Thinking about your next getaway ? But where shall you go ? From where do you start?
As the summer season starts approaching, many people start thinking where to plan their next holiday. There are so many countries, regions, towns and cities in the world one could visit that deciding on a destination could be nerve-wrecking and overwhelming. Some people, like me have a long list of places they wish to tick off their bucket list. Others scheme through thick travel magazines sent by different travel agencies which sometimes may confuse you more as every holiday seems so perfectly organised and you could already picture yourself enjoying the tour.... Or maybe you fit in neither of these groups of people and you are just completely clueless as to where to start.
This article should help you organise your thoughts and guide you on how you can narrow down the list of destinations and choose the ideal getaway that best suits your needs and satisfy your expectations, making this whole planning process enjoyable and hassle free.
I managed to narrow down this article to a series of 10 questions you should ask yourself
1. What type of holiday do you need ?
Are you looking for a relaxing holiday, one where you can lay on the beach sipping a margherita and reading a good book or a fun packed holiday filled with all sorts of adventures?
This is the most crucial part of the decision making process as everything else revolves around it. What are you expecting from this holiday?
There are two types of tourists, firstly those who wake up early in the morning to fit as much excursions as possible making sure not to miss any part of the city and then there are those who prefer sleeping in, waking up at around 9 o’clock to take a nice breakfast and then spend the day roaming around the city with no plan whatsoever but letting themselves wander freely around the place.
If you are looking for a peaceful getaway, choose places that can offer mountain terrains, beautiful natural scenery, secluded islands or beaches where you can completely wind down, relax and rejuvenate yourself. On the other hand, if you are looking for nightlife, art, history or architecture, a busy city would be ideal.
2. Holiday duration and therefore flight duration
If you are going away for just a weekend it is better to choose a place that has a short flight and find accommodation that is central in order not to loose time travelling. Countries such as Italy (Rome, Milan, Florence), London, Germany (Cologne, Bonn, Frankfurt) amongst others are ideal for short getaways. If you wish to visit places outside Europe such as places in the US, Japan, Australia amongst others pack a pillow, books, movies and snacks as the journey is quite a long one. In addition, if you are visiting these places, you need to spend at least a good 2 to 3 weeks to be able to see a large part of the place.
Another factor to take into consideration is the period when you are planning a holiday. For example, if you want a skiing holiday this is only possible in the winter season . If you wish to attend a particular festival, you need to check the dates when these are planned to take place and book accordingly.
3. Budget
I find it very helpful to set a budget for flights, transport and accommodation and another one for activities and spending money. In this way, I can eliminate those places that fall out of the budget and keep those which are more credible.
4. Mode of transport
How you are going to travel from the airport to the hotel and most importantly daily during your stay is a very important factor to consider. Many countries have very efficient public transport system which make it easier for you to travel from one place to another. In other places such as big busy cities it may be worth it to roam around by foot and do some exploring or else spend the day on a hop on and off bus. If you are restricted with time and wish to see much of the place in a small amount if time you can rent a car.
- By bus
- By train
- By foot
- By taxi
- Driving
5. Accommodation
- 5 star hotel
- Apartment
- B & B hotel
- All inclusive hotel
- Hostel
- Camping
6. With whom are you going ?
- Family holiday
- As a couple
- With friends
- Children
This is a great determining factor which influences many of the points mentioned here. For example, if you are travelling with children you need to include activities which the children will enjoy and keep them entertained. The hotel chosen needs to be child-friendly. Travelling by car from one place to another would be easier than using public transport. In addition, choose a destination for which the flight duration is relatively short as children can get quite restless in planes.
7. Weather
Are you searching for a warm type of climate or cold and wet type of weather ?
- Hot climate
- Warm climate
- Cold & wet climate
8. Activities
- Theme parks
- Zoos
- Adventure sports
- Hikes
- Parties
- Museums
- Shopping
9. What the place must offer
- History and architecture
- Good authentic food
- Nature & wild life
- Night life
- Beautiful beaches
- Art
10. DIY holiday or guided/follow the leader holiday
Are you the type of traveller that likes to plan your own holiday from A to Z, enjoying getting lost with google maps or are you more the type of held back tourist, having everything taken care of ?
All these 10 tips mentioned go hand in hand so if you have answered one or more questions, you have pretty much have the rest figured out automatically. I hope this article will help you join up those loose travelling ends you had roaming around in your head. If you need any more help, feel free to send a message.
Thank you again for reading my blog. Feel free to leave any comments or questions about certain destinations you wish to visit. Until next time !!
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