Make a list of destinations that interest you
Knowing what interests us at the moment is a good starting point for making a choice. Choose a continent, a list of countries that appeal to us or are suited to the type of travel or activities we want to do.
For example, for my trip next fall, I would like to walk through the landscapes and villages of a European country. Some destinations therefore come to mind after researching various travel blogs and travel forums (travel forum, lonely planet).
Set your budget for your trip
As I regularly mention, you don’t have to be rich to travel. Certain types of travel and many destinations are suitable for a small budget. For example, you can see my article on the cheapest destinations by continent .
Compare daily spending amounts based on your traveler type (low, medium, or high budget) in travel guides for each destination or on travel forums or blogs. Websites like Le Routard or Lonely Planet have a daily budget section for each destination. This can be a good indicator.
Set the length of your stay and the time difference
The length of your stay can also be an influencing factor. For short stays, you may find it preferable to go to a destination closer to home.
For example, when I only have 10 days of vacation, I take the opportunity to go to Central America rather than Asia where I allow myself a minimum of 3 weeks. The shorter my vacation time, the less I want to waste traveling to get there and the more the jet lag factor becomes an important criterion. Allow about 1 day of adaptation to your body for every hour of time difference . Do the math and set your own limits.
Check the flight information
Flight time also discourages many travelers. Some people are unable to travel more than 6 hours at a time to get to a destination. So, I suggest you look at the specific flight information. The duration of each flight, the number of layovers , the total number of hours before arriving at the final destination, the departure and arrival times . These are several factors that can influence your choice depending on whether they are suitable for you or not.
Look at destination country warnings
Without becoming paranoid, it’s essential to be aware of current events in the countries we plan to visit. It’s therefore important to have access to reliable sources and regular updates on the security situation in the countries.
The Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website provides extensive information on each country. Alternatively, you can always contact the nearest embassy of the country you plan to visit to gather information. But beware: the ministry’s website is always overly cautious and can easily instill fear in travelers. Trust your own judgment and avoid taking unnecessary risks.
