The 50% Rule

I remember my first summer in Europe so vividly. My college bestie and I, with less than half of the money we needed in our pocket, headed on a three-month adventure. One month in Italy, one in Spain and one in Greece, that was the plan. And that was the whole plan. We had plane tickets and a reservation for that first night in Rome but that was it. We were two 19-year-olds just bubbling with excitement for this trip and with no idea what would unfold.

Looking back it was totally insane, and while I've threatened my bestie (who still carries that same status) that I would write a book about that trip one day, I won't do it here. I bring it up because that is where my 50% rule was born.

We started in Italy and when it was time to leave we were in tears, we both rationalized just staying where we were. It was Italy, how was anything going to be better than this? We were having the best food of our lives, incredible sites, met a bunch of cool young Italians who were showing us the local nightlife and oh, the boys. Interestingly, it was those new friends who encouraged us to get on that train and go. And we did.

Spain followed the same trajectory, until the end. My friend fell in love and would not leave. I did tell you that we were 19, right? Well, after a big blow out, I packed up to head to Greece and begrudgingly, my girl followed. I was thinking the whole time, Greece had better be able to top this or she is going to kill me. Well, it was. After some time in Athens we headed to the Cyclades and just partied our brains out. It was so much fun and so gorgeous, and the boys!

Now the clock was ticking as every gorgeous sunset was bringing us closer to the end of our adventure. Both of us brainstorming how we could stay longer, this time even the locals got in the act. The ideas on the table ranged from ridiculous to illegal. We were out of time and money and a new school year was about to start. It was time to go.

On the plane ride home we both expressed how grateful we were that the powers that be moved us from one amazing locale to another. What we would have missed had we not kept going! And out of that experience, my 50% rule was born.

 Over the next three decades of personal travel that followed, I adhered to the rule - 50% of my trip had to be somewhere new. Whether it was a new neighborhood, a new city, country or continent didn't matter. What mattered to me then and now is that no matter how much I love where I have been (hello Paris, Rome, Tuscany, Venice, Prague, London, etc.) I want to keep my head and my heart open to new experiences; there is always so much more to see, hear, feel.

My advice to clients is to find a way to expand your horizons with every adventure And it doesn't have to upend your trip to the place you love going every year. There are plenty of ways to add some newness to your itinerary.  Add a layover or a day trip out of a major city. For multi-stop tours consider adding train or boat ride or drive to get a different perspective on the area. Those small additions can all inspire you to dig deeper into a location on your next journey.

Need help applying the 50% rule to your upcoming trip? Connect with us today.

Dayla