16 Ways to Keep Your New Year’s Resolution to Travel More

This is the year, you’re going to do it, you’re going to take that big trip you’ve been dreaming of; it’s absolutely resolute! Now that you’ve made it one of your New Year’s Resolutions, how do you ensure you keep your plans to travel more? Well, here are 16 ways:

1. Pick a Place: Check online for some of the top travel lists of the year, and check to be sure they are safe to travel to at the time. Be specific on your destination, don’t just say you will go to Europe or Australia. Pick a city, pick a hotel, pick your room.
2. Pick a Date: Again, don’t be vague on when you will go. If you want to go to Brussels in June, pick the arrival and departure day in advance. This will make the trip more real and doable for you in the meantime.
3. Call off Work: Even if your trip isn’t until November, it’s a great idea to ask off as soon as you start planning, ensuring you will have the time off and no work-related issues when the time comes.
4. Tell Everyone: Tell your friends, family, coworkers, and even social media about your plans, again making them more concrete and doable for you.
5. Ask for Advice: Ask fellow travellers you know about funding and travelling advice, or maybe even contact your local travel agency for extra help (wink wink).
6. Price your Trip: Price every aspect of your trip, from sleeping accommodations and round trip transportation to attraction cover charges and appropriate tips while eating out!
7. Sacrifice: Set monthly travel fund goals and make small sacrifices to reach them. For instance, skip out on that Monday morning coffee from Starbucks or that Friday night theater trip!
8. Pre-Book: Lay something on the line to ensure that you will go on the trip, as in booking a hotel, flight, or city tour in advance. This will really invest you in the long term goal and ensure that you will go as planned.
9. Check Passport: Check to see if your passport is up-to-date and if it is not update it/apply for one as soon as you can.
10. Research Visa Requirements: Be sure you have all the visas you may need for your destination, and perhaps apply for a frequent flier credit card before your trip as well.
11. Make Copies of Documents: Be sure to make a couple copies of your important travel documents, as well as making backups on your phone, computer, or laptop in case of an emergency.
12. See your Doctor: See your local doctor in plenty of time before your trip to get up to speed on any needed immunizations or prescription medicines needed for the trip.
13. Buy a Travel Guide: Buy a destination appropriate travel guide and start your research now, you can never know too much when it comes to travelling. Research street names and local slang/ phrases you will need upon arrival.
14. Immerse Yourself: Immerse yourself into the culture you will be going to; take a language course, try the cuisine, and learn the popular hang outs!
15. Travel in the Meantime: Just because you are planning a big trip doesn’t mean you can’t practice for it in the meantime! Travel around your own city and take as many weekend trips as you can, preparing your inner travel bug for your adventure.
16. Photo Immersion: Print off photos of the place you are going to and post them around your office, classroom, and home. This will get you excited on a daily basis for the trip and even further ensure that you will be keeping your travel resolution.