The world is big, so how on Earth (pun intended) are you going to decide where to go next? Here are 5 ways to choose your next travel destination.
Go Where the Deals Are
If you are the type of traveller who just wants to travel and doesn’t have a specific idea of where you want to go, this method is for you. This may involve a bit of research and watching for deals. Use a search engine or website to find great flight deals. Google Flights or Skyscanner are currently probably your best options for this. Instead of putting in a destination, try inputting “Anywhere” or “Everywhere”.
You can give yourself even more options if your travel dates are flexible. In general, flights will be more expensive in the days leading up to a major holiday, like Christmas or Thanksgiving, but less expensive if you are willing to travel on the holiday. They are also usually more expensive from Friday to Monday as that is when both businesspeople travel and when many people start their vacations.
Another way to seek out a travel deal without a specific destination in mind is to sign up for newsletters from the airlines you usually use. They will occasionally include some great, but limited time deals. Be ready to act on them quickly if you want to go this route.
Work From Your Bucket List
Some of us have a list of places we really, really want to visit. That list may include two or three countries, or a dozen or more. But how do you figure out where to go next? You could just work your way through them in no particular order. You could start with the least expensive destination and work your way up to the most expensive, or vice versa.
One of my favourite tricks is putting the bucket list in a bucket. Write each of the destinations you would most like to visit on a separate slip of paper. Put them all into a bucket (or hat or bag or whatever you have handy). If you travel with a spouse, friend, family member, or other travel companion regularly, have them add their papers to the same bucket. When you are ready to plan a trip, draw a destination from the bucket and start planning.
The plus side of this approach is that at least one of you will get to travel to one of your dream destinations. The downside is that it is sometimes is not the most budget friendly way to choose a country to visit. But this is definitely a fun way to begin the planning process.
Visit a Travel Agent
When in doubt, go to the experts for advice. A travel agent will know where the best deals currently are, and which locations are trending as a new vacation spot. Even if you prefer to make your own travel arrangements, there is no harm in looking at a sign in the window at a travel agency listing their current deals. You can also sign up for a newsletter from an agency, or follow their social media accounts. Often there are packages listed there that you may not have found on your own.
Throw a Dart, Literally
This is the most random method on this list. Put a world map on the wall and throw a dart at it. Where it lands, you go. Or spin a globe, close your eyes, put your finger on the globe and when it stops spinning you have found your destination. This is a bit of a gamble, because you could literally end up going anywhere. Be sure to check out your government’s travel advisories before you head out somewhere using this method.
Prioritize More Active Destinations
When you look at the trips you want to take over the next few years, you may find that some of them are much more active than others. A hiking or cycling trip requires a lot more fitness and agility than a beach vacation, for example. Especially as you get into your older years, you want to make sure that you are still able to do these more physical trips and enjoy them. In fact, things can happen at any point in your life. Why not do the more active trips that want to do first.
These are just a few ideas for choosing your next travel destination. How do you usually choose yours?