IMAGINING YOUR PERFECT GETAWAY

Don’t just dream about that bucket list trip -

Play my "10 Things" game!

For some people, a dream destination pops easily into mind: they know precisely where they would go in a heartbeat if there were no obstacles.

For others, it’s a bit more ambiguous. You might have an idea about what you’d like, but you might not be entirely confident where you’d have your passport stamped if the opportunity came up tomorrow.

Planning a cruise can be like that. I believe the best way to make something happen is to start intentionally giving it shape — something to look at, imagine, talk about, and (most importantly!) plan for.

With that in mind, here are a few questions to ask yourself so you can get started working out the details of that trip you fantasize about during those hectic workweeks. After all, my philosophy is that planning and dreaming about a trip is part of the fun of taking one.

At the end of this imagination game... take my fun and quirky quiz that will tell you which river should be your next destination.

A leading member of Oasis Travel Network, DNA TOURS

What’s your “happy place” when you have bad days?

For some, this might be a specific place — sailing past castles on the Rhine or climbing thru the ruins of Angkor or maybe an Africa safari. But more than that — what’s the feeling you go to when you’re stressed out or stuck in traffic?

Do you imagine the lazy perfection of beautiful gardens? The thrill of craggy mountains? The rush and sensory feast of busy marketplaces? The smells of spicy foods?

Make a quick list: 10 things that come to mind on the most fun, free, relaxed, no-obligations, open day you can imagine.

What do you crave?

Think of what you say you wish you had more of — free time, adventure, romance, time to learn a new skill, sunshine, purpose.

What are you truly, deep down, just plain hungry for? What do you long for? When you imagine being your best self — what are you doing? And who is with you?

Jot down 10 things you are longing for in your life right now.

What season suits you best?

Do you love the heat of Summer in your swimsuit and lapping around the sun deck pool or can you imagine maybe taking a dip in the Rhine?

What about the crisp crunch of autumn leaves underfoot as you explore vineyards during the harvest or seeing the Fall colours of the Mosel?

Or the intense blue quiet of a mountain snowfall during a Christmas market cruise? When do you feel most at home in your body and most in love with your environment? Maybe you long for the African savannah or a bush safari?

Your perfect vacation doesn’t have to be the most popular! It’s your perfect vacation, remember?

What’s one crazy luxurious thing you secretly wish for?

For some people, it’s as simple as a pile of books and no emails to answer for three weeks and sitting in the privacy of a private balcony and gazing at the scenery.

For others, it’s endless room service or all-day spa treatments or king-size feather beds and huge whirlpool tubs. No matter how big or small — go ahead.

Write down five luxuries that would make you feel like you’d won the lottery if someone handed them to you right now. Then imagine that I can make those happen for you.

When you scroll through magazines, which images grab you the most?

What colors draw your eye? Spicy and exotic? Cool and laid back? Misty and mysterious? Go to a bookstore, and pick up four or five travel magazines — and just notice which images you keep going back to, the ones that make your heart skip a little. You might be surprised. Some people assume that their “dream” trip is on an exotic island at an all-inclusive resort somewhere. But if you keep coming back to the pictures of a bike tour along the Mosel or Danube or a safari with elephants you could reach out and touch — well, that’s worth paying attention to. That experience might feed something in you that an all-you-can-eat buffet might not even begin to touch. Cut out the images that speak to you the most and look for common themes, even (and especially) in images that seem to be opposites. Oh heck, just grab an cruise brochure and gaze at the photos longingly.

When you’ve had time to assemble your thoughts — and if you’re working on this with your partner or friends or family members — look for overlaps, recurring themes, those quiet nudges you can’t seem to shake. Listen to your gut. And start to dream big. Do you see a river cruise in your future? Can you see yourself joining one of his escorted groups or sailing on your own with a loved one or even on a solo adventure?

You can set a goal, start saving if you need to, and start giving shape to your plan, better yet, schedule a free consultation with Dave to get some ideas and chart a course. Put your images and any accompanying words or phrases up on a cork board, or glue them to a big piece of tag board, or make a digital collage that can be your screensaver on your computer at work — anyplace where you’ll see it multiple times a day — and let those images inspire you as you get closer and closer to making your bucket list trip a reality with Dave to give you inspiration and direction.