See the World in Your Lifetime

experience_camel-ride

Your bucket list of places you’d like to visit is long. Really long. Sometimes it feels so long you don’t even know where to begin. And so another day goes by of not planning something, anything. Just a whole lot of talk without any action.

So let’s start today, right now. Let’s make this happen!

First, assess your list:

What are the top three destinations you’d like to visit?
What are the top three travel experiences you’d like to have (ie hike Machu Picchu, cruise Halong Bay, ski in the Swiss Alps, float on the Dead Sea, party until dawn in Bangkok or Berlin, experience a game drive safari, shop the Champs Elysees…)

These top selections become your priorities.

Next, assess your situation:

How old are you?
How healthy are you?
How long do you think you can be away? How long can you really be away? (note: it’s often longer than you think)
What is your financial situation (now and in the next 5, 10, 20 years)?

Finally, consider the longevity of the destination or experience. Are any at risk of becoming extinct or destroyed? Many spectacular attractions are in danger of disappearing for reasons that range from environmental erosion to man-made destruction. For example if you’re desperate to see Arctic polar bears or another endangered species, that will need to happen sooner than later.

Now use your personal situation and combine it with how “endangered” some of your interests are, to determine what destinations and experiences need to happen first and next. We’ll break down this timeline into the “Go-Go Years”, the “Slow Go Years” and the “No-Go Years.”

The “Go-Go Years”

Think of the early and mid-years of your life as the “Go-Go Years”. These are the experiences that require physical activity and stamina, patience and/or tolerance for lots of stimulus. You want to do these trips while you are healthy because there is not an unlimited window to get them in and experience them to the fullest. Set some funds aside monthly (do you really need Starbucks daily?) to invest in a travel experience that is the best you can possibly afford. Trips that might fit in this category include:

Patagonia, the Amazon, Antarctica, Africa, India, Bangkok, Australia/New Zealand, bicycle or hiking trips through any region

Avignon, France

Photo by Rocky Mountaineer

“Slow-Go Years”

Depending on your health, your “Slow-Go Years” may arrive late in life, or sooner than you expect. Ultimately these are your final years of doing trips away from home. During these years, soft adventure or more leisurely trips will be your focus. You might find the following appealing:

Cruising – river or ocean cruising through Europe or the Caribbean Cruising offers well-supported experiences with flexibility and experiences that range from moderate to ultra luxury.
Train rides – the Rocky Mountaineer in Canada offers an amazing true “bucket list” experience
US National Parks – depending on where you live, these national gems are a drive or a relatively short plane ride away.

“No-Go Years”

These are the years you will look back fondly on your special memories and appreciate how travel made you who you are. Imagine all of the stories you will have to tell, and how satisfied you’ll be when you’ve lived not only the length of your life, but the width of it too.

To sum it all up…

You can save shopping the Champs Elysees for when you slow down. Especially if time and money are limited, take those more adventurous trips while you can!

“There are seven days in a week and ‘someday’ is not one of them!”

Town & Country Travel specializes in cruises, safaris and custom travel programs. We would love to help you make those travel dreams come true. Call 805-495-9888 to schedule an appointment with one of our expert vacation planners. What are you waiting for?

Town & Country Travel Blog