Everyone needs a holiday, but deciding where to go can be difficult. Here’s a breakdown of how to choose the best place to vacation this year…

I’ve always got a countdown going until my next vacation. Five months until I jet off to Bali or a week until I get to see the Eiffel Tower. But planning all these trips can be challenging. By the end of the booking stage, you feel as though you deserve a holiday for finally organising your holiday! There are flights to book and hotels to pay for. Not to mention you need to make sure you have all your visas and travel documents in order. Then you need to plan out your itinerary for when you actually arrive. But hold up – before you can even begin to think about all those little booking details, you have to decide where you’re going to go for the vacation. What continent, what country, what city, what area? It can be hard to whittle it down. No fret, we’re going to think about the ‘what‘, ‘when‘ and ‘how much‘ to help you choose.

If you’re looking for some quick suggestions, skip ahead to my top five recommendations for where to vacation this year.

What?

What are you looking for in your holiday? Do you want a typical beach escape with countless days lying on the sand with a mojito in your hand? Or do you want a city break brimming with history and culture? Maybe you want a mix of both and plan to jump between cities or countries this holiday period. The ‘what’ will have a significant impact on the ‘where’. For example, if you’re looking for a seaside getaway the landlocked country of Austria wouldn’t be the place to go, would it? However, if you’re craving rolling mountains and idyllic natural landscapes this country could make for the perfect holiday. If you already have an idea of what the ideal holiday looks like, then you’re way ahead of the game.

Try Google Maps

Now, you just have to work out which countries will make that dream a reality. It’s worth having a little gander at a satellite map (Google Maps will do). Think about what type of terrain you’ve been craving. Giving yourself this perspective will help you to deduce the continent, then the country, then the city you want to stay in. Maybe you’ll be able to pinpoint an interesting mountain range that looks fun to check out. Perhaps, you’ll zoom in on a great beachfront that calls to you. Google Maps is a good friend in your hunt for the best holiday location.

Activities and Sightseeing

Alternatively, think about the activities you want to get up to on your holiday. You might be interested in vacationing to a place where you can pick up a new skill like surfing or scuba diving. In this case, a country like Australia could be perfect. On the other hand, you might have an iconic landmark that you’ve been desperate to see. What about the Statue of Liberty or the Pyramids of Giza? Having a strong desire like this can make choosing a hell of a lot easier. In this case, the country is pretty much set in stone and it’s just a matter of choosing accommodation. Yet, before you splash the cash and start booking, think about whether the ‘when’ and ‘how much’ will force you to compromise in achieving the holiday of your dreams.

When?

The period that you’re available to go on holiday might depend on your work or life schedule. As a teacher, I’m only allowed to vacation outside of term time. This means my holidays are limited to the months of January or August. Unfortunately, these are popular months for other travellers to vacation in. Therefore, flights and hotels are often more expensive and also more difficult to get hold of. If you also don’t have much flexibility with when you can use your vacation time, don’t despair. This limitation might actually be a blessing as it can help you rule out some countries.

Weather and seasons

Thankfully, the seasons are pretty set around the globe. If you crave warmer weather on your holibobs and you know you can only travel in January, for example, you might want to avoid the Northern Hemisphere, experiencing its bitter wintertime. Consider how the ‘when’ will affect weather and a country’s peak travel seasons. On top of thinking about whether you want hot or cold climates, you should also think about my good friend – rain. Unlike the UK, which seems to rain no matter the time of year (ah, home sweet home), other countries can experience a rainy season. So even though the weather is warm enough to get those shoulders out, it might be pouring outside. Places like the Indian subcontinent or Southeast Asia can get particularly strong rainfall anywhere from May to October. Consider whether this is going to put a dampener (no pun intended) on your holiday. 

Cultural holidays

Okay, so this is already a lot to think about. Unfortunately, I’m going to add one more thing to the list of things to consider: cultural holidays. You might celebrate Christmas, or New Year’s, or Lunar Year. Well, surprise, surprise so do other people around the world. And the desire to be home, with family, for the holiday season can lead to airlines and accommodation getting fairly congested. Think about whether there are going to be any major holidays celebrated when you intend to travel. Perhaps, you might opt for a country where this holiday is less common. If you decide to visit a country during a major cultural event, think about whether shops and restaurants will remain open and whether cities will be busy or quiet during this period. There’s a lot to think about here. Yet, deciding when you can go away can really help to narrow down your options. 

How much?

As much as I wish I could jet around with unlimited funds, travelling is very expensive. So unless you’re rich, your budget will play a very large role in dictating where you decide to vacation. So many areas of booking a trip will steal your money. You’ll have to drop some funds on flights and accommodation. Plus any visas, insurance and documents you might need before setting out will cost you. And once you arrive you’ll need to consider how much certain activities will cost. Most importantly, you’ll need to eat and have some money left over for spending. All of these things added together can make a trip very expensive.

Compromise

But you shouldn’t give up on booking that dream holiday just yet. There are some ways you can make vacationing a little cheaper. It’s called compromise. If you want to travel during peak seasons or go a little further afield, you’re probably going to have to spend a little more on flights. In that case, it might be worth thinking about staying in cheaper accommodation rather than an all-inclusive resort. Consider hostels and Airbnb, particularly if you’re solo travelling, as these can be less expensive alternatives. Plus they often have great locations and lots of character. Journeying with friends and family might be another great way to cut costs. This way, you can split accommodation prices (unless you seem to be the designated bank manager when abroad).

Holiday budget

Alternatively, you can spend less money on travelling by taking less direct flights or opting for other modes of transport. Think deeply about where you’re willing to bargain on your holiday budget and this will help you decide where to go. If you’re looking for a cheaper holiday, consider countries where your money can be stretched a little further. If you’re splashing the cash this season, don’t give two thoughts about jetting halfway across the globe and staying at the fanciest hotel. Check the bank account and go from there.

Still stuck? Have a look at my recommendations for this year’s holiday below.

My top 5 recommendations for this year

1. UAE (have a read here) for an expensive holiday (November–March): City
2. Thailand (check out this post) for a cheap holiday (November–April): Resort and beach
3. Italy for an expensive holiday (April–May or September–October): Mountains
4. Scotland for a mid-range (March–May or September–November): Countryside
5. New York for an expensive (April–June or September–November): Landmarks and city

Where should I go?

Booking a holiday seems very much like a difficult balancing game. You have to weigh the cost and logistics against your wanderlust. Sometimes it seems easier to just throw a dart at a map and go wherever it lands. But with a bit of careful planning and research, you can have the vacation of your dreams. Think about the three questions listed in this article very carefully: what do you want from your holiday; when are you available to go on vacation; and what is your budget looking like? With these questions in mind, you can start whittling down your list of potential candidates. And if you’re still struggling after that, you can always try out one of the places I’ve recommended.