The Part of the Trip No One Plans—But We Should

Why the last 24 hours matter more than you think, AmEx’s frustrating rollout, and an antique market in Mexico City.

Happy (almost) Halloween and Friday eve. I’m back in Atlanta after a whirlwind trip to Washington, DC, and Seattle. I spent two days with some of the most powerful women in media and I walked away energized and grateful to be in their presence—you may even see some of them here on Departure in the coming months. 👀

Peak foliage season was upon us in the PNW, and the views were absolutely breathtaking. I kept gasping at the rich hues of burgundy, sienna, and gold. And upon our return, we were greeted with some early foliage in Atlanta. I’m planted here for another week until I head back to New Jersey for Diwali. (I’m also going on a trip the weekend after that’s the definition of “pushing myself outside of my comfort zone,” my intention for 2026. More to come.)

Coming home from Seattle, I got to thinking about the part of travel almost no one plans: the end. So that’s where we’ll explore today.

Science Says: The Last 24 Hours of Your Trip Matter

When it comes to the people I care about, I consider myself very good at two things: Celebrating their milestones, and spending money on them without thinking twice. When it comes to myself…not so much.

When my husband first suggested booking an all-inclusive resort trip using revenue I earned this year to celebrate Departure’s growth, I balked. We’re not even beach people! Why go somewhere to do the very thing I could at home for free (or if not “free,” at least “not in addition to my mortgage”)!? Ultimately, I realized that having a few days away to decompress and to honor the work I did this past year would be worthwhile—and, to be fair, isn’t R&R a big part of slow travel?

So we booked a luxury getaway to Mexico with friends for a few days in January. To say we’re all tingling with anticipation would be an understatement. As the nights get colder and the sun sets earlier, we send each other screenshots of the local weather for that time of year, or nerd out over the amenities and restaurant options.

We’ve off-handedly noted that we’re counting down the days (despite the fact that it’s several months away), dreaming of our arrival poolside with margaritas in hand. I envision kicking off my shoes the second I reach the hotel room, and doing nothing but lying horizontally for five days, eating whatever my heart desires. My “adults-only, all-inclusive” dreams come true.

I’ve written about how the first day can make or break your trip. We’re usually better at fantasizing about that inaugural day of vacation, rather than looking at the trip as a whole—and those last 24 hours also matter deeply. How often have you come home from a trip late at night, only to be miserable the next day at work, wishing for “a vacation from your vacation?” (Literally me earlier this week.) Returning to life can feel like a record scratch.

There’s research to support this premise: Daniel Kahneman suggests human experience is divided into “experiencing self” and “remembering self,” and that our remembering self relies on snapshots of memories. According to his “peak-end rule,” people judge an experience based on how they felt at its peak and, crucially, at its end—not the total sum of every moment. Applied to travel, this implies our memories are not just about the high point of your time away; they likely include the last 24 hours, too.

Here are some tips that might help you make the most of your last day. They require a bit of intention and effort, yes, but they will help ease you back into regular life:

Planning Your Last Full Day

Unfortunately, we know all good things must come to an end—we wouldn’t appreciate it as much otherwise.

Too often, we’ll jam-pack our last day with errands, grabbing souvenirs for friends and family, or trying to squeeze every last drop of our all-inclusive free drinks (I get it). Marathoning through the last day and then jumping into your travel day back home, though, does not make for a relaxing end of your trip.

Earmark a few hours for lesser priorities (like souvenir shopping on day two), but spend your last day fully embracing your time away. I recommend choosing one activity ahead of time that feels worth doing. Perhaps that means saving the best activity for last, shifting so your anticipation builds rather than climaxing early on. You could ask your travel partner the night before, “What’s something we’d regret not doing on this trip?”

If possible, pad a few hours around this block, so you can keep it open and flexible. As Drea wrote in last week’s edition, “Have your plans…but stay curious enough to change them.”

Before You Leave

While packing signifies the last moments of a trip, I like to start prepping my bags well before check out. It ensures I’m not rushing or forgetting anything, and I double check that I have my passport, IDs, and any relevant receipts or tax forms. If renting a car, I clean out the seats and do a quick scan to make sure it’s in decent condition.

I take care of this “logistical” burden before treating myself to one last meal, whether that’s the breakfast buffet or a leisurely brunch nearby, because, in the wise words of Lenny Kravitz, “It ain’t over til it’s over.”

The Travel Day Back Home

I’m at the age where I will actually choose an earlier flight home so I can enjoy an evening to myself, especially if I can’t take the next day off. You will almost never regret having an additional day to rest and relax back home in your own bed.

Then, on the way home, I take it easy—strolling to my gate, enjoying entertainment on the plane instead of catching up on emails, and scrolling through my photos to reflect on our travels. Maybe that means sharing our favorite photos via AirDrop if I’m traveling with a friend, or creating a quick carousel for Instagram.

I also intentionally try to enjoy savory food, without worrying too much about airport costs, but I try to make sure it’s nourishing so my stomach can adjust quickly, rather than feeling bloated or uncomfortably full. It’s still technically vacation…but poor planning and eating will catch up with me if I ignore them.

Once You’re Back: Landing Softly

I’m famous for immediately getting home and passing out, a side effect of having to take Dramamine on flights to avoid motion sickness.

But if I can, I delay unpacking and laundry until I’m fully “back on,” allowing time to enjoy a cozy meal at home and decompress, particularly if the trip home took hours. (In my dream scenario, we’ve prepped my home before we’ve even left, so we return to clean sheets, empty trash bins, and a pre-made meal that requires no additional work at dinnertime.)

I recommend adding a buffer day of PTO if possible. But if you can’t, keep your first morning free of meetings and give yourself a few hours to ease back into your work responsibilities, with a small to-do list.

One last pro-tip—to keep the vibes going, even if you can’t—is to figure out a ritual from the trip that you can incorporate back home. A dish you loved that you can try to recreate in the kitchen, a playlist you heard on a night out that brings you back to the club, or a mini photo album you can display and turn to when you need a pick-me-up. (Or maybe you can even book something small for several weeks out, like a nearby day trip, to rebuild the anticipation.)

Everyone structures their last day differently, but if you have a rule for “re-entry” back into regular life, I’d love to hear from you. Rest assured my final day in Mexico will be following all of these tips—yours included.

• 💁‍♀️ While together, my best friend and I bonded over our love of this dry shampoo, despite us each having drastically different hair. Hers is pin straight and sleek; mine leans more wavy and somewhat frizzy. Nearly every friend we’ve suggested it to has become a devoted user as well. The travel size is perfect for your next trip (and lasts forever).

• 😬 The travel world has had a bit of a fit with American Express’s newest benefit updates. Previously, Fine Hotels + Resorts bookings required just a one-night stay for the $300 semi-annual statement credit. Starting January 1, FHR bookings will require two-night stays. Sadly, $300 spread over two days doesn’t make much of a dent given the high price points in the FHR collection. Additionally, AmEx launched an Airbnb partnership where the credit can go toward Airbnb Luxe properties (also two-night minimum stays), triggering an additional $250 annual statement credit for Airbnb Experiences—which sounds enticing, until you remember that Airbnb Luxe properties are $$$. A pretty big bummer.

• 🫂 This Reel about seeing life as a trip that eventually ends made me cry. Please watch it (with tissues).

• 🇲🇽 I’m obsessed with antique markets, often frequenting Scott Antique Markets here in Atlanta and visiting Saint Ouen every time I’m in Paris. Now I must go to this one in Mexico City. Are antiquing retreats a thing? Should I make it one? (No one steal my idea; I’m claiming copyright right here, right now.)

• 🐕‍🦺 We’ve flown our cats cross-country twice as we’ve moved, but it’s much harder to do with a 65-lb dog who I refuse to put in the cargo hold (and frankly, not being able to take my dog is the only thing stopping me from moving abroad for a month at a time). What’s the best way to fly with a pet? (h/t Going)

See you next week! —Henah x

weekend mood // arles, france (summer 2026)