A hostel worker's advice changed one traveler's perspective on getting lost

Minding your own business over free breakfast can result in some surprisingly deep wisdom. For one traveler swinging through Lisbon, a passing chat with a hostel employee completely upended their tightly planned vacation. They shared the perspective-shifting conversation in r/solotravel , explaining how it made them reconsider their itinerary entirely. That is where this thread began:

So I'm staying at this hostel in Príncipe Real (Lisbon) and yesterday morning I'm just minding my own business eating their free breakfast when this older Portuguese guy who works there starts chatting with me. Turns out he used to be a solo traveler himself back in the 80s before he settled down.

He tells me this story about how he once got completely lost in Morocco trying to find some random village his friend mentioned, ended up in the wrong place entirely, but discovered this incredible pottery workshop that wasn't in any guidebook. The family there taught him to make tiles for three days and he still has them hanging in his apartment.

Then he looks at me and says "you know, getting lost is the most expensive education you can buy, but also the cheapest way to find yourself."

I've been thinking about this nonstop. I'm usually so focused on hitting all the "must see" spots and staying on budget (got some money saved up from a Stаke win specifically for this trip so I don't want to waste it) but maybe I need to build in more time for just... wandering?

Anyone else have moments like this where a random conversation totally shifted how you think about travel? I'm heading to Porto next week and now I'm tempted to just pick a random neighborhood and see what happens.

Also if anyone knows good neighborhoods in Porto for just walking around aimlessly, let me know!

In the comments, redditors share their own stories of beautiful detours, while debating the realities of ditching the map.

The magic of the detour

Many travelers agree that over-scheduling a trip is the fastest way to miss out on the genuine pulse of a new city. For them, abandoning the mapped route and embracing spontaneity has led to lifelong memories.

Finding people over places

Sometimes getting off track doesn't just reveal a stunning hidden location but also introduces you to someone carrying an unforgettable piece of history. Wandering opens up the simple human connections that a crowded museum tour simply cannot offer.

A calculated risk

While the romance of wandering sounds idyllic in theory, some redditors note that safety is highly subjective, particularly for women. Getting purposefully lost without a basic understanding of your surroundings requires caution.

While checking off famous landmarks brings its own satisfaction, leaving a blank space in your schedule allows for the magic of the unexpected. A wrong turn might lead to a private tea ceremony, a life-changing conversation, or simply a delicious bowl of pasta. Are you a meticulous planner or do you prefer to see where the wind actually takes you?

Want more travel discussions like this?Read the full thread in r/solotravel and find similar conversations in r/travel , r/digitalnomad , and r/CasualConversation .

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com .