Planning your vacation is part of the excitement of going on a journey but have you found yourself researching all the different options only to find that you were more confused after all the reading you’ve done than before? – I know I have.
My mother used to say, and maybe your’s did as well: “You can never be prepared enough” which is probably the reason why so many of us keep researching and preparing with no end in sight.
I think that sometimes we want to have everything laid out perfectly because we are so used to everything being organized and running smoothly in our daily lives.
My advice is, and this might be a little odd coming from an experienced traveler and travel professional: Don’t over-prepare for your trip.
That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t prepare at all, just make sure to leave some room for spontaneous experiences.
You will never be able to know everything there is to know about your destination because things change constantly and where would the fun be if you are on a guided tour and you already knew everything your guide is about to tell you?
Isn’t travel supposed to be an adventure? For most people it’s the unknown that inspires them to leave home but because we are living in an age where any information is readily available online at any time of the day, we are so used to finding out everything there is to know, even go on Google Maps and ‘walk’ through the streets of the city we’ll be visiting.
Whenever I create an itinerary for my clients, whether it is a honeymoon to the beautiful island of Bali or a family vacation throughout Europe, I always make sure to keep a balance of tours planned on some days and not on others, giving you time to discover on your own.
This will give you the peace of mind that the ‘must do’ tours are included but also allows you to experience your own adventure.
I have found that what I remember the most from a trip are the experiences which I had not planned for.
A great example of this was a journey I took with my son to Europe a few years ago. While we had planned most of our days to 8 different countries during our 3 week trip, I made very few arrangements for our 6 day stay in Iceland, which was added to our itinerary in the last minute after choosing Icelandair as our carrier to take us to Continental Europe. Of course I had arranged the hotels and a couple of tours but had done very little research as it was more of an after-thought.
To make a long story short, Iceland was our favorite destination of the entire journey and I am so glad to have included a 3 day stop-over in this amazing country on our way to Frankfurt as well as on our return to North America.
Instead of being a sponge of information before you embark on your journey, become a sponge while you travel, a sponge filled with experiences, feelings and emotions from the sights, sounds and people of the country you are traveling in.
These are memories you’ll carry with you for a lifetime and these are the experience which will truly enrich your life.
In the end you might just find that your trip half way around the world, really was a journey discovering another part of yourself – how wonderful is that!
About Ales
I’ve been passionate about travel ever since I can remember. Having had the opportunity to travel all around the world for many years it’s my greatest desire to enrich peoples lives in a profound way by creating unforgettable journeys, and give each of my clients the amazing experiences I’ve had throughout my travels.
By allowing me to design your journeys, you can be assured that you will be taken care of from the moment we start planning your vacation until the moment you return. Contact me and let me know where you would like to go or let me help you find the destination that will give you the experience you are looking for.
May all your travels stir your soul and change your life forever – Ales.
