A new year is here, and with that comes new year resolutions. If there was any year to make your dreams of traveling a reality, this is the year. 2024 is the second full year we have post the global pandemic. After experiencing the devasting toll of the pandemic, people are leaving their comfort zones and gifting themselves experiences they were saving for later on in their lives. Traveling is now the number one way to test new boundaries.

The pandemic showed people how valuable living out your dream is because you never know when things will go array. Traveling has allowed people to visit places they never thought they would or could. By traveling, people have gifted themselves and their families unforgettable experiences and memories. That is why the trend of travel adventures has increased, and young people are traveling the world more than their predecessors. More people want to see the world. 

Although AAA states that the average age of most travelers is 40+, young people ages 23-38 travel the most with 35 days a year, and Gen Z, 18-23 years old, are catching up by going on vacation for an average of 29 days a year. Statista found that in the United States, Gen Z and millennials are “frequent” leisure travelers. Therefore, if you want to get on the bandwagon and make 2024 your travel year, this post will help you create a realistic travel plan, including where to go, prepare, and realize your travel goals. This post will help you set realistic travel goals. Here are factors in setting up your travel goals in 2024. 

Setting Travel Goals

When you sit down to write down your travel goals, there are several things you need to think through. It is vital to be realistic about what you want with what you have. The travel trend is excellent. Seeing other people’s Instagram may make you want to have everything and do everything to recreate the things you saw on Instagram. However, knowing who you are, what you want, and your financial feasibility is crucial. Traveling is a personal journey, and the impact it may have on you is personal. If you choose to go somewhere because of the trend, you may miss out on the benefits of traveling. It is good to use what you see and what you read as a guide. Still, when setting your travel goals, you make them personable because this journey should be about yours, and after accomplishing it, you should be able to speak about your travels from your experience. Here are the five factors to consider when making a travel goal for the new year. 

1. Choosing where to go.

The first thing to think about is where to go. How do you choose which country to visit? Well, it depends on what you like, what you are curious about, or the type of experience you want. When I decided to study abroad in France and Belgium, I had to explain why those specific countries. Of all the countries I could go to, why those two countries? Since I was studying, I explained how studying Political Science in France and going to Belgium, the E.U. capital, will benefit me as someone interested in European & U.S. relations with each other and with Africa. That was my why. In this scenario, I traveled to these countries to further my career in the international relations space. I went to Barcelona because it was my childhood dream. The same rule of understanding “your why” is crucial when traveling for leisure. Why go to Rome instead of Florence? What do you find appealing about visiting London as opposed to Ghent? What do you hope to see or do? What attractions are you dying to experience? These guiding questions will help you choose where to go based on your wants, needs, and curiosities. 

2. What are the travel rules in specific countries compared to yours?

The second thing to consider when setting your travel goals is the travel rules of a specific country concerning yours. As an American, you can go to Europe without a visa. However, in 2025(I know it’s a long time from now), travelers from visa-exempt countries, aka the United States and others, will need to submit a form there is new travel authorization form known as the ETIAS. The change in rules may seem doable for you, but other travel restrictions in different places may not. In a country that requires a visa and the administration process takes a long time, it may deter you from going to that country or will let you know how well in advance you should prepare to make your travel goal a reality. To see the travel rules requires you to do a lot of research to evaluate the feasibility of your goals. A great site to check out about the regulations and legalities for your travel planning is the Department of State website. This website helps you know everything you need. From your travel documentation, the history of the place you want to visit, and the security levels ensure the place you consider is safe enough to enjoy your travel journey. 

3. Climate & Environment

Following the previous point, understand the climate and environment you want to explore and the genre of experience you want. Most of the time, when people say climate and environment, they discuss security measures, which is crucial. You wouldn’t want to travel to a place where there is an active war, political unrest, or whatnot. That is why watching the news and keeping up with current events in the areas you want to visit are essential. However, climate and environment also include the geography of where you want to see and the type of experience you want. 

When you sit down to pen out your travel goals, you must get very specific with the environment you want to be in. If you want to go to France, where exactly do you want to go in France? Are you envisioning swimming in the South of France or checking out the different wineries in Bordeaux? Are you considering being solely in Paris, or would you like to visit Bretagne? Are you interested in solely being in tourist spots, or do you want a local experience? The environment you want to be in will dictate your experience; therefore, you must think of the environment you want to be in. 

It is also crucial to consider how the weather/ season you want to travel in affects the activities you want to explore. For example, you would not travel in December if you wanted to go to a carnival in Rio in Brazil. In Brazil, Carnival usually happens in the months before Easter, so if that is your travel goal for the new year, you need to learn about the climate in Brazil in the months before Easter. Some places are better during the Spring season than the winter season. Some destinations are only for the Christmas holiday season, whereas others can be year-long destinations. Hence, consider the climate and environment of where you want to go when making travel goals. 

4. Language Feasibility

Another great point to consider when planning your travel goals is language feasibility. In this globalized world, we are more connected than ever. The internet allowed us to learn about other places in real time, try different recipes, and acquire as much information as possible. However, although English has become a global language, there are places where you need to develop some basic language skills to get by. That is why it is essential to evaluate language feasibility. In a previous post, I discussed how learning basic French can help keep you safe in Paris. The sentiment applies if you want to travel where the locals do not speak English outside the tourist places.

When setting your travel goal, you should know whether you need to learn a new language or if you can get by speaking English. In China, although speaking English got me by in academic settings, I had to talk to Chinese with everyday locals. The same thing happened when I went to Italy last year. I had to know basic Italian and practice my Italian every day before leaving the hotel. Locals speak their local languages at the local cafes in the narrow streets that many tourists need to go to. Therefore, when planning where to travel this year, understand what type of experience you want. Are you only going to the significant tourist parts, or do you want to interact with the average locals? Once you figure out what type of environment and climate you want to be in, you must identify the language feasibility. For some countries, you only need to know the basics. There are great apps like Babbel and Duolingo you can download to learn new languages and prepare for the countries you want to go to. 

5. Financial Feasibility

Last but not least, another vital factor to consider is finances. How much will it cost to enjoy yourself in location A versus in location B? If you are the type of person who likes shopping and you want to shop in the fashion capital of Paris, how much should you save for your expenditures? To evaluate financial feasibility, you must research how much it will cost for accommodation, in-country transportation, daily meals, and leisure. Would it be cheaper to book an Airbnb or stay at a hotel? Would it be better to have your place where you can cook for yourself, or would you rather dine out and try different local cuisines? These are questions to answer when trying to figure out where to travel. 

As an experienced traveler, I know that I prefer staying at hotels. I like to dine out and mingle with locals, and shopping for clothes is only a priority if I want something specific or a souvenir. Therefore, when I plan, I will book a hotel on Booking.com with breakfast included to dine out and try different local cuisines in the evening. When you are a beginner in the travel space, you may not know what you want, so when planning out your goals, try to mirror them to what you already know and do in your daily life. Save money accordingly based on the experience that you would like to have. 

In conclusion, the new year is a great time to plan your travel goals. It is a time to set the tone for what you want to accomplish this year. If travel has been on your mind and you want to achieve that goal this year, these are the factors to consider when setting up your travel plans. Do your research on the places you want to visit. Understand that to have a fantastic travel experience, the experience should be about you. It should reflect what you like or what new adventure you want. 

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoy setting your travel goals. If you have any additional advice or questions, please list them in the comment box below. 

Until next time, have fun planning your travel goals. 

Xoxo,

Cy!