Multi-Country Tours Without the Whiplash

Count Experiences, Not Countries

A longer list of countries doesn't automatically make a better trip.

I'd rather see you have time for the places you're excited about than add another border crossing just so you can say you've been there.

Think about what you actually want to do.

Is there a food experience you're excited about?

A historic site?

A small town?

A museum?

A market?

A day trip?

A completely unscheduled afternoon?

If we're constantly moving, those are usually the things that start disappearing from the itinerary.

A passport stamp isn't much of a vacation if all you remember is packing your suitcase again.

There Is No Universal Two-Night Rule

I understand why people say never stay anywhere for fewer than two nights, but I don't think travel works well with absolute rules.

Sometimes a one-night stop makes sense because of transportation, a particular experience, or the way the route connects.

Other times, two nights isn't nearly enough.

What matters is what those nights actually give you.

Remember that changing destinations takes more time than the train ride or flight itself. There's packing, checking out, getting to transportation, waiting, traveling, arriving, getting to the next hotel, checking in, and settling down again.

A two-hour train ride does not necessarily mean only two hours of your vacation were spent moving.

Let Transportation Help Shape the Route

A map can make two places look close together without telling you whether getting between them is actually convenient.

Sometimes rail is the easiest option.

Sometimes flying makes more sense.

Sometimes a private transfer, ferry, motorcoach, or another transportation option fits the itinerary better.

I want to look at the whole travel day, not just the advertised travel time.

Where does the transportation leave from?

Where does it arrive?

How much luggage are you handling?

Are there connections?

How early do you need to leave?

What time will you realistically reach your next accommodation?

The best route on a map isn't always the easiest route to travel.

Give Yourself Somewhere to Settle In

I do like having at least one place on a multi-country trip where we can slow things down.

That doesn't have to mean exactly four or five nights.

It could be three. It could be a week. It depends on the trip.

The point is to have somewhere you aren't immediately thinking about the next checkout.

Unpack.

Take the day trip.

Go back to the restaurant you liked.

Have a morning with nothing scheduled.

Do some laundry if this is a longer trip.

A little breathing room can make the rest of a busy itinerary much more enjoyable.

Guided Tours Can Make Multi-Country Travel Easier—But Check the Pace

One advantage of an escorted or guided multi-country tour is that many of the transportation and logistical details may already be organized.

That can make moving between destinations easier.

But I still want to read the itinerary carefully.

How many hotel changes are there?

How early are departure days?

How long are the transportation days?

How much free time is built in?

Are you actually visiting a destination or mostly passing through it?

What is the activity level?

A guided tour can take the planning work off your shoulders, but it doesn't automatically make a fast itinerary feel slower.

Convenient and relaxed aren't necessarily the same thing.

Leave Something for the Next Trip

This may be the hardest advice when you're traveling somewhere you've dreamed about for years.

You don't have to see everything.

Really.

If adding another country means giving up the experiences you were most excited about, I would rather leave that country for another trip.

That isn't missing out.

It's giving yourself a reason to come back.

I want you to remember what you did in each destination—not just how many destinations you managed to fit on the map.