Top 10 Things to Consider When Choosing a Sabbatical Destination
Source: KungPaoCajun at flickr
Making the decision to go away for an extended period can be easy. And you may already have the money required and time off work approved. So how do you decide WHERE you want to go? The following is my list:
1. A place where communication will not be too much of a problem
English speakers always have a bit of an advantage when travelling to far off places – people often speak a bit of English almost everywhere. Even so, it is often not difficult to get along in French or Spanish speaking countries because many words are similar to their English counterparts. Going to a country with a different alphabet, such as Greece, Russia, or Japan bring an added level of communication problems with taxi drivers, restaurants, and shops.
2. A place far enough away from the hot tourist spots, but not too far
When visiting some place new, I tend to try to get a hotel right in the middle of the tourist spot. In Barcelona, I got a hotel right on La Rambla. In Venice, it was 4 steps from Saint Mark’s Square. In Manila, it was within a short walk from Shoe Mart Mega Mall. That’s fine for 2 or 3 nights stay. But that’s precisely where you do NOT want to be on a sabbatical. Instead, find a nice villa or apartment 10 or 15 minutes away from town. Be away from the noise and the crowds, and find a tranquil spot. But don’t take this to the extreme and find yourself an hour away from town.
3. An affordable place
Obviously costs are relative. Someone coming from Japan to the United States might find the prices quite a bargain. But someone coming from Uruguay might be astounded at what an American would pay for dinner. It’s all relative. But all else being equal, you should look for somewhere affordable to you. There’s no sense spending your entire annual salary on a one month vacation to the finest places of Italy. You will not enjoy it, and it’s just crazy. Better to find a small town where renting places are cheaper, and food and entertainment are reasonable. But still feel free to treat yourself to a nice meal at El Bulli. Once in a lifetime experiences are exempt.
4. A place where the weather will not get in the way of enjoyment
It’s all well and good to go some place hot. But there IS such a thing as too hot. Avoid tourist visits to northern Africa in the summer. And avoid visiting Sweden in the winter. Unless that’s the purpose of your visit. But there’s no sense going somewhere where the weather is extreme in either direction if you’d like to relax and enjoy yourself.
5. A place close to your own interests
Some people are into ancient history – 500 year old buildings, 1000 year old churches, and 1500 year old civilizations. Some people are into modern art and need more than one day to see Musee d’Orsay in Paris. Planning your trip so that you get to see places like that makes perfect sense.
Or perhaps you love the thought of a beach vacation, swimming, sailing, and snokerelling. Do your research in advance so that the place you’re going to on your sabbatical matches the type of person you are.
6. A safe place
Sad to say, there are a few places in this world most of us will not get to see. There is perpetual political and civil unrest that prevents me from likely ever seeing Israel, Iraq, Iran, and North Korea. Many Americans will never visit Cuba – a nation only 50 miles off its coast. There are also some South and Central American countries where it’s unsafe for tourists to explore. Even Russia can be dangerous. Heck, sometimes Mexico is too.
Be sure the place you are visiting doesn’t pose any undue risks to yourself. You don’t want to be that person who the jungle terrorists have decided to kidnap to try to use as a bargaining chip. That rarely ends well.
7. A fun place
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Make sure your sabbatical includes the possibility of some fun – whether it’s watching a legendary Formula One car race, or participating in a legendary World Series of Poker tournament.
8. A place with good food
Food plays a big role in many people’s lives. Certainly some people simply eat only because they have to, but most of us have a favorite food such as pizza, pasta, souvlaki, or noodles. Why not incorporate food into your vacation? While in Japan, make sure you visit some of the most highly recommended sushi bars. Or even take a sushi cooking class! While in Italy, find some of the best local restaurants for pasta. Or get invited to a local’s home where you can sample how the locals eat! There are lots of ways you can incorporate good food into your trip. Stay away from McDonald’s while abroad as much as possible.
9. A place where you don’t have to go out to enjoy yourself
If you had to eat out for 3 meals a day, it would get expensive very quickly. Add in the time spent driving, gas, entrance fees to tourist destinations, shopping, and drinks at the bar and money will be flying out of your pocket on a daily basis. So why not make sure the place you choose to stay can easily accommodate you staying home sometimes. Having a kitchen helps, as does a television and/or DVD player. Your own pool, and a place in the garden to curl up and read a book. Part of the joy of an extended vacation is taking it easy. And you need a good place to do that.
10. A place you have never been before
Lastly, it may be easiest to go to Florida for the 22nd time, or to just rent a cottage a couple of hours north of home. But why not take the opportunity to check another place off your bucket list and go some place new. There’s no harm in having a place you’d like to come back to, but some of the best experiences come from discovering some place new.
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