From repeater to first timer: why it’s good to change your holiday destination from time to time

«We’ve gone to the exact same place a whopping four summers in a row. Sound boring? Well, it is. And that makes it wonderful.» When I wrote those words exactly one year ago, I didn’t know it would be the last summer at our usual destination.

In that article, I was raving about the advantages of knowing your destination like the back of your hand. Convenience was one of them. And it’s a legitimate quality in the holiday context – especially with children.

Fast forward one year and I still fully agree with what I wrote back then. Nevertheless, we, that’s my husband, two daughters aged eight and five and I, took the plunge this year. Quite literally, too. Instead of the Adriatic, we were splashing about in the Atlantic this time. It was gloriously refreshing. And here’s why:

5 reasons to leave the familiar

1. A feast for your senses

Accommodation, food, surroundings: you have no idea what to expect when you get there. Finding out where things are and how everything works. You’ll have to find out after you arrive. What I considered difficult with small children, I found really cool now. Why? Because you all go into explorer mode together. Your senses will be working at full speed, picking up on smells, sounds and colours more intensely than usual.

2. You get more out of your break

As a first timer, it’s all in the name. You’ll experience many things for the first time in your life. This means one adventure follows the next – and adventures are exciting! Routine, on the other hand, tends to make experiences a bit similar. Sure, relaxation will kick in faster if you already know what to expect. However, the days will start to repeat themselves, everything will feel the same and, looking back, you’ll struggle to remember details. This also makes your holidays feel so much shorter. They’ll pass by in a flash. As a first timer, the vacations actually feel longer.

3. Travelling more is like multiple mini holidays

We rented a car and travelled around a European country by car. We stayed at least two nights at every destination to avoid travel stress. It was fascinating that the vacation seemed to start all over again with every change of location. New accommodation, new surroundings, new routines. Even the previous day seemed incredibly far away, simply because so much had been going on in between.

4. You’ll always have something to talk about

Silence at the dinner table is a thing of the past. As a first timer, you’ll be soaking up so many new impressions that you’ll never run out of things to talk about. You’ll also have lots to tell your friends at home afterwards. And they will be genuinely interested. «We spent the holidays at the same Adriatic campsite for the fifth time» just sounds so square and triggers far fewer follow-up questions than «This was our first road trip through Portugal.»

4. Comparing is tricky

Before leaving, I was worried I’d constantly be comparing our new destination with the old and tried-and-tested place. You know, that I’d be regretting not going to the old place as soon as something went wrong. But that’s nonsense. Not once did I compare the old place to the new. Perhaps because it would’ve been like comparing apples to oranges. In fact, I now think repeaters are more prone to be annoyed about things. Namely when that plate of spaghetti vongole you loved so much last time just tasted a little bland, even though you went to the same restaurant. Or when that friendly waitress is unexpectedly grumpy. Or when your favourite ice-cream’s been taken off the menu.

And now for the big question…

… repeater or first timer – which is better? I can’t answer that question for you. After all, I’ve discovered many advantages in both vacation options. And I’d do both in a heartbeat. Besides, it doesn’t really matter anyway. Holidays are holidays and always great anyway. At the moment, only the travel gods know where we’ll be heading next year. If you have a tip, leave it in the comments.