Where do you want to travel?

Let’s take a quiz…

• Beach or forest
• Car, plane, or boat
• Domestic or international
• English-speaking or non English-speaking

Knowing what you like when you travel is very important. For many in my extended family going to Disney or heading out on a cruise creates an incredible experience for them. For friends of mine, heading to a beach is the ideal vacation. For me…variety is the spice of life.

I spent the first few adult vacations in Europe. The focus was always the same. We would visit museums, look at the famous sites, move from city to city, and repeat the process. Because Europe felt safe, we were able to use guide books to help us navigate our own way. I loved it, but I also knew I wanted to do more and see more.

So, we added distinctly different places. If it was a place where we perceived safety was not the country’s top priority, we used a travel company. We went to Peru and stayed in the rain forest. We went to Egypt and cruised down the Nile. We even went to Alaska and flew in a Cessna over Denali. With each adventure I learned more about different cultures, but I also learned more about myself. I discovered I prefer to vary the activities and the cultures.

What I like isn’t what everyone else likes, and what I want to do isn’t the same for every vacation. So, you need to take an inventory for yourself before each trip. What do you really want to do when you go on a vacation?

At the beginning of this article, I listed a few things. I will list a few more below, but I want to know what you think. Do you have any other considerations when you decide where you want to travel? Please list them in the comments below.

Other questions to ask?

1. Do I want to relax and have a loose agenda OR do I prefer to make a daily schedule and stick to it?
2. Do I want to stay in one place OR would I prefer to move to other locales?
3. What are my travel priorities? The experience? The food? The shopping? The adventure? The relaxed atmosphere? Somewhere comfortable? Somewhere completely unknown?
4. Have I researched (more on that later) to see if my vacation choice will meet my travel goals?

Okay, let’s get on our way.