. You gotta just get out there, accept some fails, laugh at the stupid stuff, and find those cheap, delicious bites or unexpected moments. That’s where the real fun is.
