Traveling is something many wish they could do more often. Even if you just take one trip a year, you should feel lucky and proud. We here at DFC, though, are much greedier about travel and are always looking for the next destination and adventure. If you’re hoping to get more meaningful travel under your belt in 2023, here are some resolutions to consider.
Make a travel budget
One of the best things you can do to fulfill your travel goals is to get serious about making a dedicated travel budget. Just like any other expense, it’s helpful to set aside dedicated funds to meet your goals. A good place to start is to figure out how much your dream vacation is and how much you need to set aside each month to make it happen.
Immerse yourself before you visit
Being a fish out of water is a fun experience. One of my goals, when I started avidly traveling, was to go to more places where I didn’t speak the language as a way to get out of my comfort zone. Now, however, I much prefer to have at least a little immersion before diving into foreign waters.
You might consider learning the language of your destination. A Duolingo study found that 45 percent of Americans plan or hope to learn a language ahead of traveling. Consider getting a Speakly or UTalk subscription to help you stay consistent.
Other ideas: take a cooking class and learn to make a traditional dish of the place you’re visiting, take a traditional dance class, read books by the country’s author, or curate a playlist of the city’s most popular music.
Experience slow travel
Now that digital nomading is all the rage, travel has become much slower. Remote workers are mixing business with pleasure and making “bleisure” a popular trend. It allows travelers to explore destinations longer while taking their work with them. If you’ve always felt rushed on trips, this is a great goal to set for 2023.
Pick a destination based on an experience
The joy of travel doesn’t have to be explained. Going somewhere new is exciting in and of itself, but going somewhere to have a unique experience only adds to the delight. Consider picking your next destination based on a popular US or European festival, or South American festival. It’s a great way to immerse yourself in a country’s culture while traveling.
Tip: If you have a hobby you enjoy doing or something you’ve always wanted to try, search for any events or festivals around the world that are related to it. For example, if you love rock climbing, you can find events all over the country and do what you love in a new place.