Should I Stay or Should I Go?

On travel, changing plans, and learning when to hold on and when to let go

I have a decision to make.

In less than two weeks, I'm scheduled to board a plane for Portugal, where I have a lovely Thanksgiving holiday planned. Eleven nights exploring Lisbon, Coimbra, and Porto. Beautiful hotels, historic architecture, wonderful food, long walks through unfamiliar streets, and all the little discoveries that make traveling somewhere new so exciting.

I've planned it, paid for it, and looked forward to it for months.

And now I'm wondering whether I should go at all.

Not because I've lost my enthusiasm for Portugal. Quite the opposite. I'm still very excited about experiencing this beautiful country.

But Portugal, like several other European countries, has been experiencing demonstrations over the rising cost of living, particularly housing affordability. In recent weeks, some protests in Lisbon and Porto have resulted in confrontations with police.

And wouldn't you know it? One of the squares at the center of the demonstrations is practically next door to my lovely hotel in Lisbon.

Of all the places I could have booked! 😂

Fortunately, my reservations are still refundable, although that window is closing quickly. So I have a few days to decide whether to proceed with my adventure or postpone it for another time.

It's an interesting dilemma, and one that has me thinking about much more than travel.

First, Understanding What's Happening

When I initially began reading about the demonstrations in Portugal, I found myself asking a question that I suspect many Americans would ask.

What exactly do people expect their government to do about the cost of living?

Everything is expensive these days. Groceries, housing, insurance, transportation. I certainly see it here in Charleston.

And while we all wish prices would return to what they were a decade ago, that rarely happens.

So how does protesting change anything?

As I began learning more, I realized the issue isn't necessarily about making prices go backward. It's about making life affordable for the people who live there.

Portugal has become an increasingly attractive destination for international visitors, investors, retirees, and people who can work remotely.

I actually know several people who moved from Charleston to Portugal during the COVID years, attracted in part by its relatively affordable lifestyle.

And I can understand why.

Imagine living somewhere with beautiful architecture, lovely weather, wonderful food, a rich history, and easy access to the rest of Europe, all at a fraction of what you might spend in an American coastal city.

Sounds pretty wonderful, doesn't it?

But here's the part I hadn't fully considered.

What's affordable to an American earning American dollars may be completely unaffordable to a Portuguese resident earning Portuguese wages.

In Lisbon, a typical one-bedroom apartment can cost more per month than someone earning Portugal's minimum wage takes home before taxes.

Imagine being a young adult who grew up in a beautiful city, went to school there, works there, and hopes to raise a family there, only to discover that you can no longer afford to live in your own community.

Or imagine being an older resident watching your neighborhood change as properties become vacation rentals and longtime neighbors move away.

Suddenly, the frustration becomes easier to understand.

And Then I Thought About Charleston

We may be separated by an ocean, but some of these challenges feel remarkably familiar.

Charleston has changed tremendously over the years.

People discover our beautiful city, fall in love with its charm, beaches, restaurants, history, and lifestyle, and decide they want to call it home.

I certainly understand the appeal. I love living here!

But with that popularity come more people, more development, more traffic, and higher housing costs.

Sometimes I find myself looking around and wondering where everyone came from. And judging by the traffic, apparently they all decided to leave home at exactly the same time I did. 😂

Of course, growth isn't all bad.

New residents bring businesses, investment, fresh ideas, and opportunities.

Communities evolve. Economies grow. Change is part of life.

But there can also be a real cost to the people who were already there.

A community can become more prosperous while becoming less affordable for some of its longtime residents.

Both things can be true.

And perhaps that's one of the most important things I've learned while trying to understand the demonstrations in Portugal.

We can appreciate the opportunities that growth creates while also having compassion for the people who feel left behind by it.

We don't have to agree with every proposed solution to understand the problem.

But Does Protesting Actually Help?

That's another question I've been thinking about.

Governments can't simply wave a wand and make housing inexpensive again.

Building more homes takes time. Increasing wages has economic consequences. Rent restrictions may help existing tenants while creating challenges for property owners or future housing supply.

These are complicated issues, and reasonable people can disagree about the best solutions.

Portugal's government has proposed changes intended to encourage more housing availability, including changes to rental and eviction rules.

Protesters argue that some of those proposals could make life harder for people already struggling.

The disagreements have become deeply emotional, and demonstrations have brought attention to the issue.

Peaceful protest can be an important way for people to express concerns and encourage their elected representatives to reconsider policies.

That doesn't mean every protest accomplishes its goals, and it certainly doesn't mean violence or destruction is justified.

But understanding why people are upset is different from endorsing every action taken in response.

I think we sometimes forget that distinction.

We can listen without agreeing.

We can empathize without choosing sides.

And we can acknowledge that complicated problems rarely have simple solutions.

A little grace goes a long way, especially when we're discussing circumstances we haven't personally experienced.

Now, Back to My Suitcase

Understanding the reasons behind the unrest doesn't necessarily make my travel decision easier.

Because while I have compassion for the people protesting, I also have to consider what this means for my own experience.

I love traveling alone.

I love the freedom to wake up in a beautiful city with no particular obligation beyond deciding what I'd like to discover that day.

Perhaps I'll spend hours in a museum. Perhaps I'll wander through a market, stop for coffee, visit a church, or find a little restaurant tucked away on a quiet street.

Some of my favorite travel memories have come from days when I didn't have much of a plan at all.

But traveling alone also means being responsible for every decision.

There's no travel companion to help navigate an unexpected situation, watch my luggage while I figure something out, or offer another perspective when plans suddenly change.

And while I consider myself adventurous and independent, I don't confuse being adventurous with being careless.

Those are two very different things.

Safe Enough Isn't Always the Same as Enjoyable

This has probably been my biggest realization.

A country can be considered generally safe for tourists while still experiencing disruptions that make a particular vacation less enjoyable.

A government travel advisory is important, but it doesn't necessarily tell you whether the square outside your hotel will be filled with demonstrators, whether public transportation will be interrupted, or whether an afternoon of sightseeing might unexpectedly involve navigating a police barricade.

And even when demonstrations are peaceful, they can affect transportation, access to attractions, and the atmosphere in certain neighborhoods.

None of that means a traveler is necessarily in danger.

But it may mean the trip looks quite different from the one they imagined.

And when you've saved your money, arranged time away from work, and spent months looking forward to an experience, I think it's perfectly reasonable to ask:

Is this still the vacation I want to take right now?

Not whether I can go.

Whether I want to go under the circumstances.

That's an important distinction.

A Few Things I'm Considering Before Making My Decision

If you ever find yourself facing a similar dilemma, particularly when traveling alone, here are some things I think are worth considering.

1. Look beyond the headlines.

A dramatic video on social media can be frightening, but it may show one incident in one neighborhood rather than conditions throughout an entire country.

Look for reliable reporting, official travel advisories, local news, and transportation announcements. Pay attention to dates and locations.

And remember that a video can be real without representing what is happening everywhere.

2. Consider exactly where you'll be staying.

A demonstration several miles from your hotel may have little effect on your trip.

A demonstration directly outside your hotel is another matter.

Location matters, particularly if you plan to explore on foot.

3. Think about transportation.

Will you depend on trains, buses, or public transportation to move between cities?

Are strikes scheduled? Are stations operating normally? Could road closures make getting to the airport difficult?

And if something changes, do you have a reasonable alternative?

4. Understand your financial options before the deadlines pass.

Check hotel cancellation policies, airline credits, travel insurance coverage, and the actual deadlines for making changes.

Don't assume that travel insurance covers civil unrest or that an airline will refund a ticket simply because you no longer feel comfortable traveling.

Knowing your options can take much of the emotion out of the decision.

5. Be especially thoughtful when traveling alone.

I think solo travel is wonderful, and I would never discourage someone from experiencing it.

But I also believe in being prepared.

Share your itinerary with someone at home. Keep important documents and medications accessible. Have reliable phone service, emergency contacts, and a backup plan for reaching your hotel.

And if you encounter a demonstration, give it plenty of space. Curiosity is wonderful, but a protest is not a sightseeing attraction.

You don't need to investigate every commotion you encounter.

Sometimes the smartest thing an adventurous person can do is turn around and walk in the other direction.

6. Be honest about your own comfort level.

Some people are perfectly comfortable navigating a city experiencing demonstrations or transportation disruptions.

Others would find the uncertainty stressful.

Neither response is necessarily wrong.

We all have different experiences, responsibilities, and tolerances for uncertainty.

The goal isn't to prove how brave we are.

The goal is to make a thoughtful decision that feels right for us.

The Hardest Part Might Be Changing My Mind

I've been thinking about why postponing a trip can feel so disappointing, even when you haven't actually lost the opportunity to take it.

Perhaps it's because once we imagine something, we begin experiencing it in our minds.

I've already pictured myself walking through Lisbon, enjoying the river views in Coimbra, and discovering the beautiful streets of Porto.

I've imagined the food, the architecture, the Christmas decorations, and those wonderful moments when I realize I'm standing somewhere I've never been before.

In a way, I've already begun the journey.

So changing plans feels a little like giving up something I've already started enjoying.

But here's what I'm reminding myself.

Changing a plan doesn't mean abandoning a dream.

Sometimes it simply means choosing a better time.

And isn't that true of so much in life?

We make plans with the information we have. Then circumstances change.

We learn something new. We reconsider.

That isn't indecision.

It's being willing to adapt.

I think there's a certain freedom in recognizing that we don't have to follow through with something simply because we once decided to do it.

We are allowed to change our minds.

We're allowed to take new information into consideration.

And we're allowed to decide that something wonderful might be even more wonderful at another time.

So, Should I Stay or Should I Go?

As I write this, I haven't decided.

I'm continuing to watch developments in Portugal, paying attention to official guidance, and considering what the trip might actually look like when I arrive.

I may board that plane and have the most wonderful Thanksgiving adventure.

Or I may postpone Portugal, spend Thanksgiving somewhere else, or enjoy a quieter holiday closer to home.

Any of those could turn out to be lovely.

And I think that's the lesson I'm taking from this experience.

A change in plans is not necessarily a change for the worse.

Sometimes life asks us to be flexible, even when we've done everything possible to prepare.

Sometimes the wisest choice is to move forward.

Sometimes it's to wait.

And sometimes the real adventure is learning to be comfortable with either possibility.

After all, the world isn't going anywhere.

Portugal will still be there, with its beautiful architecture, fascinating history, wonderful food, and streets waiting to be explored.

And when I finally arrive, whether that's in two weeks or another season, I hope I'll experience it with the same curiosity, gratitude, and excitement that made me want to visit in the first place.

For now, I'll keep watching, keep learning, and perhaps keep my suitcase in the closet for just a few more days.

Because the joy of traveling isn't simply about going somewhere. It's about being present enough to enjoy where you are.

And sometimes, knowing when to change course is part of the journey, too.

Enjoy the joy; enjoy the pain. That's living.

— Honey