Visit someplace new or return to a favorite spot?

 

The Moulon Rouge in Paris is a symbol of Bohemian culture 
(Courtesy: pixabay)

CHARLOTTE, NC — One of the nagging dilemmas for people with a passion for travel is the ever-present internal battle of whether to go someplace new or to revisit a destination filled with fond memories. Both options have merit with no right or wrong answer, but in the end it is the traveler and their individual lifestyle which determines the best personal choice.

Years ago, one of my fellow traveling companions, a veteran writer, mentioned that her philosophy was that she "wanted to see everything once before she saw anything twice." It seemed like solid advice at first but after a few years of wanderlust were added to my resume, my thoughts began to change.

For example, anyone who has ever visited New York City for the first time in the teeming humidity of July or August is guaranteed NOT to come away with the same impressions of the Big Apple as someone who makes their maiden journey during Christmas when the air is crisp and the city comes alive with seasonal lights and decorations.

Palace of the Liberties in Bruges, Belgium
(Courtesy: visit bruges/en)

To begin, never forget that no two trips are ever the same. Regardless of how delicious and memorable a previous adventure may have been, it is impossible to duplicate, so don't even try.

Also, keep in mind that regardless of how much effort you make, you will never see all of any one destination, which means the best thing to do is to pace yourself. All the more reason for a return visit.

Back in the 1950s and 60s, tour operators created so-called "Deluxe Grand Tours of Europe." These were basically cookie-cutter trips that included 21 countries in 17 days at a killer pace that was totally exhausting. The concept of these "If-it's-Tuesday-it-must-be-Belgium" tours was, of course, to make senior citizens believe they could see all of Europe in one huge trip of a lifetime by using the comfort of an English speaking guide who also knew how to convert "Monopoly money" into useable funds (euros did not exist back then).

Grand Canal, Venice
(Courtesy: pixabay)

Five minutes at the Colosseum or the Eiffel Tower, quick photo op, 30 minute bathroom break and off to the next hotel. Luggage outside the door by seven, gulp down a cup of coffee, a stale croissant and uncooked bacon and back on the bus.

Technology and readily available disposable income have changed travel trends dramatically since those post-World War II Grand Tour days. Thus, returning to a destination you've already visited in the past brings with it an inherent comfort level that creates a sense of returning home.

You can still get out and do new things, but you also have a relatively familiar home base that is worth its weight in comfort that eases apprehension and anxiety.

As previously mentioned, while you may have hit the must-see high spots on your inaugural trip to a city or country, chances are you missed many, if not most, of the nooks and crannies that bring a destination to life with its own personality and character. That makes the second and future visits the time to check out a city's museums and/or lesser-known neighborhoods.

Neckar River, Heidelberg
(Courtesy: rhine-moselle.com)

Don't forget that destinations change. The Berlin you experienced on your last trip may not be quite the same today as it was in the ten years since you were there. It's another solid reason for going back to a place that you fell in love with once before.

However, just as places change, so, too, do people, and for many travelers, that's the single greatest endorsement of all for returning to a destination. Whether it's because you went to London when you were eight years old and you want to see it through new eyes now that you're 20 or, better yet, you want to share that same first-time joy you experienced with someone else is truly the magic of travel.

There is something Christmas-like to a travel adventure when you can stand back and savor the reaction of someone who is witnessing something unique for the very first time. It could be Michelangelo's David or Sistine Chapel ceiling. Perhaps it's some grand new culinary treat like escargot in France or caviar in Russia. Maybe it's the Lipizzan horses in Vienna or the massive Edinburgh Tattoo. The catalyst for the moment makes little difference. All that really matters is sharing that moment. Therein lies the secret.

Executive editor George Stone of National Geographic Traveler tells us that "People travel for people as much (if not more) than for sights. Sometimes we discover a bit of ourselves in a stranger; sometimes we learn how to be a better version of ourselves by learning from a local " 

The face of India
(Courtesy: S. Huitt)

"Discovery" is the key that unlocks the pleasures of travel and discovery can occur at any time in any place.

Certainly the flip side of the traveler's dilemma is easier to justify. After all the very nature of travel is to see and to experience the world beyond our personal borders. Traveling to a new destination is therefore by definition already incorporated into the process of being on the move.

On the other hand, returning to a place for a second, third or, even, fourth time should not deter travelers. Actually it should be regarded as a luxury or a bonus.

Model of Herod's Palace
at Masada in Israel
(Photo: Peabod)

In this day and age of social media, there's often pressure to view vacations as checklist travel in order to outdo others. Avoid such temptations at all costs because it is the least satisfying form of travel there is.

Typical scene in the streets of India
(Courtesy: S. Huitt)

Whether you prefer seeing  new places over return visits or some combination of the two, the purpose of a trip is to experience the things you want to experience on your terms.

However you achieve it is up to you, but always be a traveler first instead of a tourist.