Since that first outing, I have had a desire for new experiences. I’ve traveled to a lot of different places in a lot of different ways, including on my own, with a group, on vacation packages, and on cruises. While there are advantages and disadvantages to each type of travel, I have definitely identified my preferences.

I prefer traveling alone to destinations with a mix of stunning landscapes and historic landmarks. I enjoy going to archaeological sites and going for walks, biking, and boating in the great outdoors. It is extremely difficult to persuade me to spend a week lying around on a beach. I can handle it for a day or two, but I need to get moving and go exploring after that! I likewise hunger for to see a country top to bottom. I don’t like tours that cover 10 countries in 10 days because I don’t want to feel rushed and miss out on places. Additionally, budget travel is not my thing. At the end of the day, I like a little bit of luxury!

Traveling is a priority for me. It not only makes me happy in the short term, but it also gives me a lot of deep satisfaction. I try to go on one big trip every year and a few smaller trips throughout the year. I’d love to travel full-time, as so many others have done, but for the time being, this is what works for me.