But where in the world do you go?

JUL

But where in the world do you go?

By Dana McMahan
You must make a multitude of decisions when planning a trip, but none tops the first one. Where to go? With the whole world out there waiting to be explored, it can be tempting to throw a dart at a map. But there are better ways to make such an important decision.

Think about your interests first. If you love food, tailor your trip around that - search out locales with the best dining, most vibrant street markets or that offer cooking classes. Or just skip all that and go to Paris. You won't be sorry.

Know your preferences. Do you thrive in an urban environment? Maybe skip the little Swiss villages that shutter at 8 p.m. On the other hand if buzzing Vespas, crowds and noise make you a little insane, hunt down a quite villa somewhere.

Plan around special events. A long-time wish of mine was to attend Hogmanay - the New Year's Eve bash of epic proportions - in Edinburgh, Scotland, so I built a trip to Scotland and England around it. Perhaps you could visit Sienna during Palio, the no-holds-barred bareback horserace, or Pamploma, Spain, for the Running of the Bulls. Check www.whatsonwhen.com for details on events around the world.

Spend an hour at the local bookstore or library flipping through guidebooks - the ones with photos, like DK or Fodor's See It Guides are among my favorites for inspiration.

Fall in love with a location in a book or movie? Go there. Entire tourism industries are built upon this, but you don't have to follow the Harry Potter trail. I first went to Scotland after reading a historical novel series set in the Highlands because I just had to see this beautiful place for myself.

Make a wish list after you've tried a few of these techniques. If you could go anywhere, where would it be? Now consider your budget (if you're on the American dollar, London is a stretch these days, what's next on your list?) and your available time. With one week, New Zealand may not be a viable option from North America. You should arrive at a top choice without too much trouble. And if not, there's always the dart.

TAGS: events guidebooks

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