No right or wrong

There’s no right or wrong answer when deciding where to go. Only you know what you want to see. Perhaps a book or a film has perked your interest in a destination, or you heard someone’s first-hand account of their experience. You may even choose to return to a destination you have been to before.

A near infinite number of options await you when exploring the world. Yet, you may only get one or two substantial trips a year – and with so many options out there – how do you make the right one?

Looking back

When I’m on an adventure – or looking back on it – I don’t spend time concerning myself wishing I’d gone somewhere else. My overriding feeling is gratitude for my experience and that is unique to me, wherever that was.

A possible exception to that was a child on our annual summer holiday camping in Cornwall, waiting for the rain to stop belting down onto the tent or caravan. Although on those occasions, I had no choice in the location. Besides, the rain usually stopped at some point – and there are worse places to spend summer than on the Cornish coast.

How I choose

When it comes to choosing a destination, I tend to make decisions with an uncharacteristic decisiveness. The list of places I still want to visit is very long, and the possibilities are endless. I take inspiration from a variety of sources: seeing enticing photographs, hearing about a friend’s trip, or reading an article – all these can help me decide where to go.

When the time comes to book, I’ll consider the time of year – if it’s a good time to visit the location, the length of my trip – which can influence how far or near I go, and most importantly – what do I feel like doing on this trip. After a little research of destinations, comparing options, concocting a vague itinerary, and then ensuring my selection is viable in terms of time, transport, and cost, I’ll go ahead and book – confident that I’ve picked somewhere I’ll enjoy.

The length

If I only have a couple of days, I might book it with minimal thought, so long as it is relatively quick and easy to get there, with suitable accommodation. If, on a longer trip, I’m longing for a quiet week in nature, with several days of hiking, for example, a simple search for photos of the area, followed by a search of hiking routes, wildlife I might encounter, could be enough to decide the destination.

For trips of two weeks or more, a lot more planning is needed. Especially for a road trip, deciding how long I’ll be on the road, driving between destinations, if there’s enough to keep occupied, but not so much it requires me to be constantly behind the wheel.

That’s great, Guy. But how will I decide where to go?

Where?

As you travel more, you’ll get a feel for what you enjoy, in terms of climate, countries and regions, or the terrain and landscapes. My advice would be to try a variety of destinations, as well as different types of getaways.

If you usually find yourself in an urban setting, take yourself off to the middle of nowhere. Are you the type of person who likes to base yourself in one location? Book yourself into multiple spots for a change of pace, and scenery, while you are away. If anyone reading this has only ever stayed in an all-inclusive resort, I couldn’t stress how much you might be missing by not staying in an area where you can encounter and interact with locals. Try it one time.

What does the location offer?

When deciding a location for a trip, there’s a few things to consider. First, possibly the most obvious, what do you want to see and do. The internet has a list for everything. If you want to know where the best places to go hang gliding in the world are, for example, search for it. If one desires a tropical beach with a climate that allows being outside in the evenings in shorts and a t-shirt, make sure to double check the weather for the time of year you’re going.

A great way of learning about travel spots is to ask people you meet where their favourite holidays have been/ It’s a good icebreaker, as well as an insight to potential destinations. A first hand story can help bring a place to life. It’s best to understand why they enjoyed it, to help get a feel for whether you would as well.

How long do you have?

Secondly, the length of the trip influences the destination. It might seem self-evident that you won’t be able to hike across the Gobi Desert in a weekend. Likewise, if coming from the UK, a week to go to Hawaii might not be worthwhile, given the length of the flights either side.

A long weekend is enough for exploring a city or a national park, with a possible journey time from home of up to three or four hours. A week might be suitable to combine a few days’ hike with a couple days in a city. You can squeeze in multiple destinations, but only if you can handle a lot of travel. Otherwise, you could base yourself in one destination that has plenty of different attractions nearby.

A week or two is my opportunity to explore a region or country in depth. I worry staying in a single location, given my love of discovering new places, means I would get bored. Having said that, I have often overlooked relaxation on many of my trips. I am learning the importance of down-time during adventures, and not filling every waking minute with activities – taking time to relax helps me re-energise and enjoy the busier moments more fully.

Before you book

Booking a trip based purely on photos isn’t always a wise move. A little research on the destination – getting around, where to stay, the entry requirements if in another country, safety concerns – should all be considered prior. Spontaneity is great, in the right circumstances.

I can only imagine an adventure in the Hindu Kush mountain range in Afghanistan would be fantastic. Unfortunately, flying into Kabul and travelling in that region poses risks, currently.

So, take note of travel advice, prepare for the expected weather, and make sure the destination is worth any potential risks.

Avoiding peak season

If you decide upon a more well-known, popular tourist attraction, it helps to find out when it is less busy. I avoided the crowds when I went to the Canadian Rockies in late May to early June – and it was mostly quiet on the roads and hiking trails, which isn’t the case in July and August (side note, although missed the crowds, I did encounter deep snow and ice on hiking trails. Pay heed to the seasons and the weather, too).

A trip around New Zealand in winter might not as much fun for non-skiers. On the other hand, the single lane highways can get very congested with traffic in summer (ipso facto, go in Spring or Autumn). Unfortunately for parents, school holidays increase cost and busy-ness so, if possible, avoid those times. Venice has reportedly considered one-in, one-out for tourists to the city centre. It may not have been implemented, but it highlights concerns of overcrowding.

Don’t look back

Wherever you choose, and whatever you do, I’d urge you not to regret it – the trip was selected by you, and your experience is yours – it is special to you, and the destination helped create those moments, and are part of your life.