Long-distance travel has always held an incredible fascination for people. Christopher Columbus and Marco Polo discovered new cultures with their thirst for research. And even today, the desire and curiosity to discover the strange and exotic is still deeply rooted in us. So let's go: pack your bags and head out into the world. Whether Thailand, Mexico or South America – as a world explorer you have a lot on your bucket list. On my topic page about long-distance travel, I have listed my most important blog posts on the topic and also present you with selected tips and recommendations.
Current articles about long-distance travel
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Long-distance travel tips and tricks for your next exotic vacation
Long-distance travel has always exerted an incredible fascination on people. Christopher Columbus and Marco Polo discovered new cultures with their urge to discover. And even today, the desire and curiosity to discover the foreign and the exotic is still deep within us. So let's go: pack your bags and head out into the world. Whether Thailand, Mexico or South America, as a world explorer you have a lot on your bucket list. We have a few selected long-distance travel tips for you and present you with 9 great long-distance travel destinations for your next trip around the world!
Do you know the feeling when you realize: “The whole world is open to me? All I need to do is book a flight and I can be in a heavenly place within a few hours. There are even more beautiful places in the world than Germany and Hamburg,” I sometimes think to myself. I love Hamburg, but everyone needs a change of scenery every now and then. The best way to do this is with a long-distance trip that takes you really far away and catapults you out of everyday life.
The most dangerous of all world views is that of the people who never looked at the world.
Alexander von Humboldt
For your long-distance trip you can choose a really exotic country that is as different from Germany in terms of culture, lifestyle, mentality of the people and landscape as is possible. This is exactly when a long-distance trip is the right thing. Especially when you arrive in Asia, you feel like you're dreaming and that it's not all real because it seems so foreign. If you feel like this every now and then, we have the best long-distance travel tips for your next, unforgettable trip.
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Definition of long-distance travel - When is a vacation far away?
When does a vacation actually become a long-distance trip? You won't believe it, but according to official criteria, long-haul flights start much earlier than you think. The short distance is up to 1000 kilometers as the crow flies, the medium distance is up to 3000 kilometers. And from 3000 kilometers it is already a long-haul flight. But is a travel destination almost 3000 kilometers away from Germany already a long-distance travel destination? Most people will probably say: not really! Then the Canary Islands and Egypt would already be long-distance travel destinations.
However, we tend to associate such long tours with exotic countries such as India, Mexico or Thailand. From Germany to Mexico it is approximately 9500 kilometers as the crow flies. It is around 8000 kilometers to Cuba and just over 6000 kilometers to Bombay in India from Germany. Accordingly, we could define a long-distance trip as a vacation or any other trip that takes place at least 5000 kilometers from home. That sounds pretty logical, right?
My long-distance travel experiences
The term wanderlust is no coincidence. Anyone who has gone on another tour and visited one or two foreign countries that are outside of Europe will no longer want to miss this experience and repeat it as often as possible. The term wanderlust – or the more progressive term wanderlust – is no coincidence.
Anyone who has gone on another tour and visited one or two foreign countries that are outside of Europe will no longer want to miss this experience and repeat it as often as possible. Long-distance travel doesn't have to be expensive.
On the contrary, there are always cheap flights and package holidays all over the world. We regularly look for holiday destinations outside of Europe that are currently on offer. Many destinations can be reached cheaply outside of the main season in the travel destination and outside of the school holidays in Germany. We give you valuable long-distance travel tips that will help you get to your next vacation under the palm trees cheaply.
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This is how long-distance travel with children becomes a pleasure for the whole family
Many young parents are afraid to take their children with them on a long-distance trip. It's actually no problem at all to go on a big tour with the little ones. With a few special long-distance travel tips for families, long journeys with smaller children and even babies can become less strenuous. If you want to fly very far away with the whole family, all you need is some preparation. Anyone who has booked a family-friendly hotel or apartment at their holiday destination should not have any major problems on the trip and can fully enjoy their holiday abroad with their kids.
The sticking point is often the long flight to the destination. But you can take precautions here. Choose family-friendly seats and get a few holiday gadgets for children that will make the cross-country flight fun. For example, there is a small hand luggage trolley for the kids that can be converted into a full bed and turns the airplane seat into a lying area. In addition, the kids always need fun. So load a few videos onto your tablet computer and don't forget your headphones. Of course, card games can also be used to make the long-haul flight a little more pleasant for the children. With these little travel hacks you can make the long flight fun for the little ones.
The best travel time for a few selected travel destinations
Month | Best travel time travel destination |
---|---|
January | Argentina, Australia, Chile, Costa Rica, Dubai & UAE, India (south), Canary Islands, Cuba, Maldives, Mexico, New Zealand, Sri Lanka (south), South Africa, Thailand, United States (Florida, California, Texas), Vietnam |
February | Argentina, Australia, Chile, Costa Rica, Brazil, Dubai & UAE, Florida, India (south), Canary Islands, Cuba, Maldives, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka (South), South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam |
March | Egypt, Argentina, Australia, Chile, Costa Rica, Dubai & UAE, India (south), Canary Islands, Maldives, Morocco, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka (South), South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia, United States (Florida, California, Texas), Vietnam |
April | Egypt, Canary Islands, Mallorca (Balearic Islands), Morocco, Central Europe, Mediterranean Sea, Singapore, Sri Lanka (South), Tunisia, Turkey, United States (USA), Vietnam |
May | Canada, Canary Islands, Egypt, Germany, Mallorca (Balearic Islands), Morocco, Mauritius, Central Europe, Mediterranean (Spain, Italy, Croatia, Greece, Cyprus), Northern Europe, Seychelles, Singapore, Tunisia, Turkey, United States (USA) |
June | Egypt, Germany, Canada, Canary Islands, Mallorca, Central Europe, Mediterranean (Spain, Italy, Croatia, Greece, Cyprus), Mauritius, Northern Europe, Seychelles, Singapore, Scandinavia, Turkey, USA |
July | Germany, Indonesia (south), Canada, Canary Islands, Mallorca (Balearic Islands), Mauritius, Central Europe, Mediterranean (Spain, Italy, Croatia, Greece, Cyprus), Northern Europe, Seychelles, Singapore, Scandinavia, Turkey, United States (USA) |
August | Germany, Indonesia (south), Canada, Canary Islands, Mallorca (Balearic Islands), Mauritius, Central Europe, Mediterranean (Spain, Italy, Croatia, Greece, Cyprus), Northern Europe, Seychelles, Singapore, Scandinavia, Turkey, United States (USA) |
September | Egypt, Germany, Indonesia (south), Canary Islands, Mallorca (Balearic Islands), Morocco, Mauritius, Central Europe, Mediterranean Sea (Spain, Italy, Croatia, Greece, Cyprus), Seychelles, Singapore, Scandinavia, Tunisia, Turkey, USA |
October | Egypt, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Dubai &UAE, Jordan, India, Indonesia (South), Canary Islands, Mallorca (Balearic Islands), Morocco, Mauritius, Mexico, Mediterranean Sea (Spain, Italy, Croatia, Greece, Cyprus), Peru, Seychelles, Tunisia , Turkey, United States (USA) |
November | Australia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Egypt, Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Jordan, India (South), Maldives, Morocco, Mauritius, Mexico, New Zealand, Netherlands Antilles (ABC Islands), Oman, Portugal ( Azores and Madeira), Peru, Seychelles, Spain (Canary Islands), Sri Lanka (South), South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, United States (Florida, California, Texas) |
December | Egypt, Australia, Chile, Costa Rica, Dubai (United Arab Emirates), India (South), Maldives, Morocco, Mauritius, Mexico, New Zealand, Netherlands Antilles (ABC Islands), Oman, Portugal (Azores and Madeira), Seychelles, Spain (Canary Islands), Sri Lanka (South), South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, United States (Florida, California, Texas) |
Watch out for the best time to travel
I always keep the best time to travel to my favorite travel destinations in mind - because when planning your trip it is incredibly important to know when and where is the best place to go on holiday. This basically applies to all travel destinations and types of travel. You don't want to go on a skiing holiday in the middle of summer and you don't want to fly to Egypt in the middle of summer when it's 50 degrees Celsius. Nor would we want to be in Thailand or the Maldives during the rainy season.
The most beautiful long-distance travel destinations – discover another world
Thanks to our many years of travel experience, we have collected a few valuable long-distance travel tips for you here. That's a thing with exotic long-distance travel destinations. Many destinations are hyped and then everyone just has to go there.
At some point someone reports that this or that destination is totally mainstream and overcrowded - and suddenly no one thinks it's great anymore. At this point I will give you a tip that is more valuable than gold. If you heed it, your trips in the future will be much more relaxed and pleasant.
Make your own picture of each destination you want to travel to. Many travel bloggers hyped this or that vacation destination. Betting against supposed tourist destinations. Read different opinions before your trip, inform yourself in detail before the trip, but above all get your own picture on site. Many impressions are very subjective.
Sascha Tegtmeyer, Just-Wanderlust.com
Many travel bloggers travel around Bali, but despite all the tourists, the island is a beautiful piece of earth that you should definitely see once. The situation is similar with Thailand. There are what feels like billions of tourists there - that's true - who make the beaches unsafe every winter. But there is a reason for that too. The country is simply magical, the beaches are a dream, the delicious Thai cuisine is a delight and the prices are still relatively cheap. Yes, there is a lot going on in Thailand during peak season. And yet we had some of the best five weeks there that we have ever spent on a long-distance trip.
The bottom line is clear. The best long-distance travel destinations in the world are the ones where you can experience your own, most personal adventure and create memories that you will remember for years to come. Nevertheless, we have collected a few tips for the best long-distance travel destinations in the world and would like to introduce them to you.
1. Thailand - Exoticism and adventure among friendly people
Thailand is probably one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. Not without reason, because the country in Southeast Asia is a tropical paradise on earth. Dream beaches in Thailand, delicious food, friendly people combined with great resorts offer a mix that is unparalleled anywhere in the world. The best time to travel to Thailand is particularly in the European winter months of December, January, February and March. We recommend that you start your trip in Bangkok or Phuket and explore the entire country from here.
You can start from Bangkok to the popular and well-known islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phagan and Koh Tao in the Gulf of Thailand, or experience the hustle and bustle of Pattaya or Phuket. Or you can start all the way south to Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta or a little further south to Koh Lipe. Wherever you go in Thailand, dream beaches and adventure await you almost everywhere. You can dive with sharks, snorkel, swim or try stand-up paddling in Thailand.
2. Sri Lanka – trendy long-distance travel destination for connoisseurs
Currently, long-distance travel tips are not complete without Sri Lanka. The island south of India is one of those trendy destinations that has been increasingly hyped in recent years and is developing rapidly. It is very beneficial for tourism and therefore for the people who make a living from it in the island state. And holidaymakers can still find places in this paradisiacal destination that are not completely overcrowded.
Sri Lanka is located north of the Maldives and south of India. The island impresses with its tropical climate, its dream beaches and at the same time a picturesque highland covered by tropical rainforest. The tourist infrastructure on the island is getting better and better and many great and relatively sustainable luxury resorts are being built here. Those who prefer something more original will certainly be put off by this, but they will certainly find many less visited areas now and in the years to come.
3. Australia - A classic among long-distance travel tips
No long-haul destination list is complete without Australia. The huge continent “down under” is one of the longed-for destinations of many holidaymakers and is clearly one of the best long-distance travel destinations in the world. Australia is incredibly diverse. On the one hand, you have the dream beaches and can spend a relaxed beach holiday, go snorkeling and diving on the Great Berrier Reef and try out water sports such as stand up paddling, jet skiing, sailing and many other sports.
On the other hand, you have vibrant metropolises like Sydney, Melbourne or Perth, which are among the best-known and most popular cities in the world and are on many people's bucket lists. No matter whether you are taking a trip to the outback, exploring big cities or the endless dream beaches, or, like us, you are one of the divers who want to look at the underwater world off Australia. Australia is definitely a long-distance trip that you should do at least once in your life.
4. Maldives - dreamy vacation away from home
The Maldives are the ultimate long-distance travel destination for beach vacationers. Anyone who voluntarily gets on a plane for 12 hours to go on a beach vacation should definitely do so in the Maldives. Because the small group of islands in the Indian Ocean is definitely one of the most paradises this planet has to offer. The small islets are surrounded by lagoons with crystal-clear water that is the temperature of a bathtub. You can lie around all day on the dream beaches and just relax.
In contrast, the islands usually have dense jungles with exotic animals and plants. In between there are often beach villas with extra privacy. Because if you don't live in a guest house on a local island, you usually stay in a luxury resort that extends over an entire island. If you just want to relax and unwind on your long-distance trip, the Maldives are perfect. You won't come home from a long-distance trip more relaxed than from a vacation in the Maldives. And it just so happens that the best time to travel to the Maldives is during the German winter, so you can escape the snow and ice.
5. Brazil - Our tip for long-distance travel round trips
Brazil is one of the countries that are developing and making strong economic progress. The South American country offers a huge area and is so varied that you can really let off steam with your desire to travel. Everyone knows the famous and popular metropolis of Rio de Janeiro. But of course Brazil has much more to offer. Dense jungle on the Amazon and an eternally long Atlantic coast with beautiful dream beaches and wonderful holiday resorts simply invite you to discover and have an adventure holiday.
And of course you can also visit the other cities in the country such as Sao Paolo or Manaus. Brazil is so varied that you should definitely plan several weeks for your trip. One thing must be clear to you. A tour through Brazil is a big deal and a trip that requires good preparation if it is to become an unforgettable long-distance travel experience.
6. Cuba and Dominican Republic - long-distance travel to the Caribbean
There really isn't much to say about the Caribbean. The destinations in the Gulf of Mexico are fantastically beautiful, offer unforgettable beach holidays and a long-distance travel experience that is also suitable for beginners. After the end of the US embargo, Cuba is now more than ever a long-haul destination that you should visit. Because it is still original and authentic. In the next few years the country will most likely change a lot and if you still want to experience Cuba as it was for many decades - authentic and breathtaking - you should visit the big island now.
A classic long-distance travel destination for a beach holiday is the Dominican Republic. The travel destination used to represent a cheap long-distance trip that even low-income earners could afford. But that has changed, the Dominican Republic is increasingly becoming a premium travel destination. Much hyped in recent years, you can now book the country relatively cheaply and spend a few great days in the sun there. In any case, the Dom Rep is one of our favorite long-distance travel tips worldwide.
7. USA - tours and road trips through a unique country
If there is a travel destination that should not be missing from any bucket list, it is the USA. The United States of America as a vacation destination is simply incredible. If you haven't been on vacation to the USA yet, your mouth will most likely hang open in amazement. It is almost impossible to describe the huge country in just a few sentences. From Florida to New Orleans, from New York to Chicago to Los Angeles and San Francisco, you can put together incredibly exciting tours through the USA yourself.
Basically, you can do whatever your imagination allows and the tour only depends on your budget and your free time. You can also take it smaller and do it like we do. Instead of a big one, you simply do a small road trip over a smaller distance and can gradually work your way through the entire country. You'll definitely have something to do there for a few years.
8. South Africa - round trip is a long-distance travel classic
South Africa is also a classic for a short tour. The long-distance travel destination is certainly one of the best travel destinations in the world and, with cities like Cape Town, Port Elisabeth and Durban, is one of the most breathtaking and beautiful places on the planet.
You can either stay relatively stationary in one place and go on a relaxed resort vacation or actually plan a tour. South Africa is very well developed and the infrastructure allows you to drive around in a rental car yourself. Because in South Africa there are what feels like a million sights to discover, which you can best reach with a rental car.
9. Mexico - our insider tip for inexpensive long-distance travel vacations
We have chosen Mexico as our long-distance travel destination for autumn. After the hurricane season is over in November, the long-distance travel destination is clearly worth considering. We were a little worried about the drug war in Mexico. In some regions, Mexico is one of the most dangerous countries in the world.
From the looks of it, the vacation spots on the Cancun Peninsula are safe and invite you to an exciting journey of discovery. Mexico is also a popular long-distance travel destination among German tourists and impresses with its unique culture, incredibly friendly people and delicious Mexican cuisine that is known worldwide for good reason.
10. Costa Rica - the ultimate long-distance travel tip
One of the most popular long-distance travel destinations at the moment is Costa Rica. The small start in Central America means something like rich coast in German and is a perfect long-distance travel destination for all fans of beach holidays and nature holidays. The country not only has dense jungle, but also beautiful beaches and is known for its rich vegetation.
Getting to Costa Rica is a bit strenuous due to several flight changes. But the long journey is worth it: the country is not only pristine and exotic, but also impresses with the warmth of the locals.
Long-distance travel destinations without mass tourism - do they still exist?
Many people ask themselves whether there are still travel destinations without mass tourism today. And unfortunately the answer to that is: not really. This is really tragic. But definitely understandable. Because of the Internet, insider tips for travel destinations and locations spread so quickly that there are practically no real insider tips left. I was once at a beautiful, remote resort and the owner said to me, “Recommend us. But only to your closest friends!”
There are travel countries and holiday destinations that are a little less in the focus of most holidaymakers. That was it already. Even on the most secluded dream beach, there is guaranteed to be a vacationer who just happened to read the same travel report on the Internet. That might sound like a relatively negative perspective. But the thing about mass tourism is this: the mass tourists are always the others.
We want to claim the extraordinary and discover new places and adventures beyond the beaten path that, if possible, no one has ever seen before us. But that is an illusion. Beautiful travel destinations and mass tourism are mutually dependent. When a place is beautiful, lots of people come. The moment we discover a new place and report about it, sooner or later the good news spreads within the travel community.
So what can you do to still discover travel destinations without mass tourism? Firstly, you can travel outside of the peak season, and secondly, you can choose holiday destinations that are not the focus of most holidaymakers and you can travel anti-cyclically. Most people in Germany travel in the summer. We at Just Wanderlust prefer to travel in winter. At least you will meet fewer tourists from Germany. Whenever travel destinations are particularly hyped, it is already too late. Then you simply have to be quicker and choose long-distance travel destinations that are currently not given much attention.
Experience extraordinary destinations worldwide on long-distance trips
My conclusion
We hope you enjoyed our long-distance travel tips. If you look at the world from a Central European perspective, it is simply huge and exotic. We live in temperate latitudes with seasons defined by spring, summer, autumn and winter. From our point of view, it is hard to imagine how big the world is and that there are places where it is summer when it is winter here. A trip to a long-distance destination allows us to dramatically change our perspective on things.
No matter whether you are going to Southeast Asia, Australia, North America and South America or simply a tour through Russia and the northern part of Asia. The deciding factor is always what you do with each long-distance trip. Do you isolate yourself or do you get to know new people there? Are you really perceiving or are you just taking photos? A dream travel destination, no matter where in the world, can only be as beautiful as you can perceive it. We therefore wish you wonderful and adventurous long-distance journeys with unique adventures and life-changing encounters.
Have you already traveled long-distance or are you currently planning your first further trip? Where have you been? What have you seen? Share your experiences in the comments.
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When reading this article, you want to get on the plane and explore the world. A really great contribution, which has definitely awakened in me the desire to travel.