How to Choose Your Next Destination
If you’re wondering how to choose your next destination whether you’re 50 or 20, here’s a guide to help you decide.
1. Start With Your Why
Every great trip begins with a question: What do I want most right now?
Rest and Renewal – If you’re craving calm, slow travel is for you. Picture a week in Paris, mornings at the market, afternoons reading on a terrace, and dinners with local wine.
Reconnection – Whether with a partner, friends, or family, choose travel that creates shared memories. A cooking class in Morocco, a wine tour in Cafayate, or a guided walk through Dublin brings people closer through experience.
Rediscovery – If you’re ready for growth, think of travel as a classroom. Take Spanish lessons in Argentina, volunteer in the African Safari, or sail the Phi Phi islands in Phuket.
2. Choose a Travel Style That Fits You
The best trip suits your pace, comfort, and curiosity. Here are a few styles to consider:
Cultural Deep Dives
Instead of rushing through five cities in ten days, focus on one. Rent an apartment in Salta, take a local yoga class, and savor the rhythms of daily life. This style allows you to connect more deeply with people, food, and traditions.
Example: Salta, Argentina
Wellness + Renewal
Wellness trips aren’t only yoga retreats (though we do love those ). They can include hot springs in Costa Rica, retreats in Bali, or thermal baths in Iceland. These journeys leave all of you recharged: mind, body, and spirit.
Example: Bali wellness or yoga retreat
Adventure, Your Way
Adventure doesn’t have to mean extreme sports, adventure is more of feeling. It’s the butterflies before jumping off a Tarzan swing or the adrenaline from witnessing an elephant in your camp. New experiences bring energy and a sense of achievement, tailored to your comfort level.
Example: Safari in Tanzania
3. Set Your Budget
First, determine your total trip budget. Then break this down into sections like transportation, stays, food, and activities. Decide where you want to splurge and where you want to save. Intentional travel balances your budget to match your comfort and pace.
Curated stays with character (boutique hotels, eco-lodges, or city apartments) instead of generic chains.
Food is a big expense when traveling. Decide how frequently you want to be eating out at nice restaurants or staying in. It’s important to research prices to give you a good idea ahead of time.
Paid Excursions are a great addition to any trip and can elevate your experience. Decide what’s most important to you and what fits into your budget.
Example: A 7-day Portugal itinerary with stays in boutique Lisbon hotels, home cooked meals, day trips to Sintra and the Douro Valley, and a river cruise.
4. Balance Your Time Off. Big Dreams With Smaller Escapes
Bucket-list trips are powerful, but so are more frequent, bite-sized adventures. Unfortunately, we don’t have unlimited time to travel. Which is why we like to consider how much time you can afford to take off when picking a destination. It helps to think of travel as a rhythm: alternate once-in-a-lifetime journeys with shorter, meaningful escapes.
Big dream: 2 weeks exploring Australia and New Zealand
Small escape: 4 days in Montreal with a focus on food, history, and culture
This balance keeps travel joyful, sustainable, and financially manageable.
Sample Itineraries by Interest
To spark inspiration, here are a few travel ideas in mind:
Food & Wine Lovers: 7 days in Argentina with vineyard tours, cooking classes, and parrillas.
Wellness Seekers: 10 days in Costa Rica with yoga, volcanic hot springs, and rainforest exploration.
Adventurers at Heart: 8 days in Patagonia with light trekking, glacier views, and boutique lodge stays.
Culture Enthusiasts: 12 days in Japan with tea ceremonies, traditional inns, and guided city tours.
Your Next Chapter Awaits
Travel is about opening up. Whether it’s savoring a long meal in Portugal, standing in awe at Machu Picchu, or finally taking that solo trip you’ve dreamed of.
At Novem, we help you design journeys that fit this moment in life. Because when you travel with intention, every trip becomes more than a vacation. It becomes a new beginning.
✨ Travel for a new you.
