It’s around this time of year that everyone starts to look towards their spring and summer holiday plans and we are here to give you some travel inspiration. What town, city or country should you visit next on your travel adventures? Should you stay close to home or could you afford to visit somewhere a little more exotic? With so many places to choose from - the world really is your oyster (depending on your budget) - it can be difficult to know where to go.
If you had the means to travel regularly, with money to spare and air miles galore, then you could quickly fill up a travel bucket list and venture far and wide with nary a thought. But if you don't have the luxury of travelling often, and/or you want to head somewhere that won't be a waste of your time and money, then the process of picking a travel destination can be a difficult one.
Think about where you have been before
You don't always have to visit somewhere new. There may be uncharted places that you didn't explore in destinations you have visited before, so think back to past holidays and travel adventures, and try to remember the destinations that you wished you had more time for, but didn't. You might also travel into the further recesses of your mind, thinking back to childhood holidays you took with your family. If any hold a special affection for you, why not revisit those places, and revel in nostalgia as you explore these destinations anew.
Scour your favourite travel blogs
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of travel blogs online, so bookmark a few and read the articles within. Travel bloggers will often have articles on the best places to visit and the places to avoid. They will give you bucket list ideas according to your particular travel taste. They will help you find those 'off-the-beaten-track' destinations that you may never have previously considered.
Turn on your television
There are all kinds of travel TV shows, usually with some celebrity or other leading the way to guide your thinking, so peruse your TV guide, put your feet up with a pen and paper in your hands, and make a note of the places showcased on screen. You might also add to your DVD collection, or subscribe to something like Netflix, and watch those movies that can also fuel your thoughts.
Use social media
You're probably glued to social media anyway, so make the most of the sites you use to source travel inspiration. Head over to Facebook and scour the travel and holiday pics taken by your besties. Travel the net to the photographic wonder that is Instagram, and locate those luscious travel photos taken by others on their globetrotting adventures. Circle around to YouTube where a simple entry in the search bar will bring up millions of travel entries listed by popular travel vloggers.
Read online review sites
By basing your next travel adventure on the opinion of others, you will get an idea of countries to visit, hotels to stay in, and tips on places of interest. You will get inspiration on where to go, and you will also learn from the valuable lessons of others on places that you should perhaps avoid. While opinions are often subjective, you can still narrow down your choices on where to travel this way.
Consider your interests
What do you want from a trip away? Use your thoughts to lead you to the right place for you. For example, are you looking for an active travel adventure, or is a relaxing beach holiday more appropriate for you? Consider your favourite pastime, and think about the weather climates and types of scenery you enjoy, and start to narrow down your choices until you have a selection of places to choose from.
Picking a place to visit is not an easy task, especially when there are so many beautiful places in the world to visit and explore. Still, you can use our tips to help you. Spend time gathering inspiration from the sources we mentioned, start to narrow down your search by thinking about your likes and dislikes, and then get to work on a bucket list, prioritising those places that particularly stand out in your heart and mind.
