When people want to travel but don’t, a common reason is uncertainty about where to start. Salivating over friends’ travel photos, hoping they’ll invite you to join them next time is not likely to result in actual travel. Is there another option? We think so. We think it comes down to breaking travel down into a few easy decisions and determining your personal priorities.
In our next article on this topic - How To Plan A Trip 201, we will share how to book your trip and bring it to life.
Decision 1: to go somewhere in particular . . . or anywhere at all
Traveling first and foremost requires going to a different place. Some people have a specific destination in mind, others have a number of options on a ‘bucket list’, and others still are open to going anywhere they haven’t been.
For those new to travel or more cautious travelers, we would recommend that you select somewhere that is well within your comfort zone. For example, if flying makes you anxious or if being in a country that is not primarily English-speaking seems stressful, opt for something else. Once you have determined the scope of your destination options, you’re ready for the next step.
Having visited a substantial part of the United States, we feel that sometimes people underestimate the riches of domestic travel. Most states have a surprising array of activities that can be uncovered fairly easily in this glorious age of the internet.
Decision 2: type of trip and pace of travel
In our view, we can categorize all of our trips - both domestic and international - over the course of 14+ years into two categories: road trips or destination trips.
An example of a road trip is staying on the go and hitting a number of different spots. When we spent 11 days in Iceland, we did the ‘Ring Road’ around the country, spending 2-3 nights in each destination before moving on.
An example of a destination trip is going to one spot and staying in one place, which is used as a home base from which to explore or just relax. The long weekend Lindsey spent in Asheville, NC is an example of this.
Of course, there is a middle ground. In September 2019, we’re going to Malta and spending half the trip on the main island and half the trip on another island, Gozo. But overall, we think that considering trips from this vantage point helps to narrow down your preference.
Considerations when making this decision:
Know your pace: if lots of driving and packing and unpacking at different places doesn’t appeal to you, a destination trip should be the right option. If you enjoy exploring a lot of places and being on the go, a road trip is probably a better option.
What are you hoping to gain? If your destination is somewhere you really want to explore as a local or has a lot to offer, a destination trip is a better option. If you want to see the varied parts of a state or a country, a road trip may be better. We are going to Paris in April 2019 for a week. There are a lot of other places in France we want to see, but we decided that if we only spent a couple of days in Paris before moving on, we wouldn’t truly get to experience everything it has to offer, check out the markets, find a favorite cafe, etc. Our goal is to be travelers, not tourists, and so in this case, we decided to limit ourselves to fully imbibe. The adage ‘less is more’ can definitely apply to travel!
What is the right amount of time in a place? If you select a destination that is fairly limited in activities, make sure you are comfortable with the amount of time there. If it’s an isolated beach, for example, you’d better enjoy sunbathing! If you plan on a road trip, do you really want to drive each day along with the packing and unpacking? In our experience, we have found that, for us, 2-3 nights per place is ideal for most road trips.
Decision 3: who will you travel with?
The options are as numerous as your imagination. Solo travel is easiest in some ways because you can plan exactly what you want without factoring anyone else in. Traveling with a significant other, a friend, or a small group requires factoring in everyone’s travel preferences and needs, agreeing to how costs will be handled (e.g., does a single individual pay the same for a bedroom in a rental house as a couple in another room since they each take up a bedroom or does the cost get split evenly per person?), and how independent or dependent the travelers will be of each other (will everyone do things together or are people going to split up and do their own thing?). Another option is going on a guided tour, which is not something we have experience with.
Checkpoint: will my budget cover it?
If the dream trip you just concocted is a three week trip across the world and that isn’t feasible for your current budget, that’s okay, table that for later and develop a plan that is realistic for your current circumstances. Our initial trips were incredibly budget-conscious and still included a trip to Ireland and one that involved flying across the country and taking a grand tour of Arizona. If you plan accordingly, you can often travel more than you think and for less if budget is a concern.
This is also why we would recommend you start a list of future trips you plan to take. Sometimes it comes down to timing, finding good flight deals or going somewhere off-season. So if the stars don’t align at any given time, you can always have that list to go back to as you look to plan your next trip.
Now that you know where you will go, the make-up of the trip, who you will travel with, and have factored in any budget considerations, you are ready to start planning! Check out How To Plan A Trip 201 to determine how to book your trip and bring it to life!