Deciding where to travel next can seem like a daunting task, especially when there are so many exciting tourist destinations around the world to choose from. Furthermore, the fear of making a mistake, opting for a place that does not fully meet your expectations can make the decision even more difficult.
First of all, write down on a sheet of paper the destinations that you already have in mind and that you have always wanted to visit. If, on the other hand, you have no idea where to go, think about the things you like to do and what you expect from "a nice trip".
To arrive at a definitive choice, you can follow some logical steps that help you evaluate the pros and cons of each destination and gradually lead to narrowing down the options and simplifying your choice.
These steps start from your personal preferences and evaluate important parameters such as budget, travel length, company and seasonality, shaping the list of destinations to be more in line with your wishes and needs.
Personal preferences
Start by indulging your personal inclinations.
First, decide what type of trip you want to do: a relaxing trip, a trip dedicated to pure fun, an adventurous trip aimed at discovering new places and getting to know new cultures and so on...
For example, if you love sports and nature, you prefer places with large natural parks where you can carry out outdoor activities. If you love culture, opt for some European capital with lots of museums or for smaller cities of art but full of history or, again, if you love nightlife, you can think of destinations where people live more at night than during the day.
Duration of the journey
Considering the time you have available is essential for the final choice of your destination as it affects what you will be able to see and the experiences you will be able to live.
If you only have a few days to spare such as, for example, a 2 or 3 day weekend, then it is better to choose destinations that are easily accessible (without long flights or flights that require stopovers) and of medium-small size so that you can visit them without stress and without wasting time for travelling.
If, on the other hand, you have a week or more, you can also think of distant or larger destinations, always carefully calculating the time needed to carry out the experiences and activities on your itinerary.
Budget
The budget is one of the decisive elements for choosing where to travel as it often represents a factor that limits some destinations on your list. The price of flights and accommodation can vary a lot depending on the destination, the season and how far in advance you buy them.
Calculate that in addition to the flight and accommodation, your budget must also include what you actually want to visit once you arrive on site, i.e. tickets for museums, concerts, events, etc... in addition to daily meals and, perhaps, even some souvenirs to take home as a keepsake.
Also evaluate the season in which you want to leave as some places are more pleasant to visit in certain months of the year (for example in spring-summer to do physical activity immersed in nature and in autumn-winter if you want to ski) and they are more expensive due to climatic conditions or due to some local celebrations and holidays (for example the Oktoberfest in Munich).
Therefore, remove from your list all those options that at that moment go beyond the budget because they are "too expensive", offering you to consider them again in the future when you have a higher budget or by booking further in advance.
Blogs and reviews
Search online and check out travel blogs. Often they are real mini-guides that give valuable advice on what to visit and where to go to eat even in 2, 3 or 5 days. You will also find really useful information, for example, on how to get to a specific point of interest or on museum ticket prices.
Read the opinions of those who have already been to that place and left a review, look at photos and videos of the place to get an idea of what to expect and ask your friends who have already visited for information and advice.
Travel friends
Traveling in the company of friends and family is a meaningful experience as it allows you to share important travel moments and create new memories together. Furthermore, traveling with other people is, in some cases, also advantageous as we often share some travel costs such as those relating to accommodation or petrol if traveling by car.
However, being so many makes the process of choosing where to go more complex. Difficulties can relate to differences in the type of trip you want to undertake (relaxing, adventurous, cultural, etc...), budget differences, differences in the ability to compromise and to meet each other.
It is good to know that when you travel with other people you must necessarily have a certain flexibility, adapting to everyone's different needs and looking for solutions that are good for everyone. In this sense, it is advisable to travel with people who are similar to you and who have the same willingness to accept compromises as you.