Where in the World Should You Go? Take the 20-Question Travel Test

What are ten places in the world you would love to visit?

At first, I thought I could simply write down ten destinations.

Ireland. Italy. Austria. Perhaps Japan.

But choosing a destination is not always that simple.

Some people travel for rest. Others travel for adventure. Some want beaches and sunshine, while others would happily wander through old churches, historic neighborhoods, village markets, gardens, and buildings that have stood for centuries.

I realized that I did not merely want a list of famous places.

I wanted to know which places might speak to me.

Where might I see something that changes how I understand history, faith, creativity, other people, or even myself?

So instead of beginning with ten destinations, I began with twenty questions.

You can answer them too.

The 20-Question Travel Test

Write down your answers as you go. There are no wrong answers, and “all of the above” is perfectly acceptable.  The more details you give the better your answers will be. You will be surprise where your next adventure might be.

1. What do you most hope to gain from traveling?

Faith, family history, beauty, adventure, rest, cultural understanding, creativity, self-discovery, or something else?

2. How do you prefer to discover a place?

By seeing the environment, listening to stories, talking with local people, reading about its history, participating in activities, or quietly observing?

3. Which settings attract you most?

Historic cities, small villages, beautiful countryside, mountains, forests, deserts, coastlines, islands, or working harbors?

4. What do you naturally photograph?

People, older buildings, churches, gardens, landscapes, food, animals, markets, signs, doors, windows, or everyday life?

5. Do you prefer places that feel deeply preserved and traditional, or places where modern and historic life are mixed together?

6. Which atmosphere appeals to you?

Grand and majestic, humble and lived-in, peaceful and rural, colorful and lively, mysterious and ancient, or a combination?

7. Which periods of history interest you most?

Biblical history, ancient civilizations, medieval life, family and ancestral history, the Renaissance, the 1700s and 1800s, or the modern era?

8. Which would disappoint you more?

A destination that feels overly commercialized, or one that is beautiful but offers little history or culture?

9. Would you rather stay in one region and explore it deeply, or visit several destinations during the same journey?

10. Do you prefer talking with local people, observing quietly, or doing both?

11. Which local experiences interest you?

Traditional food, music, storytelling, religious customs, crafts, architecture, farming, gardens, markets, festivals, or family life?

12. Would you rather explore your own ancestry or learn how a completely different culture understands life?

13. How comfortable are you traveling where you do not speak the language?

Would you enjoy the challenge, prefer a guide, rely on translation tools, or choose destinations where communication is easier?

14. What kind of weather makes travel most enjoyable for you?

Cold and snowy, cool and crisp, mild spring weather, warm sunshine, tropical heat, or changing seasons?

15. How would you most enjoy traveling between destinations?

Train, guided bus, rental car, river cruise, ocean cruise, walking, or a combination?

16. Would you rather take a purpose-driven trip or an open-ended journey?

A purpose trip might focus on faith, ancestry, history, food, art, or craftsmanship. An open-ended trip leaves more room for unexpected discoveries.

17. Rank these four qualities in order of importance:

Visual beauty, historical importance, emotional meaning, and ease and comfort.

18. Where would you rather stay?

A historic inn, a family-owned guesthouse, a farmhouse, a monastery retreat, a modern hotel near the old town, or a comfortable cruise cabin?

19. How much activity and how many people feel right?

Quiet streets, a lively market, a small festival, a religious procession, a busy city, or a major international event?

20. What would you most like to bring home?

Beautiful memories, new understanding, creative ideas, a stronger connection to your faith or ancestry, greater appreciation for another culture, or a changed understanding of yourself?

Now Let Artificial Intelligence Suggest Your Destinations

Once you have answered the questions, copy your answers and place them beneath the prompt below.

You can use ChatGPT or another AI assistant.

Copy-and-Paste Travel Prompt

Based on my answers to the twenty travel questions below, recommend the ten places in the world I would most enjoy visiting.

Do not simply give me the ten most popular tourist destinations.

Look for places that match my interests, personality, preferred pace, comfort level, climate preferences, historical interests, and reasons for traveling.

Include a mixture of well-known and less obvious destinations. Avoid places that are overly commercialized unless there is a quieter way to experience them.

For each recommendation, explain:

1. Why the destination fits me
2. What I would most enjoy seeing, hearing, or experiencing
3. The best towns, neighborhoods, or nearby regions for me
4. The best season to visit
5. Whether I would benefit from a guide, train journey, cruise, or organized tour
6. Any physical demands, safety concerns, language difficulties, or large crowds I should consider

After listing the ten destinations, identify my three strongest matches and explain what I might discover about myself in each one.

Here are my answers:

[Paste your twenty answers here.]

What My Questions Revealed

My own answers showed that I am not searching for a beach vacation.

I do not mind being near the water. I would enjoy sitting on a pier, watching boats, visiting a harbor, or exploring a fishing village. I simply do not need to spend the day sitting in the sand. Sand has a remarkable ability to become an uninvited traveling companion.

I am drawn to historic cities, small villages, and beautiful countryside.

I like seeing and observing people, buildings, landscapes, and ordinary life. I take photographs of older buildings because I admire what people created in the past. Their work often reveals patience, ingenuity, faith, beauty, and a willingness to build something that might outlast them.

I prefer places that still feel traditional rather than destinations transformed into rows of souvenir shops.

I enjoy grandeur and simplicity. I want to see cathedrals and cottages, palaces and workshops, historic squares and small village streets.

I want to hear stories, observe local customs, taste traditional food, listen to music, visit gardens, study craftsmanship, and understand how people have lived.

I do not need physically demanding adventures. Mount Kilimanjaro may continue without me.

A train journey sounds wonderful. So does a guided bus tour or a scenic cruise. I like the idea of learning while I travel rather than struggling to understand where I am and what I am seeing.

I prefer cooler, springlike, or autumn weather, although my husband enjoys warmer weather. Our ideal destination may need to negotiate a small meteorological peace treaty.

Most importantly, I want to return with more than photographs.

I want beautiful memories, new understanding, creative ideas, and perhaps a changed sense of myself.

That is the real gift of travel.

We leave home to see somewhere else.

Sometimes, along the way, we see ourselves more clearly too.

Post your answers so I can see where you are destined to go.