The Roads Less Travelled

Stay with desert nomads, or skip the ski resort and slide down the Hallein Salt Mine. How’s that for an alternative holiday?

It’s the new year, and you’re up for new travel experiences. You’ve visited one too many popular destinations and landmarks, now what’s next on your itinerary? Ah… here comes the worst part of a holiday – vacation planning.

You’ve exhausted the Google search button, and you’ll still undecided. The thought of signing up for a tour package, travelling in sardine-packed tour buses with a herd of tourists, isn’t quite what you have in mind.

Travel experts tell Her World that there are many things that go into planning for an unconventional trip. They show us how – and where – you can uncover the less travelled paths that’ll give you an all-new experience.

STEP 1

Research The Places You’ve Never Been To Don’t let heavily edited Instagram images dictate your journey. Do your research before the trip, and talk to different people who’ve been to these places for their feedback, including locals when you arrive.

Well-known Canadian travel bloggers and husband-and-wife team Dave Bouskill and Debra Corbeil of TheplanetD encourage travellers to keep their options – and minds – open.

“We look for places that we haven’t been to or places that we don’t know about,” Dave says about uncovering new destinations. “Besides online research, we actively talk to guides at the tourist centres and locals we meet along the way once we’re there. This way, we discover the stuff you can’t find easily on the Internet.”

Last year, the couple, who’re in their 40s, booked a ship to embark on their maiden trip around the Antarctic Circle. They spent the 20-day trip on board the Sea Spirit (a cruise ship by Quark Expeditions), sailing from Ushuaia, Argentina to the Lemaire Channel and Gerlache Strait.