Sarah Sheedy shares her Top Tips for Choose Your Holiday Destination
The holidays are approaching and you are still looking for the ideal place to go on a trip? Rest assured, you are not alone in this situation, and solutions exist! In this article, we give you all the best tips and inspiration for selecting your next holiday destination.
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How to Decide?
The first step in your thinking process is to establish what you want to do. Every country or region has different things to offer, so with a little research, you’re bound to find THE perfect destination for you. First, ask yourself the following questions:
What Do You Want to Visit?
What do you like best? A city full of history or a concentration of art museums? Perhaps you’d like to see some theatre? Enjoy the local music scene? Get out amongst the beautiful nature a region might be renowned for?
Would You Like to Relax?
Are you looking for a sandy beach, an afternoon by the pool, a spa break or a cruise? Make an ordered list of your favourite activities and holiday essentials.
Are You an Adventurer?
Rafting in the rapids, paragliding, skiing, bike rides or even camping… What are your preferences? If you are interested in camping abroad, then check out this article for some more ideas.
Are You a Nature Lover?
What kind of landscapes would you like to discover or rediscover? What level of difficulty can you handle?
Are You in a Group or Traveling Solo?
If you are travelling in a group, it is likely that some of your companions have different tastes and desires than you. Consider consulting them and finding out their preferences to find the best compromise for everyone.
How Do You Want to Travel?
Are you looking for a turnkey trip or do you prefer to be guided once you are there? Do you prefer to stay in one place for the duration of your stay or do you want to move from one city to another?
How Long Do You Want to Stay?
There’s nothing worse than finding your holiday inspiration and then realizing that you don’t have time to do everything you wanted to do, especially when you’re going halfway around the world. For example, if you want to explore South East Asia in a week, you’re likely to be disappointed, as you clearly won’t have time to see everything.
What is your budget?
Depending on your budget, not all destinations are created equal. Obviously, if your budget is unlimited, your choice will not suffer, but if you are on a tight budget, make sure you can afford to do everything you want.
Now, Do Your Research
Now that you have asked all the important questions about your desires, needs and budget, it’s time to start looking for a destination and making some decisions.
A good way to find suitable suggestions is to use the internet and the “best country/city for…” formula. If you want to go scuba diving, type in “best places to scuba dive” and check the first few results on the Google page. Make a shortlist of the destinations that best match your criteria.
If you are open to more than one possibility or are looking for a combination of activities, do the same search on a different topic and make another list. The destinations on both your lists are the most suitable!
Now that you have narrowed down your list of candidates, it is time to refine it to the best choices for your ideal holiday. For each destination, find out the pros and cons. This way, not only do you ensure that you get a destination you like, but you also avoid unpleasant surprises at the last minute!
Helpful Tips to Consider
Choosing the right holiday destination can be a daunting task, as there are so many options to consider. Whether you’re planning a short weekend getaway or a longer vacation, it’s important to take the time to choose a destination that will meet your needs and leave you with unforgettable memories. Here are some tips to help you make your decision:
1. Determine your Budget
Before you start researching destinations, it’s important to know how much you can afford to spend. This will help you narrow down your options and focus on destinations that are within your price range. Consider the cost of flights, accommodation, transportation, food, airport parking and activities when determining your budget. Remember to also factor in any unexpected expenses, such as travel insurance or medical expenses.
Tips for Saving when Traveling:
If you are interested in saving money on traveling, the best advice is to book things in advance. This is a surefire way to find great deals and promotions on activities, lodging and so much more. If you are also planning on driving to the airport upon departure, then consider saving money with Flyparks. Flyparks offers an amazing airport comparison service to help you find the most affordable option for your travels.
2. Consider your Travel Style
Are you looking for a relaxing beach vacation or an adventure-filled trip? Do you want to experience the culture of a new place or simply escape everyday life? Are you a solo traveler or planning to travel with family or friends? Knowing your travel style will help you choose a destination that caters to your interests. For example, if you’re looking for a relaxing beach holiday, you might consider destinations such as Hawaii or the Caribbean. But if you’re looking for an adventure, you might choose a destination like New Zealand or Costa Rica.
3. Research the Destination
Once you have a shortlist of potential destinations, do some research to learn more about the culture, weather, and attractions of each place. This will help you get a better sense of whether or not the destination is the right fit for you. Research the best time to visit, what to do and see, and what to expect from the locals.
4. Check the Visa Requirements
Make sure to check the visa requirements for the destination you are planning to visit. Some countries may require you to apply for a visa well in advance of your trip, so it’s important to plan accordingly. Also, check for any vaccination or health requirements for the country you are visiting.
5. Read Reviews and Ask for Recommendations
Look for reviews and recommendations from other travelers to get a better sense of the destination and what to expect. Ask friends and family who have been to the destination for their thoughts and advice. This can also help you identify any potential issues or concerns that you may not have considered.
6. Consider the Timing
Lastly, the timing of your trip can also play a big role in your choice of destination. Some places are best visited during certain seasons, while others may be too hot or too cold at certain times of the year. For example, if you’re planning a ski holiday, you’ll want to go during the winter months when the snow is at its best. But if you’re planning a beach holiday, you’ll want to go during the summer months when the weather is warm and sunny.
By considering these factors, you’ll be able to choose a holiday destination that meets your needs, interests and budget. Keep in mind that the most important thing is to have a clear idea of what you want, and stay flexible to find the best options. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and consider destinations that you may not have considered before. With a little bit of research and planning, you’re sure to find the perfect holiday destination that will leave you with unforgettable memories.
What is important in choosing YOUR holiday destination?
What are your ‘must-have’ components to identifying your ideal holiday destination? How far out do you plan? Do share what is important to you in the comments below.
Sarah is an online marketer for the airport parking reservation system called Flyparks. She is also a passionate blogger and enjoys writing articles related to travel. In her free time, she enjoys traveling all over the world and meeting new people.
Well, I do agree with you, This is a great list, especially if you are planning to travel with others it is so important to research a destination to make sure it fits your budget and interests. Thanks for sharing!
These are some wonderful tips to decide on your next holiday destination. Of course budget depends on the type of destination you choose, the time and duration of travel and thorough research on the destination, hotels and transportation is extremely important before you plan your trip.
Well, I do agree with you, these points you mentioned are worth discussing and thinking about before planning a holiday.
This is a great list, especially if you are planning to travel with others. Everyone can fill it in and then you can decide on the best destination that will make everyone happy. I am not usually a big planner, unless I go for long haul trips. If I go for a weekend trip I would just book the flights, arrive there and discover the place at my own pace.
This is such a wonderful guide for those who tend to run away from planning themselves and depend on travel booking companies instead. I was seeing the list and though this is exactly what I would suggest to my clients. Identifying where, when, how many days, purpose and budget are probably the most important things to decide.
Those are some very useful points. As you mention, my first consideration is mode of transport + budget, because if I have to take a flight and the flight is too expensive it would automatically not work out! I look out first for flights & trains that suit my budget and then work out the rest. Also being a mom of a young kid, I also look out for places where she won’t get bored or tired as well.
This is unquestionably an excellent article to read while the year is just getting started. I hesitate to go on vacation sometimes. But now that you’ve shared your incredible advice, I’ll be better prepared to plan my upcoming trips. And right now, my excitement is at an all-time high! I’m definitely going to pin this useful information.
Loads of really useful advice there. There are so many different holiday types so it’s good to decide what you and those going with you want to do. I love to relax. It’s literally the only time I get to do this and even then I do try to get a bit of work done in between. I like to do loads of research before booking anything.
Yyyeeessssss! This guide should be pinned up somewhere, for whoever wants to travel. We will all end up travelling better and more intentionally!
You listed all the important factors that you should consider when choosing a holiday destination. Recently I also think a lot about sustainability too. I try to research destinations that I can reach without a flight, especially if I have only a few days or a week. If flying I compare the carbon print of different options too. Thanks for this roundup!
Checking your visa requirement is very important nowadays. Especially now the UK’s left the EU. Thank you for sharing.
What a really great and very helpful tips you have here! This will help a lot of those who really love to go on a trip and travel!
Great tips on how to choose your next holiday destination. In addition to reading reviews and checking the visa requirements, today we need to check if the place has any Covid related requirements such as testing before 3 days or filling a specific form. Researching what is there to see in the destination and planning on the number of days is so important. Thank you for sharing! 🙂
You wrote all there is to know about choosing and preparing for a holiday destination. I think budget and how long you want to go play important parts in making itineraries. Food and accommodation take much of the budget, so we like to play around with it. They are related to the style of traveling also.
MY next adventure is to Cancun, Mexico in April! Then Yellowstone Park in Montana and then London in October! This is definitely the year of travel for us!
Thank you for the tips. Now we are trying to set plans for our spring and summer vacations. It is hard to make everyone happy.
Awesome information! I always love going out and exploring new places especially when it is with my family.
When I choose my holiday destination, we often look for someplace with a beach. A lot of times, we would go there if we could get to it by car, no more than 2-3 day trip. (I have to take an extra night sometimes due to my fibromyalgia.)
This is a helpful post. Knowing your travel style and budget is so important for me. I made these 2 mistakes many years ago on a friends holiday and we are no longer friends! That is a lesson.
I love to travel, but it can be hard to decide where to go next! These are all great tips! It is so important to research a destination to make sure it fits your budget and interests.
These are great tips. I really like to research so that I can fully enjoy a well planned trip.
Great tips, ideas, and thoughts on selecting a trip. I love to travel and really like all of the valuable information.
thank you for this! there are times when i want to travel but i don’t know which place to go to, so this is helpful.
I don’t have a powerful passport like in Japan or Australia so the first thing I always check is the visa requirements.
This is such great advice! My family and I haven’t decided where are vacation destinations are going to be yet. Which is probably a good thing after reading this post. This sure give us a few ideas hopefully! Thank you so much for sharing this!