The 12 Types Of Trips You Should Take In Your Lifetime - Travel Tips And Tourist Info From Around The World

To some travelers, “vacation” means lying on a tropical beach or staying in an urban hotel, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But the start of a new year is time to think outside the box and start planning trips that help you both unwind and grow as a person.

In 2017, and for years to come, do yourself a favor and get creative with the types of trips you take. Of course, we don’t always have the time or finances available for regular getaways. But many of these unique trip ideas cost less than your typical beach break, which makes them easier to get on the calendar.

Which not-so-average experience will you have in 2017?

1 A solo trip

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Solo travel stretches you in waysthatcompanion travel won’t.Choose a destination whereyou feel safe but are still outside your comfort zone, and enjoytherush ofself-confidence along withnew friends.
2 An ancestry trip

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Do you know where your family is from? Find out, then plana journey to wherever that may be. If possible, askrelatives forpersonalized guides to their hometowns before you go.
3 A last-minute flight trip

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There are plenty of ways to find cheap last-minute flights, but are you willing to drop what you’re doing andtake advantage? Block a few days out onyour calendar, thenletan app like Get The Flight Outchoose yourdestinationat the last minute.
4 A digital detox

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Try life with no phone, no computer and no TV for just a few days, to see whatyour creative mind does on its own. Of course, this is easier if you travel someplacewhere service is scarce. If an exotic island isn’t in the cards, the small town down the highway works just fine.
5 A long-distance trek

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A trek is the ultimate way to clear your head, buildquiet confidenceand maybe even get a betterpicture of what you want to do with your life. Consider the Pacific Crest Trail in the U.S. and theCamino de Santiago in Spain for starters.
6 A homestay or couchsurfing trip

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There’s no better way to understand a city than by livingday-to-day life with the locals. Stay with a friend in their hometown, see if your destination has a homestay program, or couchsurf for free to get a taste of what it’s like to “do life”somewhere completely new.
7 A snorkel or dive trip

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Research shows thatpreparing fora tripboosts happiness morethan the journey itself. Work toward your scuba license at home, and then head to one of theworld’s best dive spots.
8 A volunteer trip

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Strongrelationships, cultural understandingand a sense of accomplishment are just a few benefits of doing something valuablewith your timeaway. Use a site like Go Overseasto find opportunities vetted by trustworthytravelers.
9 A U.S. road trip

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Too often, we take our country’shuge variety ofadventuresfor granted. Whether it’sa trip to every national park, driving throughthe Southor to 48 states in one fell swoop, a road trip is the hilariousjourneyyou’ll never forget.
10 A staycation

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It’s rare thatwe drop everything, forget our chores and simply enjoy our hometowns.A staycation— think dinner parties, movie marathons and long, quiet days of reading– is an easy,cheap way to relax and reset.
11 A river cruise

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While ocean cruises stop atmajor portsafter long stretches at sea, river cruisinglets you see lesser-known sites with much less lag time in between. River cruise boats are often smallerthan ocean liners, letting you get to know everyone on board as you float down the Amazonor through Budapest.
12 A wine tasting trip

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Besides the obvious benefit of copious sipping, a wine tasting trip can serve to bring old friends orfamily closer together: Nothing spurs conversation quitelike a shared table, good cheese and endless hours without a care in the world.