New Year’s Resolutions for Travellers

The inordinate number of food comas around the US that inevitably accompany Thanksgiving and Christmas are behind us, which means it is time to think about the new year.

We’ve already helped you take care of Christmas with a list of Gifts for the Traveller in Your Life and the Best Christmas Markets in Europe – now we are here to help you prepare for when the question of New Year’s Resolutions starts popping up.

We know there are different kinds of travellers out there, from one-trip wonders through to expatriates who make whole new lives abroad, so we’ve created resolutions specific to each kind of Amigo.

For Beginner Travellers 

1.) Visit a new country

Yes, this one is pretty standard, but for those who are just starting out it’s the natural path – adding new stamps to your passport, learning to ace airport security and how to navigate a new place, trying foods you never thought you would, meeting more people than you usually meet in a year, and returning home a different person.

2.) Become a packing expert

Packing is an essential part of any travel, whether it be for a weekend, three months’ study abroad or six months of backpacking. Every trip is slightly different, requiring adjustments to content accounting for climate and weight, difficult footwear decisions, and excessive hesitation over toiletries, not to mention the art of the perfect carry-on.

Streamlining your packing process will make the days leading up to departure more enjoyable, help you to remember everything you need, and makes fast packing on the road racing the check-out clock easier.

For Intermediate Travellers 

1.) Do a trip outside your comfort zone

Maybe you’ve travelled a lot through Europe and consider you’ve seen a thing or two, but there remain continents you have yet to navigate your compass toward. Set your sights on destinations you might have been avoiding because they are unknown – do some research and learn what travel in those areas is like. Once the plane lands you’ll feel that travel bug venom flare up and it will be all the more exhilarating.

Alternatively, spice up your travel with an activity that pushes you out of your comfort zone, whether it’s a hike in the Swiss Alps, bungy jumping in New Zealand, running the New York Marathon or trying skiing for the first time in Japan.

2.) Travel with purpose

Most of us begin as map-touting tourists, with our parents or a bunch of friends, following an itinerary designed to showcase those places deemed most worthy for gaining a surface understanding. But after you’ve successfully made your way from one side of London to the other on the Tube, stood on top of the Eiffel Tower, or enjoyed a cocktail on your first tropical getaway, you begin to crave the less-beaten track.

A great way to original-ise your travel is to structure your trips more around your interests: Add a couple of days to your itinerary to go to Connecticut and see the celebrated Mark Twain’s house and museum, splurge on a ticket to see FC Barcelona play live in front of you, or help out at an animal sanctuary as part of your visit to Thailand or Cambodia.

Even better, sign up for some volunteer travel and an experience you’ll never forget.

For advanced travellers

1.) Dedicate more time to documenting your experiences

So many of us promise to journal our way through a holiday, write postcards or keep our blog updated, but those good intentions often fall by the wayside as we are wrapped up in our journey.

Writing is not for everyone – some might choose photography, collect particular souvenirs from every destination, or make videos. Whatever adventure documenting method you choose, resolve to put a little bit more effort into it this year. Maybe that means completing a photobook of each trip rather than leaving them waiting to be created for six months, editing your videos into something fun your family and friends can enjoy, or writing postcards – and sending them!

2.) Call home more often

Even with the technology, keeping in touch with loved ones at home can feel difficult to factor in to a difficult schedule of visiting famous landmarks, eating delicious new food or learning to windsurf on a tropical beach, but your mum wants to know that you are safe and well. All travellers have been guilty of not calling their parents as often as they should, or of neglecting their friend at home’s message for too long.

Balance is important – you don’t want to miss out on that amazing sunset over the ocean because you’re too busy on Skype – but most of us could probably stand to put in a bit more effort on this one.

Time to start planning your travel for 2016? Browse our range of tours – including adventurous tours for those ready to step out of their comfort zone – here.