There are arguments for both: moving from place to place or taking day trips with one lodging. Clients often come to me wanting to rent a Villa and take day trips. Others want to stay in a big city and take day trips. One works better than another. Villas tend to be isolated in the countryside with the same road leading in and out. Day trips can quickly become tedious driving the same old road every day. So for a villa I usually recommend enjoying the villa experience then moving onward. In major cities, there are lots of different options and directions to go. Paris alone has seven active train stations each with trains departing in a different direction. So Paris is a great example for a “stay put” holiday, plus there are so many interesting day trips available.
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Reasons to stay put:
You have freedom from constraints of a fixed itinerary. You can go wherever you feel like going whenever the mood strikes you. If the weather is inclement just do something else. You also have freedom from the burden of luggage and anxiety of reservations foul-ups. Best of all is the opportunity to become a temporary resident of your base city. By staying there for a week or so you can get to know it in depth, becoming familiar with local restaurants, shops, theaters, night life and other attractions. If you have an apartment you can practice cooking locally.
Rocky Mountaineer track to Whistler
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Reasons to wander:
Get out of the noise and congestion of a big city and experience the small towns and local cuisine. See the landscape and various geological formations. Even with a set lodging itinerary your days are free to wander and slow down between points during the day. If you stay within a region you learn and experience one part of that country.
Either way wandering or staying put, I always encourage limited geography and cultures. Too many changes result in never remembering, learning or experiencing anything! The day of ‘it is Tuesday and must be Belgium’ is long over. Whether you have 7 or 21 days, find a location to stay. Do not try to cover the entire country or multiple countries in one visit. Maybe find a city for a few days then a few days in the neighboring countryside. This makes for a great 10 day holiday. Spending time in one region will give you great memories.
Begin the planning now by calling me…
