There’s a question I get asked more than almost any other, and it usually goes something like this: “I want to travel but I don’t know where to go.” And my answer is always the same. Before you pick a destination, figure out who you are as a traveller first.
Because here’s the thing. Travel isn’t one-size-fits-all. The friend who posts dreamy infinity pool photos from Santorini and the friend who shows up sunburned and euphoric after hiking Patagonia are both having the time of their lives. They’ve just worked out what makes them tick. The secret to an unforgettable trip isn’t finding the most Instagrammable destination; it’s finding the right destination for you.
So let’s break it down.
The Luxury Seeker: You Want to Be Looked After
You work hard, and when you travel, you want to feel it. You’re not cutting corners on thread counts, you appreciate a well-crafted itinerary, and the idea of a private transfer from the airport doesn’t seem remotely indulgent. It just seems sensible.
For you, the destination needs to match the standard of the experience. That means cities with serious cultural depth, world-class restaurants, and discreet, attentive service baked into every interaction.
Zurich ticks every single one of those boxes. It’s a city that’s quietly exceptional, with breathtaking lake views, an art scene that punches well above its weight, and access to the Swiss Alps on your doorstep. It’s also a city that rewards having a knowledgeable guide in your corner. If you want to experience it properly rather than just skimming the surface, luxury tours in Zurich can open doors that most visitors simply never find, offering private access, curated experiences, and the kind of insider knowledge that turns a great trip into an extraordinary one.
The Villa Holiday Crowd: You Want Space, Sun and to Actually Relax
You love travel, but your idea of a perfect trip involves a private terrace, a pool you don’t have to share with strangers, a well-stocked kitchen, and absolutely nobody waking you up for a 7am breakfast buffet.
Villa holidays have quietly become the gold standard for this kind of traveller, and Cyprus has become one of Europe’s most compelling destinations for it. The island has everything: over 300 days of sunshine a year, genuinely beautiful coastline, a fascinating mix of Greek and Middle Eastern culture, and a food scene built around long, lazy meals. If you’re considering a villa base for your next Mediterranean escape, villas in Cyprus to rent range from boutique hilltop retreats to sprawling beachside properties, the kind of places that make you forget you ever considered a hotel.
The Adventure Traveller: You Want a Story to Tell
You’re not interested in the tourist trail, you measure a good trip by how many times your heart rate spiked, and you’d rather eat at a roadside stall than a restaurant with a dress code. You want to come home with a story, preferably one that starts with “you won’t believe what happened.”
The good news is the world is absolutely full of destinations designed for you. Norway delivers dramatic fjords and off-beat adventures that most guidebooks skim over (we’ve covered some brilliant ones over on Wanderlusters, check out 7 Off Beat Active Adventures in Norway). Spain has a wild interior that barely registers on most visitors’ radars. Japan offers experiences so remote and extraordinary that they defy easy description.
The key for adventure travellers is to look slightly sideways from the obvious. The best experiences are almost always just off the beaten path.
The Culture Vulture: You Want to Come Home Feeling Smarter
You plan your trips around museum opening times. You do your reading before you arrive, you’ll happily spend an entire afternoon in a single gallery, and your trip highlights are as likely to be a conversation with a local as any landmark.
For you, cities with genuine depth are where it’s at. Places like Kyoto, Istanbul, Lisbon, or Tbilisi that have accumulated centuries of stories. But don’t overlook smaller destinations either. Some of the most culturally rich experiences come from places that don’t make the cover of travel magazines: hidden monasteries, living traditions, food cultures that haven’t been smoothed down for tourists.
The Family Traveller: You Need It to Work for Everyone
Your holiday planning involves a spreadsheet, a group chat, at least three conflicting opinions, and someone who will only eat plain pasta. The destination needs to deliver on multiple levels simultaneously, with activities for the kids, decent food for the adults, and ideally a beach within a reasonable distance of everything.
Cyprus, mentioned above for villa travellers, is actually a brilliant family destination for exactly these reasons. It’s safe, easy to navigate, English is widely spoken, and the combination of beaches, history and good food means everyone gets something. A private villa rental takes the logistical pressure off entirely.
The Slow Traveller: You Want to Actually Live Somewhere for a While
You’re done with five-cities-in-seven-days itineraries. You want to find a neighbourhood café that knows your order, learn a few words of the local language, and actually feel what it’s like to inhabit a place rather than pass through it.
This style of travel is having a genuine moment right now, and for good reason. Places like the Azores, rural Portugal, northern Thailand and the lesser-known Greek islands reward extended stays in a way that two-night stopovers simply can’t. Pair this with a house sit, something we’re big fans of here at Wanderlusters, and you can slow travel on a fraction of the usual budget.
Finding Your Type
The best trips start with self-knowledge. Are you the person who wants to be looked after, or the one who wants to be challenged? Do you need the pool to yourself, or are you happiest with a backpack and a bus timetable?
There’s no wrong answer, and plenty of travellers are a glorious mix of several of the above depending on the trip, the season, or frankly, the mood. The world is full of destinations that do extraordinary things for the right kind of traveller. Your job is simply to work out which one you are.
Ready to narrow it down? Browse our Destinations section for inspiration across every corner of the globe.