Picking Your Next Vacation Destination: Explore Before
Picking your next vacation destination is half the fun. (Maybe more!)
We make it a hobby to enjoy the process as we Explore Before and weigh the options.
There’s an infinite number of places on this earth to visit.
By taking the time to look around at the world, you will enrich your knowledge and home in on the best place to make your next vacation destination.
Answer these 5 questions, and you will have a trip tailor-made:
What do you want the experience to be like?
When will you go?
Who will you go with?
What is your initial budget?
Where will you go?
What do you want the experience to be like?
What feeling are you looking for?
Are you more comfort and style or backpacks and zip-off pants?
Adventure or Adirondack chair?
Fast-paced or serenity?
Cultural or mindless fun?
Romantic or raucous?
What do you want to do?
Explore history
Gaze at art
Make something
Eat and drink
Shop
Have an adrenaline rush
Sit by the pool
Commune with nature
Be entertained
Snowsports
Water sports
Watch sports
What type of trip do you want?
Match the feeling you’re after and the stuff you want to do with the type of trip below:
An all-inclusive resort, dude ranch, or full-service tour
Camping or backpacking
City life
Small-town
Country living
Beach
Mountains
Cruise
International
Roadtrip
RV trip
When will you go?
How long can you stay?
For most people, vacation days will be the limiting factor.
We’ll talk about money in a minute.
One study found that an eight-day trip may be optimal for vacation happiness. Vacationers in the study reported that positive feelings of health, relaxation, and well-being increased at the beginning of their time off. The good feelings peaked on the eighth day. This sunshine feeling continued until the eleventh day when things start to go stale.*
Takeaway? Can you combine a week-long vacation with a 3-day holiday weekend for the ultimate 10-day trip?
Do you have any date restrictions?
Your work commitments
The school calendar
A family wedding or holidays you won’t miss
Limiting dates at the destination – national holidays and festivals that drive up the cost, shut down services or create the type of crowds you may not want to deal with
Are you piggy-backing on a work trip?
What is the best time to go?
Are you targeting a special event?
How do you feel about crowds?
If you want to avoid crowds and heat, consider the shoulder season.
In the Northern Hemisphere, this is generally April/May and September/October.
Do a little research to see when the peak season is and avoid it.
What climate are you looking for?
What’s the sweet spot?
Do you like hot and humid or cool and breezy?
Again, check average temperatures for your destination.
Remember that humidity plays a significant role – 80ºF in Washington, DC, is not the same thing as 80°F in Washington State.
Who will you go with?
How many people are going on the trip?
Solo
Couples getaway
Family vacation
Friends trip or girlfriend getaway
Reunion
How old are your companions?
If your traveling companions are much older or younger than you, how will that change things?
Children
If your children aren’t going with you, what arrangements do you need to make?
Finding a caregiver for your kids will probably affect the dates and length of a trip.
If this is a family or multi-generational vacation, choose a location that will create a successful experience.
Elderly
If you have an elderly travel companion, will your destination meet their needs?
Does anyone have special needs?
Consider:
Mobility
Accessibility
Food allergies or intolerances
Medical needs – especially if you will need access to services like oxygen or dialysis
What is your initial budget?
Travel doesn’t have to break the bank.
In general, the earlier you plan, the less you will spend.
Conversely, last-minute deals can be amazing. But, being obsessive planners, we rarely wait for the last-minute!
On a scale of luxury to bare-bones, how much can you spend?
Do you have money tucked away in savings?
Between now and your target date, how much money can you realistically stash?
Will you share expenses?
Have that talk with your travel companion now.
Nothing can sour a trip like mismatched expectations.
The budget talk goes for married couples too.
The money may be coming out of the same pot, but be sure you agree on how fast it’s going to boil.
Decide on a ballpark budget
And, like construction and decorating projects, add 10-15%.
Where will you go?
As you explore places to go, create a bucket list by stockpiling intriguing ideas that don’t make the cut.
The next time you plan a trip, you will have a ready-made list of exciting locations to research.
Ask your friends
Do you have well-traveled friends with similar tastes and financial means?
Begin asking them about their all-time favorite vacations and travel experiences.
Start travel conversations during the meet and greet at church, in line at the grocery store, and while waiting for your coffee to heat up in the break room.
Not only will you get to know someone better and have a ready-made topic of conversation, but you might also get the idea of a lifetime.
Peruse guidebooks
Check out a few guidebooks from the library to get started.
The library is free; you can dream to your heart’s content.
Take a look at the magazine section and check out some back copies of travel magazines.
Search social media
Use #(hashtags) in the search bar to look up posts on places of interest.
Searching on Facebook might alert you to someone in your network that’s traveled to the place you’re interested in. Now you have a real-live person to connect with and ask questions.
A Facebook search will also surface videos and blog post links.
Twitter is an excellent source of information if you know how to plumb the endless depths.
Getting specific with your search topic is the best way to narrow down the results.
You will find videos, blog posts, articles, and recommendations galore.
For instance, type in ‘restaurant recommendations in Nashville’ and see the tasty goodness.
The search engine extraordinaire.
I would begin my vacation research on Pinterest before Google.
A search on Pinterest will lead you to solid blog posts and information on your destination and avoid most review aggregator sites and advertisements – which seem to be the first page results if you search on the Big G.
While on Pinterest, create a board for your trip and start stashing useful information. You can even share this board with your travel companions and double the information overload!
Like Facebook, a search on IG will alert you to any friends, family, or acquaintances that have visited your location in question. Again it’s always good to have a real person to talk to.
Also, you can discover accounts and hashtags with beautiful photos and helpful information.
Use SAVE (it’s a little bookmark icon on the right) to mark any posts you might like to revisit.
Use #(hashtags) in search for the most accurate results. Instagram is #rich, and you will be able to drill down your research.
Listen to podcasts
You could search ‘podcasts on Xyz’ and see what pops up.
A few of my favorite podcasts for destination guides are:
Vacation Mavens (especially for family travel)
Look online
Now Google.
Once you’ve gotten specific, a search is in order.
I find better results by searching for the location I’m interested in, followed by the words ‘blog posts’.
For example – ‘visiting Boston blog posts’
The more detailed my search term, the higher the quality of the results.
Searching for travel information on Google can be frustrating; a few major websites seem to dominate the first page. These tend to be review sites like Trip Advisor or government and tourism boards. These can be useful for facts and links, but what I’m looking for is information-rich blog posts written by real people. Keep tweaking your search terms until you get what you want.
See a travel agent
Full disclosure, I’ve never used a travel agent.
But, I understand they can be a great option if you want to save time or have a complicated itinerary.
Many people also suggest using a cruise specialist if cruising is on the agenda. Particularly for booking groups.
Grab a globe and spin it. Randomly poke it with your finger to stop it at a surprise point.
Now go there on vacation.
Hmm…that’s one way to plan a trip. I hope your finger didn’t land in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean!
Or…try some of the Explore Before activities above.
Enjoy the discovery phase, double the pleasure of anticipation, and create the trip of your dreams.
*de Bloom, J., Geurts, S.A.E. & Kompier, M.A.J. Vacation (after-) effects on employee health and well-being, and the role of vacation activities, experiences, and sleep. J Happiness Stud 14, 613–633 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-012-9345-3
