By Graham Townsley, Travel Counsellor
There is always that one moment on a journey when everything else falls away. You round a corner, step onto a balcony, crest a hill, and suddenly: you had me at the view. Your breath catches and you know you will remember it for the rest of your life.
As August arrives many of us are about to take to the skies or seas for our annual escape. It is more than “getting away”. It is pressing pause on routine and pressing play on something far richer: time with the people we love, and memories that last.
Travel: More Than Sun, Sea and Sand
Travel is no longer just beaches and water parks. Inspired by films, box sets and social media, we are becoming more curious and courageous.
Families who once automatically booked a fortnight in the Med are now pulling on cowboy boots and Stetsons, heading to ranches in the USA. Days on horseback, nights around a campfire: still a family holiday, but dialled up to adventure.
A Workout For The Senses
At its best, travel is a full sensory reboot. It switches off the autopilot of everyday life and replaces it with a delicious sense of “wow”.
Think of:
Seeing skylines or landscapes you have only known from a screen
Tasting new flavours and feeling your taste bud’s dance
Walking unfamiliar streets where every corner hints at discovery
Hearing church bells, market chatter or waves instead of notifications
Whether it is white sand between your toes, a great world wonder, or dawn on safari, these are the moments that remind us we are alive. For a long time, safaris or epic trails felt reserved for the few. Increasingly, with thoughtful planning, they are within reach.
Planning Your Own Adventure
So how do you plan a trip that feels truly special? Start by giving yourself permission to daydream.
Ask yourself:
Why this trip, and why now? Birthday, retirement, honeymoon, anniversary, or simply “because”.
What draws you to it? Wildlife, food, history, scenery, or time together?
What is your must-see? Plan as if you may never return and build around that.
For honeymooners, try this: each of you secretly writes down your dream destination and style of trip. Then compare and see how you can weave them together. A few days in one partner’s dream city followed by the other’s dream beach can create something perfectly yours.
Big Trends, Near And Far
You do not have to go to the ends of the earth to find an unforgettable view, but it helps to know where the current magic lies.
Canada is a standout, with dramatic mountains, mirror-still lakes and, if you are lucky, grizzly bears in the wild. Japan and South Korea are also capturing imaginations: neon-lit cities balanced by tranquil temples and walking trails.
Closer to home, Slovenia is finally in the spotlight. Lake Bled, ringed by mountains and crowned with a tiny island church, looks like something from a storybook and pairs beautifully with island-hopping along Croatia’s coast.
Even familiar Spain can be reimagined. Instead of a simple fly-and-flop, consider a road or rail trip through Andalusia. Fly into Malaga, continue to Seville with its Moorish architecture and flamenco, then on to Granada’s Alhambra and the clifftop drama of Ronda before looping back to the sea. The same country, a completely different story.
From Holiday To Adventure
This is the joy of thoughtful planning: turning “just a holiday” into an adventure that challenges your senses and lights up your mind.
If you are already dreaming ahead, remember it does not have to be far-flung to be unforgettable. With the right ideas and care, even a short break can deliver that one perfect instant when you look up and think:
You had me at the view!
www.travelcounsellors.co.uk/graham.townsley