Here are a few simple things that can help you better understand your unique and personal travel profile:
1. Do you prefer to be in control, or are you happier when someone else is at the helm?
This can be a huge factor in overall enjoyment of a trip. Sometimes people think they’d love to be in charge of everything — but when faced with the reality of hundreds of details that need to be researched and taken care of before, during, and even after a trip, especially if something unexpected disrupts their plans, the fun gets sapped right out of the holiday.
2. What do you like to do to relax, unwind, have fun, or re-energize when you’re not travelling?
Do you like to be still or active? Quiet or surrounded by crowds? Scheduled or free-form and spontaneous? Simplicity or luxury? Inside or outside? These might seem like silly questions — but you’d be surprised how often people plan trips that are filled with activities or set at a pace that they otherwise don’t really enjoy. It’s possible that you’ll love a week of biking in Tuscany even though you’d never go cycling at home — but more likely you’ll be tired, saddle-sore, and wishing for a car. That’s not to say you shouldn’t try new activities every now and then; there’s plenty of room for new adventures on trips. Just make sure that you incorporate new activities in small bites — say, an afternoon bike tour with plenty of stops — to see if it’s something you’d genuinely like more of.
3. What is the purpose of your trip? What do you want to take away?
Part of what makes travel so amazing is its capacity to broaden and deepen our cultural, relational, and emotional horizons. Are you looking to create tons of new memories? Are you hunting for the perfect gift(s)? Maybe you’d like to immerse yourself in a new culture and language, or do a discovery trip to get an invaluable adventure. Plan your trip around the kind of experience and emotional takeaway you’re looking for.
4. Make a quick list of the twenty most fun memories you have of trips you’ve taken in your lifetime.
Notice if there are any themes. While you don’t necessarily need (or even want) each holiday to be a carbon copy of things you’ve already done, you can use those larger themes to guide your planning of future trips. That way, if you decide to step out a little from your comfort zone, you’ll at least have a solid idea of what makes the most meaningful moments for you. Is it time with friends or family? A certain type of weather or geography? Certain activities? Educational opportunities? Quiet relaxing time? Enriching experiences? Awe inspiring views that leave you breathless? A feeling of contribution or fulfilment? When you can build some of these elements into your travel, you’re more likely to come home energized and restored.
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