16 New Year’s Resolutions for the Avid Traveler

By Travel + Leisure and Travel + Leisure Staff
December 21, 2016
Pierre Crom
With the new year comes the dreaded question: “Got any resolutions?”

The answer among Travel + Leisure editors and writers is resounding “Heck yes.” It seems much easier to keep resolutions tied to the things you love, which means these travel resolutions—whether it’s nailing the art of healthy travel, booking flights earlier to save cash, or snagging elite status from our favorite airlines—are actually totally (really, in real life!) feasible to achieve.
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1 of 15

Get Outta the Country

Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images

“My priority for 2016 is to obtain a passport and take a maiden voyage out of the country. Not having many American cities left to visit on my bucket list, it's time for me to venture out.” —Mariah Tyler, Digital Photo Editor

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2 of 15

Get Real Mileage From My Miles

“I want to use all of the frequent flyer miles and points I've hoarded over the years and plan a trip that is truly ‘free.’” —Pam Russo, VP and General Manager

3 of 15

Buy Tickets Early

Javier Jaen

“Start buying my tickets at the right time! I'm a chronic procrastinator when it comes to buying plane tickets, and while I've managed to get lucky so far, I could save serious cash with smarter planning. And thanks to the new bunch of forecasting apps, it's easier than ever to buy at the right time, even for lazy shoppers like me.” —Lila Battis, Associate Editor

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4 of 15

Be Elite 

Alamy Stock Photo

“Be smarter about which airlines I'm traveling with to gain better elite status this year. Last year I had almost equal miles on Star Alliance and Sky Team, so I vow to do better in 2016.” —Stephanie Wu, Senior Editor

5 of 15

Go Credit Card (Points!) Crazy

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“Become one of those credit card points-crazy people. I just got my Chase Sapphire card and am obsessed with reaching my 50,000 new-cardholder point bonus. And what better excuse could you find to splurge on travel (airplane tickets to Vietnam, hotels in Panama) than a double point incentive? I know, I know, I sound like an advertisement. But hey, what can I say? I get bonus points for referring people, too.” —Melanie Lieberman, Digital Assistant Editor

6 of 15

Finally Get Global Entry

Chris Hondros / Getty Images

“Get Global Entry! It's crazy that I don't yet have it, and this editor's article—mentioning that she got in and out of JFK off an international flight in 35 minutes—has me determined to snag it. —Alex Van Buren, Contributor

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7 of 15

Cut the Gluttony

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“While eating like a local can be the highlight of a trip, it doesn’t mean that you have to pig out. I generally overindulge when I’m on the road, whether it’s too many snacks or frequently eating out. My goal for the upcoming year is to reign it in a bit and focus on eating healthier while on vacation (at least part of the time). —Sean Flynn, Senior Web Producer

8 of 15

Spend Wisely

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“Save on beer; spend on travel. I'm all for grabbing dinner or drinks with friends, but I often find myself spending more than I should eating out or grabbing that one extra beer at the end of the night. My goal is to cook for myself a bit more, forgo a drink here or there, and use the money I save for a meaningful trip somewhere special.” —Chris Abell, Web Producer

9 of 15

Go Solo

Andrea Giubelli - Visitnorway.com

“One of my resolutions for 2016 is to plan a solo trip. Obviously it's fun to travel with friends and family, but it can be hard to juggle people's schedules and priorities. Lately, I've been fantasizing about laying on a beach alone, with nothing to distract me and time to reflect, recharge, and make my own schedule. Plus, when traveling alone, you never know what interesting people you'll meet.”—Laura Itzkowitz, Contributing Digital Editor

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10 of 15

Pack Smarter

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“2016 will be the year I stop overpacking. I'm so guilty of topping off my suitcase with last-minute extras—looking at you, two just-because pairs of heels—and I want to start planning ahead and feeling more confident that I have only what I'll need. Plus, that will leave me with extra room to take home two new just-because pairs of heels.” —Richelle Szypulski, Editorial Operations Assistant

11 of 15

Use Every Last Vacation Day

Matthieu Salvaing

“Plan out my vacations for the year in January so that I not only have something to look forward to all year long, but can make sure I use the vacation time I have to recharge rather than letting it go unused.” —Pam Russo, VP and General Manager

12 of 15

Do Good

Pierre Crom

“Participate in or help organize a volunteer trip abroad. Every day on the Greek island of Lesbos, some 2,000 Syrian refugees are displaced and in need of help. There are so many real-world issues happening both at home and overseas, but the opportunity to help during this crisis is something that is extremely important to me. After all, there’s nothing better than traveling than traveling for a good cause.” —Michelle Gross, Producer and Contributor

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13 of 15

Be More Spontaneous

Tanveer Badal

“I would love to be able to be more spontaneous about travel. Even if it's a short weekend trip, or somewhere close by that I've never been, I think there is a lot to be gained from unplanned adventure.” —Ellie Storck, Digital Editorial Assistant

14 of 15

Stay Fit on the Road

Fredrik Broden

“This will be the year I pack workout clothes—and use them. I must figure out how to maintain the exercise routine, even when I'm away. Especially when I'm away. Seeking all tips and suggestions from anyone who has figured it out, but I know that keeping up with workouts when traveling makes a huge difference for your health.” —Corina Quinn, Digital Travel Editor

15 of 15

Go to Disney World

Scott R. Smith via Flickr

“I really want to take my daughters to Disney World this year. I'm a Disney skeptic myself, but like-minded friends have raved about how much their kids loved the experience, and I want to go before my now eight-year-old gets too jaded to fully enjoy it. (Plus, if we were able to work in a side trip to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios, it would make her year.)” —Anya Hoffman, Contributing Digital Editor

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