I am so psyched, you have no idea!
For so long, I’ve been exhausted and burnt out. Parenting is exhausting even in the best of times — but add being a single mom, raising special needs kids, and managing your own disabilities, and it’s no wonder the burnout runs even deeper.
The last time this happened to me was in April 2022, when I hadn’t had a break since March 2020 and had endured lockdown after lockdown with my children. I knew then that what I needed was a getaway, and I ended up taking one in my own country. Even though I caught Covid and spent the entire time inside the Airbnb chilling, it was still incredibly refreshing and healing for me.
Since then, though, I haven’t had a kid-free break, other than one night here and there. But when you’re that burnt out, one night just doesn’t cut it.
Another thing I’d felt missing was traveling abroad — something that does so much for my soul and is the best self-care I could give myself (not to mention providing great content to write about). After years of not traveling abroad — first because of Covid, and then because of other obstacles — I finally took my kids to Cyprus for a week last year in February. It was so enjoyable and filled that adventurous part of me. But while it met my need for adventure, it was not, in any way, a break. It was parenting — just parenting abroad. Great memories for the kids, but definitely not a break.
Then this past December I went with my 15 year old son, Ike, to the country of Georgia. And since it was just him, and he’s a relatively easy kid, it was more of a relaxing trip than the trip to Cyprus with all of the kids. I had a terrific time with him. However, it still wasn’t a full-on break.
I was talking to my therapist about what I’ve been going through mentally, and she asked me what would help. I told her that I really need a vacation — alone. Time off from parenting. Unfortunately, airline tickets have been really expensive locally lately.
She mentioned that she knows people who’ve gotten great deals recently, and was about to tell me about SkyScanner when I interrupted her — telling her that I teach people how to get cheap tickets! I just hadn’t seen any good ones lately. And — wow!
There were low-cost tickets available again! I could find decently priced tickets in June and July, but I figured — why not check May too? And then my mouth dropped.
I found round-trip tickets to Malta for only 35 Euros (about $38)! Honestly, I knew almost nothing about Malta — just that it’s an island in the Mediterranean, near Italy. But with prices like that? I didn’t need to know much more. I checked that housing and transportation were affordable — and that’s all I needed. Because for me, besides a few dream destinations (like Venice), the real thrill is the adventure — discovering a new place. So honestly, not knowing much about Malta just made it even more exciting.
Once I confirmed that it was a budget-friendly place overall, I booked the tickets — for May 6–13. Just a little over a week and a half away. Spontaneous? Yep. Last-minute? Absolutely. And that just made it even better!
I went back and forth about whether to pay 105 Euros (around $115) for upgraded tickets that included a carry-on bag instead of just a personal bag. I thought maybe I could just buy what I needed once I got there. At first, I chose the basic fare — but then, when I went to pay, it offered me priority boarding plus a carry-on for 91.27 Euros (charged $110.67 on my card). At that point, it was a no-brainer — way easier (and probably cheaper in the long run) than scrambling to shop there.
So with the tickets purchased, it was time to plan — on top of everything else keeping my life so insanely busy (the very reason I need this break!). But this kind of stress is good stress — the kind that makes me happy. I’ve found that it’s not just the trip itself that’s good for my mental health, but also the buzz leading up to it: the excitement, the preparations, the research, and the discoveries about the place.
I decided that I’ll be staying in hostels on my trip, since they’re the most budget-friendly way to travel, something I can’t really do when traveling with my kids.
In fact, since this trip came together so last-minute and was so inexpensive, I decided to turn it into a challenge: How cheaply can I make this trip while still having as amazing a time as possible?
That means I decided not to rent a car this time and to rely solely on public transportation.
And I can’t wait.
I can’t wait for the trip.
I can’t wait to see just how many incredible things I can do without breaking the bank.
And I can’t wait for that long-awaited break.
Counting down the days!
What’s the most spontaneous trip you’ve ever taken abroad? How much time did you have to plan it?
Have you ever been to Malta? Any specific recommendations for things to do, tips on saving money, or just general advice?
