
Things To Consider Before Choosing a Travel Destination
- BUDGET: Personally before I embark on any trip the first thing I think about is how much I am willing to spend on the trip not where or what kind of holiday I want to have. So I reflect on my bank account which I am always afraid to check because I am always in one place or the other if not exploring most likely eating, basically forming activity. This then helps me choose a country that will fit my budget because it is really painful dreaming of a destination and then you realise you cannot afford it at the moment. Actually this applies to people who are really spontaneous and just want to travel within 1-2 months. If you have more time, I guess you can choose a destination first then save towards it especially if it’s a costly destination or dream one.
- TYPE OF COUNTRY/ HOLIDAY: Once I decide on my budget I then think of the kind of holiday I want to have. Do I want a city break or beach holiday? This just saves me the stress of searching for a destination because it’s the easiest filter. However, I am a cheapest place at the moment kind of person. So if I start searching for beach destinations and I stumble on a city break that’s cheaper I will go for that instead and then tell myself I can always go there later, let me just grab this amazing opportunity! The good thing about it is you come out of your comfort zone and try something new but knowing exactly what you want makes life easier.
- TIME FRAME: Once I decide on the type of holiday I want. I think of how long I want to spend away. I usually travel during weekends because I am currently in school so I always have in mind Friday till Sunday or Monday. I only have school on Tuesdays isn’t that great! But yeah I still have to be in school during the week- Education First. Knowing exactly how long you want to be away for also helps because it can work in two ways, you either save money for a shorter stay or sometimes you can be lucky and still pay the same amount for a longer stay. I usually play around with dates because you find out travelling on a Friday is more expensive on some airlines than a Thursday. Also it enables you plan an itinerary and know exactly what to focus on. It’s really hard to see it all when you travel to a new place. I usually spend 3 days on my trips, so knowing how long also makes you know if the trip is going to be worth it or nah. You don’t want to spend 3 days in for example Thailand because I believe there is so much to see. I will be sharing more of this on the blog and also planning possible itineraries for countries.
- WHAT TYPE OF TRAVELLER ARE YOU? – I am still on a journey discovering the type of traveller that I am. I will say I am a mixture of everything- foodie, explorer, relaxed, shopping, adventurous . name it. Which is a good thing because when I travel with people I still enjoy what everyone wants to do and I don’t get bored. Actually once I am in a new place everything goes, I move!!. Knowing what you enjoy helps plan your stay and makes you budget the right amount on things that are of importance to you and ensures you don’t really find yourself doing what you don’t enjoy. However, finding yourself doing things you don’t enjoy can be hard to actually avoid in a new place but you will be organized if you know what you like. I will say sometimes try what you also wouldn’t think you enjoy. You never know, you might just like it. Our aim is to leave our comfort zone remember and challenge ourselves.
- VISAS: I will say you can check this out first before anything or after you have decided on the kind of holiday you want. Checking out the visa requirements before deciding on a destination can help in terms of looking for a country that doesn’t require one based on the passport that you have. However, if you need one for the country you have chosen I will say you look up the requirements online and then you start gathering all the documents that you need. Usually flights and accommodation have to be booked before you can apply for a Visa. Each country has a different requirement.
5.NOW BOOK YOUR HOTEL AND FLIGHT: Once you are sure of your destination and all that you need. You can then book your flight and hotel which is the easiest part of the trip. Now it all buoys down to your pocket and taste. There are so many websites, apps and agents out there that can help with that and make your life easier, each offering various deals. I always check every travel site possible before choosing. My current faves are skyscanner.com for flights www.booking.com and www.airbnb.com for accommodation which operate anywhere in the world and cater for everyone. I will also do more posts on choosing hotels and getting deals on flights.
This is basically a summary of how I plan my trip. Although there are a lot of things to consider to get the best deal and an awesome holiday. I will be here to guide you and give you more travel hacks as time goes on so stay tuned.
- Be Open-minded
- Don’t wait for anyone- Remember you can Go Solo
- Book it now!
Budget Photo Credit: arabiangazette.com