Planning your next holiday is a bit like being a kid in a candy store — lots and lots of options that can be hard to choose from.
Even though traveling is among the most exciting activities ever, the picking and planning part of a trip is not always all that fun — at least, not for everybody.
But worry not, because in this article, we have compiled 7 essential tips on how to pick the perfect destination for your next holiday!
1. Consult Your Bucket List
Chances are you have a bucket list of travel destinations that you think you simply must visit at least once in your life.
So, why not start with your bucket list destinations when planning a trip? Just open up your list (whether it’s a physical one or a mental one) and consider each item. Would a trip to one of these destinations be plausible under your current circumstances?
Even if your answer is yes, don’t rush to book your ticket just yet. Instead, stick around as we explore the other factors you should consider.
2. Consider Your Budget
Unfortunately, the plausibility of even the most essential bucket list trip — or any holiday trip, for that matter — will be decided by your budget first and foremost.
That is especially true for foreign trips to another country or another continent. So, if you’ve been saving up for a good, long vacation in an exotic destination — go ahead and start planning it.
However, if you’re planning an impromptu getaway on a limited budget, don’t get discouraged. Chances are, there are plenty of exciting, yet budget-friendly holiday destinations in or not too far from your local area.
3. Traveling Solo or with Someone?
Your list of potential travel destinations will also be determined by whether you’re planning to travel solo, with your friend or significant other, your family, or with a large group.
That’s because not all destinations are equally friendly to solo travelers, couple travelers, or family travelers. For example, if you’re planning a vacation for your entire family, including young children, a trip to Egypt for a camelback safari in the Sahara desert may not be an ideal option.
Similarly, a two-week stay at a family-friendly beachfront resort in the Bahamas may get a little bit boring if you’re traveling solo — unless that’s precisely what you’re looking for, of course.
The point is: be sure to consider the specifics of your potential travel destination and whether it fits your traveling style.
4. What Are You Looking to Get from Your Trip?
The purpose of your trip is not something that should matter only to border patrol agents — it should matter to you as well, especially when you’re picking a holiday destination.
That’s why you should ask yourself: what are you looking to get from your trip? Broadly, this can be defined as either of the two categories — an active vacation and a passive vacation.
A active vacation is, essentially, tourism in the best sense of the world — exploring memorable sights, going on tours, discovering new experiences, trying new foods, and so on. Meanwhile, a passive vacation is all about relaxing and taking it easy, whether on a sandy beach, by the pool, or in the middle of an idyllic countryside. If you are active, maybe you can catch some nice real estate offers. Experts from the Lake of the Ozarks Real Estate can help you there.
Your choice between these traveling styles will help you decide on the right destination — urban areas and exotic destinations for an active vacation, resorts and the more comfortable destinations for a passive vacation.
5. Figure out the Logistics
Figuring out where to go on holiday is great! However, the real challenge is to physically get there.
That’s why you should also consider the logistics of your potential journey beforehand, and whether the actual traveling will suit your desires, circumstances, and budget.
For example, if your destination of choice is very remote, you should be prepared for a long flight that may feature one or more layovers. On the other hand, if you’re traveling somewhat locally, you should think whether it would make more sense to take a plane or plan a road trip.
Finally, if you’re traveling abroad to a less touristy destination, you should check whether you need a visa or whether the country has special entry requirements.
However, logistics are not limited to just plane flights — accommodation falls under that consideration, too. When choosing accommodation for your trip, the two factors you should pay attention to are your budget and your needs. Ideally, you want to get the most value for your money.
For example, if you’re planning to spend the winter somewhere warm — such as Scottsdale, Arizona — your best best would be Scottsdale long term stay hotels, as these offer the most value and comfort for a prolonged trip.
6. Check the Weather
Regardless of the season for which you’re planning your trip, the weather can truly make or break your experience. Let’s face it: nobody likes rain on New Year’s Eve or cloudy skies on a beach in July.
To avoid disappointment, be sure to research about the weather and the climate in your destination of choice for your chosen dates — and do it well in advance!
For instance, let’s say you want to spend your Christmas holidays in a snowy fairytale somewhere in continental Europe. A quick query into the weather will reveal that, in fact, not all of Europe gets a lot of snow in December. So, if you want the kind of Christmas trip that you imagine, you should consider the more northern or high-altitude destinations.
7. Don’t Follow the Crowd — or Do!
Finally, when thinking about a certain destination for your trip, consider this — is that destination really a place that you’re dying to see, or are you entertaining the idea of going there simply because of the buzz around it?
In other words, it’s all about the age-old dilemma: should you follow the crowd and travel to the same old places, or should you become the trend-setter and discover a new destination before the average traveler even knows about it?
And before you jump to conclusions, let us just say: there is nothing wrong with either option! If you don’t really care about being a trend-setter and a pioneer, the well-trodden paths have many advantages: the tourist infrastructure is usually better, you typically have more options for accommodation and recreation (at different price points), and the logistics are usually simpler and cheaper.
At the same time, the lesser-known destinations have the advantage of novelty — not to mention, you’re more likely to get an authentic local experience. In some cases, it can even be more affordable — but you should be prepared for a potential lack of significant tourist infrastructure.
At the end of the day, the choice is yours! The best and final advice we can give you is: follow your heart, the world is your oyster!
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