We loved Alaska. But sometimes it was a bit like that line from the Gilligan’s Island song – “no phone, no lights, no motorcar, not a single luxury.”

The isolation, the lack of routine roadside services, the lack of wifi, and what appeared to us as pretty constantly wet roads has made us reconsider a motorcycle adventure there for next summer.  I hear you … that’s why people venture to Alaska. It’s one of our last unspoiled places.  But going there in a car with supplies at hand or with a group is an entirely different situation than venturing there alone. On a motorcycle.

We’ll continue to discuss (ahem, Biker), but for now, a few words about considerations when planning a trip. A great trip meets the following criteria:

• It’s someplace you want to go. Enough said.
• You can get there, enjoy it and get back in whatever timeline you have. For those of us still in the work world, that typically means it can fit within a one- to two-week vacation window. For those who are retired, the options open up.
• It needs to be the right time of the year for that locale.  The weather must be good and ideally it won’t be packed with tourists. There are high seasons and low seasons in nearly every popular spot; these impact pricing and crowds. People with kids are usually forced to travel during high season because of school schedules. Those of us whose kids are older can usually find that sweet spot at the turnover from low to high season and when the weather is getting nice at that destination. These “shoulders” can make all the difference in your experience and your cost.
• It needs to meet the needs of those traveling with you. Whomever you’re traveling with should have a say. We used to occasionally do a full-on vote in our family; we would discuss a wide range of options and narrow it down, then everyone would cast a written ballot. It didn’t always work (two for skiing, two for DisneyWorld; tiebreaker? Mom!). But it was fun to discuss and debate, and the boys felt like they had a vote. They’re probably reading this now and saying, “I KNEW it was rigged!”
• It needs to be able to meet your basic needs. I’m not a camping girl. I gave it a good go when our boys were little and in Cub and Boy Scouts. BUT …  I don’t have to do that anymore, so I won’t.  I have stayed in some fine, fine hotels in my business days, but I can also go without all the bells and whistles. However, I do require a roof over my head, some sort of bed structure and a bathroom. And it needs to be relatively clean. These are non-negotiable. Some people can camp, and power to them. Whatever your non-negotiables, stick with them when traveling.
• It has to be someplace safe. Today’s world seems to be getting pretty scary. These last few weeks, there’s a terror-related incident every few days. And beyond that, basic conditions like cleanliness of water, illnesses like Zika, and when you’re a motorcyclist, good road conditions – they’re all a must.
• It needs to fit your budget. This is stated last, but is certainly not last on anyone’s list. Travel can be expensive. But it doesn’t have to be. Look for travel deals, swap a home with someone, think about what’s really important in your trip and put your money there but save on other items.

As for how this impacts our trip next year, we’ll see. With what I saw in Alaska – isolated stretches of road for miles, wet roads, animals wandering close to the roads, and the worst phone service I’ve ever experienced – I’m not exactly comfortable going there on a motorcycle with just me and Biker. And I’m certainly not comfortable with him going alone. Yes, he’s a big boy and should be able to fulfill his dream. Just maybe when a few others want to join.