An allergic reaction landed me in a hospital on my dream vacation to Greece. I'm not sorry it happened.
I was hospitalized for an allergic reaction while in Greece with my fiancé. It changed how I create travel itineraries and experience new places.
Hayley Hutson
- I was hospitalized for a serious allergic reaction while on a dreamy trip to Greece with my fiancé.
- I usually plan my trips down to the minute, but my health issues forced me to slow down.
- Spending time alone and having to nix my itinerary has inspired me to plan my trips differently.
This summer, my fiancé and I finally took the two-week vacation to Greece that we'd been dreaming of for years.
When I travel, I create incredibly detailed itineraries that dictate where and when I'll eat, play, and sightsee, sometimes down to the minute.
I spent months crafting our itinerary, and everything had to be perfect — which meant, of course, that it wouldn't be.
The trip started out really great
Hayley Hutson
A week into the trip, we were soaking up the amber glow of the sunset over the Aegean Sea from our rental villa in Athens.
Earlier that day, I had borrowed sunscreen from a friend after leaving my mineral sunscreen inside.
I have sensitive skin and had reacted badly to this brand once before, but only after using it daily for months. I figured a quick spritz couldn't do any damage.
By the next day, my chest had broken out in hives. It was uncomfortable, but I was determined not to let a little itching get in the way of our plans.
We moved on from Athens to Crete, where we checked into our dreamy Venetian mansion-turned-boutique hotel in the heart of Chania.
Unfortunately, the increasingly itchy rash had crept up my neck and down my arms overnight.
After trying a few remedies, I headed to the hospital
Hayley Hutson
Two pharmacy trips and three types of allergy medication later, I was admitted to the hospital because the rash was only getting worse.
Over the next 12 hours, I was given several rounds of IV-administered cortisone while I prayed for a miracle. No such luck.
After refusing advice to stay overnight, I was allowed to leave under a few conditions: no alcohol, no chocolate, and absolutely no sun exposure.
The first two were unfavorable, but the third effectively kicked my carefully curated itinerary to the curb.
Having to ditch my plans ended up being a good thing
Hayley Hutson
With sun exposure out, I had to find a way to enjoy my time on a sun-soaked island while dodging UV rays.
After shaking off the disappointment of missing our family boat trip and convincing my fiancé to bask in the famous pink sands of Elafonisi Beach without me, I embraced the unexpected freedom of a day without any plans.
I've never been the solo-travel type, but there was no way I was about to spend the remainder of my dream vacation in bed.
I surprised myself by thoroughly enjoying my solo day on Crete.
While wearing a dress that covered every inch of my rash, I explored the local shops and ate lunch on a shady patio overlooking the harbor.
With nowhere to rush off to, I found myself taking in the incredible sights, sounds, and smells around me in a way I normally wouldn't.
In slowing down, I was able to experience the town more meaningfully.
Although travel itineraries are handy, this experience taught me that you can miss a lot when you're fixated on sticking to a plan. Sometimes, the best travel moments are the ones we stumble into.
On my next trip, I think I'll leave a day or two open and just see what finds me.