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Read To Travel

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?

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Tara Higgins

Tara Higgins

Tara loves all things London and wants to spend the rest of her life reading books in beautiful places. She can often be found nestled up in a bookshop, drinking a pint at the pub, or searching for the best pizza slice in town.

2 Comments

  • Erin | thewanderess.net

    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 🙂

    December 21, 2016 at 2:33 AM
    • Tara Higgins
      Tara Higgins

      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!

      December 22, 2016 at 6:51 AM

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