The most common question I get when I book a flight to a city I’ve already visited is, “Haven’t you been there already?”
Yes. Multiple times. And that’s exactly why I’m going back.
As a pilot and the founder of flyGIRL, I’m a big believer in strategy. Most travelers treat major hubs like London as a giant checklist. They rush from the Tower of London to the Eye, tick the box, and leave exhausted, thinking they’ve “done” the city.
But you can’t “finish” a global capital in a week. You’re just scratching the surface. Here is why my upcoming trip back to the UK is focused on the “Missed List”—and why you should stop trying to “see it all” in one go.
1. Cities Evolve (The “New” List)
If you haven’t been to London in a year, it’s a different city. This trip, I’m heading to Olympic Park for the new exhibits of the V&A East Storehouse. It’s a brand-new, open-access collection that changes the way we interact with museum archives. If you’re a museum nerd like me, you don’t go back for the old exhibits; you go back for the innovations.
2. The Strategy of the “Deep Dive”
On your first trip, you don’t usually have the bandwidth to leave the city center. This time, I’m making the “outlier” trips a priority:
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Bletchley Park: As someone who loves a high-stakes mission, seeing where the WWII codebreakers changed the course of history is a pilgrimage I’ve finally made time for.
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Blenheim Palace: I’m trading the urban hustle for the “Rockstar of English Baroque” and its current architectural exhibitions.
3. The Non-Negotiable Rituals
Travel isn’t just about discovery; it’s about the things that make you feel alive. For me, that’s a West End show. Whether it’s London or NYC, I don’t leave without a performance. I’m also heading back to Borough Market—not because it’s “new,” but because the variety here is unlike anything I can experience at home.
4. Making it Free (The flyGIRL Way)
The best part about a repeat trip? It’s the perfect time to maximize your points and miles. Since I already know the neighborhoods I like and the transit routes that work, I can be surgical with my award redemptions. I’m not guessing on a hotel location; I’m booking the one I know offers the best value with one of my hotel loyalty programs.
The flyGIRL Perspective
Stop treating your PTO like a chore. If you love a place, go back. Dig deeper. Spend three days on a bike in the Cotswolds instead of three hours in a tour bus.
When you stop trying to “see it all,” you finally start to see the place.
What’s the one city you’ve visited 3+ times and still haven’t “finished”? Let’s talk about it in the comments.