Travel research: Making it easier
In this article
Why do travel research?
For those of us perpetual planners, travel research is a no-brainer – who doesn’t plan their travel?!
Strangely enough, many people dread the idea of spending hours poring through books, websites, Instagram, maps, etc.
In order to get the most out of your time and money spent, it is key to do as much research up-front is possible.
As such, a quote that often comes to mind that hits on why planning is key:
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe” – Abraham Lincoln
As you research, indulge in a little fantasising about what your trip will be like as well.
To get you on your way with your travel research, here are several approaches that will help you out.
Where to go
Let’s assume that you’re choosing destinations from your photography (or travel) bucket list.
Or, you have collected loose recommendations from friends, colleagues, family, celebrities, news articles, etc.
Having a good idea which places you want to see at your destination is very important.
In addition, your travel research will no doubt uncover many more options, possibly too many to cover in one go.
As you delve into your search, consider combining multiple bucket list items.
And if all else fails, leave it to a degree of chance – go onto a flight aggregator website and book a random flight leaving from your nearest airport.
When to travel
Picking your season
Seasonal changes bring unique photographic opportunities.
In some cases, seasons transform otherwise dreary locations into majestic vistas.
Or, a change of season takes a place of beauty and turns it into a heaving mass of humans.
Some locations are renowned for a particular season, such as the Northern states of the United States when leaves change colours during the brief fall (autumn) season.
Another example is Kyoto, in Japan, that is famous for the cherry blossom season in spring each year.
As you are doing your travel research, you’ll find that the photos that most resonate with you are taken at specific times of year.
Picking the right time
Knowing which time(s) of the year are going to appeal to you is crucial.
Travelling at the right time of year will make it easier to reproduce the iconic shots that you may have seen.
Something else to consider is that you’re more likely to be surrounded by like-minded people there to get the same photos.
Coping with crowds and heat
Crowds have a huge impact on when you may choose to go.
For example, cities like Venice in Italy become almost unbearable in the height of summer because it’s the peak tourist season.
If the idea of walking around all day in the baking sun doesn’t quite appeal to you, consider visiting during a cooler time of the year.
As a consequence, it will be less of a heat endurance test and less competition with others to get a good shot.
Key factors for choosing when to visit
Here are some factors for deciding the best time of the year for your trip.
Weather
If a place is known for its beaches, then the logical conclusion is to avoid the middle of Winter.
On the other hand, a beach in the Winter (on a sunny day) is just as pretty.
If you want shots of open swathes of sand, pristine conditions, and clear waves, don’t be afraid to go against the trend and visit during the off-season.
Flight costs
Much of your travel research can end up being devoted to possibly the most expensive part of your trip.
Airlines are very aware of the peak and off-season of a location.
The airline industry will unashamedly price flights according to demand, and reduce reward flight availability as well.
As a yardstick, if the airline is offering a deal, it is most likely for the off- season.
Hotel prices
Similar to the point above, hotels also know when to charge a premium.
However, be careful with using prices as your only gauge.
Hotels will often close their doors to guests for months in the off-season.
As a consequence, those hotels that choose to remain open get to charge whatever they choose.
Where to stay
There are a lot of considerations when researching where you want to stay for a photo trip.
Fortunately, most destinations have a wide range of options (unless you leave booking to the last minute).
Here are some ways to choose the ideal hotel / paid accommodation for your purpose.
Being close to the action
Being close to the places you want to see means being efficient with your time.
It allows you to be specific places during critical times of the day for photos.
As most people are acutely aware, getting out of bed in time for sunrise may be a little more appealing if you don’t have to travel far.
And at the end of the day, you don’t have as far to go to get back to the comfort of a bed.
Pay heed to the law of supply and demand when it comes to accommodation options.
If the “action” happens to be popular (i.e. the demand), you will have to compete for a room (the supply).
When demand outstrips supply, hotels will charge more because they can get away with it.
Staying further out and using public transportation
As a general rule, the further out you are staying, the cheaper the accommodation.
This works well for those on a budget, particularly if most of your activities are not limited at the city centre.
In addition, being further out allows you to stay somewhere that is quieter.
However, you need to consider public transportation if you decided to stay outside the city, unless taxis are cheap.
Walking distances
When evaluating your itinerary and accommodation, consider how much walking you want to be doing.
This includes thinking about the time of year that you are travelling.
Temperatures outside can get unpleasant for long stretches of walking.
In some places, you only want to be outdoors for 5-10 minutes at a time to avoid heat stroke or freezing.
Safety of the area
Tourism zones in most destinations tend to be patrolled by police or private security services.
Especially during the day, you can mostly consider tourism zones to be safe – governments tend to protect their cash cows.
However, the same could not be said of your hotel location.
Make sure you factor in getting taxis to / from your hotel to the places that you want to visit.
If in doubt about the safety of the area, check the online reviews of the hotel.
As a guide, luxury hotel chains tend to be found in the safer parts of a town.
So even if you don’t stay at a luxury hotel, if you stay in the same area it should be a safer option.
Using Google Street View
A tip for getting a sense for an area is to use a tool such as Google Street View as part of your travel research.
The tool allows you to (virtually) walk around a location from the comfort of your chair, and get an idea if you’d feel comfortable being there.
However, bear in mind that photos will be taken in the day in good light.
Using such tools also allows you to assess the claims of a hotel about the “views” that you might be able to get from rooms or the roof terrace.
In some cases, “city view” can actually mean, “you’ll see the building on the other side of the alley, which is also in the city”.
Stay in multiple hotels in the same city
Staying in multiple parts of a city can be the ninja move of your trip.
It allows you to easily reach all of your intended destinations as you are staying nearby.
Moving hotels during the day isn’t generally too difficult.
In fact, often it’s the time of the day where light generally the least flattering.
What to see
There is more to explore in a city than the one iconic structure or popular festival that is taking you there.
Here are some approaches to planning what to do on your trip.
Don’t try to cram it all in during one trip
Don’t forget, you can return to the places you have visited.
Keep this in mind and you are more likely to have a relaxing time.
This will allow you to focus on quality over quantity with your photos.
However, there are some limitations to the idea of being able to return as described below.
Geopolitical changes
War, civil unrest, or changes in government massively impact travel.
This changes places that were once open to tourism to being difficult or impossible to visit.
Or a more mundane reason is that the destination’s government has made it more difficult to obtain visas.
Destruction / erosion
Sadly, famous places can and do deteriorate over time.
Some can completely disappear, or people can be restricted from entry.
A famous example of this is the pyramids of Giza, which once were accessible including climbing to the top.
Budget
Some places like Easter Island, Antarctica, or the North Pole are usually “once in a lifetime” destinations.
Their sometimes eye-watering cost of getting there and back means that you’re likely to visit just once in this lifetime.
There isn’t actually that much to see / photograph
Unlike all of the above reasons, this is somewhat more subjective.
If there are only a few things to see, you can cover them in your first visit of a few days instead of returning.
However, you’re more likely to come to this conclusion once you’re on the ground.
Otherwise, why would you visit in the first place!
Travel research search terms
Here are some ways to find more information about the place that you’re intending to visit:
Animals and birds
If you’re looking for cute photos of kittens and puppies, look no further than Instagram or Google.
If you’re interested in a wider variety of animals, look for the following places in your chosen destination:
- Zoos and animal sanctuaries are excellent places to see animals of all shapes and sizes up close.
- Wildlife parks / wetlands areas – these may require greater patience and better timing, however you’ll have the satisfaction of capturing animals “in the wild”.
Architecture
Your interest in architecture for a location may be for specific building / style, a period of history, or the general feel of a location.
The following are ways to help build a list of places to check out:
- Look for “{destination} famous buildings”.
- Google Maps, including Google Street View, to home in on whether the buildings are in line with your expectations (to justify a trip).
Costumes / clothing
Depending on the location, traditional clothing may be worn all of the time, or only donned for festivals.
For example, you are going to encounter people wearing traditional kimono outfits in major Japanese cities on any given day (often just to pose for photos).
However, you’d only expect to see Munich residents bedecked in lederhosen during the Oktoberfest festival.
Check out the Festivals section below for more information.
If your interest lies in period costume, armour, special garments, etc. then check out the following in your chosen destination:
- Arts and / or design museums
- War museums
- Museums (general)
- Monuments / Historic buildings
- Historical societies
Festivals
For recurring events, the following ways can help you find out details for festivals and what conditions for taking photos:
- Look for “{destination} festival”, or “{destination country} national holidays”.
- Travel agencies should also be able to tell you about major festivals in a location.
Food / drink / local traditions
A core feature of most cultures the food and drink consumed by locals, and invariably is closely tied to local traditions as well.
This is a great way to bring depth to photo stories from your trips.
Check out the following for types of food / drink to seek out:
- Cookbooks specialising in the cuisine of the country / location of interest
- Restaurant reviews for the destination, as simple as looking for “{destination} restaurant review”
- Beer – “{destination} brewery”
- Whisky / gin – “{destination} distillery”
- Wine – “{destination} winery”
Historical locations / history
If you are looking for “generalist” history for a location, the following can be great resources:
- Museums
- National monuments / war memorials
- Historical societies
Landscapes and nature
Usually, the landscape is the destination in itself.
This includes natural features such as lakes, national parks, and mountain ranges.
If you’re heading to a built-up area, or you are unsure about your destination, look online for search terms including “viewpoint”, “landscape”, “nature” and “park”.
Natural events
Natural events run the gamut of phenomena from Northern (and Southern) lights, solstices, eclipses, king tides, and seasonal flooding.
Some great resources for learning more about where to capture natural events in an area are:
- Geographic societies
- Astronomical societies
- National parks services
People
Presumably, you’re interested in photographing something more specific than “people walking down the street”?
Take a look at the following places / events are going to improve your odds of capturing people in action:
Festivals / special events
It might be an idea to plan your whole trip around an event that you want to be present for.
Crowds will form, often wearing traditional dress.
Look for public holidays in the location that you’re visiting, as they tend to coincide with big events.
Town squares
You’ll find that town squares are often surrounded by train stations, city halls, or other places of cultural significance.
Public transport hubs
This includes bus depots, main train stations, airports, seaports / piers.
Markets
The variety of markets in a destination includes fresh produce, flea markets, etc.
Permanent markets tend to operate all week, otherwise weekends are more likely to be busy (and so more people to photograph).
Key takeaways
Travel research can feel daunting, or perhaps sometimes, a little boring or tedious.
Done right however, and you’ll feel that you’re accomplishing much more on your trips.
There will always be events that can disrupt the best laid plans, and you just have to roll with them.
Having the long list of things to see and do allows you to scan through this list again and dynamically switch up your plans.
Lastly, keep in the back of your mind that you can return another time, or for another season.
