How to Choose the Right Holiday Destination

Start with how you want your holiday to feel

Before thinking about destinations, think about the holiday itself.

Do you picture yourself switching off beside a pool with a book? Exploring somewhere new every day? Wandering through a city with no particular plan? Or perhaps you want a bit of everything?

This is often a much better starting point than choosing a country first.

Think about whether your ideal trip is:

• relaxing or action-packed
• beach-based or focused on exploring
• lively or peaceful
• familiar or somewhere completely new
• adults-only or family-friendly
• resort-based or somewhere you can easily get out and about

Once you know how you want the holiday to feel, the list of suitable destinations becomes much easier to narrow down.

Think about the weather you actually want

"Somewhere hot" can mean very different things.

Some people love temperatures in the 30s, while others would much rather have warm days around 22°C to 25°C. Humidity, rainfall and cooler evenings can matter just as much as the headline temperature.

The time of year also makes a huge difference. A destination that's perfect in May might feel completely different in August or December.

If you're looking to escape the colder months, have a look at our Where to Find Winter Sun guide for some ideas.

How long are you happy to spend getting there?

It's easy to fall in love with a destination online without considering the journey.

For a seven-night holiday, you might prefer somewhere within four or five hours of Scotland. For two weeks, a longer flight to the Caribbean, Asia or elsewhere might feel much more worthwhile.

And don't just consider the flying time. Airport connections, transfers and ferry journeys can all add to the travel day.

Sometimes the best destination isn't the most exotic one. It's the one that gives you the best balance between travelling and actually being on holiday.

Be realistic about your budget

Rather than simply asking, "Where can I go for £X?", think about what you want that budget to include.

A lower-priced hotel isn't necessarily better value if you're then spending considerably more on meals, drinks and transport while you're away.

Likewise, an all-inclusive holiday might initially look more expensive but could give you much more certainty over the overall cost of the trip.

Flights, baggage, transfers, room type, board basis and location can all make a significant difference to the final price.

The aim shouldn't necessarily be to find the cheapest holiday, but to find the best holiday for your budget.

Choose the right board basis

Your hotel isn't just somewhere to sleep, particularly if you're planning a relaxing resort holiday.

All-inclusive can be ideal if you want to relax without thinking too much about what you're spending once you arrive.

Half board can work brilliantly if you like having breakfast and dinner taken care of but want the freedom to explore during the day.

Bed and breakfast gives you even more flexibility, particularly in destinations with plenty of restaurants nearby.

Self-catering can be great for families, longer stays or anyone who enjoys having their own space and flexibility.

There isn't a universally "best" option. It depends on how you like to holiday.

Think about location, not just the hotel

You've found a gorgeous hotel with fantastic reviews. Perfect?

Possibly, but check where it actually is.

If you love trying local restaurants and wandering around in the evening, a beautiful isolated resort might not suit you. Equally, if your idea of heaven is spending a week doing very little, being right in the middle of a busy resort could be exactly what you don't want.

A slightly less impressive hotel in the right location can sometimes result in a much better holiday.

Who are you travelling with?

The perfect holiday for a couple isn't necessarily the perfect holiday for a family or a group of friends.

For couples, an adults-only hotel or smaller boutique property might be ideal. Families may prioritise pools, kids' clubs, entertainment and convenient room arrangements. Groups might care more about nightlife, restaurants and having plenty to do.

If you're travelling with other people, work out everyone's non-negotiables before you start searching.

It can save a lot of WhatsApp messages later!

Don't automatically go where you've always gone

There's absolutely nothing wrong with returning somewhere you love.

But if you're choosing the same destination simply because you don't know where else to go, it might be worth looking at alternatives.

Love the Canary Islands? Perhaps Madeira or Cape Verde could offer something different.

Usually holiday in mainland Spain? Maybe Mallorca, Menorca, Portugal or one of the Greek islands would suit you just as well.

Sometimes understanding why you love a particular destination makes it much easier to find somewhere new with similar qualities.

You don't need to know where you want to go

This is probably the most important bit.

You don't need to come to Port & Place with a destination, hotel and flight already picked out.

In fact, helping narrow down the options is part of what we're here for.

Tell us things like:

"We want somewhere warm in October, flying from Glasgow, preferably adults-only, with a nice beach and some restaurants nearby."

That's enough to get started.

We can then look at the destinations and holiday options that actually fit what you're looking for, rather than presenting you with hundreds of search results to work through yourself.

Still not sure where to go?

Sometimes the best holidays start without a destination in mind.

Tell us when you'd like to travel, who's going, your approximate budget and what your ideal holiday looks like. We'll help you narrow down the possibilities and find somewhere that feels right for you.