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Writer's pictureDavid Natale

Don’t miss out on your dream bucket-list trip... play my "10 Things" game!


A Classic RiverCruiseKing.com Blog re-post from 2021

For some people, a dream destination pops easily into mind: they know exactly 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 certain where you’d have your passport stamped if the opportunity came up tomorrow.


We all know that 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.



What’s your “happy place” when you have bad days? Again, 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 maybe taking a dip in the Rhine? Or 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? 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. 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.




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 AmaWaterways 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.





The best part? I can help you design this trip down to the last customized detail. Give me a call and let’s get started! To contact me click here now!

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