Travel Resolutions For The New Year Ahead

The dawn of a new year is the perfect time to think about what you’d like to do for yourself over the next 12 months. “Travel more” is a popular New Year's resolution, since travel has the capacity to make you happier, healthier, more creative, and inspired. But it isn't a very specific resolution, making it hard to act upon. To help kick off 2018 on the right foot, this week’s Travel Tip Tuesday brings you five specific resolutions for a fantastic year of travel ahead.

Weekend getaways are the perfect opportunity for travelers who are limited on time, pinching pennies, or simply in need of some adventure in the time between their last big trip and the next. Find a new city that’s a quick flight or drive away, and grab your spouse, a couple friends, or even just go solo to discover it. Check out new restaurants and bars, meet new people, and experience new things. Exploring the unknown is an excellent way to gain confidence by extending our boundaries further. By the end of the weekend, you’ll feel invigorated and encouraged to continue exploring new places.

We all have a bucket list. Even if you've never written it down, there are things that each of us hope to accomplish during our lives. You probably have at least one far-flung destination in mind that you want to see. No matter the “what” or “where” on your list, whether it be watching a sunrise over the ocean in Bali, or learning to cook Paella in Valencia, start planning now to make it happen. Strive to cross off at least one such experience, or to at least start working toward taking that trip. It will feel incredible transforming your dreams to reality.

Travel isn’t just about the places you see, it’s about the people with whom you spend time. If there are people you’ve been vowing to visit forever, but it just never seems to work out, make this the year it happens. You’ll get quality time to bond with friends or family while creating memories that will last a lifetime. Meeting new people while exploring the world is also one of the best reasons to travel. Nothing opens your eyes to the world quite like conversations with strangers, and it’s the new friends who always stick in our mind after the trip has ended.

This year, use travel as an opportunity to disconnect a bit from the online world.  Give yourself, and your vacation, the attention they deserve. We can’t suggest that you go completely offline, because you’ll need the Internet for information and communication, but making yourself scarce on social media while on vacation lets you focus more on what and who is around you. Why not savour that fabulous meal instead of Instagramming it first? And your Facebook friends can certainly wait for your vacation pictures.

Live in the moment and embrace each new place that you visit to the fullest, and keep top of mind that travel is not a competition. When we get caught up in the numbers game of who’s been to the most places, we lose sight of what traveling is really all about. Slow down and take the extra time to absorb all that a new destination has to offer. Focus on having an experience rather than merely sightseeing. Attend events, festivals, or other activities. Try your hand at creating your own wine in France, fly fishing in New Zealand, or learning to surf in Hawaii. Get lost exploring off the beaten path, and never be afraid to stray from the guide books.

This New Year’s travel resolution list aims to inspire you to start dreaming about where and how you want to wander in the coming year. Expand your horizons to new experiences, sights, and cultures. Resist allowing fear to get in the way of exploring the unknown. Open yourself up to the invaluable life lessons that can only be learned through travel.

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