My Favourite 7 Elements To Make Your Trip Amazing!
Planning a great trip is like cooking! You need some basic ingredients to make a delicious dish or in this case, an unforgettable trip! Add good company, some bucket-list experiences and a pinch of luck and you'll have an unforgettable time.
The 7 Essentials
I have 7 favourite elements that I would define as essential for having a great time on the road! As we all know, everyone is different. What I believe is a good time, might not necessarily mean it’s a good time for you! I am confident though that you can always pick some of those 7 elements to make your travel experience unforgettable – no matter where you are going to and what you like in life! If you agree with at least some of the below you are on the perfect Slow Trail!
#1 - Road Trips
I love driving and I don’t care what I drive as long as it has four wheels. Camper van holidays in Australia, 4×4 trips in Africa or driving around Italy in a small car – sounds like heaven to me! I think having your own vehicle is the best way to explore a new country. It enables you to see things you might miss otherwise plus it gives you the freedom to be the captain of your destiny. Don’t let driving in a foreign country scare you, it isn’t as complicated as it seems. Just follow the other drivers.
Slow Travel purists might argue that you should use public transport, but I think being able to go where you want, when you want and how far you want brings immeasurable freedom!
# 2 - Food & Wine
Nothing brings you closer to a place and it’s locals than food! And – lucky me – there are very few dishes on this planet that I don’t like. Getting to a destination that is well-known for its outstanding food is always a winner. I believe in a good balance between treating yourself and staying grounded. Often the best food found is street food or in the cheap local restaurants. Food is as much an attraction when travelling as historical buildings or nature’s miracles.
I love cooking nearly as much as eating! Especially when travelling for longer I enjoy having a kitchen to try out local delicacies or to just have a good home-cooked meal.
#3 - A great view with a cool beverage
Let’s stay in the indulgence zone for a moment! I believe an essential must-do for any good travel experience is finding a spot with a great view and enjoying it with a beverage of your choice! The best thing is that you will find this everywhere you go. It can be a rooftop bar with great views, it can be the veranda of your accommodation, ideally a body of water to look out to or a vineyard with sweeping vistas over the country. The possibilities are endless and even the dullest place will have a corner with a half-decent view and a beverage to your liking! The perfect start or end to any day of exploration!
#4 - Walking/Hiking/Cycling
Those three activities rank high on my favourite-things-to-do-while-travelling list. It doesn’t have to be super intense exercise, just as much as you enjoy! For city trips especially, I always feel you only get to know the lay of the land by walking it. Some destinations are made to explore by bicycle – often simple old bikes, but hey – you are not there to ride the Tour de France. Some places you just need to hike to see them properly. You wouldn’t go to the Alps and not go hiking, right? There are plenty of great hiking spots all over the world, all it takes is a bit of research which one suits you best. Always just do as much as you enjoy and feel comfortable with! It’s not a competition, no one is watching! Most of the time you will get rewarded with the most stunning views and best experiences.
#5 - Boats
Honestly, boats of any sort get me excited! A 2-hour river cruise? I am game! A 5-day sailing trip? Where can I book my ticket? A champagne sunset cruise? I’ll have two, please! Kayaking, canoeing or even a swan-shaped paddleboat – I love them all and if the destination allows should be on any itinerary.
#6 - Unique Local Experiences
Now, this is a tricky one! If you find a good community project – be it a farm visit, a cooking class, a cycling tour to a local village, a social project that uplifts the community in whatever way – these experiences are some of the best to have. Unfortunately there a few that just chase the money or leave you feeling like an intruder. Therefore, choose these experiences wisely and do a bit of research around it! If you find a great project, it can be a life-changing experience that will stay with you forever.
#7 - Accommodation & Budgeting
Where to stay is usually the most important, but also the most expensive part of the entire trip. I generally believe that a good balance between frugal and treating yourself is a winning combination! Let’s have a closer look at this.
The cheaper the better?
Travel doesn’t have to be expensive, that is very true. There are many bloggers, vloggers and other travel experts who will be able to give you the best tips on how to travel with the least money. That’s not me. I believe to rather travel less or shorter but make it a worthwhile experience instead of having to pinch money at every corner. There should be a good balance between inexpensive, maybe a bit rustic and the big treat-yourself moments. When it comes to accommodation I feel it’s important that you stay comfortable, but make sure to have enough budget left to make it a memorable experience.
Keeping it real!
I often find staying in some of the less expensive hostels and smaller local guest houses are often the best experiences. Some countries give you more bang for your buck than others. Research it well to make sure you have the best experience. There is often a very thin line between affordable-with-a-great-experience and affordable-in-a-sad-midrange-hotel-that-kills-hopes-and-dreams. Make 100% sure you pick the former! If you get it right, this is where you get to know the host or you find like-minded travellers in an easy-going, communal environment. These are the times when you really connect to a place, meet great new people and come home with the best memories.
Treat yourself!
If you save a bit of money on accommodation here and there, the more special experiences and treat-yourself moments you can add to your itinerary without breaking the bank. Having saved a good chunk of money on accommodation in one place might enable you to stay for the next few nights at a once-in-a-lifetime kinda place! May it be a fancy hotel, a tented camp, a spa hotel… whatever makes you happy and your experience more memorable. Alternating between frugal and splashing out makes you appreciate the special moments so much more.
I hope that some of my elements of travel resonate with you and you’ll follow the Slow Trail Snail next time again.
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Thank you and until next time!
