Oh if only we had all the money and time in the world, but we don’t. So picking your next travel destination needs to combine the pragmatic with the dreamy, the right distance with an on-target budget, the proper distance with just the right amount of some boundary breaking.
Vacation Type
First, ask yourself some questions and get down to the core of why you want to vacation. Do you want to beach bum for days, hike your pants off or go totally off the grid into the Himalayas? A great vacation entails serious honesty with yourself and others. If you’re traveling with your spouse and twin toddlers, a reality check is also due for going somewhere where wipes are available sans too much effort. Narrow your choices down from beachfront to ski chalet, Airbnb in the jungle to cottage an hour away. Our great nation and the miraculous world have a lot to offer. Once you’ve had your heart-to-heart, you are ready to decide how far you are willing to travel for the image you’ve painted in your mind.
Distance
Getting down to the basics starts with knowing if you want to drive, take the train, fly nationally or internationally. Sometimes narrowing down your options is as simple as saying, “I am willing to sit on a plane for a maximum of five hours.” Take out a Google Map and a travel ticket (airplane, driving, train, boat) search engine and start mapping out the travel distance to different locations you have an urge to see.
Budget
Let’s be real, vacations are expensive. And they always cost more than you calculate up-front. You almost always spend more than you project so choose a locale that is in the ballpark of what you want to spend. A quick internet search can give you an idea of costs in your destination area by looking at prices for lodging and restaurants. Numbeo has an interesting calculator that allows you to compare the cost of living in two cities and shows you the average cost for a variety of variables. Check out https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/comparison.jsp. This can also give you an idea of the costs of where you want to go (or move to!)
Comfort
Do you want to be in a plush all-inclusive resort or do you prefer to live in a local home and imbue yourself with the culture? Deciding the level of comfort you are seeking will help you narrow down your choices as different destinations offer very different set-ups. Whereas some destinations may not have electricity or hot water throughout the day say Bastimentos, Panama, others say Las Vegas offer full-time pleasing of the senses.
Take a Travel Quiz
If you feel like you could use some help, want to learn about destinations outside the box, or are curious about the world, try a travel destination search engine. By honing in on your personal travel preferences with a fine-tuned algorithm, sites like Easy Planet Travel or Jauntaroo guide you through the process of matchmaking yourself to a vacation destination. They also offer location information and summaries of your suggested results.
Ask Around
If with all that, you still can’t choose on your own, ask around. From travel posts to forums, people love to tell you where they think you should go. Throw a question out on your Instagram or Facebook or probe friends and family for their most memorable vacations. If you are thinking of a place but still not sure, ask a traveler or local on TriplnR for more destination details. Another great way to ignite your interest is to read the seasonal and yearly Best in Travel columns put out by some of the largest names in Travel like Lonely Planet, Fodor’s or Frommer’s.
Before making your final decision, check the weather and local language to ensure that your vision matches reality. Check out TriplnR’s Basics of Safe Travel before you make your final decision. In the end, just keep everything in perspective, it’s a vacation after all. You won’t be working. You’ll be running after your fun all day. It will surely be entertaining no matter where you choose.
