Can’t Decide Where to Travel to Next? These 16 Ideas Will Help
Do you dig deep inside Instagram? Harass your friends for advice? Tick off an endless bucket list?
Sometimes, inspiration for your next big trip can take the form of a single photo. Or getting back surprising 23andMe results and thinking, “Hey, why don’t I go to my homeland?!” There are so many ways to decide where to go and what to do — even if you don’t want to fall down the Google rabbit hole for hours. Here are the best ways to figure out where to disperse all those extra points and miles in 2018 — with extra wisdom from our TPG Lounge on Facebook.
1. See where your points can take you
This one might seem obvious to TPG diehards, but it’s also the most important!
Michael A. scopes out TPG for ideas, then says, “I determine feasibility by seeing United and Hilton award availability. If everything aligns, I book!”
2. Follow sites with advice and keep a running list
You’re already on TPG (yay!) and we’re happy to highlight everything from destinations to hit to restaurants to try. Consistently following a few sites will make you aware of trending places (if that’s your thing), even if you’re not planning a trip for the immediate future. Try keeping a running list of places you hear about that you want to go. If you find yourself with extra time on your hands because (god forbid) you're suddenly laid off or uncover a few extra vacation days, you won’t have to waste time researching where to go. You’ll already know.
3. Ask the most well-traveled people you know
Instead of swiping past their gorgeous photos on Instagram and cursing them under your breath, turn all that useless envy into action — ask other people for advice. Instagram influencers sometimes respond to every comment (all the better to grow their follow count) or will chat over direct message, so if you have a specific question and want their advice, don’t be shy.
4. Pick an event to attend (not a destination)
Food bashes, film and music festivals, or TED-style conferences can inspire trips to far-flung places. One added bonus? You won’t have to decide what to do when you get there — that part’s all planned.
Take some advice from Kevin W.: “I usually follow the music festivals! When I went to Croatia last year, I had no thoughts about going there until I decided to go to Ultra Europe.”
Or Grant G.: “Most of my travels are domestic, but I plan my trips around concerts and music festivals, and always add a day or so to explore whatever city I’m in.”
5. Do something sporty
If you don’t want to bask in the sun at Coachella, why not bask in the sun during 13.1 miles? There are half marathons, marathons, and cycling tours all across the country. Tracy Y. packs her best shoes: “One of the most fun forms of inspiration I use is the Rock n Roll Marathon and Half Marathon site. I go to cities I haven’t been before for a 4-day weekend and walk a half marathon. It’s a fun way to take a walking tour of a new city (if you don’t mind walking 13.1 miles).”
6. Look at flight deals first
Most people think in reverse — they pick a destination, then find a flight. But if you keep an eye on non-stop flight deals and alerts, you can snag tickets to a place you had never even dreamed of visiting. Says Jan T.: “Some places wouldn't have crossed my mind until I'm surfing a travel site and see airfare and five nights at a killer all Inclusive and go "Hey, ever heard of Akumal? I guess we're going there next."
7. Tap into Google Flights
Or skip the flight deal middleman and go straight to the G-man. Yogi S. had great advice if your budget and flexibility take priority: “I go on Google Flights, type in the start location, what I can afford and search for all possible locations. I do this about once a week and depending on when I can get off work, I search again and book flights. Every week I find new inspirations for my future visits.”
8. Corral your friends
If your own ideas are feeling a little stale, tap into the collective hive mind of your friends and encourage each other to book a flight deal ASAP.
Love this from Wanda M.: “I have a group of eight friends that travel together. We never have a plan. When we find a flight deal, we sent out a notice and book. I wasn't able to go on the last trip but they flew to Cambodia r/t for $400 from NYC.”
9. Consider time sensitivity
If you have too many places to go and feel like there’s not enough time in the world, it’s time to jump on the most urgent plans. Heidi S. has been trying to prioritize and is looking at “places I’m worried won’t be around much longer b/c of climate change; places that are rapidly changing & won’t have the same vibe; & experiences I’m worried I won’t have the energy for (or fun travel buddies!) later in life.”
10. Use your social accounts wisely
Facebook and Instagram practically ooze with beautiful beach photos. They’re a great way to gather info and ideas well before planning anything. And don’t deny the power of Pinterest. Rick M. saw the light: “We went to Prague and Budapest because my wife saw a photo of Prague on Pinterest and asked, ‘Is this photo real?’ It was a beautiful shot, and Prague lived up to it!”
11. Try to escape the weather
Why not just follow the sun? Winter’s apparently gonna last all year, so checking out the weather and randomly picking a destination that’s a few degrees warmer sounds smart. Thanks to Stacy P. for the advice.
12. Steal from film, television, and books
Heading to the shooting location — or at least the similar region — of one of your favorite shows will not only assert your intense fandom, but give the show extra layers of depth before you watch the next season.
Or your reality can take a cue from reality TV. Alex V. gets ideas from watching House Hunters International, which captures the spirit of a place — not to mention three homes you might imagine yourself living in.
Emma M. also gets advice from places she’s read about in books: “The Historian quickly became one of my favorite books, so my next trip is going to be Istanbul and work my way up to Czech Republic through the East.”
13. Make friends with food
It’s truly the way to a city’s heart. In deciding where to go next, Jerry H. discovered, “Knowing what I want to eat and going to the birthplace of that dish is a big factor.”
14. Dream up an experience
Too often we get bogged down by country-hopping or city-dipping. What if instead you concentrated on a 360-degree view of what you’ll actually do when there?
Says Darcy F.: “My husband and I have a new rule: you must have an experience in mind as opposed to just a country. In other words, ‘I would like to visit Sydney to go to Reptile Park to see the free range Kangaroos,’ rather than, ‘I want to go to Australia.’ No more passport stamping without actual travel goals.”
15. Start a different kind of checklist
Rather than ticking off countries, are there other kinds of places to hit? Visiting all 50 states is a popular domestic goal, but this idea from Julie R. is also genius: “My husband and I made a plan to visit all 60 National Parks over the next 25 years. We will visit them when they are having big birthdays and we are two years into the idea.”
Now they can travel together — and have a built-in way to celebrate anniversaries and birthdays. We bow down. Or there’s Ainsley S.’s tactic: “My husband and I have a goal to play disc golf in every state in America. We have checked off 14 states so far.”
16. Throw a wild card
If you’ve got time on your hands, why not just show up at the airport? Here’s how David F. decides where to go next: “Wherever there are first class seats open and few people listed on stand by.” Or listen to this idea that’s not for the faint of heart, from Matthew D.: “At the end of the day, I open Google flights find the cheapest spot on the map rush to the airport an hour later and hop on with 15 minutes to spare.”
Finally, you could quite literally throw a wild card like Matt M., who has one solid piece of advice for choosing your next destination: “Throw darts at a map."
Now there’s no excuse not to know where you’re going next.
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Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.