Sometimes you can’t really articulate why you want to go to a particular place, and often, these turn out to be the best kinds of trips of all.
Whether you rarely go far from home or you have traveled so much that you feel jaded when you think about where you want to go, it can be difficult to choose your next trip. If you are not much of a traveler, you might just be thinking about going to the same place where you usually vacation, but why not mix it up a little bit? Here are four things to consider that can help you decide.
Cost
The size of your budget seems like an obvious limitation although it might not be as much of one as you assume. Few destinations are entirely off limits to even budget travelers if you are willing to cut back on certain luxuries and be creative. While you should not go deeply into debt to fund your traveling, you may want to consider taking out a personal loan to pay for it. Alternately, if you have debt you need to pay off before you travel, you may want to consider a personal loan if you can get a lower interest rate. You can usually get matched with options quickly.
Time
How much time do you have? One of the biggest mistakes that inexperienced travelers make is trying to do too much. If you have seven days in Europe and want to visit three different countries or cities that are spaced far apart, you are going to spend a significant amount of time on trains or planes. Be realistic about what you can do in the time you have. If you are traveling far, you should also factor in time zones and whether you are likely to be struggling with jet lag for a day or two.
Purpose
Do you want to relax on a beach, or are you hoping for activity such as sailing, skiing or scuba diving? Are you a camping type of person or will you consider nothing less than four-star hotels? While you should make sure to plan a trip that you will enjoy, you also might want to take this opportunity to get out of your comfort zone. Perhaps you aren't quite ready to rough it in the back country, but maybe you could try out a more rustic accommodation than you are accustomed to, or maybe if you normally like to hit the nightclubs while on the road, you might want to see what's out there for the early risers. You may find yourself most rejuvenated by travel that mixes tried-and-true things you love combined with a few exciting new approaches.
Armchair Travel
Are you still undecided? Sometimes, trying to figure out logically what place is best for you isn't the right approach. Instead, try inspiring yourself by looking at books, websites and social media accounts devoted to travel. You may find that something simply grabs you even if it doesn't fit your usual criteria. Sometimes you can't really articulate why you want to go to a particular place, and often, these turn out to be the best kinds of trips of all.
