In "The Bucket List" part of the ibis Go Getters series Ioana faced one disappointment after another: missing the Louvre after a robbery on a previous trip, arriving at Abbey Road to find roadworks instead of the photo she'd imagined, and then travelling to Paris only to discover she couldn't visit Notre-Dame. It was enough to make her feel like every carefully made travel plan was falling apart.

But this time in Marseille,things turned out differently for Ioana. A simple recommendation from an ibis Heartist, "I know a place", led her to somewhere she'd never have discovered on her own. It was a reminder that the best travel experiences don't always come from sticking rigidly to an itinerary. Sometimes they come from embracing a change of plan, following a local tip and seeing where the evening takes you.

Tickets sell out. The weather changes. Queues get ridiculous. Plans fall apart. That doesn't have to ruin your night. The best cities for nightlife give you plenty of options once Plan A is off the table. Think bars, live music, late-night food, markets and neighbourhoods where you can simply wander until something catches your eye.

Before you head out, there are a few things worth checking:

A good city experience isn't all about one famous club or bar. Look for areas with different options close together, from live music and casual bars to night markets and late-night cafés. 

A city can have a great nightlife reputation and still go quiet earlier than you expect. Check which neighbourhoods stay lively after midnight and when the last trains, metros or buses run. It only takes a couple of minutes and can save a lot of hassle later.

The easiest nights are the ones where getting back doesn't become a mission. Before you go out, check your route back, save your hotel address and know what your options are once public transport stops running.

When people think of the best cities for nightlife, they often imagine booking the hottest restaurant, securing tickets to a must-visit venue or following a carefully planned itinerary. But as Ioana discovered in the latest Go Getters episode, some of the most memorable nights happen when things don't go quite as expected.

Cities like Paris, Bangkok, Marseille, Berlin and Barcelona are great for spontaneous evenings because there's always something happening nearby. Whether it's a local recommendation, a riverside walk, an evening market or a neighbourhood you've never explored before, these destinations make it easy to embrace a change of plan and discover something unexpected.

Whether an attraction is unexpectedly closed, the weather changes, or your evening plans don't quite work out, a change of direction can lead to a completely different side of a destination. The key is staying open to the unexpected and knowing where to look next. 

Here are five ways to make the most of an evening when things don't go to plan:

It's easy to focus so much on seeing a particular landmark that you forget to explore what's around it. If a museum, attraction or viewing spot is unexpectedly closed, take the opportunity to slow down and discover the surrounding area instead. Wander local streets, stop at a café, browse independent shops or simply enjoy the atmosphere without rushing to the next item on your itinerary.

For example, if you miss out on visiting the Louvre, an evening stroll through the nearby Tuileries Garden or along the Seine can be just as memorable. Guests staying at ibis Paris Tour Eiffel Cambronne often have many of the city's most iconic areas within easy reach, making it easier to turn a disappointment into an unexpected adventure.

When plans change, your first instinct might be to start scrolling through reviews. But some of the best recommendations come from people who actually live there.

That's exactly what happened to Ioana. After another travel disappointment, a simple "I know a place" from an ibis Heartist led her to somewhere she would never have found on her own.

Whether you're looking for a cultural event, a local food market or somewhere to enjoy the atmosphere after dark, don't be afraid to ask for a recommendation. The answer is often far more interesting than the places at the top of a travel app.

Not every great evening needs a ticket. When plans fall through, some of the best things to do are also the simplest: explore the historic centre, wander along the waterfront or spend time in the city's most vibrant public spaces. In Marseille, for example, an evening around the Old Port can be a great alternative if your original plans change. Travellers staying at ibis Marseille Centre Vieux-Port have one of the city's most iconic areas right on their doorstep, making it easy to enjoy the atmosphere without needing a complicated backup plan.

Spontaneity is much easier when you're staying somewhere well-connected. Instead of spending the evening travelling across a city, choose accommodation that puts you close to transport links, walkable neighbourhoods or several attractions at once. That way, if one activity doesn't work out, there are plenty of alternatives nearby. If you're in Bangkok, ibis Bangkok Riverside offers easy access to the river and transport links, giving travellers several options for spending an evening if their original plans change.

And when you've spent the night exploring somewhere unexpected, knowing you can come back and sink into an ibis Sweet Bed™ makes those spontaneous detours feel even more worthwhile.

The best backup plan isn't always another plan. Sometimes it's simply allowing yourself enough flexibility to say yes to something unexpected, whether that's a local recommendation, a neighbourhood you've never heard of or an event you stumbled across by chance.

That's the mindset at the heart of Go Getters: travelling with curiosity rather than trying to control every moment. Because while bucket-list experiences can be memorable, it's often the unplanned discoveries that become the stories you tell when you get home.

The best nights out don't always go to plan. That's why ibis hotels are designed to make spontaneity feel easy, with convenient locations, comfortable rooms and a reliable base to return to whenever the evening takes you in a new direction. Our Heartists can recommend a few simple ways to make the most of a spontaneous night out, such as:

Take two minutes before you head out. Check the last train, find the night bus routes, get an idea of taxi costs and save your hotel address offline. A screenshot of your route is useful too if your phone loses signal later.

Minimum to check: last train, night buses, taxi cost range, hotel address saved.

If one area isn't working, move. Changing neighbourhoods can completely change the feel of the night. At 1 am, you might want a dancefloor. Or a live gig. Or simply somewhere serving food and drinks where you can sit and talk.

1. Pick a neighbourhood that's easy to reach.
2. Choose one thing to anchor the evening around, such as a gig, market or rooftop.
3. Keep one nearby Plan B area ready.

The Go Getters moment in Marseille is a good reminder that a cancelled plan doesn't have to mean a wasted night. Leave some space in your itinerary. Follow a recommendation. Try the neighbourhood you hadn't heard of. You might end up somewhere completely different from where you thought you'd be. And sometimes the best nights start with: “We couldn't do that… so what should we do instead?”

Ready to find your next night out? Explore ibis hotels and browse our worldwide destinations to build a trip that stays fun, even when plans change.

Switch from venue-first to neighbourhood-first: head to an area with many options, pick one easy spot for a reset drink, and ask staff or locals what's good tonight. Keep your route home in mind so you can stay relaxed.

Go where locals go midweek, not only on Saturdays. Prioritise live music venues, casual bars, night markets and late food streets, and arrive earlier for smaller places. Ask for recommendations with music style, budget and how late you want to stay out.

For easy, varied nights out, Marseille, Berlin, Bangkok, São Paulo and Barcelona are strong picks; each offers multiple nightlife areas and walk-in options. In the UK, cities like London, Manchester, Glasgow, Bristol and Newcastle suit different night styles.

Choose somewhere with straightforward late-night connections: near a Metro/train station, on a night bus route, or central where taxis are easy to find. If clubbing is likely, staying closer to the club district reduces late-night travel stress.

A little planning can make a night out in a new city feel much easier. Check your late-night transport options before you go, choose well-known nightlife areas and have a backup neighbourhood or venue in mind in case plans change. Keep your valuables secure, stay aware of your surroundings and, if somewhere doesn’t feel right, simply move on.