How to Choose Your Ideal Travel Destination

Plan Your Ideal Travel Destination with These Easy Steps

How many of you dream of the perfect trip away but have no idea where to go or how to start? With seemingly endless destinations to choose from, the thought of prepping for travel can seem very overwhelming. Especially if you’re naturally an indecisive person like myself.

So how the heck do we break it down and decide on the best travel destination that suits our utmost desires? The easiest way is to first consider your preferences and restrictions. Then utilize your best tools to zero in on an ideal location.

Let’s break it down step by step!

INITIAL QUESTIONS:

How Much Time Do I Have Off?

First and foremost, how long are you able to travel for? Is this a short weekend trip, a week long vacation, or maybe you’re thinking of leaving indefinitely? Your available time is normally the first question most consider as it sets the tone for where you can travel.

If you only have the weekend, then you probably shouldn’t be traveling anywhere too far from home. Venturing off to Europe from the US would be way too much travel time for how much free time you have. If we only have a few days, we prefer to choose locations that require the least amount of transportation time.

For those with a 9-5 weekly job, travel is definitely still possible! As fellow full time workers, we’ve mastered over time how to most effectively travel while keeping a full time job.

Now if you have a week or longer, the possibilities open up greatly! So, let’s narrow it down some more.

What’s My Budget?

The second most important question outside of time availability is what can you afford?

If you’re not a big spender or can’t drop loads of money, then you can already exclude a handful of options. Opt out of expensive cities, spiked flight tickets, luxurious locations, and basically anywhere that requires a bigger wallet. If you have the cash to spend, then your options are vast. If not, think about cheaper alternatives, like road trips, national parks, free activities, and cheaper transportation.

Learn how to save towards your travel budget if you have your eye set on a more expensive destination. Totally doable if you keep your eye on the prize!

What Kind of Vacation Am I Craving?

Now that we covered your primary restrictions (time and budget), it’s time to decide what your personal preferences are. The more exciting part of travel preparation!

What type of getaway are you looking for?

Are you looking for a relaxing vacation or a more adventurous one? If your vibe is chill, then consider locations that include more relaxing amenities. Such as beaches, resorts, cruises, spas, etc.

Or if you’re wanting more thrill in your trip, consider locations that involve more rigorous activity. Areas that include hiking, mountain climbing, kayaking, and other outdoor excursions.

For some, maybe you’re just looking for a dash of culture. A mix of both relaxation and adventure. Narrow down your search to popular cities that are rich with unique culture.

What Type of Weather Do I Want to Be In?

Weather plays a huge part in where you choose to go. I personally am not a huge fan of the cold and much prefer warmer weather. Surprisingly I still would choose extreme hot temperatures over cold frigid ones. (Nathan thinks I’m crazy for visiting Arizona during the summertime)

The last thing you want to do is set out to your destination, just to arrive and be constantly irritated with the outdoor temperature.

On the other hand, Nathan prefers colder weather and dreams one day to dig his way out of an igloo as the sun rises. Say what?! Although I do agree that visiting national parks during the winter season is always an incredible experience.

Know your weather preferences and narrow down a location that provides your ideal weather.

Am I Traveling Solo, with a Partner, or with a Group?

Yes, who you’re traveling with plays a part in choosing where you go. If you’re traveling solo, it’s ultimately up to you. Which is great but that means you should be especially mindful of your safety. If you’re traveling alone for the first time, brush up on how to stay safe as a solo traveler from travel blog MappingMegan.com.

If you’re planning to travel within a group, you now have multiple opinions and feelings in the mix. In which you should all sit down and discuss together. You’ll either all be on the same page, not agree on a destination due to conflicts of interest, or agree to disagree and split up at different points of your vacation.

When traveling with others, be aware and mindful of the numerous pros and cons of group travel to see if it’s right for you.

Do I Want A More Popular Place or an Off The Grid Location?

Another way to narrow down your decision even further is to decide how popular or unpopular a location is. Popular destinations definitely have their perks as they can be some of the most interesting and beautiful places in the world. Although, if you’re like us, large crowds may deter your experience.

As much as we enjoyed hiking and visiting the incredible Grand Canyon National Park, it was still a little too crowded for our tastes. Generally, we like to choose more off the grid locations that still have much to explore and see but without the congestion.

Just by knowing your personal preference, you can easily whittle out certain locations based on popularity.

What Do I Feel I Need Most In My Life Right Now?

Most importantly, you want your travels to leave you feeling fulfilled. You can achieve this by traveling to places that aim to help you grow and satisfy your desires.

Maybe your overworked with a busy schedule, with no room to breathe, let alone think. Choose a travel destination that is more quiet and peaceful where you can enjoy some solitude.

Or maybe you’re craving to grow and seeking new challenges because your day to day life is so vanilla. Go somewhere exciting that gives you the opportunity to advance yourself like climbing a mountain or backpacking through a forest.

In the end, you want to come back from your trip feeling refreshed and renewed. Choosing a destination that can provide you with what you want (or even need) will be the most satisfying and rewarding experience.

Decide why you need to go, not where you need to go.

UTILIZE YOUR TRAVEL RESOURCES TO LOCK IT IN

After considering all the above questions, you should have a stronger sense of where you want to travel. Now it’s time to use your best resources to narrow it down even further to decide on a specific destination.

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1. Google Maps/Basic Internet Search

To start, I like to do a quick search on Google while referencing Google Maps. If I’m looking to spend some time in the desert and hike, I would do a quick search like “best desert hiking in the US.”

Now that you have gathered what style of vacation you want, use the internet to search for ideal spots that match your criteria. Track it all on Google Maps to see just how far and how much it costs to get there.

2. Simply Go Where The Deals Are

Maybe saving money is most important to you in the end. Sometimes we just want a cheap trip that doesn’t break the bank. Search cheap flights or other cheap transportation and choose your destination based on how much it costs to get there.

This of course requires having an open mind and not being too picky with where you go.

Momondo, Google Flights, and Skyscanner are just a few useful sites for finding cheap flight deals.

You never know, your best trip might just be the destination you’ve never heard of!

3. Search Through Pinterest for More Ideas

Pinterest isn’t just for recipes and DIY projects. There is a HUGE community of travelers that list not only detailed guides on travel destinations but informative travel tips as well. Simply search where you want to go or what type of travel you’re looking for.

I can guarantee that there is a mass amount of pins linking to guides that will help you narrow it down.

Already know exactly where to go? You can still reference Pinterest for detailed “how to” guides or “best things to do” based on specific destinations. Read about much more personal experiences and recommendations from travelers who have already been.

4. Reference Lonely Planet

Another great resource that we like to reference before our trips is Lonely Planet. Receive detailed guidebooks, travel tips, informative articles, and top things to do based on your location. Simply search the location you want to visit and you’re given a multitude of different informative resources to help plan your vacation.

Still don’t know where exactly to go? Sift through their expansive site to help give you even more ideas on popular destinations. Besides guidebooks, you can also book a variety of tours or excursions, adding to your travel itinerary.

5. TripAdvisor

If you have a general idea of where you’re going but don’t know exactly what to do once you’re there, use TripAdvisor.

Before every trip, I like to search in the area I’m visiting of top things to do. TripAdvisor is one of the main sources I use for recommendations. It generates a list of top rated attractions, destinations, and activities to do in your chosen area. It also includes individual reviews from others so you can see all the pros and cons a location has before you go.

Besides recommendations, you can also book hotels through TripAdvisor as well as tours, tickets to activities, and more. This is extremely useful to use when trying to narrow down what to do in an area.

6. Travel Bloggers

Okay, I’m not just saying this to toot our own horn. But literally, referencing travel bloggers has helped immensely with choosing our travel destinations. Similar to Pinterest, you will find detailed travel guides, how to’s, travel tips, and personal stories of their experiences at numerous locations.

Sometimes, just reading someone’s review on a popular travel destination has convinced me otherwise to not go based on what I am looking for. Or the opposite, where their experience or guides convinced me to travel somewhere where I would have never chosen on my own.

Find the right blog for your style of travel. You can choose between blogs more focused on nature, culture, adventure travel, US travel, state specific, etc.

Here are a few popular blogs to start:

California Through My Lens
Two Wandering Souls
Nomadic Matt
Goats On The Road
Adventurous Kate

7. AirBnb – Accommodation Over Destination

For some, maybe destination isn’t the definitive factor? You could just be looking for a sweet spot to stay, relax, and roam the immediate area. If I’m not craving any particular travel destination, I will browse through AirBnb and search for unique places to stay.

We’ve previously ventured off to the mountains after finding a really cute cabin to cozy up in during winter. Staying here lead to fun activities like hiking through snow, sledding, and roaming the quaint little mountain town.

One time, I found this awesome retro camper trailer out in the middle of nowhere that had a barbecue, full kitchen, strung up lights, and a fire pit. It made for the perfect romantic getaway out in the desert.

If you’re searching for AirBnb’s, you can use our $40 off coupon towards your next overnight stay!

It’s perfectly okay to choose your destination based on your accommodation. If you have an open mind, you will find fun and adventure no matter where you go.

Choosing Your Travel Destination Should Be An Easy & Enjoyable Process

Choosing a travel destination sounds difficult, but it definitely doesn’t have to be. You can quickly narrow down your search by asking yourself the correct questions and then using your top travel resources to specify an exact destination. This is a tried a true method that we use every time we’re in the planning stage for a trip.

We hope it helps you discover your favorite travel destinations fulfilling your wanderlust!