Maybe you have always dreamed of lounging on the deck of an overwater bungalow. Maybe you fell in love with Greece when you saw a postcard picture of Santorini. Maybe a trip to Uluru in Australia has been on your bucket list. Maybe you watched Stanley Tucci eating his way through Italy. Whatever your inspiration for travel, choosing your next destination is the first step.

I have been fortunate to do a little bit of travel over the past 30 years. In addition to North America (USA, Mexico, Canada) I have traveled to Venezuela, Tahiti, Australia, Greece, and Italy. With the exception of the trip to Venezuela, which was a travel package, I have planned all of the trips myself.

If you don’t want to do your own travel planning, there are many guided tours that you can take to different parts of the world. I have never been on a guided tour so I can’t speak to their value. I like being able to set my own schedule and itinerary. I am not a fan of getting on and off a bus and changing locations every day or two.

I am someone who never learned to speak a foreign language. I tried a few times, but my brain could not grasp it. When I choose a travel destination, I try to choose one where I know that I can get by with only a few words of the local language and count on most people speaking a bit of English. In most European countries, some English is spoken in the areas frequented by tourists. It is much easier to plan your own trip if you don’t have a language barrier.

Italy is my favorite travel destination for several reasons. On my first trip to Italy, I was drawn there by the history and the art. The reasons I return to Italy are the friendly people and the ease of traveling in Italy. Rarely have I been in a situation where I could not communicate. The few times it happened I was in a small shop, and I was able to communicate through sign language, a few words, and lots of laughter.

Ease of traveling through a country includes being able to communicate so that you can find your way around. I also choose a country that has good transportation options between cities. Most of Europe has an excellent rail system that is easy to use. In Australia, it is a long distance between cities, so air travel is the best option. If you visit a South Pacific Island nation like Tahiti, your transportation between islands can be by air or sea.

Before you finalize your destination, go to the library or bookstore and find some guidebooks for that area. I read Rick Steves and Fodor’s guidebooks for an overall picture of an area. You can also find lots of information on the Rick Steves travel website and on Trip Advisor web site. Watch some you tube videos about your potential destinations. The more you research your trip, the better your experience will be.