So many choices....

Having trouble deciding where to go? Well, according to my cousin Randi choosing a place to go is the most difficult task when planning a trip. Although I could recommend my fave countries (a topic for a later post? I think so), let's focus on how to narrow down the choices. Most of my traveling has been down very last minute. I actually went to Guatemala because I'd had a bad day. I bought my flight at 9pm and it left 3 hours later. Talk about spontaneity! When you're planning a venture overseas, start by picking 3 countries you absolutely have to see before you croak. Honestly, for first time travelers, Europe is the easiest and safest route to go. And in terms of cost, the closer you are to the Mediterranean Sea the less expensive everything is. Now do not be fooled. It's not super cheap, but it is cheaper than the countries north of that. So when choosing your top 3 places to explore, make sure you continually keep you budget in mind. Research everything from the average cost of hostel rooms to the price for average train tickets in each country you are interested in. The more info you have, the more comfortable you'll feel about you decision. Remember, you can always go on other trips to see the other countries that are on your bucket list. Whether you're planning a short 2 week adventure or a 6 month world tour, having an idea about where you want to go and what you want to see will help you stay within your budget. However, I wouldn't recommend trying to plan every detail. Once you start meeting other travelers you'll be introduced to new places and ideas that you hadn't planned on. I would have missed the Cinque Terre in Italy had it not been for some randoms I met on a train. Whether you plan your trip based on your budget, or plan your budget based on your trip, know what is important to you, what you're willing to sacrifice, and what you're not. And if push comes to shove and you are clueless about where to go, grab a globe, close your eyes, spin and point. Need budgeting advice or recommendations about where to go? Post a comment and ask away!