The perfect trip?
 

A friend recently commented that I seemed less than satisfied with my recent trip to Spain, and I have to agree with her. Some of my dissatisfaction was caused by circumstances beyond my control, such as the closure of the archeological museum in Madrid, which I'd been looking forward to visiting. The other disappointment was being unable to hear Escalonia, the boys' choir at Montserrat.

I wouldn't have visited either Madrid or Barcelona again were it not for my desire to visit the museum and hear the boys' choir. I've visited both cities a couple of times and would have chosen other places.

My 2009 trip involved a lot of jumping around--landing in London, then to Bath, back to London and a day trip to Bletchley Park, then to Berlin and by car to Lubbenau, Quedlinburg, Dürnstein, Melk Abbey, and finally Vienna. When I look at that list, I'm impressed with how much hopping around I did, but it was a great trip.

Perhaps that's what I need to remember. I tend to think of myself as lazy traveler because I am not interested in being on the go from morning to night, but I guess I like to see a lot of places, even if it means a good deal of travel between them.

I'm also reminding myself to stay away from cities I've visited in the past, unless there's something specific that I want to see, and then to stay the minimum amount of time, since otherwise I seem to get bored.

How about you? What have you learned about your travel preferences?

We have traveled extensively and have enjoyed all trips. That said, two trips that we are fond of remembering are:- at Christmas 1989 we went to Margarita Island, Venezuela. Not only did we get out of the extreme cold in NY but we also had a glorious beach vacation at terrifically low prices. We didn't have to think about how much anything, the lobster, cost. We just read that gas is now 6 cents/gal. Maybe it's time for another trip there.
In Feb. 1985 we were in Paris when the exchange rate went crazy. Every time we changed money we got more and more. We took the metro once. After that taxis to all our favorite restaurants and to some we wouldn't have considered before.
You cannot imagine how very ecstatic good exchange rates can make one !

Bedar, how about Los Roques venezuela for a small detour, they look very laid back and gorgeous beaches, always fancied them but bit of a pain to get to! but for fishing fans they sound great

I find that my better trips are often a direct result of 2 primary factors---good planning and favorable weather. One you can control, the other not so much. It really helps if you start by putting yourslf in the best situation by picking the destination based on seasonal factors.

There is no such thing as the perfect trip. It is often the unexpected things that make the trip interesting and unexpected.

I definitely prefer staying somewhere and getting to know it rather than changing locations all the time. I have also realised I like two weeks the best. One isn't enough time away from work, three is just a bit too much eating out etc.

But I do agree there is no such thing as a perfect trip, I always try to enjoy myself, and good weather definitely helps!!

i'm like you in regards to seeing lots in a short amount of time. instead of dedicating 5 or 6 days to a city i'd rather see 2 or even 3 in that span. it comes at a price however. One of the best pieces of advice i've ever received on here was that changing cities gobbles up a half day. A day and a half in Lisbon was almost criminal! haha

my honeymoon in costa rica was much different. 9 days to enjoy two different parts of the country was much more relaxing and the style that most on this forum favor. I'm a very busy traveler and like to cover lots of ground... my wife? not so much :-)

Los Roques is somewhat difficult to get to plus prices there are elevated because of having to bring everything in. I'd like to visit Coche Island which is just off Margarita. We enjoy going to off-beat places without hordes of tourists.

Interesting question. First I am never bored. That's simply not possible when I'm traveling in europe. Also there is never anything specific I need/want to see or do so I am never disappointed by closures or changes. I love returning to places I've been before.

I keep going back to the same BIG cities. ..Berlin, Paris, London, Madrid..etc

Small towns normally don't hold me for too long, especially if I am traveling alone

- many. are kind of dead after certain hours .

Don' t like going to a hotel room at 10:00p.m.

I've learned not to plan every waking moment of a trip. Down time, and time to do something spur of the moment, is essential. My first trip to Europe, there were plans every day except our last day in Rome. On a whim, we took the train to Florence. It was the most relaxing day we had.