If you’re looking for a simple hack to improve your mood, go on a vacation. It’s like hitting the reset button on your life.
The only thing better than going on a holiday to forget your troubles, refresh your mind, and give you a whole new perspective on everything is vacationing in an exotic locale.
Where would you go? What would you do? Here are three ideas to spark your imagination:
1. Dubai: Indulge in the Ultramodern Experience
Billions have been pumped into sprouting an entire city out of the desert in a few short decades to make it a tourist haven. Dubai is an island city-state in the United Arab Emirates. It’s a city of extravagant hotels and ultramodern malls; it’s not hyperbolic to say it has the most breathtaking skyline in the world. Burj Khalifa in Downtown Dubai has 163 floors, making it the tallest building in the world. Meanwhile, the Marina has four of the tallest residential buildings on earth.
There is always plenty to do in Dubai:
If you enjoy a good round of golf, you should golf in Dubai – because it has some of the best courses in the world.
If you love skiing, then you can earn bragging rights for skiing in the desert. The indoor ski resort has 5 slopes and the first 400-meter indoor black run. It’s huge: 22,500 sq meters and 85 meters high. Ski Dubai is part of the Mall of the Emirates, which is the world’s largest shopping mall.
And if you love shopping, then you can buy almost any high-end product at the Dubai Mall, one of the most sophisticated malls on the planet. There are also a number of traditional marketplaces: the Gold Souk sells gold jewelry; the Spice Souk sells exotic spices; the Perfume Souk sells exquisite bottled scents, and the Textile Souk sells a variety of cloths.
A cosmopolitan city, this multi-cultural melting pot is home to an estimated 200 different nationalities, most coming from abroad. Consequently, as you might expect, you can sample a wide range of ethnic cuisines: Arab, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, French, and so on.
Besides fine dining, other things you can do in Dubai include sunbathing on the beautiful beaches, viewing the entire island from the Burj Khalifa, going on a boat tour, or enjoying your favorite water sport.
2. Athens and Rome: Revisit the classical past
Much of the origins of western philosophy are attributed to Greek civilization. For a taste of the ancient past, visit Athens. Walk up the steep Acropolis and go to the Parthenon. The Acropolis museum has a floor constructed of clear plexiglass so you can see the excavation of the sites below.
Meanwhile, Rome is credited with creating a legacy of innovations that have contributed to our modern world. Today, Rome is a fast-paced city like any other flourishing European city. But behind the veneer of beautiful hotels, trendy restaurants, and stylish storefronts, you can still glimpse remnants of the ancient city founded by the mythical twin brothers, Romulus and Remus, who were ostensibly nursed by a wolf and fathered by a god of war. Visit the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the museums. The Vatican Museums house some of the most venerable art in the world.
3. The Amalfi Coast: Step Out of Time
The Amalfi Coast is so breathtakingly beautiful that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors often say it is like finding heaven on earth. This Italian coastline in Campania region consists of 34 miles of gorgeous terrain. Soaring coastal cliffs overlook pastel-colored seaside towns which face the calming, turquoise waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Visitors walking along the verdant high mountain paths have described the view as “spellbinding.”
The quaint seaside towns are connected to the SS163 highway, which offers one of the best scenic drives in the world. Each town has its own unique charm. Positano has luxurious resorts. Amalfi is rich in maritime history. Revello has ancient villas. Praiano has secluded beaches. Minori is world famous for serving the oldest pasta dishes in the world. And Cetera has an ancient tower whose construction is credited to the mythical Hercules himself.
Within a few days (or weeks) of visiting one or more of these beautiful places around the world, you will begin to see everything differently. This short list is just the beginning. There’s also Grenada, Cape Town, and Hawaii to consider next. After a time of feeling refreshed, you’ll discover that the things that frustrated you no longer bother you. You may even be delighted to find spontaneous answers emerge to put your biggest worries to bed.