Holidays are more than just a break from routine and time away from the day job – they offer time to reset, get some perspective, and enjoy meaningful time with the people you care about, assuming that you are not travelling solo. So, choosing the right type of holiday is key to making the most of this precious time.
If you’re travelling solo, then you only have yourself to keep happy. Travelling as a couple just involves considering two points of view, but travelling with family or friends gets more complicated, and you will need to think about the type of holiday needed to suit numerous different preferences – no easy task.
The good news however is that there’s a perfect type of trip waiting for you, so all you need to do, is workout which best suits your requirements – an epic road trip, wildlife adventure, city break, relaxing beach escape?
Through my Love Travel Planning blogs, I’ll share stories about the types of trips I love, with ideas to help you choose the perfect holiday to suit your mood and that of your travel companions, and your sense of adventure. So, if you’re ready to start planning your next trip, let’s dive in and make it one to remember!
From a personal perspective, I’m conscious that our travel style has changed over the years, largely depending on whether we’re travelling with the kids, or without them. We definitely became more adventurous once the kids were over 5 years. Here are some ideas for different types of trips:
Road trips
Without doubt road trips are my favourite way to travel – there is something special about heading out on the road, and getting excited about what you’ll find at the next stop, or along the way.
Road trips also offer the flexibility for you to stop when you want, take a detour if something catches your eye and watch how the landscapes change between A and B.
There are so many destinations which are perfect for road trips, including, Australia, Canada, America, Costa Rica and Oman.
Wildlife experiences
Nothing beats seeing animals in their natural habitat, which always feels like a real privilege.
From whale watching to observing black bears hunting for crabs in Canada, saying hello to sting rays on a beach in Australia, spotting sloths in the trees in Costa Rica, trying to take a selfie with a Quokka on Rottnest Island, or quietly watching turtles laying eggs on a beach lit by the moonlight in Oman – wildlife trips always feel magical to me.
You have to be quiet, respectful and also prepared for the wildlife not to show up, but with a little patience hopefully you will be rewarded!
Outdoor adventures
Being outside in the great outdoors, or exploring a National Park, makes me happy and I know that I am not alone…
Sea kayaking in the San Juan Islands, canoeing on the lakes of Algonquin National Park, riding the white water rapids in Whistler, zip-lining or horse riding on the beach in Costa Rica, or hiking through ancient forest on the West Coast Trail – doing something active on a trip creates some of the best travel memories.
Explore some ideas for opportunities here..
Walking holidays
Walking holidays can be hard on the feet and knees, but fantastic for the soul – allowing you to get out into the great outdoors and off the beaten track, away from the stresses of everyday life.
Whether you decide to take a long, multi day hike with camping or bothies in-between, or stay in one place and complete several day hikes, the route options are endless.
A life goal is to walk the Camino de Santiago but until I have the time to do it, I will be fitting in shorter walks and enjoying the great outdoors in bite-size chunks. Here are some ideas…
Travelling with family
Family trips are all about reconnecting with each other away from the distractions of everyday life.
Family holidays can vary from a Villa holiday in Puglia, to road trips through Canada, camping holidays in Cornwall or Germany, but whatever type of family holiday you plan, the goal is to make and enjoy precious time together.
You don’t have to be glued to the hip when you are away, and you can ‘divide and conquer’ in order to do different activities with different kids, before coming back together in the evening. You just need to work out what’s best for your family group.
Travelling with friends
Exploring new places with friends is always an adventure, and often with no children around to look after, the vibe can be a bit more relaxed, providing lots of fun, laughter, and sometimes a little bit of chaos!
From taking a foodie city break with pals to Chicago, celebrating a milestone birthday in style in Seville, or booking something crazy like a shared Elvis-themed wedding vow renewal ceremony in Las Vegas, there are lots of brilliant opportunities for making memories with your friends, not just with your family.
The type of travel experience you want, may possibly change from trip to trip, and year to year. Or, alternatively, you might return to the same place each year – whatever works for you!
Here are some areas to consider when deciding what type of trip to take:
Think about your travel goals for the year – is there anything special, such as bucket list items, that you want to see or achieve on a trip?
Which family members will be coming on holiday this year, and what sort of trips do they like best?
Do you need to rest on a relaxing beach break from work, or do you have the mojo for a more adventurous trip packed with outdoor activities?
If you want to see more than one place in a destination, is a road trip a good idea in order to see more?
Are there any big birthdays, wedding anniversaries or other milestones to mark with a trip abroad of some kind, maybe with friends?
Answering the above questions, helps you to pick the right type of travel for your requirements at the time, and to plan a trip that is well suited to you and your travelling companions.
Honestly, the best type of holiday is the one that fits exactly what you want at that particular time, and as mentioned above, this will vary from trip to trip.
The most important thing is to spend some time assessing what it is that you really want to do, and where you want to go. Sometimes that’s hiking in the mountains or getting close to wildlife in Canada, and other times it’s relaxing on a beach in the Caribbean or exploring a city such as Berlin.
For me, I often feel more rejuvenated after an active holiday rather than staying in place, perhaps because all the senses are stimulated by new sights and sounds and there is no time to dwell on anything left back at home. In summary, the best holidays are those which leave you feeling refreshed, inspired and full of stories to share.
The best time to start planning your next adventure is right now!
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