Top Tips For How To Decide Where To Tick Off The Travel Bucket List Next

Your heart is full of wanderlust and you want to see the world.

Perhaps you have taken time out of your previous life to travel for an extended period of time, or maybe you have a couple of precious weeks away from your usual busy world in which to make some travel plans.

If you have a drive to travel the globe then I am sure, like me, you have a 'bucket list' as long as the index in an atlas of places you want to see before you die!

How then, do you make that decision of where to go for your next trip?

How do you prioritise one incredible destination over another?

Well, this is not at all easy!

I know I can grow impatient and develop itchy feet, wanting to be onto seeing more and more of this incredible planet, not wanting to waste a moment.

However, seeing it all in one go is not feasible and priorities, as well as practicalities need considering to plan where next..

Of course, spontaneity is good too - I love making some decisions on impulse.

Sometimes too much planning only complicates and some of the best experiences come from deciding on a spur of the moment what to do!

However, there are also times I need to keep my wild wanderlust somewhat in check and then I resort to a few strategies to help me decide on the next place to tick off that bucket list (which never seems to get smaller).

Perhaps these ideas of how to decide where to travel to next will be useful to you too?

How To Choose Your Next Travel Destination When There Is So Much World To See!

THINK ABOUT COSTS

Picking a destination, unless you have the bank account of Richard Branson, is likely to necessitate some consideration of costs.

Money matters are boring, yes, but for all but the super rich finances need some factoring in.

Cost considerations will include flights (or other transport), accommodation costs, what the cost of living (food, drinks, other essentials) are like at the destination, alongside the cost of any trips or activities you would want to take while you are there and more besides.

Do a little research and work out where is best suited to your current budget, perhaps discounting other destinations (but only for now!).

THE TIME OF YEAR

At what time of year are you considering travelling?

Where is good to go at this time of year?

Consider the seasons at your destination - when 'off peak' some parts of the world literally shut down: restaurants, shops, tourist sites all close and visiting would not be as you hoped.

On the flip side, consider whether you want to go somewhere at the tip of their peak season when places might be overcrowded and difficult to fully appreciate, while costs to visit at this time will also be at a premium.

Finding destinations that are between peak and off peak times to be visited or where there are no tourist seasons and they are off the beaten track might be worth looking into.

LENGTH OF TIME AVAILABLE TO YOU TO TRAVEL

How much time do you have for this trip to spend away travelling?

Do you have several weeks (or maybe months) or just one or two weeks (maybe less)?

Of course if you have extended time to travel you can plan to go long haul, with time to arrive, settle into a place and overcome any jet lag. You then also have time there to see all you want to and perhaps travel around one or more countries in that part of the world before heading home.

On the other hand, if you just have a short amount of available time then flying long haul, spending lots of those precious hours on planes and overcoming jet lag, with little time to appreciate the destination when you get there is maybe not as practical.

With less time, seek out those destinations on your bucket list that are closer to home and easier to access but no less incredible to visit.

WEATHER

Tying in with the time factor is weather!

Look up the typical weather patterns of the destinations you are considering and factor them in.

Visiting some countries at the peak of their summer might be too hot to even consider stepping outside; while other destinations might not be fully appreciated in their deep winter.

Countries that have monsoon seasons or hurricane seasons might also be worth avoiding during those times of the year if you want to ensure you can get the most out of seeing all there is to see there when you do go.

ARE THERE SAFETY CONCERNS?

An all important thing to think about when choosing your next travel destination is safety. Ensuring that you are not putting yourself at avoidable risk when travelling is important.

Look into the safety around the stability of a country you are considering visiting - is it politically stable or are there current significant threats to public safety?

Seek the advice of authorities, such as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK, who have a great website detailing current risks and travel advice for individual countries.

Also think about environmental risks - volcanoes and earthquakes alongside hurricanes, typhoons or avalanche! Double check there are no imminent known environmental risks before you book...

of course a lot of these are less predictable and are risks we choose to take!

Finally here, safety in terms of your health.

Are there any current disease outbreaks to be aware of that might make visiting a particular destination unwise at this time?

Are there any health considerations of your own or people that you are planning to travel with that might make some destinations better avoided?

(why not also check out my other post about the world's safest countries to visit here!)

THE TYPE OF TRIP YOU WANT

It might sound obvious (but sometimes it is better to state the obvious) to consider what type of trip you want to go on next and find destinations that fit this.

Do you want to spend time in a city, by the sea or in the mountains?

Do you want relaxing or active; history and culture or nature and wildlife?

Perhaps you want a combination of these things and so can find your ideal destination that offers the right mix!

WHO ARE YOU TRAVELLING WITH?

Are you planning to travel alone or with others?

If going alone there might be some places you feel more comfortable going solo and so picking one of these this time would be worthwhile.

If travelling with others - as a couple, with friends or with family and children, you will need to factor in what will suit everyone when choosing a destination.

Some places might be better suited to a couple wanting to enjoy a romantic destination, while somewhere child friendly, with plenty to keep young minds entertained will be necessary when bringing the kids!

Consider this, alongside where your travelling companions want to go too!

PERSONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

Sometimes one of the best ways to help decide where to visit is personal recommendations from people you trust who have been.

Do you have friends or family members who can give you personal insight into a destination, what you might do there or when it would be a good time to visit the location?

Ask your well travelled contacts for their top recommendations of where to go or where to avoid... you might choose not to take their tips but it doesn't hurt to information gather!

CONTACTS

Do you have any contacts in different locations around the world you can utilise during your travels?

In this day and age, many of us have family and friends who have scattered around the globe.

For some, going away is about having a complete break from usual contacts or family and friends to indulge a little alone time.

For others, however, having people at a destination you could visit and spend time with could be a deciding factor in where to go.

If you are on a budget, contacts around the world might even be able to offer a comfortable bed if needed! A true local as a tour guide is never a bad thing either!

Factor in if you have people at any destinations that appeal to you who you might like to see along the way and contact them to discuss potential options.

ARTICLES, BOOKS, BLOGS....

One way many of us get inspiration for parts of the world we would like to see is from reading articles (magazines, newspapers, online etc) or from books or blogs.

Perhaps you also follow Instagram or other social media travel accounts and have found inspiring ideas there.

These resources are very often written by or provided by people who are out there travelling and seeing the world now (or recently) and so are a great resource for inspiration and ideas - use them!

With this, also never be afraid to contact the authors or the 'influencers' you find for more advice - most are all too delighted to share their experiences and tips further.

ALLOW YOUR HEART TO HAVE A SAY!

Sometimes, I do think that with decisions like this, there also comes a time to forget being totally sensible and allow the heart to have a look in.

Where have you always dreamt of seeing?

If your time on this planet were to end tomorrow, where would you regret most not having been?

Is it feasible to make this destination (or destinations) your next trip and not put it off anymore?

Maybe it is time to find out if your dream world location which has a romantic or grand view in your mind really does live up to what you hope...

We only live once and life is short so don't put off for too long that trip to your dream place!

DONE ALL THE ABOVE AND STILL CANNOT DECIDE?

Deciding where to go next on your travels, even after considering all the sensible, practical, logistical components; seeking advice from others and allowing your heart to have a look in, might still be eluding you.

When you have been through all the points raised above in this post and continue to struggle to decide your next destination, it really is time to get the pin out, dig out the map, close your eyes and see where the pin lands!

Maybe fate will make the decision for you?

Now, get booking and happy travels!!

Please share with me where you decided to go and how you reached your decision... perhaps you found a method not mentioned here so please share it if you did!

**To make my travels possible and affordable I do so through international house-sitting, using both Trusted Housesitters and Kiwi Housesitters**