The Impossible Question: Where to go next?
“Where to go next? “This is not a cut and dry question. Some travelers just know. For others, this is an excruciating question — something that passes through your mind and you find yourself torn in a variety of directions. So, how does one solve this problem? Where do we go to find inspiration or reasoning behind our next decision for a location?
While there are endless reasons to travel, there are certainly factors that will determine the nature of your next vacation. Trust us, we know how it feels to have a seemingly endless bucket list. Too many places to see, endless adventures to go on and a confusion of where to check off next. This has an interesting way of causing anxiety among many potential travelers. The sheer amount of possibilities can often times create a stagnation in our plans. However, there are many factors to consider that can help to weed out the majority of those locations in congruence with your current desires.
Below, you will find a myriad of factors to mull over as you place your finger on the part of the world you want to see next.
Duration
Quick getaway? A few weeks to really explore an area or do you want while away the days feeling languid on a beach? These are keys factors that will determine many facets of your vacation. For example, having only a few days to get away may influence you to only want to take a short flight somewhere instead of spending one of your few precious days traveling to the location. This is a big one and often times is rather set. Many people have a very fixed amount of time that they can step away from their daily lives for.
Budget
As discussed above, your budget can also affect how long you can get away for. Think realistically about how much you want to spend on your trip and the activities that you would like to do. This factor also has the tendency to have trickle down effects on the nature of your vacation. Keeping your budget in mind will allow you to determine the sites you can see, the accommodations you will be staying in, the forms of transportation around your destination and the overall duration of your trip. In addition, perhaps if you are traveling with a bit of a larger group. You will have your own personal budget to think about as well as the budgets of the remaining people in your group in terms of the activities that group members can do together.
Must-sees, activities, special events
For some travelers, a particular destination is desirable because of a special event such as Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany.
Munich, Germany
Not only will the dates of your trip have to coincide with the dates of the event, but your trip may have to revolve around this event in many other ways — having accommodations near the event site, additional budget allocated for the event, and transportation to and from the event. Another example is if you wanted to hike to historic Inca Trail to the lost city of Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu, Peru
In this instance, you may want to book a guided tour months in advance. Then determine your itinerary around that hiking adventure. Definitely consider these components of your future vacation as you think about the possible location that you may want to go to.
Sources of inspiration
Now, this can actually be the very first step as you start to really consider certain locations over others. Photos and stories have a special way of evoking emotions and can let us live vicariously through others. This is why checking out various forms of inspiration can be key as you think about your next vacation. It’s helpful to consume information from a variety of sources. Additional sources that are rather popular are Pinterest, Instagram and the blogs of other travelers. Allowing yourself to browse through a plethora of destinations often has a way of elevating certain ones above others. Find photos that stir your soul and give you the travel butterflies — what do you need to see, now?!
Environment, culture, weather, food
These are grouped together because they often go hand in hand. Are you drawn to sunny beaches, gloomy overcast days, or alpine lakes set in a vast mountain landscape? Every traveler is unique in their destination preferences, really think about where you will be happy. Additionally, think about the time of year that you will be traveling and the various climates of your potential locations. Traveling in January? Perhaps you don’t want to experience a deep Scandinavian winter!
Lapland, Finland
Opt for locations that will have your own personal desired weather. As you look for inspiration for your next trip, you may come across cultures and different types of food that interest you. These are all important to consider when you consider the location you may want to visit.
Who will be traveling?
The people that are traveling with you will be indicative of the nature of your vacation. Whether its with a group, going solo, a couples trip, traveling with elderly folks or younger children. For example, traveling with a family will open up a whole different itinerary from those traveling in their later years looking for something such as a relaxing cruise.
So, where does this leave you?
Hopefully after the consideration of all of these factors, your choices have been narrowed down and become manageable. With such a vast expanse to explore, we don’t want you to be overwhelmed with locations. Consider your options, time constraints, budget, special events, and more as you think about where to go next!
When you’re ready — or if you need help on deciding your location and want to learn more — we’re here to help you plan your dream trip!
Check out our other travel tips!
Other areas of Stockholm offer shops full of traditional nicnacs, restaurants with menus only in Swedish — not to worry, it seems every Swede speaks English as though it’s a first language, or cafes to sit and people watch. One of the most cherished traditions in Swedish culture is that of fika, a simple aspect of daily life. To outsiders, fika may seem to be just a coffee break, but to sit down and enjoy fika will have you wondering why this isn’t a part of daily life, everywhere. The essence of fika is to slow down. What makes this unique from a regular coffee break is that it is generally enjoyed with a tasty baked good to pair it with. Within virtually no time at all, you will find yourself at cafes throughout the city, taking an easy fika break as if you’ve been doing it your entire existence. It’s a truly pleasurable way to pass time, catching glimpses of the daily lives of Swedish city dwellers and staying up to date on the undeniable stylish garb of nearly everyone. Enjoy fika The countryside of Sweden is altogether perfect, in every way. An eight hour train ride from Stockholm through the countryside to Oslo, Norway proved endlessly breathtaking. I had allocated these eight hours for catching up on lost sleep and although truly exhausted from adventuring and exploring the vast city of Stockholm, I could not sleep. As I would begin to doze off, the train would round a corner and the next breathtaking scene would unfold. With impossibly blue sky and rich velvety green empty fields scattering the landscape, the only thing to see is clear lakes reflecting the crisp clouds, vibrant yellow flower fields and the iconic red houses and barns dotting the scenery. Needless to say, not catching up on sleep as planned during this train ride was well worth it and something that my mind plays loops of constantly.
There are few places that you can stand on the edge of the world.
The west coast town of Galway may be “the most Irish” city you will encounter and possibly the only one that you’ll still hear Gaelic spoken in the pubs and shops. The bustling center of town, Eyre Square is the perfect place to wallow away a sunny afternoon and enjoy sports and picnics in the grassy area. With colorful iconic pubs, narrow cobblestone streets and live music in the street performers as well as in nearly every restaurant and pub, this small city really packs a punch. A favorite moment of mine came from sitting in a dark pub packed wall to wall, enjoying a frothy Guinness while jotting down travel tips from two French gentlemen, drinking in some of the most amazing live music, and then catching some traditional Irish step dancing from locals — all in one evening.
As far as favorites go, Edinburgh Scotland is up there, way up there. Moody, full of medieval and victorian architecture and thick Scottish accents, this city has a feel that is unparalleled. The stark contrast of the Old Town and that of the modern and elegant Georgian New Town is like experiencing two completely different cities in one. Walk the famous Royal Mile that separates Edinburgh Castle from The Palace of Holyrood House. Full of shops, restaurants, pubs and many more attractions, this street is a bustling stretch through Old Town. A unique quality of Edinburgh is that the wild landscapes of Scotland can be reached with just a short walk out of the city.