We’ve decided it’s time for another extended adventure. With 10 weeks to explore—from mid-December to the end of February—where should we go?
As we begin this journey, I’m excited to share our planning process with you.
So – where do we begin?
Choosing our destinations!
First, we need to select our destinations, a task closely tied to our choice of transportation methods, especially at a higher level. I will explain why shortly.
Bikini and sunglasses, or jacket and mittens?
When selecting a destination, it’s essential to identify what you’re seeking. Are you drawn to warm weather and beaches, snow adventures and skiing, or vibrant cities and culture? In this instance, we aim to escape the dreary Danish winter, characterized by rain and gloom, and immerse ourselves in a warmer climate. Our perfect escape combines mountain and jungle treks, cultural encounters, beach lounging, snorkeling, and kayaking and is ideally sprinkled with unique culinary experiences.
When are we going?
Knowing when to travel is crucial, especially if you seek experiences influenced by seasons and holidays. We’ve chosen to embark on our journey during the Danish winter. Therefore, we’re targeting destinations with warm weather in December, January, and February. Being from Denmark, this usually requires traveling quite a distance, but with 10 weeks at our disposal, this won’t be an issue.
Where are we going?
Based on above we have options in Central or South America, Africa, Oceania, and South East Asia.
Over the past five years, we’ve made numerous trips to Central America with our daughters, particularly to Honduras, which holds a special place in our hearts. It’s also home to our friends and their daughter, my namesake Mia. (Stories from these adventures will be shared soon – I promise.) However, this time we’re eager to explore new destinations.
South America remains unexplored by us, but we’ve decided to visit when the girls are older. Many of our bucket list experiences there are better suited for when they are more mature.
Africa is an excellent destination for winter or Easter breaks, offering warmer climates with minimal time difference from Denmark. However, with a 10-week timeframe, this advantage is less significant. We would also like to avoid the “TIA”-factor on this trip. (Nonetheless, I will share our experiences traveling here and highlight the many benefits of heading south in an almost straight line, if you have just a week or two to spare).
Oceania and South East Asia
This time, we turn our attention to Oceania and Southeast Asia. Keep in mind that some destinations may be experiencing their “wet season” or monsoon period during this time, so it’s important to check ahead. While this isn’t necessarily a dealbreaker—I’ve often traveled during the wet season—it can bring high humidity and heat or daily heavy rains. However, it rarely rains continuously.
New Zealand is another place that holds a very special place in my heart, as it was my first significant adventure outside of Europe. It feels essential to include New Zealand as a destination on this trip. We’ve visited with our girls before (ages 3 years and 3 months at the time), and it was Jonathan’s first trip to NZ at the time as well. He was amazed and still believes it’s the best place he’s ever visited—I can’t help but agree. (I’ll share more about this in my story about our past adventure to NZ. For now, it seems we have at least one destination decided.)
Getting there!
At this point, transportation methods and travel routes can influence the choice of destinations. Some locations are better connected by flights, ferries, trains, and other means, significantly impacting both cost and travel times.
Next step
Having chosen a general region, at least one specific destination, the time of year, and the duration of our travels, we can now explore possible transportation options across various locations. By identifying patterns that make sense, we can make more detailed decisions on destinations. Normally, I can get “lost” in this part of the process for quite a while, but I’ll keep you updated on our progress.
Stay tuned….
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