"Travel more" is one of the most popular New Year's resolution for someone to make. In fact, according to data pulled from Google by iQuanti, there were 5,964,130 travel resolution-related searches from January-October 2016.
But as we all know, resolutions unfortunately have a tendency to fail. A lot of people make them with just a general idea of what they want, but no direction on how to achieve it. But to "travel more" is a relatively simple resolution, and a highly rewarding one. And let's be honest, it's more fun than "eating healthier" or "working out."
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As an avid traveler with quitelimited funds, I want to arm you with the best tools of making your 2017 resolution a reality.
Write a bucket list
Travel can be so general, so create a physical bucket list (not just in your mind) of places that you want to go that range from local spots to faraway lands. Make the list as long as you want; these are places that you want to see over your lifetime, you don't need to fit every single one in 2017.
Show off where you've gone already
Get a scratch-off map or create a check list to put on display in your room. It allows you to be proud of where you've gone so far and excited about how much more there is to see.
Create a travel fund
Like I said, my funds are unfortunately limited, so I need to save in order to make these trips. Create a separate travel fund, whether it's a bank account or a piggy bank, that you contribute to. Dedicate what you can put into it, maybe it's $20 per paycheck or if you receive holiday or birthday money from relatives make it go directly in there. No shopping with this money - getting to see a new place is much more exciting than a new dress!
Sign up for travel newsletters
My inbox is flooded with a ton of junk mail from all the contests and sweepstakes I sign up for, but I do have a few gems in there. Newsletters from renowned travel brands, like Conde Nast and Travel + Leisure, and dedicated discount flight services, like Fly Glitch, often feature hotel deals and flight glitches. If you just have a general idea of where and when you want to go, don't be afraid to jump on a deal. I recently booked a round trip to Dublin thanks to one of these.
Have long-term travel plans
The long-term plans are typically bigger; you need plan for the budget sooner in the year and it requires more time to plan. It gives you something to look forward to though for over a few months. Set your desktop background to the location, take your time planning the itinerary, and ask around for recommendations. Soak in on the thrill of having something so amazing in your future. For me, my 2017 big long-term travel plan is Ireland and Scotland, which I planned six months in advance. I'm following numerous Dublin and Edinburgh-based Instagrams, saving articles like Buzzfeed's "19 Batshit Desserts That Everyone Is Going Crazy For In Scotland," and badgering friends for recommendations.
Have short-term travel plans
As exciting as having a big trip to look forward to, sometimes you just need to go somewhere now. Last year, we had just finished our Norwegian cruise to Bermuda and we were on a travel high; we needed to go somewhere new again soon. So, taking inspiration from a few of our other friends, we booked flights to Iceland less than two months before we had to leave. It was fun being able to say we wanted to do something and then doing it right away. These short-term travel plans are great to sprinkle in while you wait for your big trip, and right after when you're begging for another.
Travel locally
People tend to get wrapped up in the name value of their next adventure; hiking in Iceland, scuba diving in Australia, cruising through the Amalfi Coast. I know I'm one of those people; everything needs to be exotic and exciting. Recently though, I've shifted my way of thinking, allowing me to notice that there's so much traveling to do locally. Traveling doesn't need to require a foreign name or a flight, you can still see amazing sites in your home state. The travel experience is all about exploring and experiencing something new, I can do that by going on town over or visiting a new neighborhood in the city. Check out local Instagram pages and even your state's tourism website for ideas of where to go.
Be flexible and say yes
I'm a big planner; I like my lists, detailed itineraries, and a detailed plan - nothing last minute for me! But in order to take advantage of everything out there, I try to not be as afraid of last minute plans as I used to be and just say yes. When I was alerted of the flight glitch to Dublin, I contacted my boyfriend right away and bought the tickets that night. Have your travel wish list, but be open to trying things off of it. Not only is travel about exploring and trying new things, it's also about living in the moment. So just grab your bag and go!
