How to Pick a Travel Destination: Key Things to Consider

Picking a travel destination is hard.  With the world full of fabulous places to travel, narrowing it down to just one place or region to spend your precious time and budget can be extremely difficult.

Fortunately, whether you know it or not, subconsciously you probably know what you’re looking for! You just have to be honest with yourself as you start researching to make sure it really fits the bill.

Let’s take a look at the key considerations for picking a travel destination.

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Where to Start…

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Choosing a travel destination is an exciting quest – partially because there is no one size fits all answer. We all have different preferences and there are endless places to consider traveling to.

Let’s figure out how to make this decision by looking at some high level considerations. No need to take any notes, just roll these questions around to get the juices flowing…

• Think about what you like to do. Do you want relaxation or adventure?

• Consider your budget. What can you afford?

• Who’s coming along? Friends, family, or just you?

• Think about the weather and time of year you want.

• Do you like experiencing new cultures? Or do you want something familiar?

• Where have you always wanted to go?

• Safety matters. Check travel advisories.

• Can you handle the logistics? Think about visas and flights.

• Ask around for recommendations from people you trust.

• Trusting your gut feeling can be a good guide too.

Chances are just by thinking about these questions you’ve already started shaping your vacation in your mind. Now it’s time to narrow it down even further so that you can truly make a decision and start booking your trip of a lifetime!

Remember, it’s your adventure to shape. Enjoy the process.

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Narrow Down Where to Travel

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If you’re still stuck on where to take your next vacation, don’t worry. We’ll continue narrowing it down with these 6 key things to consider when picking a travel destination.

1. Climate: What type of climate do you want?

Are you a warm or cold weather lover?  Most people have a preference, or maybe it depends on the time of year for you.  Either way, knowing you’re interested in donning your favorite swimsuit or want to be surrounded by snow will help you make a decision. So what is it for you:

• A tropical beach getaway in winter?

• Skiing in the mountains in the summer?

• Wandering around a city eating the best food you can find while all bundled up to hide the food baby you’re actively growing?

• What kind of temperature do you want?

These answers will also help guide what time of year you’re traveling and what region of the world you want to focus on for a destination. For example, if you want to travel in January but go someplace warm, you’re going to have to head towards the equator or southern Hemisphere.

Each decision you make helps narrow down the right travel destination for your trip.

2. Activities: What do you want to do on your trip?

Every person has different interests and that carries over to travel interests. Determining what you are ultimately most interested in and how you want to spend your time will help you pinpoint the right travel destination for you.

• Is delicious food part of your travel needs?

• Are you a culture seeker?

• Is adventure travel up your alley?

• Are you looking for an area with rich history?

• Do you just want to just lay by a beautiful pool?

• Are winter sports your calling?

• Do you need museums to get lost in every day?

• Is a specific sporting event of interest?

Knowing what kinds of activities you want to take part in will further narrow down what the right location is for your next trip.

3. Cost: What is your travel budget?

The number one barrier to travel: Money.

Do you have a strict travel budget? If so, it may heavily influence your travel destination. Some places, such as developing nations or Southeast Asia, are known for being inexpensive. Other areas, like more developed nations or parts of Europe and Australia, can be as expensive or more so than home (the US in my case!).

A beer in Cambodia is $0.50, while a beer in Oslo is $12.00.  This weighs in heavily not just on the cost of the flight or transportation, but on the cost of hotels, activities, food, etc. 

Believe it or not, taking your family to Disney World for a week could be as expensive as taking them to a more budget friendly destination, like Thailand.

While flights may be more expensive, once you are on the ground, everything costs less balancing out. Visit temples for a couple dollars vs. hundreds of dollars for your Disney Tickets.

Ultimately, understanding your budget will be a top consideration in picking a travel destination.

4. Language: How do you feel about language challenges?

Part of the joy of travel is experiencing other cultures. However, if you are easing into traveling abroad, traveling somewhere that speaks your native language could be a factor in selecting a travel destination.

• Are you able and willing to go somewhere your native language is not used?

• Do you speak any other languages?

• Do you have time to learn some key phrases in another language?

• Are you comfortable having limited communication?

Another alternative is selecting a destination that is very accustom to tourists and therefore is more likely to offer bilingual options. This would include things like English on the restaurant menus and maps.

If the idea of facing the unknown doesn’t scare you, go ahead and jump into the deep end! I have been many places where I don’t speak the language and between charades, using emojis on my phone, and other creative solutions, I’ve always gotten by.

Just remember to pack your patience when going to a place that doesn’t speak your native language.

5. Comfort Level: What level of luxury are you looking for in your trip?

The luxury of a travel destination can be considered adjacent to budget, but if you give 2 people $2,000 to spend, you’d be surprised.

There are budget travelers who would stretch it to cover a month or two of travel and there are 5 star resort travelers who would spend it on a long weekend. Know how you want to travel.

• Are you willing to rough it?

• Are hostels or resorts more of interest?

• Do you only want to travel in comfort?

• Are you willing and able to pack light?

• Does the idea of riding an open-air tuk-tuk down a dirt road disgust you or excite you? 

• Do you want to get to know the locals?

• Is living in the lap of luxury a necessity? 

• What do you want to splurge on?

There is no right answer. You just need to be honest with yourself. It’s all based on personal preference.

Developing nations may not offer the same accommodations or transportation levels as you may be used to. Air-conditioning may be largely unheard of. Power could go in and out. Understand what your comfort boundaries are and select travel destinations that fall within them.

6. Food restrictions: Are you on a restrictive diet?

This is likely not of concern for most travelers, but for people with severe food allergies or limited diets, eating abroad can be a serious challenge! Have you ever tried to explain being gluten free in Chinese? Best of luck!

Because of that, you really do need to take into consideration any food related concerns. There’s also the option, if it’s just a personal preference versus a health concern, to give yourself a break while traveling and then return to your normal way of eating upon return.

• Are you vegetarian or vegan?

• Do you have severe food limitations, like allergies or gluten intolerance that impact your health?

• Are you able and willing to be more flexible with your typical diet?  Will your body be able to handle it?

Whether it’s allergies or vegetarianism, it can be hard to convey these points to someone who does not speak the same language, particularly if the menu is not in English! And, good luck trying to explain “Gluten” or “Peanuts”…

If your food allergies are severe, this may be a consideration.  If you might feel a bit off but not be hospitalized or potentially killed by eating something, maybe it is not a concern.

You of course want to minimize your risk as you certainly don’t want to end up in the hospital on your vacation. 

Either way, when you arrive to your location, have someone at the hotel or your AirBnb host – really anyone who speaks the local language – write down your food restraints on a paper to carry with you. This way you can present it everywhere you eat to try and limit your exposure. 

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Where to Go Next

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As you consider these questions, realize there is no one size fits all for picking a travel destination. Some people love Paris, other people hate Paris. Some people are beach lovers, others hate sand and the hot weather.

It’s most important to select a travel destination that matches up with your expectations.  You know yourself best and there are thousands of amazing places to visit in the world!

Once you have your travel destination selected, start planning more of your trip:

• 9 Essential Things to Do Before Traveling Abroad
• Top 10 Travel Items I Never Travel Without
• Is Travel Insurance Worth It? An Inside Look from an Avid Traveler
• 35 Critical Safety Tips for Solo Female Travelers

Happy traveling!  

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