With only a day or two of vacation, where can you go?
Within Europe, the U.S.A., Australia and New Zealand you can easily take a fun trip to another city in your country or, in case of Europe, another capital city. Even if you have only one or two vacation days: put it around a weekend, or better even: a public holiday weekend with a non-working day. This way you have a trip that lasts 3, 4 or even 5 days. That’s quite some time to spend in a city like Rome, New York City, Brisbane or Queenstown. For optimal holiday time spent: pick a city that is maximum 3 hours flying from you. Make sure you get an early flight on the first day, and a late flight on the last day. This way you can make the most of your few days off.
Where can you go if you only have 5 vacation days
If you add the weekends before and after, you have from the first Saturday to the last Sunday a nine days trip. From the States to Europe or the other way around is very doable with a nine days trip. Also from the States to Central America. Or Australia to New Zealand or the other way around. Just don’t try to cram too many places in the trip. Maybe just two or three, and try to see a lot in those places. This saves you on travel time (waiting at airports or train stations, the traveling itself etc.), and more time to experience the cities that you are in. Lots of cities have (organized) day trips that you can take to places that are just a bus ride away.
Where can you go if you can take 10 days of vacation
When you add the weekends, from the first Saturday to the last Sunday you can make it a sixteen days trip. Try not to cram too much into these 16 days. You don’t want to come home after your vacation and feel like all you’ve done is sitting in planes, trains and automobiles.
There are organized tours that can take you to a lot of different places, and even in 16 days can show you a lot of a new country. For example a 3-island trip in Thailand in 14 days, or a trip in Laos with a jungle trekking and Gibbon Experience in 16 days. This saves you from planning the whole trip and sorting out the various hotels and transfers while you are there, and you can relax more when you finally take your well deserved vacation.
There are group tours, but also organizations that have private trips, so you don’t have to spend your two weeks with a bunch of strangers if you don’t feel like it. Don’t immediately knock group tours though! A lot of them will be with other travelers that are like-minded, no matter their age or background. (You may meet some new friends, that you can visit in a next vacation?) They also want to see the country you’re going to, in the way the organizer has planned it.
Choose a trip that suits you and your needs. Certain trips are more beach and relax, others action/adventure or cultural, etc. Also the experience of a week yoga course on a tropical beach combined with a city trip or a few weeks in an ashram could enrich your life.
Where can you go if you can take a month of work?
Now we’re talking some serious traveling time! Plan a trip to Southeast Asia, and go see various places all over Thailand or Cambodia. Or go island hopping in Greece where you visit several of the very different islands that this ancient culture has to offer. Maybe a trip to Indonesia is something you’ve always dreamed of? Now is the time to go and explore Bali, Java and Jakarta. Make the most of your time, and see as much as possible. If you travel between places, try to do this by train or boat, so you can see things along the way while you travel.
Maaike: In 5 weeks, I went to see 5 different states in America (and drove through another one). I saw 14 cities (and many towns along the way). I visited 8 National Parks (and several state parks). By plane, bus and car, I traveled with whatever worked best. I planned the trip for a bit (mainly to let my friends know when I would be visiting them). The rest I just winged it along the way. Needless to say: I had a great time!
Where should you go if you decided to travel for about a year or longer?
Well, in this case the options are endless. You can literally fly all the way around the world in a year. Find places and cultures you would love to explore and experience. Then combine a few of those countries in your trip.
Plan a little ahead, but not too much. There are ticket-organizations that can give you a full round-the-world ticket. But, only do this if you want your travel dates to be set or only changed for a small additional fee.
You may want to stay longer in the one country or leave a bit quicker to go to the next? You meet new friends (very likely) and you may decide to change your whole schedule to hang out with them a bit longer? It’s all possible! It is better to have a rough plan on the countries and places you want to see.
Check the visa requirements for each country, so you know how long you could stay where. Find out where you get your visa’s: beforehand at an embassy or at the border / upon entry. Then just plan the first week with your flight ticket and first few nights of accommodation. This way you don’t have to go looking for a bed upon arrival after long and tiring traveling. The rest of your trip will follow by itself. You can very easily book day trips and transfers to the next place at local agencies or at the hotel you are staying. No matter where you go, there is always a way for travelers to get around.
