You know that sinking feeling when you’re halfway through an expensive vacation and realize you’re bored out of your mind? Maybe you picked Bali because everyone said it was amazing, but you hate crowded beaches and overpriced smoothie bowls. Or perhaps you splurged on Paris but spent most of your time wandering because art museums aren’t your thing.
Most people plan trips like they’re playing travel bingo; checking off famous places without thinking about whether they’ll enjoy what those places offer. But here’s what nobody tells you: the best trips happen when you completely flip this script and start with what gets you fired up, then figure out where to go from there.
Golf fanatics already get this concept better than most travelers. They don’t just book random beach resorts and hope for decent courses nearby. Smart golfers book golf holidays early for the best courses, then build everything else around those tee times. That’s exactly how all travel planning should work.
Stop Letting Instagram Pick Your Vacation
Travel magazines and social media have basically brainwashed us into thinking certain destinations are mandatory. Everyone’s supposed to love Venice, right? But what if you get claustrophobic in crowds and can’t stand the smell of canal water? What if you’d rather spend that money on a cooking class in rural France or a fishing trip in Alaska?
The travel industry profits from this one-size-fits-all approach. They package destinations like products on a shelf, ignoring the fact that what makes one person happy might make another person miserable. A beach lover and a mountain climber need completely different vacations, but somehow they’re both supposed to want the same tropical resort experience.
How Real Travelers Do It
Smart travelers ask themselves different questions before they ever look at a map. What do you do on weekends when you have zero obligations? What hobby could you talk about for hours? What kind of physical activity makes you feel most alive?
Once you nail down those answers, the destination research becomes way more focused and way more fun. Food obsessives might plan entire trips around specific restaurants or cooking techniques. History buffs could chase Revolutionary War battlefields or ancient Roman ruins. Photography nuts might take time trips around wildflower blooms or bird migrations.
This approach works because you’re building on the knowledge and passion you already have.
Your Next Trip Starts With Honesty
Here’s your assignment: forget about destinations completely for now. Write down three specific activities that make you lose track of time. Maybe you’re obsessed with craft beer and want to visit working breweries. Maybe you collect vintage vinyl and want to dig through record shops in different cities. Maybe you love stand-up comedy and want to catch shows at famous comedy clubs.
Now, research where those activities are exceptional, not just available.
Conclusion
The travel industry wants you to believe that certain destinations are universally amazing, but experienced travelers know that’s complete nonsense. The best part about interest-based travel planning is how it naturally eliminates unsuitable destinations while revealing places you never would have considered. You’ll end up with trips that feel authentic instead of obligatory.
