Hi Reader,
I have always thought that part of the fun of traveling happens long before you arrive.
It starts when a place shifts from somewhere I would love to go someday to I am actually going there.
And apparently, there is some science behind that feeling.
GetYourGuide recently surveyed 4,000 travelers in the U.K. about what happens when we book a trip. Nearly half said they felt an immediate burst of excitement after booking, and 42% said it improved their mood.
This newsletter contains affiliate links. If you book through one of my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only share experiences and resources I genuinely think are useful for fellow travelers.
But this was the part that really caught my nerdy little attention:
Once the trip was booked, people started anticipating it.
They pictured what they would do. They started making plans. They imagined themselves actually being there.
Nerd Alert: In positive psychology, there is a concept called savoring. It is the intentional act of generating, maintaining, and even amplifying positive emotions around an experience.
In other words, we do not have to wait until we are standing in front of the Colosseum, wandering through the medieval streets of a UNESCO World Heritage city, or staring at a painting we have read about for years to start enjoying a trip.
We can begin enjoying it months beforehand.
And I think history-loving travelers may be particularly good at this.
Because researching a destination is not simply figuring out which train to take or where to have lunch.
It is discovering that the unassuming building around the corner witnessed a revolution.
It is learning why that cathedral looks completely different from the one you visited 2 days earlier.
It is realizing that the street you are going to walk down has been used by travelers, merchants, soldiers, pilgrims, and ordinary residents for hundreds of years.
By the time you finally arrive, the destination already has layers.
That is one of the reasons I love travel planning so much. The trip begins taking shape in your imagination before your suitcase ever comes out of the closet.
So, if there is a place you have been thinking about for months, perhaps this is your permission to move it one tiny step closer to reality.
Research the neighborhood.
Read the history.
Choose the museum.
Book the experience.
Give yourself something wonderful to anticipate.
Because apparently, the joy of travel does not begin at the airport.
It may begin the moment the trip becomes real.
Happy travels,
The Nerd Traveler
P.S. Already know where you are going next? You can start exploring my personal recommendations below!
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Here are my personal recommendations to help with booking trips:
1) Airline mistake fares and deals, I have Going.com Premium. I can enter my preferred airports and even favorite destinations and receive alerts via email or via the Going.com app when there is a sale on those flights.
They even track when airline points are good options.
2) When I want to learn about a new city without spending too much money, I utilize Guru Walks. These are walking tours in cities all around the world for FREE!
Please do budget some money (in local currency) for tips, though!
3) When I prefer more of a paid guided tour experience, I book those on Get Your Guide and Viator.
4) I always always protect my trip with Travel Safe travel insurance. They help cover any costs incurred with delays, cancellations, lost/stolen luggage, or getting sick or injured while traveling. Click here to see options and to get a quote.
Unless you have quite a few pre-trip expenses (deposits, tickets purchased in advance, etc.), you will likely not need Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance.
5) I created an AI Assistant to help you with your trip planning. It includes lessons learned along the way, tips and tricks across my 30+ years of international and domestic travel. It also has two fillable workbooks to help you stay organized.
Click here for more details and to claim $10 off for the summer!
I use my Capital One Venture X when traveling for the miles and no foreign transaction fees (it was the least expensive way to spend 50 Euros on my recent trip!)
6) I have used Welcome Pickups for my airport transport upon arrival and departure. It is comforting to know someone will be there to give me a ride from/to the airport so that I don't have to try to navigate the taxi area and anyone who may try to scam or overcharge me. And they are locals who can give you great information about your destination.
7) Lastly, I always recommend booking hotel rooms directly with the hotel company. Be careful to not use 3rd party booking sites - Expedia, Booking, Trivago, Kayak. If something happens and you are delayed, you will get stuck in a phone tree/bot nightmare trying to get any issues or delays sorted out.
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