How to Choose the Best Travel Destination

Where should I travel next? This question has entered the mind of every traveler at one point or another. How do you go about deciding? In this post, we will break down the process to provide a straightforward answer to the age-old question. Let’s explore how to choose the best travel destination.

It may not be quite as simple as you think. There are literally millions of destinations to choose from in the world. Soon enough, that number will expand to include space travel (just checked, the site moontravelguide.com is currently for sale!). We’ll keep our focus on earth for now, it’s packed with enough awesome travel spots that no one can see them all. So, how do you choose with so many options?

Bucket List Approach versus the Slow Travel Movement

Movies like The Bucket List (with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson) reflect a travel trend of scrambling to check off as many travel experiences as possible. How many countries have you been to? Have you visited all the continents? Which U.S. states do you need to visit to reach all 50? I simply must to go to all of the most instagrammable spots on the planet!

That may be a very enjoyable travel approach for some. However, increasing numbers are joining the slow travel trend, spending more time in locations to absorb cultures and reduce the burdens of “fast travel”.

Which style of travel do you prefer? Perhaps for you it’s not slow vs fast, but some blending of the two? Recognizing the type of travel you’d like to experience will help you establish the range of destinations you’d like to visit. For example, a one-week tour through Europe calls for very different travel arrangements than a one-month immersion in a small Tuscan villa.

In some ways, picking your next travel spot is similar to other choices that offer tons of options. Wanna know a cool trick? You can almost immediately eliminate a few million of these options. This is because even if you don’t know precisely where you do want to go, you have a pretty good sense of where you don’t want to go. When you know you’re looking for certain activities or climates, it’s pretty easy to rule out polar opposites.

So, don’t waste your time looking at travel deals for snowy mountain villages if you’re interested in tropical water sports. For those that want to stick to exploration of new cities, most rural and isolated destinations are already off the list. Luxury flights and accomodations are great, but if the budget doesn’t allow, you might as well set the filter on your flight search to exclude the super-high-end airfare results. If you’re interested in flight travel deals, check out these great deals from CheapOAir.

So, bottom line here is to actually start by recognizing where you don’t want to go. This will save you time if you think about it ahead of time. Okay great, but what about choosing where I do want to go?

The Five Keys to Choose Your Next Travel Destination

When pondering how to choose the best travel destination or vacation spot, there are five main factors that you need to consider. I’ll go ahead and spoil it for you, and then break them down to explain how to utilize them each.

#1: Cost

Let’s start with cost, the first key factor. As much as picking a travel destination is about daydreaming and the romance of travel, there are some practical points that can immediately derail your travel train if not taken seriously. Cost of the trip is the most obvious example here.

In most cases, if you don’t have the dough, you ain’t gonna go. Even business travelers who are traveling on the dime of their company still have budgetary limitations (in fact, a lot of them, but don’t let that stop you from making your business travel more enjoyable!).

As terribly boring as it sounds, make a travel budget. Like, an actual written-down travel budget. You will quickly see if your ideal destinations are within reach or if you need to save up some more. You may be traveling solo, but otherwise who will you be traveling with that you need to share and discuss this information? To get you started, here’s an estimated budget range for U.S. travelers to get a rough estimate for how far you can travel:

#2: Time

How much time do you have for the trip? There are minimum and maximum amounts of time to consider here. At minimum, are you able to get to the destination in back while allowing some time at the desired location? If the transportation to and from Hawaii takes up the full amount of time you have, you probably wouldn’t bother going. There’s also a maximum amount of time before your travel shifts from a trip into, well, a residence.

I can’t answer the question of how long your ideal vacation would last. Consider maximizing the time off you can take to soak in as much travel as possible, though this could range anywhere from a day to a whole summertime. Here again comes the distinction between bucket list travel (meaning, check off all the amazing places you can) versus slow travel with it’s ideals of better cultural immersion and travel sustainability.

As it relates to cost, certain times tend to be less expensive than others. For example, red-eye flights and certain days of the week may cost less than a morning weekend flight to the same destination (thanks a lot Supply and Demand!). Compare and contrast different times with as much flexibility as possible using this airfare finder.

#3: Events

Your trip may also depend on any special events or festivities at your destination. Are you looking for Oktoberfest in Germany? Wouldn’t find it if you go in January. Want to celebrate Independence Day in the U.S on July 4th? Good luck if you’re visiting in August. What special events are you hoping to see or visit? Try to time your trip around the local events that best suit you.

Perhaps it’s your special event, such as a birthday get-together, destination wedding, or family reunion. Hopefully, the organizers of those trips matched the interests of the group with the selected destination. Consider scanning Pinterest for local guides, as there are convenient travel guides for almost every local town/city/state/region/country.

Historical events may fit in this category as well. Consider the events of the past for any potential travel spot, as knowing even a little bit of the local history can add value to your trip. Going to the Alamo in Texas wouldn’t be nearly the interesting experience that it was if I hadn’t known about the valiant battle fought there in the 1800’s. Search through the Historical Marker Database for a few of your top travel choices to learn about the history and culture, and perhaps shape your trip around visiting certain cites.

It’s also important to pay attention to the local events of your destination even if you’re not planning to attend. This is a fact most people forget. If you’re traveling to a major metropolitan area, it would help to know that a major marathon race will be winding it’s way through town and shutting down traffic near your hotel. Regarding cost, hotels often skyrocket their rates when major events are in town. So, waiting until the next weekend could be a huge cost saver!

#4: Weather

Are you looking forward to snow capped mountains for skiing or balmy skies for sunbathing? Either way, a large part of your travel enjoyment comes down to whether the weather matches your expectations. It is as hard to ski down a rocky mountain with completely melted snow as it is to hop into the waters of a frozen lake. Pick the right season, or consider exploring options on the other side of the equator to find the right seasonal weather conditions for you.

“Dealing with weather and similar uncertainties is where great travel stories are made.”

-Psychology of Travel

We can picture weather as either a travel irritant or travel blessing. Sometimes it’s both. A hurricane on your cruise is not ideal to say the least. But, those otherwise sunny skies during the same hurricane season can be a big draw for tourists. The key here is flexibility.

To help with flexibility, consider adding traveler’s insurance for your trip to help reduce the impact of any unanticipated weather disruptions. Also, ask the hotel and any rental services you plan to use regarding their rescheduling or cancellation policies.

When those unexpected weather events do happen while your traveling, try to remain flexible and even embrace the unique situation you find yourself in. After all, you may never get to experience something quite like that again. Dealing with weather and similar uncertainties is where great travel stories are made.

#5: Travel Goals

Understanding your travel goal is really the key to selecting your next spot to travel. Are you looking for luxurious relaxation? First class business? Family-friendly outdoor exposure? Your destination needs to reflect what you hope to get out of your trip. Surrounding yourself in pampered luxury may call for a different locale than a kid-friendly waterpark.

So pick a goal. Don’t just skim this part, actually choose the main goal you’d like to experience or achieve.

It may help to break down your travel goal into what you hope to think, feel, and experience. If your goal is to think about closing that business deal, you will seek business-friendly accomodations with distraction-free environments. On the other hand, if your goal is to think about how beautiful the local scenery is, head for majestic natural beauty like national parks. Let what you’d like to think guide you towards a destination that will match.

Next, you need to consider what you hope to feel. Emotionally that is, not feel as in cold or warm weather. Feelings of excitement call for adventurous excursions. As exploration is the name of the game here, your destination will likely be both new to you and off the beaten travel path. Look for travel inspiration ideas using keywords like “unique travel destinations” or “hidden travel gems”. Feelings of inner peace and relaxation may harken notions of yoga retreats or destinations known to promotion of peacefulness. Research the best spas at several locations and pick the one that you think fits you best.

Choose the Best Travel Destination for You

Identifying your preference between bucket-list style travel versus slow travel, and considering the cost, time, events, weather, and specific travel goals will help you choose the best travel destination. Now, you have a process to help you decide for the next time that inner voice asks “where should I go next?!”

Travel inspiration is a sub-industry in itself, filled with social media posts, pins, tweets, conferences, and books. My favorite travel inspo book is Wanderlust: A Traveler’s Guide to the Globe. It’s filled with a huge range of locations and information in a concise easily readable format. Use it as a starting guide and then apply the 5 keys in this post to narrow down best travel destination for you.

Regardless of where you choose to travel, remember to enjoy the mental health benefits of travel, sign up for the free Psychology of Travel Newsletter, and stay safe out there! Plus, comment below with your thoughts and tips on picking vacation destinations or places you’d recommend!

Happy Travels,

Dr. L
Founder, PsychologyofTravel.com

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