How to Achieve the New Year’s Resolution to “Travel More"

If you’re one of those people who made a New Year’s resolution to “travel more,” we’ll let you in on a little secret: it probably won’t happen. If your New Year’s resolution isn’t specific and focused on what you can control, it will be hard to achieve. 

There is good news, though! If you want to travel more in 2024, there’s still time to make an actionable New Year’s resolution that you’re much more likely to achieve. Let’s dive in. 

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Start Big, Like Continental Big

If you know you want to travel more but you’re not sure exactly where you want to go, start by narrowing down your options. First, consider the continents. This is a test of your geography knowledge… there are how many continents? 

Seven! North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and Antarctica. Based on the names alone, which one sounds the most enticing? (And don’t rule out Antarctica. There are more tours than ever before visiting this cold tundra.)

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What’s Your Travel Style

Once you’ve narrowed down your continent, take a moment to consider what type of traveler you are. Are you an adventure-seeking, itinerary-crusher who wants to see and do as much as possible? Are you a go-with-the-flow, play-it-by-ear visitor who enjoys a mix of sightseeing and relaxing? Are you a hang-by-the-water, cold-drink-in-your-hand kind of tourist who wants to do nothing on vacation?

Knowing this about yourself will help determine where and when you go on your trip.

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Country to Country

Now that you know what continent you’d like to visit and what kind of traveler you are, take a look at the countries on that continent. Unless you’ve chosen Australia or Antarctica, you’re going to have many options from which to choose. Consider not only countries you’ve heard of before, but ones that may not have been on your radar. It can be helpful to research which countries are the most popular for visitors, why, and what kind of activities you can expect to partake in while visiting. 

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When’s the Best Time to Visit

After selecting a country, research the best time to visit that country based on your goals for the trip. If you want to spend all day on the beach reading, visiting a tropical destination during the rainy season isn’t a good idea. If you enjoy sightseeing and walking around outside, a warm-weather country might not be the best choice in the middle of the summer. Don’t forget to consider airline prices, hotel prices and your work schedule. 

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Choose Your Location

Now that you have an idea of where you want to visit and when it’s important to narrow down your trip even further. What location within that country would you like to visit? Are you headed to the capital city to explore museums, restaurants and the culture? Are you headed to a forgotten corner of the country to be in nature and see native wildlife? Would you like to visit a variety of places? In determining where to go, don’t forget to consult travel books, websites and even social media to get a sense of your options. Sometimes you’ll make a discovery that can change the trajectory of your trip!

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Put It on the Calendar

Now that you’ve picked a general itinerary, it’s time to lock it into the calendar. Determine what dates you want to go and start deconflicting your plans with other stakeholders in your life. Once your trip is on the calendar, it’ll be easier to start planning in earnest what you want to do on your vacation! 

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Wherever you travel in 2024, we hope you have a fun and safe journey.