Discover Your Travel Profile for the Perfect Getaway
The truth is, there are millions of possible trips out there spanning 195 countries. Thousands of perfect beaches, hundreds of old towns, millions of incredible restaurants around the globe waiting to serve you the best meal of your life.
There are plenty of great trips to choose from — and then there are trips that are perfect for you. So how do you figure out which trips would be enjoyable from the trips that would be the best trip ever? The simple answer is being honest about what you want and need, and getting to know your own personal travel profile can save you from the but-it-looked-great-on-paper trip disappointment.
Here are a few simple things that can help you better understand your unique and personal travel profile.
1. Make a quick list of the twenty best memories you have of trips you’ve taken in your lifetime.
Notice if there are any themes. While you don’t necessarily need (or even want) each vacation to be a carbon copy of things you’ve already done, you can use those larger themes to guide your planning of future trips. That way, if you decide to step out a little from your comfort zone, you’ll at least have a solid idea of what makes the most meaningful moments for you. Is it time with friends or family? A certain type of weather or geography? Certain activities? Quiet time? When you can build some of these elements into your travel, you’re more likely to come home energized and restored.
2. What do you like to do to relax, unwind, have fun, or re-energize when you’re not on vacation?
Do you like to be still or active? Quiet or surrounded by crowds? Scheduled or free-form and spontaneous? Simplicity or luxury? Inside or outside? These might seem like silly questions — but you’d be surprised how often people book vacations that are filled with activities or set at a pace that they otherwise don’t really enjoy. It’s just like packing that pair of pants you’ve never worn at home, but somehow convince yourself you’ll wear on vacation.
It’s possible that you’ll love a week of biking in Tuscany even though you’d never go cycling at home — but more likely you’ll be tired, saddle-sore, and wishing for a car. That’s not to say you shouldn’t try new activities every now and then; there’s plenty of room for new adventures on trips. Just make sure you incorporate new activities in small bites — say, an afternoon bike tour with plenty of stops — to see if it’s something you’d really like more of. It’s always possible to take off on a biking adventure tomorrow if you decide you like it today.
3. What is the purpose of your trip? What do you want to take away?
Part of what makes travel so amazing is its capacity to broaden and deepen our cultural, relational, and emotional horizons. Are you looking to create tons of new memories with your kids? Are you hunting for the perfect gift(s)? Maybe you’d like to really immerse yourself in a new culture and language, or do a service-oriented trip that allows you to give to others while you’re getting an invaluable adventure. Plan your trip around the kind of experience and emotional takeaway you’re looking for.
This could take on many shapes from volunteer work with an orphanage in Southeast Asia to a yoga retreat in Bali to some “me” time on a serene beach — or it’s quite possible to combine two purposes into one trip.
4. Do you prefer to be in control, or are you happier when someone else is at the helm?
This can be a huge factor in overall enjoyment of a trip. Sometimes people think they’d love to be in charge of everything — but when faced with the reality of hundreds of details that need taking care of before, during, and even after a trip, the fun gets sapped right out of the vacation and the planning becomes a chore — putting a sour taste on the trip before it’s even begun. There’s often a lot of pressure with trip planning. The budget, accommodations, dining options — making the most of your time and getting the best value out of activities and experiences. It’s a lot of weight to carry.
When you work with Awaken Travels, you can create the best balance of autonomy and assistance in order to maximize the fun, adventure, and relaxation on your trip.
When you take a little time to get to know how you travel best, your vacation can be more than just fun; it can actually be fulfilling. And you can come home refreshed, energized, and brimming with great new memories.
Are you ready to start planning an incredible experience for yourself or your whole family?
Contact us today and we’ll you get there!
