How to decide the next destination in a world with so many options
A destination can be chosen based on the unexpected, but you must consider some factors, such as price and distance
“How do you decide where to visit next”, asked
to in a recentl edition.This topic is so interesting that I decided to write about, too. First I will share my brief conversation with Samantha and Tom in the commentaries.
Samantha, great answer on how to decide your next trip. Once we know it's impossible to visit the whole world, we need to develop some techniques. In my case, I choose based on: distance, price, if it needs visa or not, but there are some unpredictable things such as a friend's invitation, a rare flight fare discount and even an abruptly desire after reading something spetacular about the destination.
All very practical considerations! I actually think when we take that sort of approach--going wherever makes the most sense at the time as opposed to our "dream destinations"--we're more likely to discover interesting places that weren't necessarily on our radar (and we're less likely to be let down because we've built a place up in our head!).
Reading something about somewhere is a big pull for me too - I'm going to Morocco mainly because of books!
I've already discussed the Netflix dilemma in this newsletter. When we have too many options, we find it harder to choose. It's not easy to pick the next destination in a world where all you need is to find a cheap ticket, figure out which month fits better, find an Airbnb within budget, and, voilà, any destination could be next.
In this edition, I'll explore the items I discussed with Tom and Samantha that will determine my next destination.
Price
It's always the determining factor. I earn in reais, a currency with little value, so going to destinations in dollars, euros, or pounds is more complicated. Last year, I went to Europe twice (once in March and again in November) and spent about €3,000 each time. Ideally, I should have gone only once, to pay for just two flights instead of four.
The second trip was a gift to myself. I wanted to visit Italy before ending my first nomadic year. I didn't have any particular reason, just the desire. If I had stayed in Brazil, instead of spending €6,000 in those two months, I would have spent a little less than €4,000.
These extra €2,000 had a consequence: in 2024, I'll hardly be able to return to Europe, except if I manage to find some good extra source of income, which is not currently on my horizon.
We have to be nomads within our reality. Therefore, in 2024, I should focus on Brazil and Latin America, which are much more accessible to my budget. I've already been to Montevideo in January, and I'm going to Santiago in April. Bogotá, Mexico City, Belo Horizonte, and Recife are some destinations in mind.
This doesn't mean that all destinations in this region are cheap. The city where I come from, São Paulo, is expensive, and every time I go there I struggle to find Airbnbs with good cost-benefit. Montevideo, then, was a shock. The supermarket in Rome was cheaper. Everything in the Uruguayan capital was extremely expensive.
Distance
Distance is somewhat related to price. In theory, closer places are cheaper. But that's not always true, especially within Brazil. It's increasingly common to see cheaper flights to Latin American countries than domestic flights. This was decisive in choosing Santiago in April. I paid US$175 for the round-trip ticket. I plan to take my mom to the Brazilian Northeast, and I can only find something for US$ 250.
Visa
Not needing a visa is a significant advantage, so I only chose countries with this option. I consider keeping this for a long time. I'm pursuing Italian citizenship, which would further increase the list of visa-free countries and allow me to stay in European territory for more than three months (if the budget allows).
Friend
A destination can be chosen based on unexpected invitations. That's what happened with my trip to Buenos Aires last September. A friend wanted to improve his Spanish and, inspired by my travels, decided to spend two months there. Despite working remotely for years, he had never done anything like it. So, he decided to invite me. It was great. We had to adapt in some aspects, but the experience strengthened our friendship. I recommend it.
And that's what's going to happen to me soon. A friend wrote to me in January asking about my plans for June. I hadn't decided anything yet, and I immediately accepted the invitation to spend a month for free at her parents' house in Florianópolis on the condition of providing water, food, and care for their cat.
Discount
An advantage of this nomadic life and remote work is being able to buy tickets on sale without fear of the unknown. Once the date is set, just rent accommodation and plan out the other aspects of life. Chile in April was a bit like this. I wanted to visit the country soon, but not immediately. When I saw the ticket for US$175, I bought it instantly.
Reading
Sudden desires can arise after reading an article or watching a video. Ever since I read an article on the Bosque de Chapultepec in Mexico City on the first day of 2024, I've been eager to spend hours and hours there, contemplating nature and reading a book. A sudden desire also arose after my boss sent me a Reels video of a rooftop pool in Bangkok for only US$750. That's what I pay for a tiny space in São Paulo. Compelling. Soon, I hope to share these experiences with you in this newsletter.
Extra
It's no use reconciling all the above items and going to a place you don't want to go. If you're a person who loves big cities, like me, spending two months on a deserted beach can be horrendous. (It might still be a good experience, but take it easy and start with a shorter period.) So, I have a list of destinations I want to go to soon and fit them into these topics. Keep in mind that we'll have to make tough choices. Unfortunately, we can't be everywhere at the same time.
And you, how do you decide your next destination?
Thanks for the shout out in this Mateus!