When Your GPS Lies: Adventures in Wrong Turns

The Day My GPS Betrayed Me We’ve all been there. You’re cruising down an unfamiliar highway, vibing to your favorite playlist, trusting that trusty robotic voice to guide you… and then BAM — “Turn left at the next goat trail.” Excuse me, what? Last summer, I let my GPS lead me to what I thought was a gorgeous mountain overlook in Colorado. Spoiler: it was a cow pasture. Complete with judgmental bovine side-eyes. In honor of all our beautifully botched navigations, here are my best travel tips for surviving wrong turns with style — and making the most of the detours. Because hey, getting lost makes for the best stories.

Melissa Ridge

5/12/20252 min read

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The Day My GPS Betrayed Me

We’ve all been there. You’re cruising down an unfamiliar highway, vibing to your favorite playlist, trusting that trusty robotic voice to guide you… and then BAM — “Turn left at the next goat trail.” Excuse me, what?

Last summer, I let my GPS lead me to what I thought was a gorgeous mountain overlook in Colorado. Spoiler: it was a cow pasture. Complete with judgmental bovine side-eyes.

In honor of all our beautifully botched navigations, here are my best travel tips for surviving wrong turns with style — and making the most of the detours. Because hey, getting lost makes for the best stories.

Embrace the Adventure — Or At Least the Snacks

If you find yourself on the wrong side of a backroad, rule #1: never panic. Rule #2: check for snacks. I always pack local treats when I travel (because nobody argues when there's chocolate).

If you need a reliable way to snag snack stops on a scooter or bike, I highly recommend BikesBooking. Easy to book and perfect for those spontaneous “wait, is this still a road?” moments.

The Wrong Turn Survival Kit

Don’t leave home without these digital lifesavers:

Airalo — instant eSIMs so you’ll always have data to reroute yourself.
VisitorsCoverage — because no one wants to explain a twisted ankle in a foreign language.
Radical Storage — ditch your bags and explore those weird little detour towns freely.

Detour = Opportunity

Missed your planned tour? Good. Book something weird and wonderful on the fly with Tiqets or snag a last-minute ride with Kiwitaxi. I once ended up in a llama petting park in Peru thanks to an unexpected turn. Zero regrets.

Book Smart (Even If You Get Lost)

Use these travel sites so even your spontaneous adventures are epic:

WayAway — killer travel deals with cashback.
EconomyBookings — affordable car rentals when your GPS reroutes you across a country.
Qeeq — another fave for rental cars that won’t break the bank.

Bonus: If you’re looking to sail away from your mistakes, book a boat rental on Searadar. Yes, it’s as awesome as it sounds.

Quick Travel Pro Tip

Want internet coverage that actually works when you end up in the middle of nowhere? I swear by Drimsim. No contracts, no roaming headaches.

Turn Your Detours Into Wins

Use your travel mishaps as excuses to:

Play online games and win cash with MPL.
Enter prize draws on McLuck and HelloMillions while you wait for rescue.
Plan your next (better routed) trip with GetTransfer and LocalRent.

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