Hi there

I came across a posting saying something like - we want to go somewhere, what is the nicest place in the world to visit. And I suddenly realised that I have never booked a trip like that. My destination was also chosen for my by some external reason.

My first trip across the waters was in my final year of high school. I took German as a subject and we had the opportunity to stay for a month with a German family. Only cost to me, a plane ticket.

My next trip was when my husband (then only very serious boyfried) and his sisters visited his father on a sabbatical in the USA. Cost to me, a plane ticket. They toured the USA while we visited and his family paid for car rental and my hotel room.

Next trip was when my sister was an Au Pair in Amsterdam. The family she worked for said her family was welcome to visit and could stay in their house for free. So again, my husband (the boyfriend from previous mail) and I visited. We added 2 weeks by car through France, Belgium and Germany.

Then I started working and did some trips for my work. These were usually short trips and I needed to be back immediately after the trip to complete the work we discussed at the meeting so I could never turn these into nice holidays, but I managed to squeeze an extra day in here and there. In this way I visited Copenhagen and London. Cost to me: Virtually nothing, price of taxis and sightseeing.

Then I attended a conference in Vienna and made a two-week Austrian holiday out of it. I also attended a meeting in China and stayed for 4 extra days to sightsee. Cost to me, sightseeing and some extra nights in an hotel.

Currently I am planning a two week trip to Hungary, I am attending a conference there.

I have enjoyed every single trip and always felt I could not have chosen better, even if I did.

Forgot to mention, sometimes the connecting flights also added interesting side trips. In this way I have spent one or two days in London, Hong Kong, Lisbon and Switserland.

I did choose one trip, Botswana and Victoria Falls. Loved it.

Are there other people on the forum who go where opportunities take them, and who do not always choose their trips?

If I could choose, my next trip would probably be to China or Thailand. But I would most probably spend all my savings in Hungary, since I plan to take my hubby with me so I do not know when I will be able to visit the place I chose.

My first trip to Europe was to Greece because I'd fallen in love with it via books, and just HAD to go there. That my travel companion was Greek-American only added to the incentive.

Next trip was to Paris. I wasn't that enthusiastic about going (fool that I was) but my TC was, and we were meeting other friends there, so we went for a week. The rest is history, I fell in love with the city.

After that was London, happily to go to Wimbledon. And since we were going to London, we just HAD to work in another 3 days in Paris, so the Paris bit was based on proximity I guess, and love.

Since then I 've planned solo trips, trips with TCs, and I've been a guest on family trips where I've had little input except for a suggestion here and there. I've liked some places, and some TCs, better than others, but I've never been sorry to have gone.

omigod Nuut, I love your screen name!

I recently heard about a lady that actually throws a dart at the map and chooses where she will go next!
I wish I had the Time, Money and Courage to do that

Ms. Go and I always talk over our destination options with our daughter and come to a mutually agreeable decision...<i>during the plane ride back from the previous trip</i>! That gives us about a year to research, plan, and obsess. Works out about right for us.

Not in any order we choose:

Availability of flights and cheap fares
Value for money accommodation
Value for money food and excursions
Friendly people
Interesting things to see and do plus ease of getting around at reasonable cost

We choose by:
1. All time favorites
2. Something new (1 &amp; 2 choices are switchable)
3. Then search price and dates
4. Safety
5. lodgings we are happy with

Since I always rent a car for European travel, I don't pick a specific destination except for the place my flight will land. I select a spot that will give me the best coverage of an area that interests me. After landing, I rent the car and start my adventure. I do a lot of planning about how I will cover the places I want to visit, and I usually make advance reservations for hotels. But how do I pick the area that interests me? Well, after the first year I started traveling to Europe many years ago, I simply pick a place or area that I haven't been before, and usually combine that with one or two stops at &quot;old&quot; favorites. In that way, just using the process of elimination, I've marched back and forth across Europe, marking off my areas of interest and trying to cover them as best I can. And sometimes I am lucky enough to combine business with pleasure, but usually that aspect is not a factor.

I use a globe and a dart

Work takes me to some places, so when I can I make the most of the opportunity and add a side trip.

But my husband and I also each have
&quot;top 10&quot; lists, and we try to choose our joint holidays from places that are on both of our lists.

We also like to learn, so we pick holidays based on the opportunity to, e.g. practise languages, take up new activities (scuba, mountain walks, etc)

I am so jealous of Nuut, having had all those great opportunities to travel so cheaply and conveniently! In a way, I wish I had a job where I got to travel different places (but also know it's not easy and fun all the time). My 1st trip was to Greece to visit then-boyfriend, now-hubby, who was studying abroad, so that one was decided for me as to where I would go. Next one was a trip to Germany and Switzerland with my church, so that was sorta decided for me, although I guess I could have gone on a different trip with another group. The last one was purely out of my desire and the desire of several of our close friends to see Italy. I loved that trip, and it made me want to go back, and go see other places too! I really want to go to England, Italy again, Paris again, and Athens again! Why is it no trip is ever fully satisfying? I always want more!

Make long term plans!
#1 Beginner tour.. arrive Frankfurt (Wurtsburg,Rothenburg,castles,Saltzburg,hall, Venice, Florence,Siena, Pisa,CT,Lake Como,BO,Alsace,Badenbaden, Rhine,and Moseland ..three weeks
#2 Belgium/French tour...Brussels,Brugge
and Paris plus Loire (two weeks)
#3 Rome and Amalfi plus Spain (two weeks)
#4 London,Bath,Cotswalds,and Scotland
#5 Asia ...Japan,China, and Thailand (2-3 weeks)
$6 Greece and Egypt (2 weeks)
#7 Vienna, Pudapest,and Prague or Scandanavia
#8 Australia, NZ

This would be a good start on seeing the world... of course after retirement It would be just the beginning hopefully if you are in good health..then you could maybe try India and Africa and South America if you feel adventuresome...dont really have a plan for South America just yet

My choices are more often instinct than logic. Most of my travel has been on a whim &amp; a few times because someone invited me somewhere (either to visit then in a foreign locale or go along on something they had already planned to do). I have made entire trips because of single photo that captivated my interest in a travel magazine. Lastly, I am emotionally drawn to certain parts of the world more than others.

sometimes it's just seeing something in a movie or tv show that sparks interest. it's really tough to read a book and get wildly excited about a destination...but possible.

i was watching a movie (ashamed to admit it was chasing liberty), but it was set in prague and venice...and that was it. i wanted to see prague.

From trial and experience we have found three countries that meet our needs:

-France - Provence and Paris
-Ireland
-Italy

We go to Provence and Paris each year and somewhere else--this year Rome.

In our late 60's novelty is not as appealing as it might be to younger folks. We have no desire to roost in a tree house; go on safari; observe penguins on an ice floe; I do not denigrate these activities just, to each his own.

We have learned that by returning to wonderful places like Provence there is much to be explored or revisited. I describe it as &quot;vertical&quot; rather than &quot;horizontal&quot; travel, i.e., &quot;eight countries in three days..&quot; I feel the same about itineraries planned to the mili-second. By vertical travel the pleasurable familiar is always at hand as are new discoveries. No need for second-by-second scheduling.