Special interest holidays are a growing sector in the travel industry. As consumers become more discerning about their travel needs, the travel industry gets more creative about meeting those needs.

	There are now specialty vacations centered on cooking, jazz, bird-watching, comedy, dancing, archaeology, wine tasting, and history, to name just a few.

Many travelers today want a vacation that is more personalized, that taps into their interests, that is an extension of who they are and what they like to do. So it’s not surprising that there are now specialty vacations centered on cooking, jazz, bird-watching, comedy, dancing, archaeology, wine tasting, history, to name just a few. In addition, there are many travel operators that specialize in themed vacations.

The key is, think “outside the box.” Instead of picking a typical destination, then shoe-horning your interests into an itinerary (or bypassing your interests altogether), start with your life’s hobby or passion and build a holiday around that. Chances are, the interest you have will yield a number of destinations or different types of holiday. For example, are you crazy about chocolate? You could attend culinary classes in France, go on a cruise themed around chocolate or tour a cacao plantation in the Dominican Republic. Have you always wanted to learn how to tango? A tango workshop in Argentina would get your feet moving and make for an unforgettable South American vacation.

Don’t settle for a mere holiday to “somewhere.” Zero in on specific activities or subjects that fascinate you. Sure, maybe a cruise would be nice, but maybe a rock ‘n’ roll cruise would be even better! Ask your travel agent about themed cruises tailored to specific niches. Depending on what turns your crank, you could be sailing the high seas playing at a murder-mystery, honing your golf swing, or learning how to play piano. A benefit of this approach is that you’ll meet like-minded people on your trip.

Literary tours have always been popular, since they provide a unique framework for viewing a particular city and its sights. They also offer opportunities to learn more about your favorite author. Two recent books that have created a huge interest in literary travel are The Da Vinci Code and the Harry Potter books. If you devoured either of these works, you could spin your holiday into an extension of the book, traipsing around Paris to look for clues hidden in the Mona Lisa, or riding the Hogwarts Express from Oxford through the Lake District with fellow Potterites. Likewise, if you’re a culture buff, you might like to wear out your walking shoes touring battle sites or following in the footsteps of your favorite painter.

Those looking for a more spiritual travel experience might consider a pilgrimage or religion-based tour. Your spiritual itinerary might take you to ancient and sacred sites of historical interest, famous or remote monasteries and mosques.

Another enjoyable way to tailor-make your vacation is to attend a festival that dovetails with your interests (or obsessions). There are thousands of music festivals all over the world and many likely in your own country. You could be tapping your feet to bluegrass in Santa Fe, taking in fiery dance at the Flamenco Festival in Berlin or weeping into your hankie at the Verona opera festival. But when it comes to festivals, there’s a lot more out there than music. There are also festivals of film, clowning, beer, classic cars, antiques, body painting, cowboy poetry—the list goes on. The advantage of choosing a festival destination is that you can plant yourself in one spot, get to know it well, and absorb a great number of different activities. The usual sightseeing is merely an added bonus.

Those looking for a more spiritual travel experience might consider a pilgrimage or religion-based tour. Your spiritual itinerary might take you to ancient and sacred sites of historical interest, famous or remote monasteries and mosques, or perhaps you’ll find yourself on the dusty pilgrim’s track of the famous Camino de Santiago.

A holiday is what you say it is. With special interest vacations, you are the source of ideas, and your travel agent can help you to plan out the rest and make it happen.