Whether it be your first international trip or a return, the travel destinations available these days are many and varied with heaps of options for the various sightseeing tours and travel packages.
The list of possibilities is almost endless. So how do you decide which destination is for you? A few factors that can help you are:
- Budget – flights, accommodation, food, tours. Do you want to travel cheaply or all the way up to first class and 5 star.
- The purpose – vacation or business
- Are you adventurous, or do you prefer to stay in your own comfort zone as much as possible.
- Activities – for skiing (& other sports), tours, white water rafting, sightseeing, just plain good old relaxing and so on.
- Your interests – if ancient history and monuments – then don’t go to Australia; if its snorkeling and diving then perhaps Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is the place to go.
If It’s Tuesday It Must Be Belgium
Many people, especially first time travelers, try to cram as much as possible into that “once in a lifetime” holiday. This is natural, as they want to see all those things they have seen on TV or read about over the years. But, it can turn a holiday into a hell-a-day!
So it is good sense to research well before deciding and then planning the trip. Get an idea of things like
- distances to be traveled and the time used up on planes, trains etc PLUS sitting around in airports or stations
- modes of transport (hire cars, trains, buses etc)
- Time differences ( From the States, you lose a day going to the Southern Hemisphere, but gain it on the return – but not so if you travel “around the world”)
- Tours – see what is actually offered, whether you have ‘free time” to do some sightseeing or shopping at your own pace.
You may be surprised at how much “lost time” there is – and this affects your schedule of hoped for sightseeing and other activities.
Be Practical
Time - how long will the trip be – don’t try and see all of Europe if you only have two weeks – prioritize your preferences – and make sure you plan to see things well and not rush so much you don’t really take anything in and then need a vacation to recover when you get home. The same applies to the other continents.
Flight time – East coast US to Europe is at least 6-7 hours, but to Australia it is at least 20 hours – plus airport changeover times. Note jet lag is worst when traveling in an Easterly direction – and the Southern Hemisphere may be on a different day!
Language – perhaps an English speaking country, if it is your first overseas trip, will help you learn the pitfalls and joys of international travel more easily.
People choose their travel destinations for all sorts of reasons
- To meet people of different cultures and experience their lifestyle and differences
- To practice a newly learnt language
- To meet relatives from the “old country”
- To see famous art, museums, places
- For shopping (yes!)
- Pilgrimages (Mecca, Lourdes)
- To play golf at St Andrew’s or watch a major sports event (Olympics, Tour de France, Socer World Cup)
- There are other nefarious reasons which we won’t mention.
Avoid cultural Fatigue
In the long run, for both value for dollar spent and enjoyment gained, it is usually better to narrow down the number of countries to visit.
And, within those places, again narrow down what you want to see. What is the point of running around every museum in, for example, Rome over a 4-5 day period – - just to say you have been in them? St Peter’s alone takes a whole day to see properly – let alone the Vatican museum!
This is true of most of Rome’s museums and art galleries – and pretty well true for Paris and other major cities,
It is better to see some things well, than all badly! You will retain more memories and certainly enjoy what you do see better. Your memories shouldn’t be locked into a camera! And, you will also have a holiday – which should be restful!
Whatever travel destinations you consider, prepare for your trip well and you will enjoy it.
