How to Pick Where to Go

Where you go is totally up to you.  There’s literally a world of choice.  For some people it’s obvious- they just know.  But for others, the world is so vast they don’t know where to begin.  If you’re one of those types, here are 5 strategies to help you decide:

Budget

Before you begin, decide how much money you’re comfortable spending.  A limited budget will often limit your choices- but don’t worry! You’ll still have a lot of choices, and some limitation is a good thing when making decisions.  A large budget will widen your list of options and increase your level of comfort wherever you decide to go. That said, set some parameters so you stay within reason and have some basis for decision-making.  

Comfort

How do you define comfort?  Is being in a luxurious 5-star hotel the bar for you?  Or are you the type who prefers the comraderie the comes with a hostel?  Do you look forward to trying foods you’ve never had, or heard of before?  Or are you more interested in the local take on your favorite dish from the ethnic restaurant around the corner from where you live?  Do you want to be able to speak your mother tongue, or a second language you’re very good at? Or are you okay with using the local language to the best of your ability?  Will you need a guide? Or can you manage to navigate the place on your own? Answers to these questions will help you gauge what places are a best fit for you so you’re stretched by a comfortable amount.

Time

How much time do you have?  How long is the flight? How easy is it to get to the places you want to see from your arrival point in the country/region?  What’s the time difference between you and the location? Time spent enroute and having jetlag cuts into your experience, so take that into consideration when planning.

Interest

What kinds of things do you like to see, do, and experience?  Do you enjoy trying new things, including ones you’ve never considered?  Is there something you’ve always wanted to try, but never did it that you could do on your trip?  Travel is an excellent excuse to do more of what you love, what you never thought you’d do, and finally get a chance to do something that’s intrigued you.

Tempo

How do you want to spend your time when you arrive?  Will you have a checklist and need to tick a bunch of boxes?  Or will you want to put your feet up, glad to mentally check out and finally have nothing expected of you for a while?  Want a little of both? Different places are suited for different speeds. Don’t expect to gaily drift in Beijing or expect your language class to start on time in Mexico City.

Do you have a better sense of who you are, what you’re looking for, and what you can handle?  What places might be right for you?