Randomly Chosen Holidays: Farewell To Your Comfort Zone
Bored of the same beach resorts every year? Tired of the two-week package break by the Med, all-too-easy access to English breakfasts and water-slides?
If so, it could be time to throw an element of randomness into your summer hols.
Why would I do that?
Choosing a destination at random means you'll be less able to second-guess your destination, making it a more exciting and memorable experience - hopefully. In addition, the slight edge of the unknown - fear if you will - should ramp up the thrill factor.
Sounds a bit risky...
Stimulating your risk-reward centres (within reason) could inject your next break with some serious fun. You may be familiar with the cult novel The Dice Man, in which psychologist Luke Rhinehart, unfulfilled with existence, decides to manage his life with the roll of the dice. Rhinehart's life does indeed become more exciting, but the book follows the idea into some rather extreme places. We're not suggesting you follow suit - but picking a holiday at random could give you some of the excitement experienced by the main protagonist.
How do I do it?
Be a dice man - or woman
You could follow in Rhinehart's footsteps and pick six possible destinations for each number. Ideally, as in The Dice Man, you would make five relatively normal selections, and one very off-beat one. For example, five beach resorts around Europe, with number six being Kigali, the vibrant capital of Rwanda. Or you could simply pick six places at random and throw the dice.
Go for a spin
Or you could spin a globe and stop it with your finger - although there is a chance your next holiday will be in the middle of the Pacific Ocean or in Antarctica - if you're a purist about it!
There must be some websites to help me?
Yes there are, here are some of the best:
Earth Roulette
Click 'generate my destination' and you'll be presented with a randomly-selected country, together with some dazzling photos, a run-down of the chief attractions - and a quick flight checker!
Atlas Obscura
A slightly less random way of picking a destination is to visit this website, which is full of off-beat package trips, focussing on everything from the civilisations of ancient Persia to photography holidays in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Ideal for off-beat inspiration.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/unusual-trips/all
Or you could hire a random holiday travel agent
That's right, there are a clutch of travel agents that specialise in creating full holiday packages to mystery destinations. For most of these, you simply give the agent a few details about what you like and dislike and they organise the rest - including flights, accommodation and transfers. Some of the most established are Pack Up + Go and The Vacation Hunt.
A break from your comfort zone...
Taking a randomly-generated holiday will likely push you out of your comfort zone - but you'll quite possibly be rewarded with an unforgettable and very surprising getaway.
Get a Quote