Chapter One: Defining Your Perfect Narrative: What Do You Want Most Out of Your Vacation?

It’s important to note that there is no single perfect vacation out there, but one that is perfect for you. This might mean that more than one vacation you take in your lifetime can be perfect. What makes a vacation perfect? It gives you exactly what you wanted or needed most in that moment. Some trips may be adrenaline filled and fast paced, allowing you to get in as many activities and as much excitement as possible. Others, they might be relaxing somewhere with the stack of books you’ve been telling yourself that you’re going to read soon, but you haven’t yet, and somehow they just keep multiplying.

People frequently go into trip planning with a general idea of what they want, but would you be surprised to know that many people don’t actually want the vacation they initially believed they did? Think about the best vacation you’ve ever taken. What made it special? What parts of it can you still recall the most? It’s easy to want to pack in as many opportunities and experiences into your trip as possible, but if your favorite vacation included unscheduled days that allowed you to wander and explore, then filling your itinerary completely full is the wrong choice.

Whatever kind of vacation you choose, you deserve to get exactly what you want.

Ask yourself what you want most. Is it to relax, to explore, to immerse yourself in culture, to bring out your inner foodie, to live your BookTok or BookStagram fantasy come to life? Whatever it is - make sure it is the main focus of your planning. Even if life throws you a plot twist, you’ll still be able to say it was a perfect trip.