You’d better think again – choosing a trip is actually quite a complicate process. With around 197 countries in the world today, choosing a trip destination can be quite a challenging task. “Where will I go next?” is probably the question every travel-lover daydreams about constantly. It might not seem like it, but this can be a difficult question to answer.

Choosing a trip when you have the opportunity to travel can indeed feel overwhelming. Choosing a trip can depend on a lot of different factors. Everything from the cost of living in a destination to the weather and seasons make a difference. However, you can easily narrow your choices down with a thoughtful approach, based on your budget, your concerns, etc.

We have put together a list of things to consider when choosing a trip, to make it a memorable one.

Consider these tips before choosing a trip

choosing a trip

Weather and season

When choosing a trip, you have to take the weather into account. You may want to avoid extreme hot and cold months and travel during spring instead. Traveling in high (or low) tourist season will obviously affect your trip, also economically. Prices in high season usually go up and availability goes down, while shoulder season offers the best of both worlds with fewer people around.

Our suggestion is to do some research, check the weather and take the seasons into consideration before even thinking about going anywhere. There are plenty of websites with flight and package deals so do some research beforehand as different places also tend to have different peak seasons. Some travelers are more flexible with the weather than others — you need to find your own comfort level.

Assess your budget

Money. The dreaded topic. Cost is one of the most important factors when choosing a trip. How much are you willing to spend? Flights, accommodation, food, beers – these all add up to the final bill. If you’re on a tight budget, research the exchange rate so you’re stretching your money. If you want to be able to see a different cities and towns and maximize your time in a particular country, then you should look into the various transportation modes available (buses, planes, trains) or even decide to rent a car or scooter instead – according to what’s more convenient.

You can also reduce your expenditure by booking early enough as well as travelling during the off-peak seasons. Keep in mind that cheaper destinations tend to mean dealing with less development and poorer infrastructure. Pre-trip costs can be a factor as well. You might spend more on gear for a trek or camping trip, or lens rentals for a photography trip.

Once you have considered the above, you should then look at how long you were planning to visit the destination and calculate the basic cost. Of course activities at the destination will add to this basic cost so keep that in mind.

Safety

Before choosing a trip you should always look at official sources of information as to whether the location is safe to visit. You should make sure that the destination isn’t going through civil unrest, war, there’s no viral medical issues or anything else that could be a big safety or health problem. We recommend looking on reliable sites such as governement websites for this kind of information. It’s also a good idea to research into safety issues if you plan on travelling solo, which is especially important if you are a woman.

Visa and entry rules

Visa and entry requirements are extremely important to check before you travel. You may not need a visa, but instead you may need a travel pre-authorisation. You may find that a lot of destinations don’t even require a visa for short stays which is making travel so much easier. Of course, it varies depending on your passport and which country you are from, so always do your research and never take the risk or arriving without checking. Since the Covid-19 pandemic has started, you might need additional documents (such as a vaccine certification) to enter some countries, so do some research before choosing a trip carefully.

Travel styles and things to do

Are you a foodie? Do you want to stay in a resort and tan by the beach? Or do you want to be in contact with nature and spend time hiking, canoeing and exploring? Are you a snowboarder or surfer? Or, do you want to visit museums and immerse yourself in culture? Different cities offer different things to do and experiences so keep these factors in mind when choosing a trip destination. While choosing a holiday destination, find a location that has fun things that you enjoy doing. Remember that you need to have fun while on vacation. And, having fun activities to keep you busy is one way to make memorable experiences.