Seek Out the Unknown: How to Plan a Trip to a Place You Know Nothing About
Most people like to travel to familiar destinations, places they know well and where they can be sure of what to expect. But there’s a whole world out there waiting to be explored, and it’s definitely worth the effort to venture into unknown territory every now and then. After all, that’s how new discoveries are made. Yes, it can be scary to think about planning a trip to an unfamiliar place, but there are ways to ensure that the experience will be fun and rewarding.
Here are some steps to take when you’re trying to plan a vacation in an unknown location:
What Are Your Interests?
First of all, take some time to think about what you like. Do you like museums? Art galleries? Nature? Sports? The beach? Culture and nightlife? What fun thing would you like to do when visiting Miami? What about shopping or food in Paris? Do you want to go somewhere with nice weather?
Which seasons are you okay with visiting? Choosing your interests will narrow down the options available to you. It might be that there are whole cities out there dedicated to this one interest of yours. If you’re not sure what your interests are, sit down and think about it for a bit. It really is important to know what you like when planning a trip so that you don’t feel overwhelmed by the foreign experience.
Buy a Travel Guide
There are lots of travel books and guides available, and they can provide a lot of interesting information. If you aren’t sure exactly where to go yet, get one guide on the country or region that interests you most and start reading up on it. Travel guides will give you plenty of details about things like transportation, attractions, weather, cuisine, and more. Some of these resources are even available online, so if you’re planning to visit somewhere totally new and different, it’s not too hard to do some initial research.
Read Travel Blogs
There are many travel blogs out there written by wonderful travelers. These can be great resources for planning a trip because people who blog about their travels often include details about where they stayed, what kinds of food and attractions they experienced, and more. They also offer advice on how to avoid unpleasant surprises (and there’s nothing worse than traveling somewhere unprepared). In addition to blogs, there are also plenty of travel forums where people can provide answers and advice.
People often like to “follow in someone’s footsteps” when traveling to a new destination, but it’s important to realize that there’s nothing wrong with going your own way and making a new path. After all, what fun is traveling if you’re just doing exactly the same things as someone else? You can go off-the-beaten track by choosing a destination that isn’t as popular as others or finding activities that attract fewer visitors.
Ask Friends and Family
Your family and friends might have traveled to a place that interests you, so it’s worth asking them about their experiences. If they didn’t like it there or found it boring, at least, asking them will be saving you from wasting time on something unappealing. You can also ask other people if they know of any exciting destinations where you might be able to follow in their footsteps. If they’ve traveled there before, it’s likely that they’ll have some useful suggestions of things you can do while visiting.
Ask Other Travelers
If you happen to live in an area where some tourists tend to visit, there’s a good chance others might know of the best destinations for your interests. You can even ask if people have any recommendations on which travel guides or blogs would be most helpful while planning your trip. Before diving into detailed planning stages, you should also take some time to brainstorm some possible places you might like to visit. It’s usually best to start with a list of possible destinations, then narrow it down from there.
Read Books
There are different books about places where you might be interested in going. Reading a book about a particular country or region is an advantage because it allows you to get inside the minds of those who have been there before and gives you more context. These books provide you with insight into the culture and all that you might experience.
Planning a trip to a destination you know nothing about can be an amazing and eye-opening experience, but it does require some careful planning. By doing your research ahead of time, you can make the most of your journey. It doesn’t have to be 100% perfect, just fun and adventurous enough.