How to travel without an idealistic mindset?

Just realize that rigid planning is boring. Don't be a slave to your vacation. Do whatever the fuck you want. (Don't get arrested, but yeah)
Make a general plan and then just wing it. You will figure out some things along the way and alter your plans, and that's great. Plan to change your plans.

>>1059391
Maybe you are living beyond your means, and this is just part of it.

As you travel more and more, this kind of overplanning kind of goes away. You have to realize not to have much in the way of expectations, and that any choices you make is simply giving you tools to make better choices in the coming years. This isn't the last and only time you'll get to leave your country, and you're only entertaining yourself not trying to impress future inlaws or a dying cancer kid making a wish. Relax.

Meeting cool people should not be a goal of travel, though.

Screw being picky over hostels. Mostly you're just sleeping and waking up in them. After 2 weeks on a festival I didn't give a shit about the hostel I was staying in next.

>>1059391
I've come to the realization that most times the best part of trips happen just in random places. Say there is a very pretty village in England that you want to visit. You make the effort to go there, then its just some village filled up with tourists. But on the way to the next place you stop in some shitty town and have a great time. If you get away from the whole sightseeing thing, and just be free, you probably have a more interesting trip.

>>1059391
sounds like fear. just constantly remind yourself you're going to die like everyone else

death really takes the edge off things