Where to go next? How to choose your next travel destination.
I have a wall-sized map of the world in my office. It’s a beautiful, oak 3-D map from Enjoy the Wood, a family owned Ukrainian company. I catch myself designing routes - to fly, drive, train, hike or motorbike. It’s a beautiful distraction and the bookshelf beside the map is full of travel guides to lose myself even further. The invitation to do some armchair travel and dreaming about where I’d like to explore next is ever present.
The problem with my map is that it makes me feel like a kid in a candy store. SOOOO many options and they all look amazing for different reasons. How on earth can I possibly choose? Even as a kid, I knew that I couldn’t have ALL the candy at once. I could choose something different every time, but if I did, I’d have to forgo my favourite for something new. The struggle is real for someone like me - a maximizer - trying to make the best decision.
Advice out there
We are barraged with destination ideas on social media, in books, on films shot on location and from hearing about other people’s adventures. There is no shortage of advice on the internet about what to see, possible itineraries, and planning tips. There is, however, far less help on how to make the decision about where to go, for those that struggle with choosing.
Google “how to plan a trip” to read some popular articles and blog posts. They typically have a first step aptly called choose your destination. They might list the variables that influence the choice such as budget, time, and interests as key factors. All good advice, but the reader is simply instructed to go do research and choose where you want to go. The article then moves on to how to book your flights.
ACK!
To me the missing step is how to make the decision. How do you DECIDE where to go with so many amazing options? I can’t be the only one that gets caught in the hamster wheel of travel inspiration overload, am I?
So many interesting cultures, places, tastes, and experiences remain unexplored and while I don’t have a rigid bucket list of destinations per se, my travel inspiration is constantly fueled by:
at least 400 pins on my “want to go there” pinterest board.
friends who travel. For example just last month one friend went to South Africa and two to Italy and three others went to New York City!
numerous travel Facebook groups whose members share incredible stories of their adventures in every corner of the world.
the idea of serendipity! I subscribe to airline and travel newsletters so am alert to great deals.
Everyone is different and I respect and applaud those who either know with certainty where they will go next or those who just go with the flow when an opportunity arises. For me it is less simple. “Do your research and choose” doesn’t cut it. I have too much information at my fingertips, so many interests and so many curiosities.
Age adds pressure to travel destination decisions
At this point in my life, travelling to “everywhere” is appealing, but “everywhere” is not going to happen, particularly in the way I want to travel: at a slow pace seeking authentic and meaningful experiences. Before my half century birthday there was a feeling of unlimited travel years. Now on the other side of 50 and being tethered to home for 2+ years during the pandemic, there is a clearer and stronger voice on my shoulder that is hyper-aware of the precious, unknown time left, let alone health uncertainties and budget limitations.
Maybe it’s maturity, maybe it’s mortality but I recognize that I don’t have unlimited years to globe trot. I am getting older at the same time as the world is changing. Similar to some women who hear the ticking of their ovaries during “child bearing years” - there is a travel window to respect. I hope I am traveling into my 80’s and 90’s (why not?!) and I don’t believe that anyone is too old to travel. But, let’s face it, our bodies change, energy levels lower and our risk aversion increases. And even if you are traipsing through a south american jungle at 90 - the window is still closing and will eventually close permanently.
My take away? Carpe diem - seize the day!
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
Decision making disruptors
For the sake of ease and comedy, let's say there are 4 typical decision making personalities that may show up in your process.
Maximizing Molly (a form of perfectionism): “I want to make THE very best decision. And I’m going to keep searching until I find it!”
Dream-state Delaney - “Eventually I will do that and maybe go there. I love the idea of travel and figure it’ll happen.”
Stuck Stacey - “I’m paralyzed with the uncertainty of it all. The unknowns of travel and all the related activity decisions overwhelm me.”
Sure-thing Shirley - “I am already there.”
And this is NO slight to anyone. There are benefits to maximizing an experience, to dreaming big and being open to serendipity, to having some caution and to being super spontaneous! Often it is a case of overdoing a particular strength that leads you into a pitfall.
I am a card-carrying maximizer with strong dreamer tendencies. What about you?
3 ways to improve your travel decision making
So how does one decide, commit and feel great about their travel destination choice? No matter what your current travel decision making challenge is, here are a few tips to help move you towards a decision AND to help make you feel happier as you do.
Acknowledge that it's a big decision but not your last decision!
Even if you can travel full time, there are only so many weeks/months/years. Most of us don’t travel full time and if you are my age or older (and you’ll get there soon enough if you aren’t)..that leaves an ever narrowing window of time.
Few of us have unlimited funds - so you don’t want to waste money on trips that don’t satisfy your personal wanderlust - not that travel is really ever a waste…but you know what I mean!
There are SO many amazing places (both far and near) that you’ll have to leave some things undone. But remember that this isn’t “it” or your grand finale! Let’s keep some faith that you’ll be figuring out where to go next again and again and again.
2. It starts with knowing your why.
The process of making a good decision requires a clear foundation of purpose. Ask yourself this question: why do you want to travel? What is the ‘why’ behind it all? Try to connect your reason for travel with feelings - how do you want to feel? I want to feel like I’m growing as a person, with a steady dose of wonder and awe.
I’ve written before about my strong desire for novelty and growth. Going beyond wanting to go somewhere new, I answer the why question by connecting novelty with personal development. I think growing up in multiple cities/countries, helps connect growth, learning and finding my place in the world alongside GOING somewhere new. I am small “a” adventurous, so my why is also an exploration of my comfort zone without the desire for danger or an adrenaline rush.
Another important factor in travel destination decisions is the why of your travel companion(s). Figure out your own desires first before blending with a travel companion. It will improve communication and reduce resentment in the inevitable process of compromise. Knowing YOUR priorities may also help determine which destinations should become solo adventures.
3. Focus on your trip, not that of a friend or instagram influencer!
Be inspired and learn from others, but YOU know YOU best. An itinerary you read about isn’t necessarily the best for you. Here’s an example. I suspect that few people reading this have visited Halifax, Nova Scotia to spend quality time in a variety of graveyards. For me it was a highlight but if I wrote an article saying that those graveyards should be how you spend your time in Halifax, it would likely be a mismatch and not aligned with your interests and motivations.
Also remember that social media accounts and even many travel blogs are the shiny, perfect, curated glimpses into travel. Trying to recreate someone else's trip (that isn’t reflected with authenticity) is like trying to look as “perfect” as a supermodel whose picture has been airbrushed.
Booking will make you happy
It’s important to commit to a decision, otherwise many people, particularly maximizers, may teeter into uncertainty and second guess their thinking. This will lead right back to square one again.
Once you make a decision, opportunities to compare the endless options cease to exist. Humans tend to be excellent rationalizers as well, so when we’ve considered all the options and made a choice, we begin to allow ourselves to fall deeper in love with our decision.
Besides, just booking the trip brings joy! The Institute for Applied Travel Research conducted a survey during the pandemic. 95% of survey respondents said that simply knowing there was something to look forward to would bring them joy. Pandemic or not, humans look forward to certainty.
Where are you going next? And how did you decide?
(comment below 😊)
