So you’re itching to travel and you’re ready to plan your next trip? But where to start?
Lets get started with the 6 steps I take when choosing my next travel destination. For me I’ve got so many places I want to go that it’s sometimes hard to narrow it down. I’ve found over time that using these steps really helps me focus in on what’s the next place for me. You may find that these steps overlap in making your decision. This is fine because they are not in a specific order. You may decide what order based on which question is more of a priority to you. For example, is is time of year, is it budget, is it who you are traveling with, etc.
Step 1: When are you traveling?
The first thing I think about is when I’ll be traveling..especially since I base my travel on the seasons and what might be happening at that time. Sometimes this could be that my traveling is tied onto a work trip or an event which narrows it down easily. Something to think about is what the weather be like. Are you a warm weather person or cold weather person? Do you love the summer, or spring. Or if you are like me, I love them all. Because I’ve always lived in warm weather climates and live in the desert now, I’ve typically chosen places that were completely opposite. I’ve visited Seattle and Boston in the fall and Iceland in the winter. So, decide which one you’d like to see next or what season is coming up next. Now that you’ve determined what season you’ll be traveling during, let’s move on to the next step.
Step 2: How long are you staying?
Is this going to be a day trip, a long weekend or full on week to 10 days or longer. When thinking about this, also think about travel time. Depending on where you live, this could have a major impact on where you choose to go. If you have limited time, look and see how long it will take to drive or fly and what is the time change going to and from.
Step 3: Who are you going with?
Is this a solo trip, a trip with a significant other or a trip with friends. Each of those options can help determine the destination, especially if it’s a large group of people going on the trip. Think about what you like to and what others like to do and do those mesh as similar interests. Think of the destination and who you see being on that trip with you. I enjoy day trips up north by myself and I’m comfortable with that when I just want to get away and do my own thing. Chris and I take trips together and we’ve figured out how to mesh doing a little of what we both like and how to do things separately do if we choose. I’ve also taken a trip with a large group of women and it can be challenging to compromise on what everyone wants to see or do and when, especially if you are sharing rental cars.
Step 4: How much do you want to spend?
Budget can be a key factor for most people. And by budget, I don’t just mean the least amount. It means, how much you have set aside to spend on a trip and where and how can you best use that amount for your trip. For some people they would prefer a short trip to a luxury destination, for others that same amount could be spent on a two week road trip. What can you do on the budget you have set aside to travel with?
Step 5: What activities do you like to do?
Do you prefer hiking, biking and other outdoor activities in the mountains? Or is your idea of a perfect vacation, laying on the beach or beside a resort pool, or hiking on glacier or visiting and ice cave? If you aren’t sure, you can start Googling “Best places for hiking or best beaches etc…”. I know it sounds simple but Google can be your best friend when researching. You can also Google specific locations and you will usually find online guides about what activities that location is known for.
Step 6: How are you getting there and how are you getting around once you get there?
Depending on where you are thinking about going, you’ll need to think about transportation. Are you flying and renting a car to get around? Is there public transportation? Are you road tripping? Will the weather impact driving conditions and are you comfortable driving in that. When we were in Iceland, the roads were covered with snow and ice and luckily several of the women had driven in winter conditions like that before. If you are flying, what airlines fly there, what times of day do flights leave, how does this fit into your budget. Sometimes it’s just as cheap to fly as it is to do a long drive when flight prices are low.