It’s
Time To Make Good On Your New Year’s Resolution to Travel More
It’s easy to forget our New Year’s resolutions past January
1st. You make plans and somehow they never materialize. If you made
a vow to travel more this year, there are several steps you can take to ensure
that your plans become a reality. It takes proper planning, research and a
solid budget to make things happen. Start
planning your dream vacation with our 10 steps to achieve your New Year’s
travel plans.
Stage One: Plan Ahead
1.
Be Specific with Your Destination
Choose a city or several cities that you’ve been meaning to
explore for years. Think about what attracts you most to your destination.
Include points of interest and specific activities that you’d like to try while
you’re there. This turns your vacation into more than just a passing fancy.
Over time, your plans will evolve into a real, attainable experience.
2.
Find the Time
There’s no point in planning your dream vacation if your job
won’t give you the time off. Check with your employer to make sure that your
trip is doable. Once your trip has been approved, you can start planning the
trip of a lifetime.
3.
Prepare the Required Documents
Getting approved for certain documents can take months. It’s
a good idea to start the process now. Make sure that your passport is valid and
up-to-date. Check for any additional visa requirements that your destination
requires. Make copies of all your documents and store photocopies on your hard
drive or in the cloud.
Stage Two: Budgeting for Your Trip
4.
Come Up with a Budget
Start itemizing all of your planned expenses with plenty of
funds to spare. You can fill out a spreadsheet with transportation fees,
housing costs, souvenirs, admission fees, etc. Tally it up so you can see how
much your trip will actually cost. This step requires a bit of research in
terms of how you plan on getting around, where you plan on staying and any
other expenses you can expect to encounter throughout your trip.
5.
Start Saving
This can be the most daunting part of your trip. Money tends
to slip through our fingers. You can be proactive about saving money by
automatically transferring part of your paycheck to a special savings
account. You can also cut out certain
needless expenses such as nights out on the town and hitting your favorite
restaurant. Every sacrifice will be well worth it.
6.
Break It Down
Saving thousands of dollars can be hard to swallow. If you
break up your savings into small increments, your goal will seem that much more
realistic. Give yourself a small reward every time you hit your goal.
7.
Track Your Progress
Stay on top of how much you’re saving. If you start falling
behind or get stuck with an unexpected expense, try to shave a bit off of your
budget or get a second job to increase your income.
8.
Commit Early On
Once you’ve come up with a realistic budget, you can start
paying for some of your expenses ahead of time. This step will lock you into
your plans. You can reserve a string of nights at a hotel, book your airline
ticket or reserve tickets to a major event.
Stage Three: Don’t Leave Anything to Chance
9.
Visit Your Doctor
Tell your physician where you plan on traveling and see what
immunizations they recommend. You can also go a step further and do some
research on your own. No one wants to be stuck in bed during the trip of a
lifetime.
10. Prepare
for Take Off
With your trip rapidly approaching, it’s time to start thinking
about all those last-minute details. Make sure that you know how to get from
the airport to your hotel. Pack some traveling essentials including some
anti-nausea medication for the flight, a language guide, immunization packets,
and anything else that crosses your mind.
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