A useful travel resolution changes a behavior you control. “Travel more” is too vague. “Move $50 into a travel fund every payday” or “put all vacation days on the calendar by February 1” creates a decision you can repeat and measure.
Choose two or three resolutions from this list – not all 16. Make the first action small enough to complete this week, then track one number that tells you whether the habit is working.
| Resolution | First action | Simple measure |
|---|---|---|
| Build a travel fund | Create an automatic transfer | Balance added each month |
| Use your vacation days | Block tentative dates now | Days scheduled and taken |
| Take slower trips | Remove one hotel change | Average nights per stop |
| Travel locally | Save three nearby ideas | Local trips completed |
| Pack lighter | Test one carry-on-only trip | Bags checked per trip |
| Support local businesses | Save independent options | Share of trip spending kept local |
Turn a resolution into a travel system
Use this template:
I will [specific behavior] at [frequency or deadline]. My first action is [small step]. I will track [one measure]. I will review it on [date].
Example: “I will transfer $75 to my travel account every payday. My first action is creating the transfer today. I will track the monthly balance and review it on April 1.”
Top New Year’s Resolutions to Dedicated to Travel
Ditch Your Comfort Zone Once And For All
It’s easy to get into the habit of going to the same places and doing the same things. There’s a level of comfort in this routine that helps us relax and let the world pass us by for a while, but there’s not much adventure in the same old routine, is there?
For this year, why not resolve to ditch your comfort zone for at least one trip and do something completely the opposite of what you would do? Try skydiving for the first time. Go on an overnight backpacking trip. Bungee jumps off a tall bridge in Idaho. Confront a fear.
In doing so, maybe you’ll be able to find a new routine and a different level of comfort every year. This is one of my favorite travel tips because it allows me to find a new destination each year to escape the norms of everyday life.
See Related: Best Bungee Jumping Locations in the World
Create a Brand New Travel Fund For Trips
The cost is one of the biggest reasons families do not go on an adventure. This New Year’s resolution is big because if you want to travel, you must plan and start saving immediately.
From flights to gas prices to hotels, an investment of several thousand dollars is often needed for a traveling adventure. This year, designate a portion of each paycheck you earn toward a Travel Fund that you only access when you take a trip somewhere.
Whether you save $10 or $200 every month, as long as you are saving something, you’ll have more money available to help you explore more of the outdoors [or indoors] when you get away.
That’s also where a cheap flight newsletter like Going.com can come in handy. You’ll get great flight deals directly to your email inbox, enabling you to travel more without costing more money.
Forget What the Travel Sites Say
An itinerary can help make an adventure stay on time and the course. Still, there’s not much exploring or adventure involved when you’ve got four hours to go hiking before coming back into town to meet your dinner reservation, right?
Sometimes, it is more fun to plan a trip to a specific location, book your room or campsite, and proceed without any more plans. Talk to the area’s residents to see what is fun to do.
Ask for advice about the best local restaurants the travel sites might not have heard of yet. Become a local instead of a tourist!
See Related: GoWild! With Frontier’s New All You Can Fly Pass
Don’t Overlook the Educational Attractions
Every community has at least one museum or historical society to help you learn more about the region, its residents, and what makes it so special. Larger cities often have museums for other educational opportunities like science, engineering, or aeronautics.
Children’s museums can even help the kids play and learn simultaneously! It’s not just museums that provide educational opportunities; aquariums, zoos, and other parks can provide a great time for everyone.
Take an impromptu trip.
Have you wanted to travel more but don’t know how to make it happen? One of the best ways to jumpstart your travel goals is to take an impromptu trip.
If the resolution is to travel more without spending more, the destination does most of the work – our list of cheap places to travel is the place to start.
All you need is your credit card, a passport, and cash, and you’re ready! While it may seem daunting initially, planning a trip can be enough to excite you about the upcoming adventures.
Being impulsive and spontaneous makes you more likely to have amazing experiences you’ll remember forever. So what are you waiting for? Start planning that impromptu trip right now!
Spend more time outside.
You’re less likely to hear of people committing crimes while lounging on their front lawns: spending time outside can help you sleep better, live longer, eat healthier, and save money.
Plus, it’ll break your mind from the constant buzz of technology that we often let dictate our lives. Spending more time outside has many benefits, from reducing stress to boosting creativity and happiness. If you’re looking for ways to improve your well-being, spending more time in nature is a great place to start.
Have an Adventure By Giving Back Something
Many organizations offer volunteer trip opportunities where you can see the world but work during your trip.
You might be able to drill a well for a village in Africa, help rebuild a home in Haiti, or even teach your native language in Bangladesh to school children who don’t have a teacher to help them learn.
These volunteer trips often cost just as much as a vacation, but there is also something very rewarding about traveling with a purpose beyond getting away from the stresses of life for a while.
Learn to say “yes” more.
Saying yes to new experiences, people, ideas, and foods is the key to a more exciting life. Whether you’re at home or on vacation, chances are something is going on that you don’t normally do.
So why not say yes? Try going out with friends one night instead of staying in your pajamas; go hiking with your partner instead of watching Netflix.
Try eating dishes from different countries in your neighborhood than what you usually order at restaurants (this can be hard but rewarding!).
Don’t Be Afraid of a Simple Day Trip
Sometimes, a big adventure is just not affordable. That doesn’t mean you still can’t experience an adventure you haven’t done before! With a simple day trip, you can still get away for a day or two and do something new within your local community.
Maybe you’ve always wanted to go to sea to watch whales but have never managed to. Or maybe there’s a nearby park you’ve always wanted to see but never made it there.
Grab a map, see what’s nearby, and then plan a quick trip to explore your local area. You’ll likely be amazed.
Travel with purpose.
Travel should be about gaining knowledge, making a difference, and learning about yourself and others. Ask yourself: Why am I traveling? What do I want to learn from this trip?
How can my travels impact others in positive ways? Traveling with a purpose makes your experience more meaningful and fulfilling. For example, if you’re interested in learning about other cultures, you might seek opportunities to volunteer with local organizations or participate in homestays.
If you want to make a difference, you could seek travel experiences focusing on sustainable tourism or working with underprivileged communities.
And if you’re seeking personal growth, you might travel solo or explore new activities outside your comfort zone. By traveling with a purpose, you can ensure your experience is rich and rewarding – for yourself and the world around you.
Utilize Technology To Its Fullest
From GPS locators to Google reviews, dozens of apps on the App Store or Google Play for Android will help you discover the best of what a local community offers with just a few button pushes.
With online travel forums, you can interact with like-minded people before you take a trip so that you know what places are fun to explore, what places are safe, and what places you might wish to avoid.
This can help you to maximize your traveling experience while avoiding the traps of disappointment that traveling can sometimes bring.
Don’t be afraid to explore solo.
Solo travel can be a great way to meet new people – especially locals. You may find yourself in a situation where you’re at a cafe or restaurant, and there are only one or two other patrons around, but they’re locals.
If you start a conversation with them, chances are good that you’ll get some great tips for your next destination (or even discover an amazing place to visit).
Additionally, solo travelers are often on their own because they want to do things in the places they visit that aren’t necessarily available on group tours.
Perhaps it’s visiting an art gallery that your friends don’t know about, going off-roading in an old jeep near the beach, or learning to surf with the local experts. Whatever it is, chances are good there will be other solo travelers with similar interests.
Pack As Little As Possible
Taking a trip when you’re fully prepared for anything can bring peace, but it also means you’re likely lugging a ton of luggage around. Instead of packing several suitcases, travel light and only take the bare necessities.
A few changes of clothes, your toiletries, comfortable shoes, a camera, and maybe a hat are really what most people need for a good adventure! If you find that you do need something else, it’s easy enough to pick up things that you might need as you travel.
Seek out new cuisines or cultures.
Trying new things, including food, is one of the best parts of travel! So, seek out a new cuisine or culture when exploring a new place. Ask friends for their favorites, search for fun recommendations on Instagram, and even ask locals if there are any hidden gems around town.
And don’t forget to try the local fare when you’re in a new city – you might discover something you love. Eating at home with friends or family members who have different tastes than yours can also be a great way to learn about new dishes.
Allow For Transition Days After Your Adventure
Returning to your normal daily routine after a long traveling adventure is hard. That’s what makes slow travel so great, but if you can’t focus on slow travel. That’s okay.
Allow yourself a transition day or two at home after your trip to prepare yourself physically and mentally for your return to your daily responsibilities, especially if you are returning from a longer international travel journey.
These buffer days at home will help you be more productive as you return to work, make the transition back out of adventure less painful, and give you a chance to relive the memories that you just made.
Give back to the places you’ve been or are visiting this year.
Giving back to the places you’ve been or are visiting this year is a great way to stay connected to what matters most. You can donate to a charity or volunteer at a local organization.
You can also be a good tourist by not littering, respecting wildlife and other people around you, and being kind and thoughtful in your interactions with others.
Being a good neighbor means being friendly, helpful, and understanding others’ needs. Being a good citizen means paying attention to politics affecting everyone’s lives (like climate change and eco-friendly accommodation) and ensuring our local community thrives economically through education initiatives like after-school programs for kids who need them most.
And finally, being a good person means living your life with compassion for yourself and others – no matter where they come from!
We hope you enjoyed this round-up of these New Year’s travel resolutions and tips. Now that we’ve given you some ideas and inspiration, it’s time to get out there and make those resolutions come true. Don’t miss the latest travel news, tips, and tricks. Sign up for our free travel newsletter today.
Traveling more without flying more is a resolution worth keeping on its own terms, and our roundup of alternatives to flying shows which routes genuinely work overland.
FAQs
What are some popular New Year’s travel resolutions?
Some great New Year’s travel resolutions include visiting a new country, traveling solo, learning a new language, reducing your carbon footprint, taking a road trip, volunteering abroad, and backpacking.
What is a good travel resolution?
A good resolution is specific, measurable and within your control, such as automating savings, scheduling vacation days or reducing the number of hotel changes on a trip.
How many travel resolutions should I choose?
Two or three is enough. A small set of repeated behaviors is more likely to survive than a long list started in January and forgotten by February.
What is a responsible travel resolution?
Choose a behavior you can verify: spend more with locally owned businesses, reduce unnecessary short-haul flights where good alternatives exist, respect local rules and reduce waste.
How can I travel more without spending much more?
Use vacation days deliberately, take nearby trips, travel in lower-demand periods, stay longer in fewer places and automate a dedicated travel fund.
Related Resources
