How I Spontaneously Bought a Plane Ticket to Hawaii
I would like to thank Boston Logan International Airport for enabling me to fulfill my dream of going to Hawaii. My purse held a copy of The Happiness Project by Gretchen Ruben, my phone, a pack of gum, my passport, my wallet, a one-way plane ticket to Auckland and a working holiday visa valid for one year in New Zealand.
That day—nearly a year ago—marked the beginning of the adventure I still find myself on today.
I was excited. I was nervous. Everything before me was unknown and unsolved. I felt as prepared as a person moving across the world with no plans could.
That is I felt prepared until the attendant at the airport desk told me that I couldn’t check into my flight unless I had a return ticket from New Zealand. Now I knew this was not true. I came prepared with the required bank statements that would show the super important official people of New Zealand that I had enough money to support myself in their country for a few months if I could not find a job. I had not expected to be asked for a return ticket. She told me that my beliefs were incorrect and that I did, in fact, require a second plane ticket in order to even board the plane.
Commence freak-out mode.
I took out my laptop and within fifteen minutes had a flight booked to Honolulu for four months later!
Imagine my excitement levels at this point! Not only was I heading to New Zealand for at least four months to live… I now had a trip to Hawaii in the books to plan!
Later on, I learned that I was correct and did not need a second plane ticket in order to go to New Zealand. You hear that kids? You do not need a return or further-on plane ticket when heading to New Zealand. Technically, you just need to prove you have at least 2000-3000NZD in your bank account.
But how can I be bitter about the woman being incorrect? She forced me to bathe in the Hawaiian sun for five days and ride a moped for the first time!
Over to you! Do you have any spontaneous travel stories?
SO fun! Over the summer I realized I had a five-day weekend so I used my school refund $$$ to buy a spontaneous plane ticket to Grand Rapids, Michigan. I got to visit one of my best friends that I met abroad in Costa Rica, spend a day in Chicago, AND got to see another CR friend I totally forgot lived in the Windy City! It was quite the weekend 🙂
Reading that put a smile on my face, Erin! It’s really cool that you were able to explore a new place in the USA (one I haven’t been to or even near) AND visit with a travel friend!