by Jordan Wold
Picture this: money is no object, and your friends and family are either A) not able to attend, or B) up for visiting anywhere in the world.
Where would you go then? Really think about it. Maybe you’re done with the tourist-y theme parks and their horrific long lines and instead you need to see the birthplace of your favorite works of art. Or maybe you want to rent a van and drive across New Zealand for a month. Who knows?
The point is, I have no idea which far reaches of the Earth, which globe deep cuts you would love to check out. And neither does anyone else, except for you. Setting aside the fact that the unimaginative tourist destinations are often the most expensive locations, they’re also, y’know, the places most commonly visited. Sure, that means there must be something eye-catching about that city, but if this is your trip, truly yours, you need to do some research.
So, here are some ways to ensure your dream vacation belongs to you.
Visit a Place that Is Related to Your Passion
While this one may seem like a no-brainer, it really is shocking how often people don’t factor their own interests and passions. Paris is great, but why do you want to go there?
Following my senior year of high school, a local startup travel company organized a literary tour of the U.K. for students who had completed the advanced placement English literature and composition course. On this trip, we visited homes, pubs, libraries, anywhere that famous writers had lived and written in or been inspired to craft their now iconic works. It was awesome for me, but I can’t imagine a vast majority of travelers have an interest in seeing George Orwell’s inspiration for the pub in 1984. And most travelers shouldn’t have an interest in that. That’d be weird.
But it matched my passion for the inner world of writers.
Run with the Locals
Say you do end up visiting a major vacation hub. How can you make that vacation as personal as possible? One way to do that is by largely avoiding other tourists, as kind as they may be.
You can avoid the overpriced hotels by using services like Airbnb or Couchsurfing. In exchange for cheaper (or in Couchsurfing’s case — free) lodging, guests may have to go without some of the lavish expectations of a five-star hotel, but if it means running with a crowd who actually knows the place you’re visiting, isn’t that worth it?
Nobody knows better than you, but I certainly think checking out an obscure pub with people who know the tips and tricks of the city you’re visiting beats waiting in line for an hour at a tourist trap.
Try Traveling Alone
I understand that, depending on who you are, common sense may say it’s not a good idea for you to trek across the globe solo, but if individual or small group travel is an option, consider it.
Traveling with others can without a doubt be an incredible shared experience. But there’s something to be said about hiking up a mountain by yourself and watching the sunrise, or simply allowing yourself to get lost in a major metropolitan crowd. You can have truly amazing travel experiences, and those are yours alone. It’s not always possible to travel alone but it may be worth a try if your situation allows it. When you don’t have to cater to the whims of your travel partners, you can have the experience of a lifetime. Just make sure you’re safe and your loved ones know where you’ll be.
Maybe you love traditional tourist destinations and thrive on a shared travel experience. That’s all good. All I ask is that you think of what you want from a trip before you plan your next vacation. Be selfish. Think about what you want to do, places you need to see. After all, it’s your trip.
Jordan Wold is a writer, comedian and podcast host whose writing has appeared in BreakingModern and Long Island Pulse. He’s attending Boston’s Emerson College with an emphasis in screenwriting, and he thinks you might like to follow him on Twitter.