My travel is, and has been for the past 3 years, 99.9% personal. Ten years ago it was 75%/25% work and the ratio slipped towards personal since then even as my total travel amount increased. My total travel expenses are probably more than they should be but not outlandish IMO. And I have quite reasonable costs on other fronts (no kids, no car, etc.) so I am comfortable pushing a significant chunk of my discretionary income to travel. It is a lifestyle choice that I have made.

That said, part of how I choose where I'm going is wherever is cheap. Why did I pick Accra for my trip earlier this month? Because the airfare was <$500 r/t. Plenty of other examples of similar trips I've taken. Only really been disappointed with a destination once based on that approach.