Destination research is a necessary step for travel. Only some people are into research, and I get it. That is why there are travel agents and people who offer services to research various destinations. I enjoy research, so this is how I do it. This research advice mainly focuses on city travel because that is what I do the most, and the advice is at a high level.
Do I need a Visa or other travel documentation besides my passport? This is a big one, and I find it better to research this a bit in advance instead of waiting until the last minute. For example, I need a visa to visit Australia but don’t need one for the UK. There are lots of places to look up this information. Most countries have pages that explain this. So if you want to visit Canada, for example, see the Government of Canada’s Visa page.
What places do you want to visit? If you plan to visit a city or more than one, the most important thing is to ask what you want to experience. If you are okay with no plans, then that is great. Personally, with my ADHD, having no idea of what I am doing ends up wasting lots of time. Some examples of questions to ask yourself are:
- Do I want to see historical sites?
- Am I interested in seeing museums?
- Does the nightlife of a location interest me?
- Are there tours available?
- Am I interested in the cuisine of the area I am visiting?
Have a general idea of what you want to do. Once you have an idea or are unsure, there are many places to find information. The first places I check are usually the tourism sites for the country and city I am visiting. I also check places like TripAdvisor to read reviews. If tours interest you, sites like Viator, GetYourGuide, or Airbnb Experiences may be good places to start your search.
Based on the number of things you would like to do, figure out how many days you would like to stay there before moving on to the next city. If you don’t feel like moving around too much, then check to see what day trips or tours are available from the city you are staying.
Safety First. I think it’s essential to research the safety of the city you are visiting. Make sure to read other travellers’ experiences or do online research. Some cities aren’t safe to walk in when you get outside of the tourist area. Plus, researching this helps you find good locations in the city to stay.
What about my diet? This is something that people may overlook when travelling to a new place. I usually search for dietary requirements, and typically, I can find a list of suitable options. Remember that some countries may offer fewer options than you get in your country, so buying food at a local grocery may be in your best interest. Here are some example questions to ask while doing your research:
- Are there gluten-free options available?
- What is the most common base for their food? (For example, in Japan, lots of broth is pork based.)
- Are there vegetarian options available?
- Are there vegan options available?
How are you getting around? This is very important to think about. I never rent a car when I travel unless I am going to visit family and I know the area. New sites easily distract me, and driving would not be in my best interest. My focus in this section is on public transportation and walking.
First off, public transportation does have its benefits if you are staying within a city. Many cities offer day or multi-day passes for tourists. A bonus to buying these passes is that they sometimes have discounts that accompany the pass purchase. An example of this is the Belfast Visitor Pass. Other countries might have offers only available for tourists if they pre-purchase before they arrive, like the Japan Rail Pass, which is cheaper to buy outside of Japan than if you paid for tickets within Japan. Bigger cities usually have public transportation that also travels to other cities.
Walking is another option to get around. Many cities offer self-guided walking tours. Plus, many visitor centre websites or in-person locations have walking maps available for free. This is always a good option as you can stop wherever you want if you see something interesting, plus you don’t have to worry about remembering which transit stop you need. If you are unsure about walking, I recommend taking a walking tour on the first day to check out the city and possibly note places you would like to visit on your own.
Where am I going to stay? Where you plan to stay is very important. I know many people who do little research on this and then stay in some not-so-savoury locations or are far from any transportation. Online research pays off when checking out accommodations. Sites like TripAdvisor and Expedia have customer reviews. Some questions to ask when choosing a location, if any of these apply to you:
- Are shuttles to the airport or city centre available?
- Are there kitchenettes available?
- Is there a safe in the room?
- Are there meals included?
- Is it close to public transportation?
- Does it offer parking on-site?
- Is it adult-only?
- Is it close to restaurants or grocery stores?
- Is there any construction going on at the accommodation or nearby?
Not asking some of these questions in the past has gotten me in trouble, especially regarding the location and construction questions.
Well, that is my research advice for planning your trip at a very high level. I hope some of this helped. Next up will be how to arrange travel to your destination. If you have some travel tips for those of us with ADHD or even places you enjoyed visiting, please share them in the comments.