Where in the world should you go when you don’t know where in the world to go? It’s a conundrum! After all, there are endless possibilities that all sound appealing.
This type of indecision is a side effect of wanderlust, and happens to the best of us. But don’t worry, because we’ve come up with creative ways to frame your next vacation that should help you narrow down where to go – and why.
Themed trip
We’re not talking Disney here. Consider selecting destinations based off a common element like food, cheese, distilleries, baseball, or Asian temples. Find a few cities close to each other that support your theme so you can hop between them easily, maximizing your experience and minimizing travel time.
For example, if you want your trip centered around beer, consider taking a beercation to Denver (or Rehoboth Beach). Once there, you can hit up breweries in Denver, Boulder and Fort Collins. Or, if you want to see impressive churches, you can start in Rome and then take a train to nearby cities like Florence, Venice and Milan.
Must-have vacation
This is the type of trip where you just have to lay on the beach (try beach hopping around Southeast Asia!) or go kayaking or hiking Or maybe you love outdoor markets so much that your destination must have at least one market for you to wander around. Think about your favorite things to do and which destinations offer them like no other.
Historic places
This doesn’t necessarily mean old and crumbling, though it could. Think about visiting sites like the Alamo or U.S. Civil War battlefields to watch a reenactment. Or go farther back in history and see the Egyptian pyramids and temples; Mayan ruins in Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and Belize; Pompeii, Paestum and Herculaneum in Italy; or the ancient temples of Bagan in Myanmar. Look up UNESCO World Heritage Sites to get more ideas.
Specific country
You might have the type of bucket list that is filled with countries. You don’t know why, but you’ve always wanted to see Switzerland. So go! On small pieces of paper, list out the countries you’d love to visit, and then fold them up and put them in a hat or bowl. Close your eyes, reach in and select one. Don’t drop it back in favor of another. Your destiny has been chosen!
Once you’ve selected a country, repeat the same exercise with cities. You could visit a few, spending 2-3 days in each, or pick out just one or two so you have the opportunity to immerse yourself and learn more about each city.
Tip: don’t move too quickly. Leaving a town after only one day won’t give you enough time to enjoy and appreciate it, and it’ll wear you out quicker. Savor each destination and all your experiences along the way.
Ah we are experiencing this now! Can’t decide where to go, might hit you up for some Southeast Asia recommendations 🙂
Yasssss Southeast Asia! Do it