In order to have a truly memorable trip, make it special by customizing it to your unique preferences all the while highlighting the particularities of the place you are visiting. Your trip can highlight many themes so focus on activities that match your particular likes.
Taking a tour can be an efficient way to see a lot without wasting time on planning, transportation and trying to figure things out. Tour companies specialize in taking you to the most sought out and favored areas of a destination with a caveat, different tour operators focus on specific themes depending on their customer base. If you are more outdoorsy, try to find a tour company that focuses on getting you outdoors. If you are single, look into tours for singles where you can meet like-minded people. With this said, perhaps you prefer to create your own trip so you have the flexibility to do exactly what you want to do when you want to, without the hassle of feeling over- scheduled or tied down to a pre-determined schedule.
Evaluate the following activity possibilities to get to know your travel preferences. Once you figure this out, chat with travelers and locals on TriplnR as well as browse up-to-date travel recommendations from renowned travel blogs, magazines, and surveys.
Are you a foodie? Try to get a combination of local fare and fine dining if it is in your budget. Look into special experiences like culinary walking tours, a home-cooking class, or a walk through the local farmer’s market. Combine touristic locations with ones that are off the beaten track. Some places best food can be found in local homes, so if this is common in your destination, find out how you can get in on the local cuisine. Ask locals (try TriplnR), your hotel concierge, or download a food travel app such as Table 8 for the serious foodie, Meal Sharing to eat at a local’s home, or Feastly for local finds.
Everyone has to do the Must-See attractions including museums & art, historical buildings, and local culture. Visit locations such as Taj Mahal, Eiffel Tower or Lady Liberty so you don’t have any regrets. Find out when non-peak hours are to beat the crowds. For local culture, speak to people familiar with the locale (try TriplnR) to find out which neighborhoods, marketplaces or areas will give you an experience of the indigenous. Check-out Wikitravel for a list of places to see by typing in your destination and scrolling to the bottom for the “cities,” “see,” or “do” sections. Otherwise, go to well-known tour companies and check out what attractions they visit for a good gauge of where to go. Read about the different attractions and schedule-in the places that most interest you.
Do you love to spend time in nature and the outdoors? Design your trip to focus on being out and about. From adventure sports to walking tours or ziplining, find the most worthwhile nature scenes. Ask around, check guidebooks or talk to locals (try TriplnR). If you don’t want to risk it or work so hard, try booking an organized tour with a company focused on outdoor travel. Well-known companies include G Adventures- Active tours, Geographic Expeditions Adventurous Trips, Austin Adventures, Intrepid Travel and more. Make sure to talk to people in the know so you don’t miss that waterfall or that bungee jump!
Finally, if you just really want to indulge, don’t forget to hone in on the local spas, shopping, and performances. After all, don’t you go on vacation to indulge and do the things you don’t always have time for at-home? Visit Spafinder.com to locate spas and wellness travel throughout the U.S. and the world. Come on, pamper yourself, you’re on vacation. Make sure to go shopping to pick up local treats you can’t find anywhere else. Ask your hotel concierge and do a simple google search of “where are the best places to go shopping in” your travel destination.
Remember, no vacation is complete without a performance or stunning show. Imagine going to Vegas, Dubai, or Athens without seeing a show? Book reservations as soon as you reserve your travel basics, as great shows sell-out in advance. For some extra clout, ask your hotel concierge to help book your reservation. Because of the volume of reservations they make, they may have an easier time getting tickets to an almost sold-out performance.
Remember to live it up when you travel and participate in the activities that make your heartbeat. After all, you never know if you will be back again.
