How to be more adventurous with holidays?

[snoppe]

I have a bit of a first world problem where I end up booking the same type of holiday time and time again. I just love Barbados. I go every year maybe twice if I’m lucky.

Whilst it’s fab, I also know there’s so much in the world to see! How do I get myself to book something adventurous instead?

We did a trip to Thailand recently and stayed in a 5* hotel, did some sight seeing. Whilst it was great I just didn’t get that “wow” feeling or comfort I get from Barbadoes.

Why go anywhere else just because you think you should? If you are happy there and you feel better for having been there, then carry on going there.

This really doesn’t sound like a problem. I know many people who prefer to holiday in the same place every year. Why not do what you enjoy?

Agreed. Just admit to yourself that you will only ever go on holidays to Barbados, and make peace with being predictable, rather than ‘adventurous’.

It’s great that people are so different. I thought Barbados was one of the dullest places I’ve ever been.

I usually base my holiday destinations around particular sightseeing opportunities that I become inspired to visit, perhaps by reading about something or seeing photos. Then I research the area a bit more to decide whether it will be what I'm looking for generally. So it's quite random sometimes.
I usually don't stay in big resort hotels because I don't like to spend much time in them. If you like going to the same place all the time then there isn't anything wrong with that, but I'm sure there must be lots of places with a 'wow factor' the same as Barbados (I've never been), so you could just look for something similar but in a different place to start with?

I’m going to be that person and suggest you consider some ferry/driving/train holidays in Europe to reduce your carbon impact from all that flying 😬 (And there are some truly ‘wow’ places to see in Europe).

But environmental concerns aside, where you holiday is your business. If you weren’t wowed by Thailand, maybe just stick to what you know you like.

Yes, this. We go to Bilbao because we want to see the Guggenheim, we go to Florence because we want to see the Duomo and statue of David. I think if you are going to relax and for the beach then you don't really need to be changing location. I am kind of assuming you are doing very limited sightseeing in Barbados if you go back time and time again. In any case I can imagine Thailand takes a bit of cultural adjustment, Bangkok is definitely more hectic than Bridgetown. It sounds like Fiji or Tahiti would be more your thing, but really hard to get to from the UK.

If for some reason you were suddenly unable to travel for the rest of your life, what would you regret not having done? If nothing, keep on with Barbados.

Could you recommend a 5 star hotel in Barbados for a family with a 5 and 7 year old? Would love to spend loads of time by the pool and beach but also walk out for dinner if need be. Doesn't have to be all inclusive. Thank you!

It’s a personal preference thing, i prefer adventure and have got a little obsessed with adding to my Been app. Just booked Cambodia.

I will have gone to about 55 countries by the end of this year, some very obscure. If I go out to eat, I eat the exact same thing every time. I'm happy with both choices.

If you get a WOW and comfort from Barbados every time, go to Barbados. Why on earth (pun intended) would you spend so much money not being happy?

Look at exodus holudsys . Trailfinders safari adventures. Intrepid. G adventures. Companiez where advenrlture is arranged for you.
Does reading the blurbs and itineraries make you excited ? Or make you think nah i love my week in barbados. Is your life your money your holiday

I reckon you should start a fresh thread @Mumplestiltskin. This thread is old anyway and the OP never came back after posting their question.

Just start your own thread in the Holidays section and you’ll hopefully get a decent number of replies.

I had a so called friend telling me she was a traveller and I was a tourist as we like 5* luxury and she stays in hostels. Whatever. Do what makes you happy not what you think you should.

@snoppe We are adventurous but stay in lovely places! If you are not interested in the world around you, you are just not. It’s obviously your personality and it’s “you”.

I’ve always been interested in seeing wonderful places and doing a variety of things and you can do that in style. I’ve substantial memories of great places and cultural ways of life I’ve witnessed and I don’t slum it!

Barbados has its charms but we like wildlife holidays, historic places, amazing geographical features and landscapes and I love top class museums. I love art, culture and discovering great restaurants. I’ve been to various Caribbean Islands and can certainly recommend some others which are wonderful - to ring the changes! We spend a lot on holidays though but I like variety and I find “wow” in many places and activities. But that’s me and not you. You seem content with a single destination - I would not be.

If you still get a wow feeling out of visiting Barbados, why do you need to be more adventurous?

Is there something that you feel you’re missing, or is there a travel companion who wants to branch out a bit more?

I think it’s fine to keep going back to somewhere that you know you like as long as everybody in the travel party is on board with that. I go back to Japan again and again for various reasons.

That must be so limiting for you and your travel companions!

What do you eat that you can find in every single one of those 55 countries? Chips? 🤔

Well it’s not even seeing any other Caribbean island and there’s so many more! The BVIs are great. The USVIs have one or two great islands: St John has amazing beaches if you hire a car. What about St Vincent and the Grenadines? There are gems of islands like BequIa and St Barths. It’s a shame to limit yourself to one island.