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The Dos and Don’ts of Bucket List Travel Planning (Plus 20 Top Destinations)

senior couple on bucket list trip
Allianz - senior couple on bucket list trip

If you had just one year left on this planet, where would you most want to go?

That’s the key question to consider when putting together a travel bucket list. Life is short, and it’s essential to plan for joy—don’t just wait for it to come to you! These guidelines will help you figure out where to go and how to start making your dream trips a reality.

Do start planning your biggest bucket-list trips right now.

We tend to postpone our wildest travel dreams. In a few years, you think, you’ll have more money. In a few years, the kids will be older, or you’ll have more time off. But the future is never promised to us.

Identify the one or two most ambitious trips you want to take, and move them to the top of your list. You don’t have to leave next month, but you can move these dream trips closer to reality by nailing down a few specifics. When’s the best time to go? How much will it cost? How much time will you need?

Don’t go on a bucket-list trip you can’t afford.

We know we just told you to go ahead and take your big trip… but if you’re planning to put the whole thing on a credit card without a plan to pay it off quickly, don’t! Your bucket-list adventure could cost you way more than you planned. Let’s say you spend $10,000 on a week at a luxury resort in the Caribbean, and you pay for it with a credit card with a 20% APR. If you pay $500 toward that balance every month, it’ll take you more than two years to pay it off. Plus, you’ll pay more than $2,200 in interest, which is enough to take a whole second trip!

A better way to afford bucket-list travel: Start saving now. Set up an automatic monthly transfer to a high-yield savings account, or try a program that rounds up your purchases to the nearest dollar and puts the extra into savings. You can also try paying for your trip with travel reward points. Read more: A Beginner’s Guide to Scoring Travel Rewards Points

Don’t believe the hype.

You’re obsessed with a travel influencer’s account of traveling the American Southwest with her dogs in a vintage camper. The landscapes! The starry nights! Coffee over a campfire! This desert odyssey is at the top of your travel bucket list… until you do a little research. That’s when you learn that #vanlife can involve freezing nights, scorching days, and sometimes, a frantic search for a bathroom.

When planning bucket-list trips, it’s smart to interrogate your daydreams. Inspired by a photo of the Maldives? Read travel guides, talk to people who have been there, and make sure you want the full experience.

Do get your loved ones involved in bucket-list trip planning.

Walking the Camino de Santiago from France to northwest Spain has always been a dream of yours. When you mention it to your wife, she makes a face.  Walking for hundreds of miles and staying in hostels isn’t her idea of a good time. Sorry.

You don’t need to delete this dream trip from your list. But you should start thinking about whether you want to do it solo, or join a group, or find a buddy to accompany you. Ask friends and family: What’s on their travel bucket lists?

Do consider bucket-list travel destinations in the U.S.

Before you plan your dream international vacation, have you also included all the iconic places in the United States? People differ on the best bucket-list U.S. destinations. Many lists include Times Square, Walt Disney World, and Las Vegas, but we’d skip these overhyped spots. The U.S. is full of places that are truly breathtaking, from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Spend some time browsing our 63 national parks and see what calls your heart.

Do be mindful of the tourism pressures on your destination.

You’ve always dreamed of seeing the ecological wonders of the Galápagos Islands. Trouble is, millions of other people do too. And while tourism dollars support conservation efforts on the islands, the volume of visitors creates big problems: mountains of trash, new development, introduced pests, and pressures on wildlife.1

No one’s saying you can’t go to your long-dreamed bucket-list destination… but neither do you want to hurt a place you love. Consider  destination dupes: alternative travel destinations that offer a similar experience to highly touristed sites.

Do research the risks.

A destination on your travel bucket list may be threatened by political unrest, epidemics or environmental pressures—and if it is, you'll have to decide if you want to hurry up and travel there or wait and see. Sign up for the State Department's STEP program and review the latest travel alerts to stay informed. The  Allyz® TravelSmart app can also keep you updated on travel risks, plus connect you to 24-hour assistance (for Allianz Travel Insurance customers).

Do buy travel insurance.

Peace of mind is essential for any bucket-list vacation. Look for a plan with trip cancellation benefits (to safeguard the money you’ve spent) and emergency medical benefits (in case of a medical crisis overseas), as well as other benefits. Discover why more than 70 million American travelers each year trust Allianz Travel Insurance: See all our plan options and get a quote for your next trip.

Do find inspiration in this list of 20 top bucket-list destinations.

  1. Patagonia in Argentina and Chile for otherworldly landscapes
  2. New Orleans, Louisiana for mouthwatering food, legendary music and unique culture
  3. Glacier National Park for wilderness solitude and sunsets over Bowman Lake
  4. Kyoto, Japan for lovely temples, gardens, and cultural reverence
  5. The Greek islands for the Mediterranean seascapes and warm hospitality
  6. Machu Picchu, Peru for awe-inspiring ruins in the Andes
  7. Venice, Italy for romantic gondola rides and lavish architecture
  8. Istanbul, Turkey for history and East-meets-West cultural traditions stretching back 2,500 years
  9. Switzerland for some of the world’s most beautiful scenery (plus chocolate and cheese)
  10. Bhutan for Buddhist monasteries and the Himalayan mountains
  11. Cape Town, South Africa for candy-colored houses, penguins, and Cape Malay food
  12. New Zealand for outdoor adventure and Māori culture
  13. Paris, France for world-famous museums, food and wine
  14. Croatia for medieval towns and lovely national parks
  15. Accra, Ghana for modern art and heritage travel
  16. Costa Rica for incredible rainforest biodiversity and inviting beaches
  17. Seoul, South Korea for savory street food, lively nightlife and relaxing bathhouses
  18. Los Angeles, California for dramatic canyons, possible star sightings and the Hollywood sign
  19. Okavango Delta, Botswana for up-close encounters with lions, leopards, elephants and more
  20. Trinidad and Tobago for the Caribbean’s original carnival, plus gorgeous beaches

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Citations
  1. TheGuardian.com

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Sep 11, 2024