36 In Travel/ Travel Talk

Tackle Your Bucket List Multiple Destinations At A Time

Even though I’m a big advocate for long-term and slow travel, I do know that not everyone is in a position to drop everything and travel. Do you just have a few weeks of vacation a year? If so, this post is for you. If you’re looking to tick off some of the countries on your bucket list, that might feeling a little daunting or overwhelming. When you look at a long list it’s hard to know where to start or how long it will take to tick it off. A trip to Europe can often mean ticking off a few countries all at once, as there are many places that are tiny in comparison to even some US states. But unless you are doing that on every trip you go on, how can you get through your list? Here are a few tips to help you get check out more destinations in a short amount of time. 

Try Taking a Cruise

One way to see several countries at once is on a cruise. People who cruise regularly, like those on the Bolsover Cruise Club Forum, will tell you of the luxury that one can enjoy. In addition to a life of luxury, you have the opportunity several places all on one trip. It definitely is good for doing that, as you can pick a cruise with an itinerary that suits you completely. Sailing from port to port means you don’t have to do any planning or arranging. You will have expert guides to show you the areas, as well as being pointed in the direction of the tops sights to see.

Multiple Destinations

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However, as nice as it may be to travel this way, it doesn’t let you explore a country as you might if you were staying right in the heart of the country or city and finding time to just walk and wander around. So you need to decide what you want out of a vacation. Is it to tick a place off the list, or is it to experience a country and really explore it? I have, however, found that day cruises are great options to see multiple islands or ports within one country for the day. I was able to see multiple Greek Islands by taking a day cruise.

Arrange a Layover

Multiple Destinations

If you’re planning a trip (most likely long-haul), then the chances are that you will have a layover somewhere. A good thing to check is what airlines fly to the place where you would like a layover. For example, flying to Thailand from the US often means a layover in Taipei or Tokyo. If you can, arrange to have a longer layover there, so that you can spend a day there exploring. If you arrive in the morning, can you arrange your ongoing flight late that evening or even the next day? Then you get to enjoy a small amount of time in a bonus destination before you head onto your final destination of Thailand. Doing a another layover to a different location, means the potential of three countries crossed off your list in one trip. Pretty amazing, right? It can take some organizing and arranging to make it happen, though. So do plenty of research and make sure you get your timings and dates right! Don’t forget to take into account time changes and allow time to get back through security! 

Road Trip

Multiple Destinations

Once you are in a location, like Europe, Asia, or the United States, you can rent a car and then drive to your heart’s content. When you spend time driving from place to place, it is going to be easy to see several countries, states or cities all in the same trip. Again, this can take some planning. You might want to check on certain places to stay, as well as driving time between points. Look for the best places to break the journey up. You won’t want to feel like you’ve just sat in a car for the whole of your vacation. In addition to this, though, don’t forget to leave time for those spontaneous road trip stops! If you can pack light, then a motorcycle is a good way to explore too. I’ve never attempted a motorcycle ride, but the idea seems like road trip romance to a T. This may involve a shorter trip, as you can’t carry much with you, but you can cover more distance on a bike than in a car, so you should still be able to fit a lot into it.

Double Up on Dreams

Multiple Destinations

Bucket lists aren’t just about destinations like countries and cities. They’re about experiences, festivals and sights to marvel at. If you have a dream of going snorkeling or swimming with whale sharks, then tie it in with a trip that is going to tick off some more of your dreams. So, when you’re planning a trip somewhere, think about what other things you could do or see when you’re in the area. It will be completely worth it and means you will get more done at once. Your bucket list will be ticked off before you know it.

So, where is your next bucket-list dwindling trip taking you? I would be love to hear where some of your favorite destinations around the world have been. What tips do you have for fitting multiple destinations into one trip?

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36 Comments

  • Reply
    Cherryl
    August 4, 2017 at 3:40 am

    Great tips, multi-destination trips are often much better value for money too, as you’re saving yourself lots of return flights x

  • Reply
    Nano @ Travel With Nano B.
    August 4, 2017 at 5:54 am

    Yes to all of these, but particularly cruise. I’m a huge fan, it is insanely convenient and a great way to see multiple destinations. One day in a city like Barcelona might not be enough, BUT it’s better than nothing when you cannot afford a dedicated trip to Spain and 12 hours in a city can actually give you a wonderful feel for the place. xx

  • Reply
    Clazz - An Orcadian Abroad
    August 4, 2017 at 5:18 pm

    Awesome tips! I can’t make my mind up about cruises, but I guess that’s to do with the associated mentality of many of their clientele, and obviously that’s a stereotype that is broken by plenty of people. I would definitely use them as a way to genuinely explore places I might not have normally visited, rather than a luxury holiday where the destinations are an add-on.

  • Reply
    Alina Popescu
    August 5, 2017 at 7:04 am

    I am a huge fan of road trips! I like longer ones – 3-4 weeks in the car, enjoying a few countries. I’ve done a few of those, all of them around Europe, and adding a bit of Turkey to it, which took me to Asia, technically. I’d love to try a cruise though!

  • Reply
    WorldGlimpses
    August 5, 2017 at 9:21 am

    Nice tips. I’d always chose a road trip, it brings such a nice experience after every one of the curves on the way. Love to admire natural sights, so it’s probably understandable. 🙂 And one other thing, layovers usually turn out to be so much more than just a place to spend a night or two. 🙂

  • Reply
    Stacey
    August 5, 2017 at 9:27 am

    There are some cruise lines that are more destination focuses like Azamara Cruise Line. River cruises are also a fantastic way to experience multiple European cities and unpack only once! I recommend finding a local travel agency in your city for more details!

  • Reply
    TravellingDany
    August 5, 2017 at 9:45 am

    I’ve enjoyed cruising more than I thought possible so definitely a big, fat yes! And road trips, of course! Still wandering about long layovers, hubby isn’t exactly sold on them!

  • Reply
    elphie1
    August 5, 2017 at 1:39 pm

    We freaking love cruises and road trips! What a wonderful list that everyone could be able to achieve! You could also do things like a European cruise and knock off two things!

  • Reply
    Jane M
    August 5, 2017 at 8:29 pm

    Great ideas on hitting up your bucket list ideas! Especially love the road-tripping idea. You never know what my happen when you get out on the open roads (and you might find that the unexpected experiences are way better than the ones on your list!).

    Jane M

  • Reply
    Karla
    August 5, 2017 at 8:30 pm

    I’ve always enjoyed roadtrips, it feels like you discover more in between and you can tackle a lot in one trip. Also, you have the freedom to say “stop” when you want to— except of course, if it is a highway.

  • Reply
    Danik
    August 6, 2017 at 4:07 am

    Good tips but I wouldnt want to tick things off if I had to be rushed like on cruises etc. I am a slow traveller 😉

  • Reply
    AdventureFaktory 🐪 (@AFtravels)
    August 6, 2017 at 4:43 am

    Long term travel is the best way to see things I agree, I just wish it was that easy!! We love a good old fashioned road trip as well, great idea! We are off to some of the soviet states next, to tie in a few things off the bucketlist. Mitch and Mimi

  • Reply
    SherianneKay
    August 6, 2017 at 9:26 am

    I love stopovers and road trips. It would be smart for me to sit down and come up with a plan to accomplish this huge list that keeps growing

  • Reply
    Patricia Steffy (@PLSteffy)
    August 6, 2017 at 9:36 am

    These are great ideas! I haven’t tried the long layovers approach yet. Usually, I’m anxious to get to my final destination, so I tend to plan that way. But I’m warming to the idea so that I can see more (and maybe even arrive at my final destination a little less frazzled). I do love road trips! We always take detours when we are going somewhere or coming back just so we can see more along the way.

  • Reply
    Christine | The Travelling Pinoys
    August 6, 2017 at 10:22 am

    Awesome tips! I once “travelled” to 5 countries in one day haha. I’m crazy like that. Also 4 or 5 times that I woke up in different countries for 3 consecutive days. It wasnt because I didnt have time but I just wanted to do it lol.

  • Reply
    RaW | Ramble and Wander
    August 6, 2017 at 4:50 pm

    For trips to Europe, I usually book a multi-city return flight, with a layover so flights to at least 3 cities are already covered by that. It’s easy, convenient and almost always works out to be cheaper than buying tickets separately.

  • Reply
    WanderingCarol
    August 6, 2017 at 8:34 pm

    I so agree that bucket lists are as much about experiences as places. That said, travelling the Silk Road by train is a total bucket list dream of mine. I know people say we shouldn’t have bucket lists, but I love mine and I’m keeping it!

  • Reply
    Brianna
    August 7, 2017 at 8:12 am

    great post! I usually combine several destinations or experience types into my longer trips. Stopover are one of my favorite ways to do this.

  • Reply
    Melody & Taylor Pittman
    August 7, 2017 at 3:36 pm

    I love cruising! All you have to do is show up; the rest is taken care of! Plus, there are itineraries for every type of schedule. Road Tips are another great way to see things because you can stop wherever you want or go off course as much as you want. I don’t think people realize how easy it is to cross things off their bucket list, so thanks for sharing this!

  • Reply
    Jean
    August 7, 2017 at 5:02 pm

    I’m with you and agree that slow travel is the way to go. But not everyone agrees or has the time for that. Great tips for people wanting to see and do a lot in a little time.

  • Reply
    Laura Lynch
    August 7, 2017 at 5:18 pm

    I just discovered an awesome lake where you can visit four countries within about 30 minutes of each other. Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. It’s called Bodensee, or Lake Constance. Really amazing place, and you can tick off four countries in one trip!

    • Reply
      Paige Wunder
      August 7, 2017 at 8:23 pm

      That’s an amazing tip! Talk about bang for your buck! It’s fun to do quirky things like that all in a day! Not many people can say they visited 4 countries in 30 minutes!

  • Reply
    authenticfoodquest
    August 7, 2017 at 6:12 pm

    Great idea to bundle up as much as possible. The main challenge though is how to appreciate each experience fully. However, if short on time combining experiences is the way to go 🙂

  • Reply
    Natasha Haley
    August 8, 2017 at 4:01 am

    Such a great and helpful article. I would love to do a cruise. It would allow me to see many countries that I hadn’t before and allow me to have the experience of being on a cruise ship. Lay overs definitely help and I have personally used these to get to see another country!

  • Reply
    heatherhudak
    August 8, 2017 at 10:07 am

    People always ask me why I like cruising so much, and it’s because I get to check out so many new places at once. If I like them, I go back and spend more time there! Great tips!

  • Reply
    Our Seaside Baby
    August 8, 2017 at 10:09 am

    Great tips. Stop overs are definitely a great way of visiting two or more destinations on one trip and work out much cheaper too 🙂 Polly

  • Reply
    Jennifer @ Made all the Difference
    August 8, 2017 at 8:13 pm

    These are some really great ideas. I love getting short layovers so I can at least get out and visit a museum or historic site aka how I saw the Parthenon.

  • Reply
    mags
    August 8, 2017 at 8:35 pm

    I think road trips are the best way to see multiple destinations. I love a cruise, but I don’t think they give you enough time in port to really experience a new place.

  • Reply
    Buddy The Traveling Monkey
    August 8, 2017 at 9:02 pm

    Right now, the biggest thing on my bucket list is to visit 35 countries by the time I’m 35. I just turned 34 and I have 3 countries to go. I’m hoping to travel to Europe this winter, so hopefully I’ll be able to visit a few countries while I’m there.

  • Reply
    Sandy N Vyjay
    August 8, 2017 at 10:46 pm

    There is so much to see and and experience in the world, that one lifetime is not enough. It makes sense to see as much as you can when you have the opportunity. I agree that tackling multiple destinations and experiences at one go will help in seeing more of the world.

  • Reply
    Cai Dominguez
    August 9, 2017 at 2:54 am

    I’m a fan of slow and long travel too. But since I go back to corporate. I need to do short travel to enjoy some freedom. I love your suggestion about cruise l. I haven’t tried that. It’s included on my bucketlist:)

  • Reply
    Trisha Velarmino
    August 9, 2017 at 7:09 am

    A road trip is always a good idea especially with music on and singing your heart out! A cruise is lovely, too!!! <3

  • Reply
    Christopher
    August 9, 2017 at 2:11 pm

    I think these are ideas are perfect and that’s coming from the self proclaimed king of Short Trips 😜 haha. I totally see the value of the long and slow travel style. For me I tend to get homesick after awhile and crave my usual routine until I start getting that urge to go and explore again. The best way to tackle your bucket list is to plan a bunch of short trips that include weekends and long weekends 👍🏾

  • Reply
    Penny Sadler
    August 9, 2017 at 4:24 pm

    I did my first river cruise last year and I agree, it’s a great way to see many places in a short time. If you take some cultural tours you’ll be able to get a good feel for the place and decide if you’d like to go back.

  • Reply
    Carla
    August 10, 2017 at 1:37 am

    I have a long bucket list of destinations. These are some great suggestions, especially road trips and layovers.

  • Reply
    Life is a Hotel
    August 10, 2017 at 4:38 am

    Hello Paige.

    Personally I would love to try Cruise Ship to discover beautiful places. Layover is also a good option for these who want to visit as many places as possible. As for me the best option is taking a train around Europe 🙂 I live in Poland and literally sometimes during a few days I’m able to visit like 2-3 countries 🙂 that is why I love Europe – its small and you can traveled abroad to a few different countries during one day 🙂

    Best,
    Kasia

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