Have you ever returned from a trip feeling more depleted than refreshed ? You are not alone. Too often, we book trips based on trendy Instagram reels instead of truly understanding what makes us happy. The secret to planning your perfect vacation is not a bigger budget – it is understanding your unique personality style. I am here to help you understand yourself a bit better with just five things to consider before you plan your next vacation.
Travel Partner – Who you bring along can bring joy or dread to your trip. I recall my husband not wanting to ever revisit Italy after his group trip in 2008. However, I convinced him to give it another chance in 2024 for our family trip and turned out to be one of the most memorable trip. The difference was not the location but the people he went to the trip with. This is not to say that we cannot have bad days or frustrating moments during our trip. However, there is a difference between bad days and bringing along people that drains your energy. Sometimes, it takes a trip to understand the other side of someone’s personality. Don’t beat yourself up for that; just choose wisely the next time. Over the years, I have found that for me – traveling with my immediate family brings me the most joy.
- Here are some questions to ponder
- Do you like traveling with family/ friends or Do you like traveling solo ?
- Do you need any contribution or collaboration from your traveling partner(s) ?
- Do you just need someone’s companionship and presence and nothing else ?
- Is there someone you cannot imagine going on a trip with or even without ?
Destination– Choose the destination that fits your personality not because everyone you know is going there. I will be honest, as much as I love traveling the world; there are some places I am not dying to go- like an African Safari. Perhaps, I may change my mind in the future but for now that’s not on top of my wish list. I also understand those who like to go to the same place every year. Traveling to a new place every time can be quite stressful as you have to navigate a new place and language unless that is your thing. We love traveling to new destinations every time but revisiting a place always feel less stressful due to familiarity.
- Questions to ask yourself :
- Do you want to Travel International or Domestic ?
- Do you like to fly or take road trips ?
- Do you like all inclusive resorts or cruise ships ?
- Do you like to go to the same place every year or explore a new place ?
Season or Month – This one is always tricky as low season has fewer crowds and is less expensive for airfare and accommodations. However, there is a reason why high season is costly and crowded. We went to Japan in April of 2026 to see the cherry blossoms; though it was well worth it we did pay a steep price for it. Planning at least six months in advance can sometimes help you snag better deals. Before our kids were in higher grades; we used to exclusively travel during the shoulder month of October. We visited Paris and London during October and had an amazing time !
- Questions to ask yourself
- Is there something on your bucket list that you can only see during a particular season or month ?
- Do you have the budget to go during that season or month ?
- Is there a month or season you normally travel or you avoid traveling ?
- Will you be happy that you visited a place on your wish list regardless of the season ?
Attractions / Activities – You will always find viral photos and videos of must do attractions in every destination. You will also find people suggesting that you avoid certain tourist trap activities. After several trips, my family now has a better understanding of what we like to do. Sometimes, we like doing the touristy things like visiting an animal cafe in Japan because we are tourists after all. We also find ourselves skipping Instagram worthy attractions if we were more interested in something else. For example, we skipped the London Eye or climbing up the Eiffel Tower. We also find ourselves skipping certain museums after our visit to the Uffizi in Italy. We felt like we saw enough art work for a lifetime; though that feeling may change in the future.
- Questions to ask yourself
- Do you like visiting museums ? Art museum ? History museum ? Science museum ?
- Are you opposed to tourist attractions that target visitors ?
- Do you prefer guided tours or would you rather see things at your own pace?
- Do you book trips based on an attraction or activity that you would like participate in that destination ?
Food – This is what my family and I look forward to the most on all of our trips. However, it can also be very challenging due to our various dietary needs. One of our child has food allergies and my husband and I prefer to eat whole food plant based meals. Accommodating all of our diverse needs always possesses a challenge but we always find a way. Taking your travel groups dietary preferences ahead of time can save you time and aggravation from being hangry. Keep in mind that sometimes you will not know what you like or not like unless you try it. We tried the viral fluffy pancake in Japan and only one out of the four of us liked the eggy taste of the pancakes.
- Questions to ask yourself
- Is there a specific food or drink you look forward to trying when you plan your trip ?
- Can the restaurant you want to make a reservation accommodate all your dietary needs ?
- Do you like to cook on your vacation or you rather eat out ?
- Do you like to check out the local grocery stores and super markets of the places you visit ?
Discovering your travel preferences that’s authentic to you can transform your next vacation. Instead of coming back feeling regretful; you can now come back rejuvenated because you took charge of your own adventure ! I would love to hear what you discovered about yourself today. What are your travel preferences ? Who do you love traveling with ? What is one thing that you look forward to most on your trips ? Leave a comment below ! I can’t wait to hear what resonated with you !