Customization is key to getting exactly what you want out of a travel experience, and when it comes to designing a custom tour, you are your best travel agent.
About ten years ago, I became wildly obsessed with Picasso. I designed a “tour” for myself that would take me to see some of Picasso’s greatest works as well as places where the great artist had spent portions of his life.
It was one of the best travel experiences of my life and I did it without completely breaking the bank.
Of course, it helped that I was living in Europe at the time and could take the train everywhere I wanted to go in France and Spain (this type of tour would have been quite costly had I had to factor in international airfare).
Here are some tips for “curating” your own artistic adventure:
Be clear about your priorities. Do you want to trace the life and work of a specific artist or are you more interested in a general overview of art in, let’s say, Italy? It’s important to determine exactly what the purpose of your trip is before planning it (that’s not to say you won’t discover unexpected gems along the way).
Do your research. Researching the nitty-gritty details (museum opening hours, gallery locations, etc.) will help you make the most of your time while you are traveling.
Bring along a fellow aficionado. Travel is usually more fun and enriching when you can share the experience with someone else. When you are planning a specific type of trip like an art tour, it’s important to find a travel partner who is as passionate about the subject matter as you are.
Soak it all in. You’ve done the research, now it’s time to enjoy the adventure. Make a commitment to yourself to see and experience all of the art that you want to, while still saving time for unexpected artistic adventures.
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