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Travel goals: inspiring ideas and how to achieve them

Understand the power of setting travel goals, get inspired with bucket list ideas and learn the steps you need to take to achieve your goals and have amazing experiences.

Worldpackers Worldpackers

Jul 31, 2023

Setting travel goals is a powerful way to transform your wanderlust into tangible experiences. By creating a list of desired destinations and activities, you can turn your travel dreams into reality . In this blog post, we will delve into the benefits of setting such goals and how they can help shape unforgettable journeys.

We will provide inspiration for crafting your own unique travel goals list , featuring must-see destinations and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Additionally, we'll share valuable tips on how to set achievable targets.

Finally, discover how Worldpackers can serve as an essential resource in achieving your long-term objectives by connecting you with incredible opportunities across the globe with free accommodation.  Whether it's scuba diving in exotic locations or experiencing once-in-a-lifetime cultural celebrations, this platform makes travel easier than ever before.

The power of setting travel goals

Traveling is amazing, but setting specific goals can make your trips even more meaningful. Envisioning your ideal getaways and activities can lead you on a voyage of self-exploration, growth, and remarkable experiences.

Setting travel goals not only adds purpose to your adventures but also gives you direction in planning your trips. It's easy to get overwhelmed by all the amazing places out there waiting to be explored.  Having clear objectives helps narrow down the options while keeping you motivated throughout the entire process.

Create your travel bucket list

To get started on setting your travel goals, begin by creating a bucket list filled with experiences that excite and inspire you . This could include anything from visiting all seven continents to attending the world's most renowned festivals.

Remember that there's no one definitive answer; this is about building up a journey that truly reflects your identity. Your bucket list should be connected to your personal interests and passions.

Inspiring travel goals to pursue

For unforgettable experiences, choose travel goals that resonate with your passions and aspirations. Here are some inspiring travel goals to consider:

• Learn another language: Immerse yourself in a foreign culture by learning its language - it's one of the best ways to truly connect with locals and gain deeper insights into their way of life.
• Go on an epic road trip: Hit the open road and discover hidden gems along scenic routes like these iconic drives around the world.

• Travel in a motorhome or campervan: Explore remote destinations at your own pace with flexibility and freedom.
• Volunteer abroad: Make a positive impact by volunteering in your own country or overseas through organizations like Worldpackers , a platform connecting travelers with unique work exchange opportunities.
• Learn to surf : Catch some waves and learn a new skill in destinations like Australia, Hawaii, or Costa Rica.
• Walk the Camino de Santiago: Experience a unique blend of history, culture, and spirituality on the ancient pilgrimage route across Spain and some neighboring countries.

• See Antarctica: Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure on an Antarctic expedition cruise to witness breathtaking landscapes and diverse wildlife.
• Visit all the UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Travel to iconic landmarks such as Machu Picchu, Angkor Wat, or Petra.
• Experience an epic train journey: Embark on unforgettable rail adventures like the Trans-Siberian Railway.
• See wildlife in their natural habitat: Experience awe-inspiring encounters with animals such as gorillas in Uganda or whales off Iceland's coast - witnessing these majestic creatures up close will leave lasting impressions.

• Learn to cook other country's cuisine: Expand your culinary skills and taste authentic local dishes by taking cooking classes while traveling.
• Eat at a Michelin-starred restaurant: Savor world-class dining experiences at renowned establishments around the globe. 
• Climb a famous mountain: Tackle challenging peaks like Kilimanjaro or trek to Everest Base Camp for unparalleled views and personal achievement.

• Learn to scuba dive: Exploring the breathtaking underwater world, scuba diving offers a thrilling adventure filled with vibrant marine life and stunning coral reefs.
• See the World Cup: Immerse yourself in the electrifying atmosphere of the world's most celebrated sporting event.
• See the Northern Lights: Embark on a mesmerizing journey to witness nature's most awe-inspiring light show.
• Backpacking around Latin America, Asia, Europe, Oceania or Africa: embarking on a backpacking journey through these diverse continents offers an opportunity to immerse yourself in a tapestry of cultures, languages, and landscapes.

Tips for achieving your travel goals

Setting travel goals is essential to make your dreams a reality. However, achieving them requires dedication, planning, and perseverance . Here are some tips to help you accomplish your travel aspirations:

Research and plan

The first step in achieving any goal is thorough research and planning. Gather information about the destinations you want to visit , understand local customs and culture, identify must-see attractions or experiences, and figure out logistics like transportation options and visa requirements.

The internet offers a wealth of resources for travelers. Blogs from fellow travelers can provide valuable insights. You can also browse the articles published on the Worldpackers blog, written by many of our members from around the world.

Budget accordingly

Achieving your travel goals often comes with financial considerations. Start by creating a realistic budget that includes all expected expenses such as accommodation costs, food expenditures and transportation fees.

Additionally, consider ways to save money while traveling - this could involve staying at hostels instead of hotels or using public transport rather than taxis when possible.

If you want to save a lot of money and live transformative experiences, consider doing a work exchange with  Worldpackers , a platform connecting travelers with unique volunteer opportunities in exchange for free accommodation around the world.

Moreover, look for opportunities to earn extra income  before embarking on your trip; freelancing gigs or part-time jobs can help supplement savings dedicated specifically for travels.

Ignore nay-sayers

In pursuit of our dreams, we often encounter people who doubt our abilities or question the feasibility of our goals. It's essential to stay focused on your objectives and not let negative opinions deter you from pursuing your passions.

Surround yourself with supportive individuals, join online travel communities, or connect with like-minded travelers on social media for encouragement and inspiration.

Stay flexible and open-minded

Achieving travel goals requires adaptability and an open mind. Be prepared for unexpected changes in plans , whether it's a sudden change in weather conditions or a last-minute opportunity to explore a new destination. Embrace these experiences as part of the adventure; they can lead to some of the most memorable moments during your travels.

Maintaining flexibility also means being willing to adjust your itinerary based on local recommendations - locals are often more knowledgeable about hidden gems than any guidebook could ever be.

Keep an open mind when trying new foods, participating in cultural activities, or engaging with people from different backgrounds; this will enrich your overall experience while traveling.

Track your progress

To keep yourself motivated towards achieving your travel goals, it's good to track progress along the way. Documenting milestones through journal entries , photographs, dedicated apps or social media updates can help remind you how far you've come since setting out on this journey.

In addition, celebrating small victories like mastering basic phrases in another language or successfully navigating public transportation systems abroad helps build confidence and momentum towards accomplishing bigger objectives down the line.

Achieving travel goals with Worldpackers

Ready to embark on an adventure of global exploration, gain new experiences, and make a meaningful contribution to the world? Volunteering with  Worldpackers can both be a travel goal on itself and help you reach your other objectives while saving a lot of money. Take a look at some of its benefits:

• Free accommodation all around the world

Accommodation costs can be a hurdle for many travelers. Worldpackers offers an affordable solution by connecting you with hosts who provide free accommodation in exchange for your skills and time.

• Diverse range of experiences available

Worldpackers has something for everyone. From volunteering at wildlife sanctuaries and teaching English abroad to participating in permaculture projects and immersing yourself in local cultures through homestays - browse thousands of work exchange experiences available across more than 170 countries worldwide.

For example, you can  help on a vineyard in Wildwood (USA), do some painting and decorating in sunny Puerto Vallarta (Mexico), learn about Swiss lifestyle near a beautiful lake , learn all about agroecology in Bahia (Brazil) ,  cook traditional Moroccan food and experience the Sahara desert , teach English in Vietnam and much more.

• Connection with local communities

Traveling is all about making links with individuals from diverse societies and customs. Worldpackers facilitates these connections by providing a platform for travelers to engage directly with local communities through work exchange experiences. Live and work alongside your hosts to gain valuable insights into their daily lives while helping them out.

Tips for making the most out of your Worldpackers experience

• Create a compelling profile: Showcase your skills, interests, and previous travel and professional experiences on your profile.
• Research opportunities thoroughly: Read the description for each volunteer position and the reviews from other travelers who have participated in that same work exchange to understand if that opportunity matches your travel goals.
• Maintain open communication: Communicate openly with your host regarding any questions or concerns during the application process or throughout your stay.

Worldpackers offers an alternative approach to travel - one focused on personal growth, cultural exchange, and making lasting memories while giving back along the way.

FAQs in relation to travel goals

What are some examples of travel goals.

Travel goals can include visiting a set number of countries, immersing oneself in diverse cultures, learning new languages, volunteering abroad, or seeing wild animals in their natural habitats. Goals can also involve exploring natural wonders like mountains and beaches or attending popular festivals and events.

What are the benefits of traveling?

Traveling provides opportunities for personal growth, cultural immersion, adventure-seeking, relaxation, and escaping daily routines. It allows individuals to learn about different lifestyles and traditions, create unforgettable memories, and foster global connections.

How can you write effective travel goals?

Be specific about desired experiences, make them measurable by setting timeframes or milestones, ensure they're achievable within budget and schedule constraints, prioritize relevance to interests, and time-bound them with deadlines for completion.

What are some examples of SMART travel goals?

A SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant & Time-bound) goal example could be: "Visit five European countries within three months while staying on a $50 per day budget."

This goal is clear in its purpose (visiting Europe), quantifiable (five countries), realistic (budget constraint), relevant to one's interest in Europe exploration, and time-sensitive (three-month deadline).

Let's go after those goals!

Wanderlust can be a powerful force that drives you to explore the world and step out of your comfort zone , so why not set some travel goals to make those dreams a reality? From backpacking through Europe to learning a new language in South America, the possibilities are endless. But don't forget: the journey towards achieving travel goals is just as important as the destination itself.

And if you still need some extra motivation, check out these bucket list travel destinations that will inspire you to pack your bags and hit the road:

• Top 10 bucket list destinations
• 13 Bucket list adventure ideas around the world
• Cool places to travel: 12 best destinations for your bucket list

Ready to get on the road? Embrace the transformative power of purposeful travel experiences and create your Worldpackers profile now!

Join the community!

Create a free Worldpackers account to discover volunteer experiences perfect for you and get access to exclusive travel discounts!

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Live the Life of Your Dreams

Travel Goals: 20 Ultimate List to Inspire You on Your Next Adventure 

October 29, 2020 //  by  Clarisse //   Leave a Comment

Sharing is caring ♥

Updated October 29, 2020 by Clarisse

Travel goals are a big part of my life. Setting achievable goals has allowed me to take on long-term world exploration one step at a time. 

I know that many of you dream of traveling the world and adventuring to new places you have yet to see. 

Well, I am here for you. 

First things first, I want to let you know that you’re incredible for taking the first step in dreaming big! This is what it will take to manifest the things you want to accomplish in your life. 

So yes, start by creating the list of things you want to do!

These are your set list of intentions that you should write down and work towards every day of your life. 

I know that there are many things that could be holding you back from living the travel lifestyle. But hear me out, if traveling the world is your passion, then don’t let life get in the way. 

You’ll find that as you read below, some of these goals are a bit up there. But, that’s what dreams are for. 

Remember always to aim high! 

If you shoot for the moon and miss, you’ll land among the stars, which is still a super awesome place to be.

Plus, if you learn to break big goals down into tiny chunks, they are likely to become much more achievable. 

So here we go. 

Set your travel goals for yourself and manifest the things that you truly want in life. 

Below are the goals on my list that I’ve continued to live by to get you started. I hope this will help inspire you on your next adventure.

1. Travel to a Different Country Every Year

Traveling to a different country every year was one of the initial goals I set for myself in my journey.  It started when I flew to Germany and left the United States for the first time after high school. 

I have since kept this promise to myself and traveling as much as I could. 

I admit I want to level up this travel goal to visit 100 different countries before I’m 50. If you are as determined to explore the world, I suggest taking on this dream as well. 

PS. Check out my story if you’d like to learn more about what got me started on this incredible adventure.

2. Travel During Off-Season

Off-season travel gives you the chance to see the world from a local’s perspective. There are fewer tourists, and you’ll gain experiences you normally otherwise wouldn’t be able to have. 

As a big plus, flight and accommodation prices will be at its lowest, so take advantage of this.

3. Take an Epic Road Trip

Take a minimum of 2-weeks, pack your bags, grab your best buds, and take an epic road trip. 

See the world at a slower pace and camp along the way. These experiences will become some of the best moments of your life. 

4. Live Like a Local

There’s nothing better than immersing yourself in the culture of the country you’re traveling to. 

Stay for at least one month, eat the local foods, go to the local bars, joints, and hang out spots. Venture to the farmers market weekly to get your daily dose of fresh vegetables. 

Oh, and skip the hotels and stay at an Airbnb to capture the way the locals truly live. Airbnb’s are houses offered by the locals in the area. This way you can have the household experience, even if it’s just for a short month.

5. Befriend a Couple of Locals

Talk to the locals, whether it’s a random stranger on the street or the local store’s shop owner. 

Get to know them on a deeper level. Be brave and ask if they would have time to meet you for coffee. 

6. Take a Bike Tour 

I love taking bike tours of the countries I go to. You can explore more areas and feel the wind and breathe in the fresh air all at the same time. 

This is incredibly fun in Europe where they have designated bike paths and rentals are easy to come by. 

7. Start a Travel Journal

Journal your thoughts, experiences, and the awesome things you did during your trip. 

I have many travel journals that friends have given me over the years. I love that I can carry a piece of the people closest to me everywhere I go. 

More than that, I cherish the moments I’ve put down on paper in the pages of those books.

8. Collect Unique Souvenirs

Collect the most unique souvenirs you can find and take home one-of-a-kind memorabilia. As a backpacker, I will usually go for something smaller. 

Either way, find the hand-drawn maps or local glassmaker of the city you’re in. You could even leave with something unconventional. 

I’ve been known to have taken home a Harry Potter wand from the Warner Bros studio in London. 

(Yes, I’m a Harry Potter nerd)

Make it a personal mission to find keepsakes that you won’t find anywhere else in the world.

9. Attend a Local Festival

Immerse yourself in the local culture and attend a festival. These are so much fun and they allow you to become a part of the festivities in the country you’re traveling to.

10. Volunteer in a Different Country

Volunteering is one of the ultimate travel goals I have set for myself. 

I want to make a difference in the world. 

One of the ways I want to implement this is by volunteering in a country that needs help. 

My biggest goal in life is to be a part of something bigger while keeping the travel goals I promised to myself. I hope that you will consider this when you start your world exploration.

11. Experience Solo Travel

Ahh, solo travel, the scariest thing for some people. Don’t be afraid to venture into a different place that you’ve never been to before and explore it all on your own.

To be honest, it’s one of the best things I have ever done for my physical, mental, and emotional health.

I learned a lot from traveling the world solo. 

Nothing can rival or substitute the experiences you will encounter when traveling the world on your own. 

Try it at least once and see where it leads you!

12. Travel with your Best Buds

Yes, I just finished talking about solo travel. But traveling with your best friend is in a whole new world (yes, Aladdin). 

You’ll have the best of times with the person closest to you and you will have the memories of a lifetime. 

So, yes, travel the world solo, but if given the right chance, timing, and opportunity, travel with your best bud too!

13. Learn 5 Useful Phrases in a Different Language

“Thank you” is the top phrase I learn when I’m in a country that speaks a different language. Learn four more and you’ll see that it makes a world of difference. 

This will help you in understanding the essential everyday words that locals are saying. Plus, they’ll be happy that you took an initiative to know more about their country. 

Yes, this means even if it’s as simple as learning a few key phrases in their language.

14.  Travel the Best Spots in Your Own Backyard

Take a small step and start traveling to the best spots in your hometown. 

Many places in the world have yet to be discovered. 

Take the initiative and explore new areas you haven’t been to yet, even if it’s in your own backyard. You never know, you might find a new favorite spot before the day is over.

15. Find the Best Places to Hike

Spending time in nature is a fantastic travel goal. 

There are plenty of countries in the world that have spectacular hiking trails. 

Find out where they are, either through a quick search or asking a local. I definitely prefer the second option, but either way, this is a great point to have on your travel goals list.

16. Eat at a McDonald’s Restaurant in Every Country

This one is a bit of an unconventional travel goal but one that I have set for myself successfully. 

Hear me out, every single McDonalds in the world is unique from each other. The menu items in the restaurants I’ve visited are there to represent each country’s food culture. 

Personally, I always try to order the one thing that you won’t be able to find anywhere else in the world. 

PS. My top favorites include: 

Philippines – Spaghetti

Thailand – Congee

17. Learn their History

There is nothing better than learning the history of a country through its people. 

Talk to the locals and strike up a conversation with them about their country’s culture and history. 

You never know what you might discover. 

At the very least you could come across a very interesting story that you could later tell the world. 

PS. You could also take advantage of the museums. Most of them are either super cheap or free.

18. Start a Travel Budget so You Can Travel the World

Yes, the dreaded travel budget. But incredibly essential to those who want the freedom to go on the super epic adventure of a lifetime. 

Budgeting before and during your trip is a must if you want your funds to last the entire duration of your journey. 

Make it a goal to decide what you’re willing to give up in the short term to gain what you truly want to have in life long-term.

19. Buy a One-Way Ticket

A one-way ticket halfway across the world is one of the scariest but most rewarding things you can do. 

It is the ultimate travel goal in a person’s lifetime. 

The thrill of not having any plans but only the sense of adventure you carry with you is a crazy but unique experience to have at least once.

But, to be honest, once you’ve done this, the travel bug could end up being in your system for quite some time.

20. Travel to Off the Beaten Path Places

Travel to remote areas in the world and you’ll discover places that only a few have been to. 

This is another incredible travel goal because it means that you are willing to take risks. Enjoy the thrill of searching for off the beaten path adventures.

Live Life and Explore the World

What are you waiting for? 

I know that this is a big leap, but remember you have taken the first step by simply reading this article. 

You know that deep down, there’s something more. You want to live a life of freedom and explore the world. 

Keep working on your travel goals, one day and one step at a time. Before you know it, you’ll be slowly ticking everything off on your goals list. 

You’ll then realize that you are living life and there’s not a better feeling in the world. 

Good luck on your adventure and if you need any advice or a listening ear, I’m here for you. 

As always, thank you for being a super amazing reader of LiveLifeOTBP. 

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Follow Your Dreams

Travel Goals: How to Envision and Achieve Your Travel Dreams

Have you ever noticed how two people can visit the same place with similar hopes and dreams have dramatically different experiences?

One person will return home with life-changing memories of adventure and reflection, whereas another will return home disappointed, feeling as though they'd failed to accomplish what they set out to achieve.

Why is this?

While nothing is guaranteed on the road, travelers who consistently have exceptional experiences share a common trait: they set travel goals. 

Setting travel goals to improve your next trip might seem counterintuitive to some. After all , isn't the objective of travel to get away from the to-do lists and schedules of daily life?

Yes, and no. Although travel is a great opportunity to escape from our day-to-day routines, it's not an alternative universe within which the general rules of life don't apply.

Just as they do at home, when traveling goals provide you with short-term motivation and long-term vision. They help you to better organize your time and energy so that you get the most out of your trips.

Goals ensure that you’re life on the road follows your own personal values. And by setting and completing goals, you take the steps necessary to fulfill your purpose, or Why, for traveling.

Without goals, it’s easy to get lost. With no clear direction on what to do next or which way to go, we can become overwhelmed with the number of novel possibilities travel presents us with on a daily basis.

Having good travel goals is like having someone guide you along your journey, ensuring you take the proper next step every time.

Fortunately, as you will see, creating—and accomplishing—major, life-changing travel goals isn’t just for the hyper-motivated or über-persistent. There are a number of straight-forward steps that anyone eager to learn and grow can follow to design and fulfill their travel dreams.

How To Create Amazingly-Effective Travel Goals

OK, so you’re convinced that setting goals is useful. But how do you go about doing this? How do you create good travel goals?

The best, most-effective travel goals are SMART goals. No, I don’t mean that they are members off MENSA (what’s with the acronyms today?).

Rather, great travel goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Based. Let’s explain that a bit more.

CC BY-SA 4.0 , Dungdm93 .

Great travel goals are clear and specific, which helps to remain focused and motivated.

To make your goals more specific, try and answer the six ‘W’ questions:

-What do I want to accomplish?

-When do I want to accomplish this goal?

-Where do I need to go?

-Who should be involved?

-Which resources or limits are there?

-Why do I want to accomplish this goal?

Great travel goals are also measurable, allowing you to easily track your progress and know when you’ve succeeded.

Being able to clearly see both how far you’ve come and what you need to do to finish helps you to stay motivated and creates excitement around the thought of accomplishing your goal.

When setting measurable goals, ask questions like:

-How will I know when I've succeeded?

A good measurable travel goal for someone shy would be to have a 5+ minute conversation with a local 3x over the course of one, week-long trip. A less-effective goal would be to "meet new people" or "open up".

Great travel goals should also be attainable. You should be able to see a realistic path you can take to success. You should feel challenged and your abilities should be stretched, but everything should remain possible.   If your goals is so difficult that it starts to feel unattainable, then you’re more likely to just give up.

Achievable goals answer questions like:

-Given my current situation (financial, mental/physical health, time constraints) how realistic is this goal?

-How can I accomplish this goal?

Great travel goals need to be relevant. They need to matter to you, aligning with your greater purpose in travel or life.

Having a deep sense of purpose behind your goals ensures that you’ll never run out of motivation, even when the going gets tough and helps to keep things in perspective. If you goal isn’t relevant to you, you will lack the fortitude necessary to handle adversity when it undoubtedly appears.

Relevant travel goals answer ‘yes’ to these questions:

-Is this something that matters to me?

-Do I really want to accomplish this?

-Will completing this goal improve the world in some way?

-Am I improving my life by succeeding?

-Is this the right time or place for me to try and achieve this goal?

Great travel goals have a target date. They have a deadline for completion that you can stick to. This helps ensure that one temporary, short-term goal—which is supposed to be a single step on the way towards aiding greater goals or your purpose—doesn’t become a massive time-suck or permanent hinderance.

Time-based travel goals can usually answer these questions:

-What can be done today to help accomplish this?

-What can I do six weeks from now?

-What can I do six months from now?

A good time-bound travel goal for someone afraid of flying would be to take one flight without the aid of anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping pills, or alcohol in the next 3 months.

In addition, the best travel goals are performance, not outcome, based. This means that the goal is to complete the process rather than to achieve a specific end result.

As all great performers know, the only thing you ever have full control over is your effort. There’s no guarantee that a well-struck golf ball won’t end up in the water in a tournament or that a perfectly-sung ballad won’t be eclipsed by another song during a talent show.

You can’t force the weather to be nice, a museum to be open, or a local to be friendly, but you can wake up in the morning ready to take that hike, prepare yourself to see some art, or have the courage to start a conversation at the nearby cafe.

You can't control whether or not the ticket office is open while traveling through Italy—it rarely seems to be—but you can make sure you're at the train station on time.

While there are no guarantees, consistently putting in the effort—following a process that you know can work—leads to the best long-term results.

How To Figure Out What Goals to Set

If you’ve read what we wrote on travel with purpose , you know how important it is to find your Why for travel. Purpose gives focus to your planning, inspires action on the road, and provides strength in difficult moments—both before and during trips.

Once you’ve identified your purpose for travel— here’s a refresher on how to do that —you’ve already done much of the work necessary to set great travel goals. You have a clear idea of which direction you want to take. Now you just have to map out the specific steps you will take to get there.

Once you know what your final destination is, it becomes much easier to determine what path you want to take to get there.

Sometimes the route you need to take will be obvious, and goal-setting will be simple. Other times the path might not be as clear. If that’s the case, ask yourself the following questions, with your Why in mind:

-Image that you’ve had a successful trip filled with purpose. What would that trip entail? Can you work backwards from the end to the start?

-What’s the smallest possible first step you could take towards achieving your Why?

-Has anyone else traveled with a similar purpose? What did their journey look like?

-What’s the most important problem you could tackle on day one of your trip?

-What’s one thing that would get you to jump out of bed?

-What do you want your obituary to say?

-What would you never regret trying even if you failed?

-What could you do to ensure that you’re living a satisfying life?

Choosing between paths is often part of the fun of travel planning and goal setting.

Not every goal for your trip has to—or even should—be purpose-driven. Adding a few for-fun, less-serious goals helps to lighten the mood and provides additional motivation along the way.

Examples of some fun goals could be visiting all the Trappist breweries in Belgium, learning 5 words in Portuguese each day during a month-long trip to Brazil, and trying 20 different flavors of Kit Kat while in Japan.

Just a few of the hundreds of flavored Kit Kats available in Japan.

Deciding How Many Travel Goals to Have

When trying to determine how many goals you should set for a trip, there are a number of factors to consider.

How long will you be gone? How much time will you be able to devote to accomplishing your goals? Will you have other obligations or responsibilities on your trip? Does reading over your list of potential goals make you feel overwhelmed?

It can be helpful to think of travel goals as items in your mental backpack. Pack too few and you'll be ill-prepared. Pack too many and you'll be overly burdened.

In general, it is better to pick a smaller number of meaningful goals rather than a large number of goals that you’re less enthusiastic about. Your time and energy on the road is limited, and there is only so much you can concentrate on.

Changing Your Travel Goals

Having fewer goals allows you to create new goals when you’re traveling based on what you see and do. As you travel, you will undoubtedly realize new things about yourself and your prioritizes might change. Perhaps you came to South America to learn Brazilian Capoeira only to learn that you’d rather practice Argentine Tango.

Argentinian Tango dancers. CC BY 2.5 , Carlos Luque .

Your goals don’t have to be inflexible. Sometimes unexpected things happen when you’re traveling. Allow yourself the latitude to jump into the adventure that is unexpected possibilities. Don’t let your original goal of visiting the top 5 Sachertorte coffee houses in Vienna keep you from accepting an invite from new friends to spend the weekend at a music festival in Bratislava. The best part of travel is the unexpected and the unplanned, and objectives should never get in the way of a good story.

Expectations Versus Hopes

To help make this easier, make sure your goals are not expectations. Expectations are absolute and unmovable. When we expect something, we move an accomplishment from being something to be celebrated to being something mundane. After all, we expected it to happen so why be happy? And if they don’t happen, then we get upset.

In contrast, if you view your goals as hopes—things you want to have happen but also recognize that they might not—then you are free to change or abandon goals when necessary. The quality of your travel experiences are not contingent upon how many of the goals you set out at the beginning are accomplished blindly.

Don't underestimate the benefits of having the freedom to explore with hope.

How to Achieve Your Travel Goals

There are a number of things you can do to help you to accomplish your travel goals.

1.) Make sure your travel goals are SMART

As mentioned above, if your goals are not specific, measurable, actionable, relevant, or time-bound, your chances of success will be greatly diminished.

2.) Review your travel goals regularly

Review your goals every day when you wake up. One way to do this is to create a travel journal within which you actually one big goal for the day and three ways in which you are going to make it happen.

Also remind yourself everyday of your overall purpose for traveling. Write this down on a piece of paper and bring it with you during the day.

3.) Prioritize your travel goals

At the beginning of your trip, sequence your goals based on priority. Know what is most important to get done first and what you most want to accomplish. Not only does this set you off on the right foot, but it makes it more likely that you will have done the things you most want to do in case something happens that cuts your trip short or otherwise changes your plans.

4.) Keep track of your progress

Before you go to bed each night take a moment to write down your successes. Note what steps you took to achieve your goals and how much progress you’ve made since yesterday.

Somedays you’ll take great leaps, whereas others days it may feel like you’ve only advanced a little. Don’t worry about this. Remain consistent in the process and the results will eventually show.

5.) Celebrate your success

Be sure to enjoy the moment when you accomplish your goals. Fully embrace the feelings you get and let them soak into you. Hold onto that feeling as long as you can. Think about the hard work and dedication it took to get to where you are.

Take a photo to memorialize your accomplishment and let other people know on social media what you’ve done. Don’t worry about coming across as boastful—in general, people want other people to succeed, and if your joy is genuine your friends and family will be supportive. And who knows, you may even inspire someone else to take on their own challenges.

The joy one gains from a hard-earned achievement is addictive, and you’ll naturally want more of it. Ensuring that you take the time to properly celebrate your successes is critical when building the work-reward loop that drives future performance.

6.) Reflect

Throughout the goal-achievement process, remain reflective. Ask yourself how things are going? Are your goals too easy and you’re not feeling challenged? What are you learning about yourself? Use this information to adjust your future plans and goals.

Things to Avoid: What Prevents You From Achieving Your Travel Goals

Don't let your next trip be filled with regret and disappointment due to unmet travel goals.

There are a number of reasons people don’t achieve their travel goals. Some of the biggest road blocks include:

1.) Impatience

You want results right away and get frustrated and quit when you don’t see the results immediately.

2.) Perfectionism

You want everything to be done perfectly the first time and if that’s not the case you get upset and quit.

3.) Failure

You are unable to deal with failure on a first, second, or tenth try. Those who stick with it are those that achieve. 

Even the best fail sometimes.

4.) Focusing on the end results

When you shift your attention from the process to final outcome, you’re more likely to make mistakes, not give it your full effort, and overlook crucial steps. Also, the process is often quite fun—especially in traveling. Imagine not enjoying the hike up a mountain side because you’re focused exclusively on what it will feel like when you get to the top.

5.) Excuses

Sometimes excuses are what prevent us from achieving our goals.Your mind likes to stay in a comfort zone and so it will say and do whatever it can to prevent you from moving out of that. Do you hear yourself saying some of the following? If you do, stop for a moment and think. 

-I’m not good enough.

-It’s not the right time.

-I’m too old/young.

-I don’t have the money.

-People will laugh at me.

-What if I fail?

6.) Overly-large steps

If you bite off more than you can chew in one chunk it can be demoralizing and daunting. This is common. Instead of committing to visiting all the countries in the world when you first start out traveling, perhaps start by visiting one.

Every great journey starts with a single step.

7.) Procrastination

Now is the best time to act. It’s easy to say that you’ll travel one day or achieve XYZ in the future when you feel right. Don’t wait until you feel ready, or when the time is right. If you do that, you risk that time never coming. If you can’t complete the whole goal right now, create a mini-goal that you can finish that when done will help you to achieve your larger goal. Any progress is good progress!

8.) Distractions

People, at home, social pressure. These can all distract you from your goals. Remember why you’re trying to achieve your goals, and this can help you keep on track.

9.) Lack of consistency

Are you not doing the same things every day to help achieve your goals? Do you work hard one day and then slack off another?

Show up everyday with effort and you’ll be rewarded. The more consistent you are, the easier it is to achieve goals as they become habits. Get in the habit of talking to locals when you wake up each morning and you’ll find it second nature after a while.

Keep showing up and you'll eventually catch a ride.

10.) Expectations

More on this next week!

As you've learned, if you're interested in consistently having exceptional travel experiences, you should to set goals. The best travel goals are SMART goals—Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Based—and are often steps towards fulfilling a greater purpose or Why. Such goals provide travelers with the motivation, vision, and resiliency. By following a few straight-forward steps, anyone can design, develop, and—ultimately—live their travel dreams.

Eager to take the next step towards achieving your travel goals? D ownload my FREE guide   The Traveler’s Mindset: How to Mentally Prepare for Journeys of Adventure and Growth !

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Travel Goals

Almost 70 percent of Americans have a bucket list, with travel goals at the top of the majority of those lists. It’s easy to make grand statements about your travel goals, but will you ever reach them?

Approximately 56 percent of American adults say that money is an obstacle to achieving their bucket list goals. But people are willing to spend up to $12,888 on their bucket list on average.

How can you create and organize your travel goals so that you can fund them and accomplish them?

Why Should You Set Travel Goals?

Traveling helps you expand your worldview. Even if you’re content sitting on your couch, taking in the sights on Netflix, you can gain a lot by getting out of your comfort zone. It’s not always easy to take time away from your daily obligations. But doing so has several benefits for your physical and mental health.

Traveling Improves Your Interpersonal Skills

When you travel, especially to a country where they don’t speak your native language, you need to use more than speaking skills. You must communicate using facial expressions and body language. You learn to “listen” using all of your senses instead of just your ears.

You have to keep an open mind when you travel. The fact that you are exposed to cultural norms that may be different than your own can alter your perspective.

Traveling enhances your social skills . If you travel alone, you’ll have a chance to meet more people than you typically do on a day-to-day basis at home. When you’re sharing the same experience with others, you probably have similar mindsets. By engaging in conversation, you’ll learn what you have in common and what you don’t.

Even if you don’t usually spark up conversations with people, you’ll get some practice while you’re traveling. You may not have to be the initiator. People will often initiate conversations with you.

Traveling Builds Character

Mark Twain said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”

Traveling gives you the chance to try something new. Even if you stay within your comfort zone at home, you’re likely to embrace novel experiences while traveling.

For example, you might try a type of food although you order the same thing off of the menu at your favorite restaurant. You may attempt an adventure sport even though going to a Zumba class is the most adventurous that you are at home. You’re likely to expand your horizons while traveling because you know that the opportunity might not present itself again.

Traveling Builds Trust

Studies show that people who travel increase their level of trust in others. The key is having varied experience. Most researchers have found that more time spent in different countries doesn’t necessarily help you build trust. However, the breadth of travel, or the number of countries visited, correlates with increased generalized trust.

Traveling Enhances Your Creativity

Traveling may help you think outside the box. Travel experiences may not always go according to plan. Planes get delayed, people get lost and challenges come up. Sometimes, you have to think creatively to manage stressful situations.

Research shows that people who have worked abroad are more imaginative than those who have always worked close to home. Immersing yourself in a new culture allows you to integrate new beliefs, values and customs into your own identity. As you do that, you become more well-rounded.

You have to think in different ways. You have to decide how you feel about different philosophies and ideas. As you become a more flexible thinker, you also become more creative.

Traveling Helps You Solve Problems

The same study that looked at creativity revealed that students who lived in different countries were 20 percent more apt to decipher a computer task than those who remained near their hometowns. When you think creatively, you come up with new ways to perform the same old task.

When you’re exposed to different cultures, you learn that there is more than one way of doing things. You become more likely to integrate ideas in new ways.

Traveling Improves Your Focus and Productivity

Even though your boss might not want to let you take time off for that much-needed vacation, getting away can boost your productivity when you return. That’s especially true if you get some outdoor time while you’re there.

Just looking at nature improves your attention. Moreover, exposing yourself to new experiences keeps your mind sharp.

Even if you don’t go somewhere green, just taking all of your vacation days can make you more refreshed when you return to work. If you can’t detach from your job , you’ll likely experience burnout, which gets in the way of your productivity.

Make some travel goals so that you don’t neglect your vacation time this year.

Traveling Makes You Happy

In 2012, Expedia reported that 89 percent of people who took vacations experienced significant stress relief within two days of departing. Even just planning a trip can make you happier.

The anticipation of your vacation can reduce stress up to eight weeks before you leave. Plus, waiting for an experience, like a trip, makes you happier than anticipating making a material purchase.

These Are the Most Popular Travel Goals

Of the top bucket list goals , 12 out of 20 have to do with travel. The most popular lifetime travel goals include:

• See the Northern Lights
• Go on an African Safari
• Walk the Great Wall of China
• Swim at the Great Barrier Reef
• See Egypt’s pyramids
• Ride on a Gondola in Venice
• Go on a cross-country road trip
• Climb the Eiffel Tower
• Walk the Pacific Crest Trail
• Take a cruise in Alaska
• Visit Stonehenge
• Climb a major mountain

You may have similar goals. However, your travel dreams don’t have to be this grand. When you’re setting travel goals, start small. Think about all of the nearby places that you want to visit. It helps if you can drive to them within three hours.

Then, you can schedule them on the weekends and begin to cross them off your list. As you accomplish your smaller travel goals, you’ll gain confidence and become a more flexible traveler.

You’ll likely want to take your newfound skills to more exotic destinations once you’re an avid trip-taker. If making a list of travel goals seems daunting, think of it as a wish list. You can refresh it at any time, and it’s not a binding plan for your future.

Other Examples of Travel Goals

Here are some other popular destination goals.

• Explore Thailand
• Trek to Machu Picchu
• Visit the Cave of Swallows in Mexico
• Stay at an eco-resort in Costa Rica
• Go to the tallest building in the world
• Visit China
• Visit Japan
• Go to the top tourist destinations in London
• Dine at local pubs in Ireland
• Go to Disney World
• Hike in Patagonia

You don’t have to base your travel goals on a specific destination. You can set goals that encourage you to go exploring without a particular location in mind. Some examples of these include:

• Visit one new location every month
• Jump on a great flight or hotel deal once a year
• Go to one tourist attraction in your town every month
• Drive somewhere within a two-hour radius by yourself
• Volunteer in another country within the next five years
• Make a pilgrimage within the next ten years
• Take a road trip with the family this year
• Go snorkeling next year
• Take a foodie tour of your town this weekend

Create Action Steps

Writing down a list of goals and transforming your excuses helps you get to where you want to go. However, that’s not always enough to give you a clear plan to reach your travel goals.

You’ll start seeing a difference once you develop action steps that move you toward your objectives. To do this, work backward from your larger aim.

For example, perhaps one of your goals is to visit the southern coast of Spain. Once you’ve written that down, you’ll need to break it down into smaller steps. These might include the following:

• Decide which cities you want to visit.
• When is the best/least expensive time to go?
• Look up flights.
• Do some research on online forums and ask other travelers about their experiences.
• Get yourself a travel book to learn more about the region.
• Decide what types of accommodations you want to stay in.

Establish a Timeline

Once you have clarified those steps, you can move on to the next crucial part of goal-setting—establishing a timeline. If you’re traveling to one place, find out the ideal time to visit. The answer may depend on the weather or the busy season.

You’ll have some decisions to make. For example, you’ll have to choose whether you want to go when the area is packed with other tourists or during the off-season.

Visiting when everyone else does can help you feel like part of the crowd, which may be important to you if you’re traveling solo. If you’re doing a work exchange program, however, you may prefer to immerse yourself in the local culture when everyone else isn’t gawking at the famous landmarks.

Budget for Your Trip

By this time, you’ll likely have a good idea of how much you’ll need to spend on your trip. You haven’t worked out the ins and outs of your daily life on your journey, but you should have a sense of how much the flights and accommodations will be. Allot a certain amount of spending money per day.

Many guidebooks and blogs can help you with this step. Some tell you how much the average traveler spends per day in a particular city.

Decide how you’re going to save money for your trip. You could do one or more of the following:

• Open a travel bank account and put aside a small portion of each paycheck
• Cut down on extra expenses and deposit the extra money into the vacation fund
• Put extra income, such as bonuses, into the fund
• Take on a part-time job or a side hustle to earn vacation money
• Hold a yard sale to raise funds for your trip

Then, you’ll have to come up with a budget to stick to while you’re traveling. Estimating the costs ahead of time can help you with this. Once you’ve done that, you can calculate your total spending for the larger expenses, like flights and accommodations, and give yourself a daily budget for activities and miscellaneous expenses.

Make a Vision Board

Feeling the emotions that will come when you reach your goals is an important part of the planning process. Visualization helps you realize why you set these goals in the first place. Keeping your objectives at the forefront of your mind can help you stay motivated when money becomes tight or you become so busy that you might otherwise neglect your dreams.

Making a vision board is one way to do this. Gather photos of the destination that you’re planning to go to. Imagine how excited you’ll feel when you make your dreams come true.

Post your vision board where you’ll see it every day as a reminder that your travel goals are attainable.

Plan Your Time

You’ll likely have to shift your schedule to make room for your vacation plans. Do you need to request time off from work? Will you have to train someone to do your job in the meantime?

Write down all of the steps that you have to take before you hit the road (or the air). These may include:

• Purchasing flights
• Asking for time off
• Getting someone to care for your pets or water your plants while you’re gone
• Purchasing luggage or special equipment that you might need for your travel
• Giving yourself time to pack

Give yourself a deadline for completing each of these steps. If you spread them out throughout the month or year, you’ll stay motivated because you’ll get a boost of enthusiasm every time you cross something off of your list.

Why Aren’t You Achieving Your Travel Goals?

If you’re not rolling in the dough at the present moment, you might avoid setting travel goals altogether. After all, it might not seem realistic to plan to visit distant cities when your car needs work and your rent payment is looming.

Money may not be the only obstacle that’s preventing you from traveling the way that you want to. We’re often ruled by limiting beliefs that we don’t even know we have.

You may think that you can’t travel because:

• You have children
• You don’t have enough money
• You don’t have the time
• You don’t have a travel partner
• You don’t speak a foreign language
• You’re afraid of flying
• You can’t get time off of work

Shifting your mindset can help you set realistic travel goals. Perhaps you have a desire to take a transatlantic cruise. If you can’t take more than a week off at a time, you won’t be able to book that trip. But it doesn’t mean that you can’t take a cruise at all. Quick getaways can be just as rejuvenating and life-changing as longer journeys.

Write down all of the excuses that you give yourself for avoiding travel. If you aren’t making travel a priority, maybe it’s not that important to you. If you decide that it is, you might need to drop another activity to make room for a vacation.

Here are some suggestions for busting through your excuses so that you can achieve your travel goals.

I Can’t Travel Because I Have Children

Kids don’t automatically ruin your travel opportunities. In fact, there are many reasons why traveling with kids is good for you , including:

• You move more slowly and notice more
• You’re more likely to go to bed early and get enough rest
• You’ll often wake up early and hit the sights before the crowds do
• You might do all of those childish things that you wouldn’t do alone
• You may get privileged access to behind-the-scenes experience or fast lanes
• Children often travel for free

If you have children, you might need to adjust your travel goals so that you can take your kids into account. You might not be able to ride the biggest roller coaster at the theme park with a toddler, but you could get behind-the-scenes access at the zoo.

Consider these factors, and work them into your travel goals. Also, remember that your children won’t be young forever. You can make travel goals that are appropriate for them at any age. Then, you can go on solo vacations once your kids have left the nest.

I Don’t Have Enough Money to Travel

A trip around the world will cost approximately $2,000 a month . However, a backpacker can make it around the world for a total of $6,000.

There are so many variables that affect the cost of travel. If you telecommute, you may even be able to work during your trip, making enough money to fund the journey because being abroad can be cheaper than being at home as long as you don’t have to pay the mortgage while you’re gone.

In some cases, longer trips can be cheaper, relatively, than short trips because you give yourself more downtime. You don’t try to stuff so many activities into a brief timeframe.

But even if you don’t have the money for a round-the-world trip, you can make the most out of whatever situation you’re in.

Some suggestions for affording at least one trip a year even if your budget is tight include:

• Taking weekend trips by car
• Saving and investing your spare change
• Tighten up your spending
• Make money on the side
• Be flexible with your travel dates
• Use a credit card that earns travel points

You can also avoid paying for accommodations by taking part in a work exchange program . These offer so many opportunities for you to use your skills. Hostels, farms, restaurants and small villages may host you in exchange for a few hours of help each day.

If you’re setting travel goals, consider creating financial goals to go along with them. As your bank account grows, you can adapt your travel goals accordingly.

I Don’t Have the Time to Travel

If you’re not working 24/7, you have time to travel. However, your travel lifestyle has to suit your daily lifestyle. If you practice setting goals consistently, you can make sure that your travel objectives align with your work goals.

People who want to travel extensively can set career goals that allow them this kind of freedom. On the other hand, if you prefer to stick with the 9-to-5, adjust your travel goals so that they fit your schedule.

Let’s say that you get two weeks of paid time off per year. Add that to all of your weekends, and you have more than 100 travel days. That’s almost four months. You won’t be able to take those days consecutively, but you can do a lot with all of that freedom.

Nomadic Matt says that most people think that they don’t have the time to travel because they associate vacations with expensive, complicated trips. The travel industry has contributed to this way of thinking. Their marketing makes us think that we have to spend a lot of money and time on our vacations.

But there are so many resources to learn more about traveling on a time and financial budget. Setting goals can help you maximize your time so that you don’t have to make this excuse anymore.

I Don’t Have a Travel Partner

It’s completely understandable if you are afraid to travel alone. If your friends don’t have the same level of passionate about your vacation plans, you might want to find a travel buddy.

Your friends may not have the same dreams and goals as you do, and that’s ok.

But if you want to grow, you might want to consider traveling solo. MeanderWithMeg explains that she chooses to travel by herself because it’s in line with her goals. She finds travel buddies along the way instead of prepping for her trips with friends.

That way, she doesn’t have to wait for anyone else to come up with the funds or agree on an itinerary. She gains confidence from traveling solo.

If you set travel goals that align with your values, you’ll probably find the motivation to get away even if no one can go with you.

Some ways to travel alone and meet people along the way include:

• Start with a solid plan
• Tell others about your itinerary (with no expectations)
• Join a local day tour on your trip
• Travel to backpacker-friendly places
• Stay in hostels
• Travel with a small group
• Go on a themed retreat
• Network using social media
• Use Airbnb and choose a shared rental

I Don’t Speak the Language

Most people aren’t equipped to learn the language of every country to which they wish to travel. The thought that you might not be able to communicate with people easily brings up a lot of fear and discomfort.

But many tourist locations are used to dealing with foreign travelers. English is the universal travel language, and you’ll often find people who understand you if you speak simply and clearly.

If you’re journeying off the beaten path, finding someone who speaks your language can be more difficult. But it’s not impossible to communicate in a foreign country.

You can learn a few key words in a different language when you’re traveling. Write them down if you think that you won’t be able to remember them. Some of the most important words that will help you get what you need on your next vacation include:

You might also want to write down the names of cities that you will be traveling to. Put the name of your accommodations in writing so that you can ask for directions easily. Carry a translator or travel phrase book with you, and pack a pad of paper and pen in your bag just in case you need to communicate using the rules of Pictionary.

I’m Afraid of Flying

According to statistics, you’re more likely to be in a fatal car accident than an airplane crash. Still, those numbers don’t always quell your sense of dread when you step on an airplane.

Facts don’t make a difference if you have a flying phobia. Some tips that could help you combat your fear of flying are:

• Get to the airport with plenty of time – If you move slowly as you pack, arrive at the airport and board the plane, you’ll help avoid triggering your body’s alarm response.
• Remember the endpoint – Remind yourself of the purpose of your trip so that you can rely on excitement, which is extremely similar to fear.
• Distract yourself – Keep yourself occupied during the flight so that you don’t have mental space to worry. Chatting with a seatmate can distract you from invasive thoughts.

You can achieve your travel goals even if they seem overwhelming. If you put your mind to it and create a strategy, you’ll be able to go wherever you want with a little dedication and discipline.

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Achieving travel goals.

March 17, 2022 by Joslyn 26 Comments

Does the idea of planning travel have your head spinning. Read on to find out how to achieve your travel goals no matter how big or small. Maybe a staycation, or a road trip a couple states away. How about a cruise or a beach vacation ? Maybe a flight around the world? Whatever it may be you want to do, there is always a way to do it.

Let me show you it CAN still be possible to explore safely and affordably. And there are so many new online tools and resources to help you navigate the next era of tourism.

Disclosure – This post contains affiliate links that generate commission when clicked at no cost to you.

1. Set flexible and achievable travel goals

Did you know you are 42% more likely to achieve your goals by writing them down? This process can help you get clear on exactly what you want to accomplish and how to make it happen. Start by writing down a list of the destinations you are dreaming about in the travel goals section of the Budget Travel Starter Kit .

Consider your travel style and how long you would want to spend there e.g. one-week vacation in Mexico or a 6-month RV trip across the US? Calculate the approximate amount required for each trip and add it to the “amount needed” column.

Before completing the target date, research current travel restrictions and visa requirements (if you’re hoping to go abroad). For visas, Passport Index will provide an overview but ultimately check and apply directly with that country’s immigration

You can use this information to choose one realistic trip and target date based on your current income and circumstances (travel restrictions, vacation time, visas, distance, cost of flights, etc). It doesn’t mean you won’t eventually get to visit all your bucket list places but for now, focus on the most realistic travel goal.

2. Visualize your goal and the potential obstacles

Positive thinking can actually improve life satisfaction and outcomes according to scientific research . Here are activities to visualize your goals and reinforce your optimistic mindset.

• Create a vision or Pinterest board with images for your dream destination
• Update the wallpaper on your phone and computer with a picture from that place
• Read books and blogs about your dream destination to keep you motivated with saving
• Start saying ‘I’m going to…’ (your dream destination) rather than ‘I want to go’. This will build confidence it’s actually going to happen.

Once you’ve visualized yourself achieving your travel goals, it’s also important to consider what could get in the way. It may sound counterintuitive but NYU psychology professor, Gabriele Oettingen, says understanding the potential obstacles will help you find a way to adapt, reschedule, or move onto another goal.

The WOOP website provides a simple and free way to identify your inner obstacle and plan to overcome it. For example, this could be a plan to request holiday leave from your job, considering how much time off you have available and how much notice you need to give.

3. Create a budget to achieve your travel goal

Money is always a key factor in stopping people from traveling more. If money is an issue for you, there are two ways to beat it – decrease your costs and/or increase your income .

Either path that you choose, it’s still worthwhile to know exactly how much money you have first. Use the budget section of the Budget Travel Starter Kit to write all your incoming payments and outgoing expenses. If you’re not sure where all your money is going, try tracking your expenses for a week on a free app like Trabee Pocket.

Review your expenses and identify unnecessary costs you could cut back on (e.g. eating out, espresso coffee, beauty treatments, etc.) Ultimately, it’s your decision what you are willing to trade for the opportunity to fulfill your wanderlust.

Here are a couple tips to try:

• The 50/30/20 Financial Guideline by using 50% of income for mandatory expenses, 30% on optional expenses, and 20% on savings or paying down debt
• Reverse budgeting where you put money towards your goals first before your living expenses.

4. Set targets to pay off debt and save money to travel

We believe in financially-responsible travel, which means paying off high-interest debts (like credit cards) and creating an emergency fund before saving for a trip. It’s always a good idea to keep $1,000 or more aside for unexpected costs e.g. car repairs.

Looking at the expenses listed in your budget and the amount needed for your trip, calculate how long it will take after paying off debt and creating an emergency fund. Also, consider opening a flexible, interest-earning account that won’t lock you in for a long period.

• Checking account:  for receiving income and making daily purchases
• Savings account:  where I transfer the amount I want to save each month and keep my emergency funds
• Term deposit: interest-earning account for funds I won’t need to access for 3+ months.

Set target dates for each milestone e.g. pay off your credit card by the end of March, save $2,000 by mid-June, etc. It’s better to aim higher than lower – push yourself to reach your goals but don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t make it each month. Schedule reminders in your calendar for when to make repayments, cancel direct debits, put money aside for the trip, and review your progress (e.g. monthly).

5. Consider how you can make extra income

If you can’t possibly decrease your expenses, then the other option is to consider how you can make more money – whether it’s a paid promotion, higher-paying job, or lucrative side hustle. Or you can reduce both your living costs and increase your income. I have multiple income streams with my blogging, VA services and selling misc items like clothing and unused household stuff online.

6. Review your progress and adjust your targets

Each month review your progress against the budget, goals, and target dates in the Budget Travel Starter Kit. If you come in short in some areas, consider whether you need to adjust your budget and then review next month. Repeat this process until you pay off high-interest debt, store away an emergency fund, and have the amount needed.

Designing – researching and trip planning for your travel goals

1. create a travel plan.

Whether you prefer to wing it or plan carefully, you can use the Budget Travel Starter Kit to record an outline of dates and important information. Travellerspoint is another free tool that allows you to build visual itineraries and maps – perfect for backpacking and road trips. Share it with travel buddies to add ideas and keep updating it as plans become more concrete.

2. Compare hotels and airlines for safety and cost

Planning a budget-friendly trip with cheap flights and accommodation has always been a challenge. Now we also have to worry about staying as safe as possible and adhering to all regulations. The Safe Travel Barometer can help make this easier by comparing safety protocols for travel companies like hotels, airlines, and airports.

Plus, we’ve put together two in-depth guides for you:

• What you need to know if you’re flying soon : 9 tips for safety and sanity
• 5 smart ways to find cheap accommodation (and travel safely)

3. Organize visas, medication, and travel insurance

By now, you’re probably already familiar with the visa and quarantine requirements (if any) of the place that you are visiting. However, it’s also worthwhile to check for any compulsory immunizations. If you take medication, make sure it can be taken into that country and whether you need a prescription to purchase more.

Travel insurance is more important than ever before. When making bookings with a credit card, see if it includes any type of insurance. If it doesn’t provide sufficient coverage, look for a travel insurance company that covers COVID-19 like SafetyWing .

4. Consider how you will access data and your funds abroad

Research your destination to see if WiFi will be available in public places and the cost for a local sim card. Whenever I travel to a new country, I purchase a sim card as soon as I arrive and this has been the cheapest and most convenient option. A quick Google search will reveal which is the best option in terms of connectivity and price.

Your existing phone company may provide international data access as part of your plan or for an extra cost. Read the terms and conditions to make sure you don’t exceed the limitations and end up with a nasty bill. And if you have a regular data plan – keep data roaming switched OFF as it can be crazy expensive!

In my experience the most cost-effective options for accessing cash abroad are:

• Withdrawing from an ATM
• Exchanging cash

Contact your banks to check if they have any partner banks in that country. For example, international banks like Citibank or HSBC have ATMs all around the world. If not, find out what the fees will be for withdrawing AND converting cash (some banks charge both). Weigh this up against the risks of carrying cash and exchanging money.

Personally, I use a Transferwise Borderless account and Mastercard debit card which lets me:

• Receive, hold, and withdraw cash in multiple currencies at rates much lower than traditional banks
• Freeze and unfreeze my card through an app on my phone, preventing unauthorized charges
• See a summary of transactions for each currency and overall.

Departing – getting organized and packing

1. choose your carry-on bag.

No matter what kind of trip you are taking, I guarantee you’ll only need 7-10 days’ worth of clothing. That’s because you can wash your clothes and mix-and-match pieces to keep them fresh. Unless you’re embarking on a cross-seasonal journey and I’ve had friends who’ve still achieved that with a carry-on.

Switching to a carry-on bag can make your trip cheaper and more comfortable by avoiding:

• Unnecessary weight to drag around
• Checked luggage fees
• Wait times at the luggage carousel
• Risk of your bag being lost or damaged by the airline
• Friends and family asking you to bring giant souvenirs home.

2. Purchase must-have travel accessories only

Keep your bag light by only purchasing the travel accessories that you actually need such as a travel scarf/sarong and wallet with a chain that attaches to your bag. Don’t forget your hygiene kit with essentials that can help you reduce your risk of getting sick or spreading it to others.

• Breathable, washable masks with two or more layers
• Hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol
• BPA-free water bottle for personal use
• Food storage containers and reusable ziplock bags
• Contactless credit or debit card .

If you are planning to clean your accommodation, see the CDC’s guidance on how to clean and disinfect (or refer to the advice from your local government advisory).

3. Make copies of all your travel documents

Set up electronic access to all your copies of important documents such as:

• Insurance certificate
• Visa approval
• Bank statement with available funds and account name.

Thanks to technology, you can easily share these with your family as well either by email, Dropbox, or Google Drive. However, as WiFi isn’t always a given – download to your phone and/or make physical copies to have on hand at immigration or in case of emergency.

4. Pack and then pack again with less

Use the packing list section of the Budget Travel Starter Kit to organize what you need to take. Before going on your trip, make a trial-run of packing your bag to make sure everything fits comfortably then remove anything unnecessary.

Doing it – traveling and keeping costs low

Congratulations! You made it. You are living out your travel dreams. Now the focus is on enjoying the adventure – without making any expensive mistakes. I recommend setting a daily budget and keeping track of your expenses on a free travel app like Trabee Pocket.

I’ve also included a few resources below to help keep your trip affordable, responsible, and sustainable.

• 15 ways to make friends while traveling without feeling awkward as f#ck
• 10 truths about backpacking in your 30s (and beyond) as a woman
• 12 smart ideas to save money on food while traveling and at home
• How to choose ethical animal tourism experiences .

Be sure to come back when you’re ready to start thinking about your next travel goal.

Originally written in 2017 and updated in 2021.

What are your travel goals? Tell us about it below!

And if you liked the post – share it with your friends on social media.

About Joslyn

Female Travel Blogger Sharing Travel Tips, Work and Travel Tips, Budget Travel Tips and general daily life from a travel chicks point of view!

Reader Interactions

Ania | Snow to Seas says

July 30, 2017 at 12:55 am

Really helpful and thorough post for anyone wanting their travel dreams to become a reality! There are so many valuable tips in here, like getting insurance, making sure you have access to your funds, and packing and repacking less (I am guilty of constantly overpacking). Thank you for putting this together!

Chantell Collins says

August 3, 2017 at 3:08 pm

Thanks Ania! That is such a lovely comment. I am passionate about helping other people to make their travel dreams a reality and love hearing that this information is helpful 🙂

Cheryll Young says

April 22, 2020 at 6:45 am

I have traveled a lot and could probably write a book on budget travel but I have trouble locating friends who are willing to stay in hostels or travel for months at a time. I’m 72 and still on the Go. I find your info accurate and encouraging for those who only dream about travel….thank you.

April 22, 2020 at 2:55 pm

Thank you, Cheryll! I know exactly what you mean about finding friends to travel with. That’s why I encourage dreamers not to wait for their friends and create step-by-step guides to help them travel more confidently. Your story is very inspiring – thank you for sharing 🙂

July 30, 2017 at 6:17 pm

Thank you for putting this together and keeping several types of travelers in mind. This is super useful and I’ll be sharing it with friends who don’t know how to set travel goals. 🙂

July 30, 2017 at 11:02 pm

Thanks Alex! I really wanted to write something useful that tied all aspects together but was easy to follow. I put a lot of my energy and knowledge from experience into this. Thank you so much for sharing!

Anne Slater-Brooks says

July 31, 2017 at 12:27 pm

Wow this is a really comprehensive resource for those wanting to travel who are on a budget. Thanks for sharing.

August 1, 2017 at 4:34 pm

Thanks Anne! I don’t think I realised how much I had to say until I started writing ha ha.

July 31, 2017 at 4:29 pm

This is really helpful Chantell! Excelent guide for anyone planning a trip

August 1, 2017 at 4:32 pm

Thanks Ivana! So happy to hear that you enjoyed it!

Patricia says

July 31, 2017 at 8:13 pm

These are super helpful tips! I particularly like the breakdowns on budgeting for the dream trip. Right now, we are pretty strapped for cash, so we are focusing on closer trips that we can handle, but it’s good plan for a bigger trip down the road. Travel insurance has become a very important aspect of longer travel — something that didn’t really seem to exist when I was a twenty-something backpacking in Europe. Now, it does seem like there are good options. I also hadn’t thought about registering my destination, but these days that looks like an excellent plan. Also, good to know about Citibank and fund access!

Thanks Patricia. I am so happy that you found some helpful tips in here. I understand the feeling of being strapped for cash, which is why I am always looking for ways to save money before and during my travels (and of course, sharing them on here!).

Sandy N Vyjay says

August 1, 2017 at 7:03 am

A very systematic and comprehensive approach to traveling. This becomes very important, especially when traveling with family and kids. Planning ensures that you have a smooth experience. The post points the direction towards the conversion of travel dreams to reality.

August 1, 2017 at 4:30 pm

Thanks Sandy and Vyjay! That’s definitely what I was aiming for – a step-by-step approach for those who are struggling to know where to start or for those who want to travel more. Thanks for the lovely comment :).

Laura Nalin says

August 1, 2017 at 4:52 am

These are all really great goals! I definitely think these tips are all doable. I definitely follow most of the suggestions you’ve provided – certainly the extra copies of my documents in Dropbox. I’m a bit confused about your brother’s experience with his debit card, though. I live in Vietnam and have had zero issues with my debit card while living here, as well as the three other times I’d visited prior. I do love that there are lots of ANZ ATMs around as you can take the most money out via those. How odd that his card didn’t work!

August 1, 2017 at 4:31 pm

Thanks Laura! It was a few years ago and he had a Suncorp debit card – which at the time could only be used in Australia. I am sure they have updated that now but still always better to check :).

Danielle Desir says

August 1, 2017 at 1:55 pm

A few years ago when I first started traveling I planned every detail out but now my style is more of a blend. I always book flights and lodging way in advance but it’s only a few weeks before a trip that I start planning an itinerary and things to do. A lot of it is trial and error to you find the right mix!

August 1, 2017 at 4:29 pm

Hey Danielle! I so agree. There have been many times where I have planned and booked ahead only to change my travel plans while on the road. That’s when I started using Booking.com because with many hotels and hostels you can get free cancellation. I have also been victim of not planning ahead and missing out on good deals or activities because they are booked up. Definitely is a balance somewhere in the middle 🙂

August 4, 2017 at 3:48 am

Great tips! Especially for non-experience travellers. Thanks for sharing <3

August 6, 2017 at 2:38 am

Thanks Sandy! I appreciate it 🙂

Jill at Reading the Book Travel says

November 10, 2018 at 6:53 pm

This is a really great, comprehensive guide to planning a trip which I’m sure will be very reassuring for newbie travellers. Your advice is spot-on!

November 11, 2018 at 5:32 am

Thanks Jill! I really appreciate your comment and feedback. I think it is a great guide to help people tick off their bucket list on a budget.

Nam Nguyen says

March 4, 2019 at 10:55 pm

Great stuff Chantell! Many thanks for sharing this information

March 4, 2019 at 11:52 pm

You are welcome Nam! Thanks for all your help with our visa applications 🙂

Daniella Chase says

June 3, 2019 at 5:42 am

Thank you, Chantell. I’m from Guyana, South America and I plan on backpacking my way around the continent a bit. I have backpacked outside my country before and I still find a lot of this information useful. I look forward to my trip and putting these tips to good use!

June 3, 2019 at 3:07 pm

Hey Daniella! Thanks for the feedback – knowing this information is helpful to you really makes my day! I hope you’ll join us in the Budget Travel Babes community where you can connect with lots of other female travelers and get more real-life budget advice. https://www.facebook.com/groups/budgettravelbabes/

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The goal setting mentor

Travel goals: the simple 4 step method for achieving them. Plus 32 examples.

Travel goals are different than all other types of goals. They require a different system for setting and achieving them.

I love to travel, but if I don’t set travel goals I always end up on my couch at home.

So here is a simple system for setting travel goals which can help you visit the places you always dreamed of visiting.

The nice thing is that at this stage, you don’t have to worry if you have enough money or time. You just enjoy the enthusiasm of knowing that one day you will go there.

Here are the steps (warning: they are kinda fun)

Step1: Create a travel goals wishlist

First, you would like to create a wishlist . It’s like a list of your dream places to visit.

This is very similar to a “someday-maybe” places to visit list. You don’t have to set deadlines or make SMART travel goals (yet).

You just set an intention to visit this place someday.

You can constantly “refill” your travel goals wishlist when you encounter a place you may want to visit.

If you don’t have a wishlist, brainstorm based on continents. Think about travel goals for Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, etc.

Then record the list in your favorite note taking app (like Evernote or OneNote) or in your Moleskine notebook.

2. Create a vision board for all places. This is how you do it with your computer

What the mind can conceive, it can achieve. So, you need to “feed your mind” with the images of the places you want to visit.

If you like the old fashion way, you just print out the places you want to visit, cut them and put them on a large sheet of paper.

To find images, you just search for the place in Google Images:

If you want to get only high-quality images, click on “Search tools” and choose Large size images.

Here is how you can create a digital travel goals vision board.

Second, set up a slideshow for this folder. Here is how you do it with Windows 10. Every OS has similar settings, no matter if it’s a Mac or Linux.

Third, when you happen to find a great picture, just put it in the folder. It will start to show automatically on your desktop.

Step 3: Create a separate bank account and put 3% of your income in your new travel goals account

There is a famous money managing system by Harv Eker, which is called “money jars system”.

The idea is to set a “jar” or nowadays a bank account 🙂 and put a certain amount there after you get paid.

It follows the rule “pay myself first” and you don’t wait until some money is left. You have to put money aside when you are paid (e.g. get salary) and live with the rest.

So, decide how much money you are going to set aside – it may be 1%, 3%, up to 10%. But you have to put this money in your bank account each month regularly no matter what.

It will seem like magic , but after just a few months or perhaps a year you will have a bank account with money for dream holidays you never dreamed you could afford to visit.

In this regard, don’t let your limiting beliefs stop you from traveling

The biggest obstacle from achieving the dream life you desire is … You!

We all have some limiting beliefs. I hope you are at least not in denial and say “I don’t have limiting beliefs”.

I’ve heard it all: I don’t have the time. I don’t have the money. I can’t travel with kids. I have someone I have to take care of and can’t leave them…

These are all excuses and I just showed you how to eliminate the biggest one – money. Deal with all of them in the same manner.

Step 4: Review your travel goals wishlist during the yearly goal setting process

No matter if you use the “Goal buddy” goal setting system or not, if you regularly set goals, you would have something like a “yearly goals review”.

Take out your wishlist and consider choosing one of the travel goals as a goal you would like to achieve during the next year.

You would need to make this goal a SMART goal. It’s not anymore a wish, it’s more concrete now.

Create projects that can help you achieve these goals

Break down the goal in detailed projects with exact action steps.

Here are just a few examples:

• Research time to visit / local places to visit
• Research and book hotels
• Research and buy tickets for travel
• Trip preparation

That’s it. Repeat year after year and check off your travel goals wishlist

By just doing this each year, step by step you can visit all the places you want to visit.

Need an example? Here is my list of 32 travel goals

I know people love examples, that’s why I will share my travel goals wishlist. Remember, this is my list. It will be completely different than yours.

Visit the “Lost City of the Incas” aka Machu Picchu

I don’t know why, but I am so attracted to this place. I have no idea why I want to visit Machu Picchu, but this one is on top of my list.

I am not a huge Gloria Estefan fan, but I often watch this video, because it has great pictures from Machu Pichu.

Explore Singapore and Thailand – accomplished

This one is accomplished. Me, my wife and two friends spent two weeks in Singapore, Phuket and Bangkok. It was amazing – very different culture.

Climb the highest building in the world – Burj al Arab in Dubai -accomplished

My education is in civil engineering and I am always interested in high buildings. What about the highest building in the world?

Here is a picture I took from the top of Burj al Arab in Dubai.

Visit the most beautiful beach in Greece – Porto Katsiki in Lefkada

Ok, I still can’t agree that someone will just label a single beach in Greece to be the “most beautiful”. There are so many great beaches in Greece.

But this beach in Lefkada is for sure one of the best beaches in Greece. I was there because my goal buddy Nikolay “forced” me to visit the beautiful island of Lefkada and I am happy he did.

Visit China

Great culture, great places to visit. Someday I will go there.

Thasos, Greece – accomplished

Maybe not on top of everybody’s list, but because of the location, which is near to where I live, I could visit this place.

Early in the mornings, while the kids were sleeping,  my wife and I traveled around the island. Here’s a picture I took one morning.

Visit Madame Tussauds in London with my son – accomplished

I had a business trip to London and took my son with me to have what we call “dad & son time”.

He was just so impressed. This time together was priceless.

Explore Cappadocia by … balloon

Another very interesting place to visit.

Visit the beaches of Chalkidiki, Greece – accomplished

I love Chalkidiki. It has amazing beaches and very nice weather. I go there almost every year and can’t get enough of it.

It’s more or less a “recurring goal” for me…

Saint Petersburg

This is perhaps the most beautiful city in Russia. I will be there one day.

Snorkeling in Egypt – accomplished

I am not attracted to the pyramids, but the underwater beauty of Red sea is incomparable. I have visited Egypt 3 times and would like to go back again.

A lot of friends told me that Berlin is great. I will have to check it out.

Holiday in Antalya – accomplished

Just like Egypt, Antalya in Turkey is great for holidays. I was there and I had the feeling I was in paradise.

San Francisco

Looks like a place I want to visit someday.

Visit Paris – accomplished

Explore rome – accomplished.

Great city, amazing food. Here is a picture I took outside of St Peter’s Basilica.

I want to visit this place.

Prague at Christmas time – accomplished

I felt as if I was in a fairy tale. Prague, especially at Christmas time was great. The atmosphere is unbelievable.

Check out the city that never sleeps, New York

I’ve heard, listened to and read so much about this place, It would be a shame if it’s not on my list.

Istanbul – accomplished

The city is spread over two continents. It’s partially in Europe, partially in Asia.

It was a strange mix of cultures there.

Maybe not so far in the future…

I am somehow attracted to this place and I would like to explore it more.

Vienna at Christmas time

After promoting Prague at Christmas time to so many people, some of them recommended Vienna. It should be also great during this time of the year.

Italy is warm and their food and wine are great. Time to check out Venice.

Visit the Cologne cathedral – accomplished

Disney land.

Looks perfect for a family holiday. I still haven’t been there.

Gaudi’s work in Barcelona

Immediately after I visited Cologne, I knew one day I will visit Barcelona. I wanted to check the work of Gaudi.

It’s a city that one could easily fall in love with.

I love the beaches and the sea. Someday I have to check one of the most famous places on earth in this regard.

Beer fest at Munich – accomplished

Wow – what and experience. I am sorry I can’t find my pictures from it…

Walk trough Budapest

After visiting Prague, I wanted to visit similar cities and Budapest seems like a good choice.

Sicily, Italy

Looks like an interesting destination.

A friend recommended me this place and it looks enough exotic to be on my list.

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One thought on “ Travel goals: the simple 4 step method for achieving them. Plus 32 examples. ”

The Burj Khalfia, not the small ‘older’ hotel on the beach as Burj Al Arab. He says looking at the tall one whilst reading your stuff. Nice by the way, keep going. : )))))

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We all have them. Those glittering dreams of what we wish to achieve one day. Crafts we would like to master. Literary classics begging to be read. That adorable lakeside cottage which we’re totally going to build. And not least our travel goals: a bucket list of the marvelous places around the globe that we’re dreaming to visit – that one perfect day when the puzzle of life falls into place.

When the time is right. When the kids are older. When your wallet is full. When you’ve got spare holiday. In other words: when pigs fly.

In order to achieve your travel goals, the first thing to realize is: there’s no such thing as a right moment. Life is full of wonderful but distracting roadblocks that keep your eyes on day-to-day business. As with all other achievements, if you want your travel dreams to come true, you need to take action, define your goals and plan to make them happen.

It’s all about priorities

Traveling is movement. Moving yourself from one point to another – investigating new corners of the world – is a delightfully simple and efficient way of changing perspective, and getting a broader and more inspired view of this thing we call life.

In a long-term perspective, that’s a significant opportunity that deserves priority, right? OK. Hold on to that thought. That’s step number one: making traveling a real priority. Something you identify with and plan for.

What’s holding you back?

Now that you’ve gotten your priorities straight, it’s much easier to tackle the challenges you will face along the way. So, what’s holding you back?

Money? Well, how much do you need and by when? Not entirely sure? Well, then that’s your first challenge. Figuring out exactly what you want is imperative, only then can you start budgeting for it.

You’ve got time struggles? Join the club. So many great adventures to be had, so little time. This is where your priorities kick in. You’re determined, and from there it’s surprisingly simple. If you want more time for traveling, you need to plan ahead. It’s much easier organizing your holidays when your schedule is still open and things can be swapped around.

Got kids? Splendid! Traveling is an outstanding education and bonding experience. Check out these 25 tips for traveling with children . Have no one to travel with? Solo travel is a thing – and an awesome one, too. See our 20 essential tips for solo travelers .

In short, get cracking with that research and start transforming your challenges into tasks.

Where do you want to go?

Back to your bucket list. It’s endless. The roads you will tread! You still need somewhere to start, though. It’s impossible to take action on vague dreams, so in order to achieve your goals, you need to narrow your options.

Make a list of your dream locations, and allow yourself to drool over it for a while. Now it’s time to get real. Choose a place on your bucket list – or more than one, but keep it realistic – and commit to it. By doing so, you no longer have an endless list of places fighting for your attention, and you’re able to do some actual planning.

Compare destinations and prices by using momondo’s Anywhere Search . Type your preferred arrival destination – city, country, region, continent – into the search box, and you’re presented with a list of options and approximate prices. Choose map view for a geographical overview.

If you’re looking to travel off the beaten path, check out the best alternative summer vacation destinations for 2018 .

How to save money for travel

Alright. Now it’s getting serious. Someone needs to fund this, and let’s face it – it will likely be you. However, it doesn’t have to be half the slog you may think it is. Taking actual steps towards achieving your goals is tremendously uplifting.

Firstly, get an idea of your trip’s overall costs. Include prices for flights and accommodation, transportation and food. Also, look up the local cost of living to calculate pocket money.

Once you’ve got your number, start balancing. Compare your income vs. expenses, and see how everything stacks up. Set a fixed spending budget, and figure out how much you’re realistically able to set aside bi-weekly or monthly. Set up a dedicated travel fund where you collect your savings.

Make sure to revisit your budget regularly to see if anything needs adjusting.

Maximize your budget

Once you’ve cut back on excess spending, see if you’ve got additional income options. Perhaps you have some stuff you could sell?

When planning your trip, look for free activities. Book a room with kitchenette or kitchen access, and make an adventure out of local grocery shopping (it’s fun!). Look for tourist passes for cheaper transportation, and bring snacks and drinks when sightseeing. Steering free of tourist traps is another obvious win.

As for flight tickets, note that it’s usually cheaper to fly mid-week, and even cheaper if it’s in the evening. See all our insider tricks on how to find the cheapest flights , and consider picking one of the best budget destinations .

How to make time for traveling

You’ve got your dream location. You’ve compiled a list of must-sees longer than the Great Wall of China. You’ve swiftly calculated the expenses and the time needed. And then you call it off. Next year … maybe then it’s more feasible.

Classic mistake. Trips neither have to be long, nor expensive to offer great experiences. Plan ahead and schedule long weekends. That’s a great way of starting your world explorations, and even just three days somewhere different can bring new perspectives. Also, once you’re there, remember that you don’t have to see it all. Pick just a couple of sights, and then leave your schedule open to the unexpected. This way you’ll have much better time to fully appreciate what comes along.

It’s all in our vacation expectations, and how we perceive our time. If you only count your weekends, you have 104 days off every year. Add just a couple of weeks of personal leave, and you’re well above 3 months of potential travel days a year. That’s without counting public holidays. You’ve got time.

Get more bang for your buck

You’ve got the money, you’ve got the time. Now follow in the footsteps of any frequent traveler and spend it wisely. Keep on the lookout for deals and bargains – it’s key to maximizing your travel opportunities.

Once you’ve made a flight search on momondo, set up a personal Price Alert. It’s nice and simple – you sign up for your preferred route, and we’ll ping you as soon as the price changes significantly.

Obsessed? Well, that’s perfect!

To keep your motivation fueled, you’ll want to take your travel obsession to new levels.

Immerse yourself in your dream destination. Get insider stories from others who’ve already been. Watch movies about it. Browse travel guides and articles, and list the places you’d like to see. More than anything, read novels that paint a picture of local history and what it’s like to be there. It’s the perfect way to get beneath the surface.

Apart from keeping you motivated, all your research will come in handy when you finally arrive.

Join forces to stay on track

To stay on track, consider finding yourself a travel buddy. Someone who shares your interests and will hold you accountable for your progress. Set short-term tasks for each other, and check in once a week to make sure you’re on track.

If you’re a lone wolf, your strategy is more or less the same. Set up continuous short-term goals and fixed deadlines, and keep them. If you tackle one step at a time, you’ll be amazed how easy it is.

Bon voyage!

Before you go, make sure you’ve got it all:

• Learn to pack like a pro with our  essential packing tips
• Forgot anything? Check out our handy traveling checklist

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What is a Travel Goal? Discover the Power of Setting Travel Goals

Table of Contents

What is travel goals ?

The Importance of Setting Travel Goals

Setting travel goals is a crucial step in experiencing the true joy and fulfillment that travel can bring. By identifying and articulating what you hope to achieve or gain from your travels, you give yourself a clear direction and purpose. Travel becomes more than just a series of destinations; it becomes a transformative journey.

Travel is not just about visiting famous landmarks or ticking items off a bucket list. It is about immersing yourself in new cultures, expanding your horizons, and challenging yourself to step outside of your comfort zone. Setting travel goals helps you focus on the experiences that truly matter to you.

When you set travel goals, you create a roadmap for your journey. Whether your goal is to learn a new language, try local cuisine, or engage in adventure activities, having a plan gives you something to work towards and look forward to. It adds excitement and anticipation to the process of planning and undertaking your travels.

Furthermore, setting travel goals allows you to measure your progress and celebrate your achievements. As you work towards each goal, you gain a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. Each new milestone becomes a testament to your determination and growth as a traveler.

Finally, setting travel goals empowers you to make the most of your time and resources. With a clear vision of what you want to achieve, you can prioritize your activities and make informed decisions about how to allocate your time, energy, and money. This ensures that every moment of your travel journey is meaningful and fulfilling.

In conclusion, setting travel goals is essential for maximizing the benefits of your travels. It gives you a sense of direction, focus, and purpose, allowing you to create a transformative journey filled with memorable experiences and personal growth.

Benefits of Having Clear Travel Goals

Setting clear travel goals is an essential step towards creating memorable and fulfilling travel experiences. When you have a clear understanding of what you want to achieve or experience during your travels, you are more likely to have a successful and rewarding trip. Here are some of the key benefits of having clear travel goals:

1. Clarity and Focus

Having clear travel goals provides you with a sense of clarity and focus. It helps you narrow down your options and prioritize what is important to you. When you have a clear vision of what you want to achieve, you can better plan your itinerary, choose destinations that align with your goals, and make the most out of your time and resources.

2. Motivation and Inspiration

Setting travel goals can inspire and motivate you to take action. When you have a specific goal in mind, it creates a sense of purpose and excitement. Whether it’s learning a new skill, visiting a famous landmark, or immersing yourself in a different culture, having a clear travel goal gives you something to look forward to and helps you stay motivated throughout your journey.

Additionally, achieving a goal can boost your confidence and self-esteem, proving to yourself that you are capable of setting your mind to something and accomplishing it.

What Makes Clear Travel Goals Different?

Clear travel goals are not just about ticking off popular tourist attractions or visiting as many countries as possible. They are about setting meaningful and personal objectives that resonate with you. It’s about creating experiences that are aligned with your values, interests, and desires.

Instead of simply going with the flow or following someone else’s itinerary, clear travel goals allow you to design your own journey and make choices that align with your vision. They give you the power to shape your travel experiences and create memories that are truly unique to you.

So, what are your travel goals? Take the first step towards turning your dreams into reality and embark on a journey of discovery and personal growth. Set clear travel goals, plan your adventures, and unlock the incredible power of intentional travel.

How to Set Realistic Travel Goals

Setting travel goals can be an exciting and rewarding process. It gives you something to look forward to, motivates you to save money, and allows you to explore new places and cultures. However, it’s essential to set realistic goals that align with your budget, time constraints, and personal preferences. Here are some steps to help you set realistic travel goals:

1. Define Your Travel Vision

Start by clarifying what travel means to you. Is it about relaxation, adventure, cultural immersion, or all of the above? Determining your travel vision will help you focus on destinations and experiences that align with your interests.

2. Assess Your Resources

Take stock of your financial situation, available vacation days, and other resources that will impact your travel plans. Be honest with yourself about what you can realistically afford and how much time you can allocate to travel.

Pro tip: Consider creating a travel savings plan to help you stay on track with your financial goals.

3. Research Destinations

Explore different travel destinations that match your vision and resources. Look for places that offer the experiences you desire within your budget and time frame.

Pro tip: Take advantage of travel websites and blogs, which can provide valuable information and inspiration for your travel goals.

4. Break it Down

Break down your travel goals into smaller, manageable steps. For example, if you want to save a certain amount of money for a trip, set monthly saving targets that will help you reach your overall goal.

Remember: Setting realistic and achievable milestones will keep you motivated along the way.

5. Be Flexible

While it’s important to set specific goals, be open to adjusting them as needed. Unexpected opportunities or changes in your circumstances may require you to adapt your travel plans. Embrace the possibility of exploring new horizons.

By following these steps, you can set realistic travel goals that align with your interests, budget, and personal circumstances. So, what are you waiting for? Start planning your next adventure today!

Creating Your Personal Travel Guide

Travel is an exhilarating experience that allows you to explore new cultures, visit stunning landmarks, and create lasting memories. But what is travel without a plan? This is where your personal travel guide comes in.

Your personal travel guide is a customized itinerary that helps you make the most out of your trips. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a novice, having a tailored guide ensures that you don’t miss out on any must-see attractions or hidden gems along the way.

Must-See Destinations and Activities for Your Travel Guide

When it comes to travel, having goals is essential. Setting travel goals not only gives you something to look forward to, but it also helps you prioritize your time and make the most of your trip. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or just starting out, here are some must-see destinations and activities that should be on your travel guide:

1. Explore the Ancient Wonders

One of the most incredible experiences you can have while traveling is to visit the ancient wonders of the world. From the majestic pyramids of Egypt to the iconic ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru , these sites are not only breathtakingly beautiful but also offer a glimpse into the ancient civilizations that once thrived.

Make sure to immerse yourself in the history and culture of these destinations. Take a guided tour, learn about the myths and legends surrounding these ancient wonders, and marvel at the architectural marvels that have withstood the test of time.

2. Embrace Nature’s Beauty

Traveling is not just about visiting cities and landmarks, but also about connecting with nature. When setting travel goals, make sure to include destinations that showcase the beauty of the natural world.

Whether it’s hiking in the majestic Rocky Mountains, snorkeling in the vibrant coral reefs of the Great Barrier Reef, or witnessing the breathtaking Northern Lights in Iceland, there are countless natural wonders waiting to be explored.

Take the time to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, immerse yourself in the peacefulness of nature, and let it inspire and rejuvenate you.

3. Immerse Yourself in Local Culture

One of the most rewarding aspects of travel is immersing yourself in the local culture of your destination. When setting travel goals, make sure to include activities that allow you to interact with the locals, learn about their customs and traditions, and get a taste of the authentic local cuisine.

From participating in cooking classes and traditional dance workshops to visiting local markets and festivals, there are endless opportunities to engage with the local culture and create lasting memories.

• Try the traditional street food in Thailand
• Learn to dance the tango in Argentina
• Attend a traditional tea ceremony in Japan
• Visit a local vineyard in Italy

Remember, travel is not just about ticking off a list of destinations, but about creating meaningful experiences and memories that will last a lifetime. So, set your travel goals, embark on your journey, and discover the power of travel to inspire, educate, and transform.

Keeping Track of Your Travel Goals and Progress

Setting travel goals is an exciting way to plan your future adventures. It gives you something to look forward to and motivates you to explore new destinations. However, once you have defined your travel goals, it is important to keep track of them and monitor your progress. This will help you stay on track and ensure that you are making the most of your travel experiences.

One of the best ways to keep track of your travel goals is to create a travel journal. This can be a physical notebook or an online platform where you can document your travel plans, experiences, and achievements. In your journal, write down your travel goals and the steps you need to take to achieve them.

As you start ticking off your travel goals, make sure to document your progress. Describe the destinations you have visited, the activities you have done, and the experiences you have had. Include details such as the dates of your trips, the people you have met, and the lessons you have learned along the way.

Another effective way to keep track of your travel goals is to create a vision board. This can be a physical board where you pin images, quotes, and mementos related to your travel goals. It serves as a visual reminder of what you want to achieve and can inspire you to take action.

What’s more, don’t forget to celebrate your achievements along the way. When you reach a milestone or accomplish a travel goal, take a moment to acknowledge your success. Treat yourself to a special experience or simply reflect on how far you have come.

Remember, keeping track of your travel goals and progress is essential to stay focused and motivated. It allows you to reflect on your journey and make adjustments if needed. By documenting your experiences and celebrating your achievements, you will enhance your overall travel experience and create memories that last a lifetime.

What is “Discover the Power of Setting Travel Goals My Travel Guide”?

“Discover the Power of Setting Travel Goals My Travel Guide” is a guidebook that helps you set travel goals and achieve them.

Why should I set travel goals?

Setting travel goals can give you something to look forward to and motivate you to save money and plan your trips in advance. It can also help you prioritize your travel experiences and make the most out of your trips.

How can this guide help me set and achieve travel goals?

This guide provides practical tips and advice on setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) travel goals. It also offers strategies for overcoming obstacles and staying motivated throughout your travel journey.

Can I use this guide for any type of travel goals?

Yes, this guide is designed to help you set and achieve any type of travel goal, whether it’s visiting a specific destination, completing a travel bucket list, or traveling for a certain duration.

Is this guide suitable for both experienced and novice travelers?

Yes, this guide can be helpful for both experienced and novice travelers. It provides valuable insights and strategies that can be applied to any level of travel experience.

“Discover the Power of Setting Travel Goals My Travel Guide” is a travel guide that helps you set and achieve your travel goals.

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How to Achieve Your Travel Goals

In addition, your bucket list almost certainly contains a lot of travel goals. If that’s the case, you’ve come to the right place. This post will show you how to achieve your travel goals.

The steps that you need to take in order to achieve your travel goals are the following:

Turn Your Excuses Into Tasks

Work through your limiting beliefs about travel.

• Set a Specific Goal that You’re Going to Work On
• Obsess Over Your Goal

Each of these steps is explained, in detail, below.

We all make excuses when it comes time to doing the work that must be done in order to achieve our goals. Sometimes we’re not even aware of the excuses that we’re making. These excuses hide out in the deep recesses of our minds, sapping away at our energy and our motivation.

The first step that you need to take in order to achieve your travel goals is to identify the excuses that you’re making, and then transform those excuses into tasks. What do I mean by this? Let me explain.

The reasons most people set forth as to why they can’t achieve their travel goals are the following:

• I can’t travel because I have kids.
• I can’t travel because I don’t have the money.
• I can’t travel because I’m too busy and I just don’t have the time.
• I can’t travel because I don’t have anyone to travel with.

Do any of these sound familiar? Be honest.

Now, you’re going to take each of these excuses and turn them into a task. For example, you would turn the four excuses set forth above into the following four tasks:

• Research how others have managed to travel with kids. As part of this research, find a travel blog written by a couple with kids.
• Come up with an estimate of how much money I’ll need to travel, and then create a plan on how I’m going to make that amount of money.
• Set aside some time to travel. If you can’t find the time to travel, no matter how hard you try, you need to reassess your priorities. In order to make travel a priority, something with a lower priority has to go.
• Find someone to travel with or identify a travel company that caters to solo-travelers.

Basically, you’re transforming excuses–which makes you feel powerless–into action steps, which is empowering.

Since “I don’t have the money” is one of the most common excuses that people make in order to explain why they don’t travel more–even though they want to–here are four strategies I’ve come up with for financing life goals:

• Three Strategies For Financing Your Life Goals
• How to Make $1374 to Finance Your Life Goals

A lot of people don’t really think that it’s feasible for them to travel. These people tend to hold beliefs that make it difficult for them to seriously entertain the idea of making travel a regular part of their lifestyle. Some of these limiting beliefs could be the following:

• Traveling is prohibitively expensive.
• Traveling is selfish and self-indulgent.
• Traveling is very complicated.

You need to break down these limiting beliefs and replace them with more accurate ways of thinking. Here’s how you could break down the three limiting beliefs indicated above:

• Traveling is expensive, but not prohibitively so. There are many ways to travel on a budget. I don’t need to fly first class, stay at five star hotels, or eat at the most expensive restaurants. In fact, there are several travel guides out there that offer lots of ideas on how to travel without breaking the bank.
• It’s not selfish to want to experience other cultures and see other countries. In addition, I work hard and I’m entitled to indulge myself every now and then.
• Traveling can be complicated, but I will break the process down into small steps and take these steps one at a time.

Set a Specific Goal You’re Going to Work On

Take a look at all of the travel items on your bucket list. You’re going to choose one of the places on your bucket list and make a commitment to visiting that place. When deciding which place to visit first, you could use any of the following criteria:

• Which of the places on my bucket list is closest geographically to where I am right now (sometimes it’s psychologically easier to convince yourself that you’re going to visit a place that’s relatively close by)?
• Which trip is the least expensive (if money is tight right now, this may be the way to go for the time being)?
• If I could only visit one of these places before I die, which one would I choose? With this question you’re identifying which trip you’re most passionate about.
• Which trip would be the easiest for me to take at this moment? Maybe you have a friend from college who lives overseas, or you have family in Italy. Having someone to stay with would make the trip much easier. In addition, you could pitch a trip to your boss: go to a conference to hone your skills, or explore a new marketplace for your company to possibly expand into.

Let’s suppose that you’ve decided that your goal is to visit Paris, France. You no longer have a vague goal–such as “travel more”– and you no longer have a long list of possible destinations competing for your attention. In addition, you’re no longer just interested in visiting Paris; you’re now 100% committed.

Obsess Over Your Destination

We’re often told that obsession is bad. However, obsession can also be good. When you’re working toward achieving a goal that’s really important to you, obsessing over that goal can make it more likely that you’ll achieve it. Do all of the following:

• Find someone who’s been to Paris and ask them what their trip was like.
• Use maps.google.com and look up Paris. Zoom in and take a look at the street names. “See” yourself walking down these streets.
• Go on YouTube and look at videos of Paris.
• Get yourself a Paris travel book.
• Find a nice image of  the Eiffel tower online and use it as your screensaver.
• Make a list of the top ten places that you’re going to visit while in Paris.
• Watch movies which are set in Paris, such as “Amelie”.

By obsessing over Paris you’ll be doing all of the following:

• You’ll be making the idea of visiting Paris more real.
• You’ll be directing your mind to look for ways to achieve the goal of visiting Paris.
• You’ll become more enthusiastic about visiting Paris. Enthusiasm can be the fuel that you need in order to take the necessary steps to achieve your goal of traveling to Paris.

Have you come down with a serious case of Wanderlust? Do you want to see faraway places, have new experiences, taste different cuisines, and so on? Hopefully, this blog post will help you to achieve your travel goals .

Where do you want to go? Please share in the comments section below. I’ll start: I want to visit Machu Picchu in Peru.

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Travel Goals: 100 Things to Do Before You Die!

If you love to travel you probably have an endless travel bucket list of places you want to visit and things you want to see and do before you die. Sometimes it can be hard to narrow down where to go so to help you decide on your travel goals I’ve put together the ultimate travel bucket list with the top 100 things to do before you die . Why 100? Partly because 100 is a goal worthy (but feasible) number to aim for – not too few destinations that you will check off the list in a few years but not so many things that would make the list impossible.

Travel Goals: 100 Things to Do Before You Die

• Visit all 7 continents.
• Visit Antarctica.
• Step foot on the North Pole.
• Travel to over 100 countries. Some people want to visit every country but I think 100 is a more feasible goal.
• Visit all 50 states in the United States.
• Take a great American road trip.
• See Niagara Falls.
• View the beautiful Northern Lights. Even better if you can see them from inside a glass igloo hotel.
• Stay in an overwater villa.

• Watch the sunrise at Machu Picchu, Peru, a must on any South America bucket list .
• See the Taj Mahal in India.
• Hike the Great Wall of China.
• Soak in the iconic Blue Lagoon in Iceland .
• See the fjords in Norway.
• Ride a gondola in Venice, Italy.

• Go island hopping in Greece. Read: Most Beautiful Greek Islands You Need to Visit
• See the Acropolis in Athens, Greece.
• Take part in the La Tomatina festival in Spain where locals and tourists throw tomatoes at each other.
• Visit Munich, Germany during Oktoberfest , the world’s largest beer festival.
• Visit one of the many Christmas markets in Europe .
• Visit one or more of Europe’s fairytale towns .
• Admire the beautiful Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica  at the Vatican.
• See Michelangelo’s David and other great art in Florence, Italy.

• Explore the Cinque Terre, Italy, made up of five colorful seaside villages.
• See the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy.
• Visit the Colosseum in Rome, Italy.
• See the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.
• Visit the beautiful and famous Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany.
• Explore London , England, visiting some of its must-see sights like Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Tower of London and Westminster Abbey.
• See Stonehenge in England.
• Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland.
• Ride in a hot air balloon over Cappadocia, Turkey.
• Admire the view from the top of Burj Khalifa  (the world’s tallest building) in Dubai .
• Float in the Dead Sea, Jordan.
• Explore the ancient city of Petra, Jordan.
• Travel the Silk Road .
• Take an epic train journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway .
• Swim with thousands of stingless jellyfish in Jellyfish Lake, Palau .

• Watch the sunrise at Angkor Wat, Cambodia.
• Take a junk boat cruise in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam.
• Spot a Komodo dragon (the largest lizard in the world) at Komodo Island, Indonesia.
• Party on the beach at a Full Moon Party at Koh Phangan, Thailand.
• Celebrate  Yi Peng and Loy Krathong (Lantern Festival) in Thailand.
• Volunteer with elephants at a responsible and ethical sanctuary like Elephant Nature Park in Thailand.
• Walk through beautiful green rice terraces in Asia. You can find them in several countries including Bali, China, Vietnam and the Philippines .

• Take a hot air balloon ride over the temples at sunrise in Bagan, Myanmar.
• Swim in the world’s largest rooftop infinity pool at the Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore .
• Admire the Hong Kong skyline from the top of Victoria’s Peak.
• See giant pandas in Chengdu, China.
• Enjoy the beautiful cherry blossoms in Japan .
• Visit Tokyo , Japan one of the most unique cities in the world.
• Stay in a ryokan in Japan.
• Stay at an ice hotel.
• Eat at an undersea restaurant like this one in the Maldives.
• Visit North Korea.
• Trek to Mount Everest Base Camp in Nepal.
• Explore spectacular glow worms caves in New Zealand.
• Visit the Sydney Opera House, in Sydney , Australia.
• See Uluru, Australia (also known as Ayer’s Rock) a must on any Australia bucket list .
• Scuba dive or snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.
• Hike or take a cable car to the top of Table Mountain, which overlooks Cape Town, South Africa.
• Visit the pyramids in Egypt.
• Wander around the colorful souks (open air markets) in Marrakesh, Morocco.
• Go on an African safari.
• See the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti, Africa.
• Eat breakfast with giraffes at Giraffe Manor , a bucket list worthy hotel in Kenya.
• Trek mountain gorillas in Africa. You can mountain gorillas in 3 African countries ( Rwanda,   Uganda or the Democratic Republic of the Congo ).
• Climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa.
• Climb the beautiful red-sand dunes of Sossusvlei  in Namibia.
• See Victoria Falls (from both Zambia and Zimbabwe).
• Visit Iguazu Falls in South America.
• See unique wildlife in the Galapagos Islands.
• Hike to the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and enjoy spectacular views.
• Celebrate Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
• Dance the tango in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
• Visit the photogenic Salar de Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia.
• Road trip across the  Atacama Desert , Chile, the driest desert in the world.
• Hike in Patagonia.
• Explore the Amazon jungle and river in South America.

• Marvel at the famous monumental statues on Easter Island .
• Admire the enormous penguin population in the Falkland Islands.
• See Chichen Itza, Mexico voted as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
• Visit Cuba.

• Photograph Antelope Canyon in the American Southwest which is one of the most instagrammable places in the United States.
• Celebrate Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
• Gamble, party, eat and have fun in Las Vegas .
• Celebrate New Year’s Eve in New York City’s Times Square.
• See the Statue of Liberty, USA.
• Enjoy beautiful NYC views from the top of the Empire State Building.   Read : Weekend In New York City Itinerary
• Visit the Grand Canyon – a must on any USA bucket list !

• Cross the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
• See the Hollywood Sign in Los Angeles , California.
• Take an architecture river cruise in Chicago (my hometown).
• Visit Albuquerque, New Mexico during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta , the largest hot air balloon festival in the world.
• Explore Yellowstone National Park , America’s first national park and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Explore beautiful Banff National Park in Canada.
• See polar bears in the wild in Churchill, Canada or Svalbard in the Arctic.

• Take a river cruise.
• Spend a night in a desert camp.
• Fly in first or business class. (Find out how I do it for almost free here ).

So there you have it – the ultimate travel bucket list of 100 things to do before you die.  If there is an experience or place I should include let me know in the comments below!

Need more travel inspiration? Check out some of my other travel bucket lists below:

• USA Travel Bucket List: 100+ Best Places to Visit in the United States
• European Bucket List: 100+ Things to Do in Europe
• Africa Bucket List: 50 Things to Do and Places to Visit
• South America Bucket List: 50+ Things to Do and Places to Visit
• Southeast Asia Bucket List: 100+ Things to Do
• Australia Bucket List: 50 Best Places to Visit in Australia

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savvyglobetrotter

I’ve done nine of those so far. Hoping for more this year!

9 is really good for one year! Enjoy your travels this year.

20 down, 80 to go! I love this list. ?

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A Guide to Setting Travel Goals for Your Next Trip

Yes, travelling is often mostly for fun. But does that mean you shouldn’t set goals? If you’re a goal-obsessive person like me then it does no harm at all to consider some goals you want to achieve on your travels. And it will probably help you get more out of your trip and come home happier and with even more interesting stories to tell.

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They say that people who set and write down their goals achieve so much more than those who don’t, so who’s to say the same strategy won’t work for having even more fun when you go on a trip?

Here are some ideas for possible travel goals which might inspire you to set some of your own and help you make the most out of your trip.

Make New Friends

One of the big thrills of traveling for me is getting to know people from other cultures, whether they’re local to the place I’m visiting or other travelers I meet along the way. Sometimes though, especially if I’m traveling with someone else, I can be a bit shy about doing this (even though I’m always so pleased after!). If you’re like me, some goals might be:

• Talk to three new people each day
• Ask a friendly question of everyone I meet (for example, at the supermarket checkout, or hostel reception, etc.)
• Write emails to people I’ve met on my trip soon after we’ve parted (next day, next week)

Learn a Language

Obviously one barrier to the “making new friends” goal could be that you don’t speak the language. Firstly, the language barrier is never as great as we think. It’s amazing how much you can communicate by using just a few words of a language, especially if it’s clear that you’re friendly and genuine.

And secondly, if language is a barrier, then try to learn it! Some goals to help could be:

• Say “hello” and “thank you” in the local language every time you talk to someone
• Learn three new words and three new phrases of the language each day (and try them out, too!) This could be from a phrase book or even better, by asking a friendly local to help you
• Write down 10 new words that you see around you (signs, supermarket, restaurant menu, etc) each day and then look them up online, in a dictionary or asking someone to translate them
• Learn enough to achieve a goal like ordering your meal entirely in the language. I had a goal in Japan of having pizza home delivered for a Christmas treat(it’s quite expensive there!) and ordering it on the phone entirely in Japanese. I was so thrilled when I did it!

Experience the Culture

You might have some pre-conceived ideas of your destinations and already feel like you know what you’re going to see there (the Eiffel Tower in Paris springs immediately to mind, for example). That’s fine, but setting goals to try to experience the culture in a deeper way, or at least to go beyond the regular well-known tourist haunts, could also really enhance your trip.

Some goals I’ve set in the past for this include:

• Visit one obscure-sounding museum in every destination (on a long-term trip) — you’d be amazed what unusual museums are out there when you start looking!
• Read a novel written by a local resident in each place you visit (and where possible, visit any museum or house dedicated to them).
• Buy tickets for the local symphony orchestra, ballet, or other performance in each main city you visit (I loved doing this in Eastern Europe and it was remarkably cheap as well).

Traveling can be a surprisingly inactive pursuit if you’re not careful, and it’s easy to get stuck sitting on buses and trains all day. I’ve also found that it can be chock-full of calories (anybody else love Belgian chocolates in Belgium?!) so it’s important to stay active.

A few goals that you could set to make sure you stay fit and active are:

• Spend a whole day walking in a city without taking a bus or train. Not only will you be more active, you will probably be surprised by how much more of the place you really see and experience.
• Take a jog or a walk each morning around the local area of your ho(s)tel. It’s interesting to see your destination before it really comes to life each day — it’s a different perspective.
• Do a set of stretches or other exercises (or yoga, say) in your room each day before you go sightseeing.

Eat Locally

I have a real thing about not going to franchise food outlets when I travel. I think it’s a wasted opportunity to eat food I could eat at home (with the exception of checking out some of the unusual menu items that these places sometimes have that are very different from the version at home!).

Some of the goals you could set to really experience the local foods include:

• Eat local fruit for snacks every day (especially in a tropical country — yum!).
• Try a random new food each day — whether by buying something you’ve never tried or randomly choosing a dish at a restaurant when you have no idea what the words mean!
• Eat one food that you’re a little scared of on every trip (although I’m not a big fan strange deep-friend insects, I have to admit).
• Write a list each day of new dishes you have seen and would like to try to cook at home.

Amanda, I love your approach. Travel costs a lot of money, and therefore I view it as an investment. I want some ROI! I think goal setting helps crystallize what that return might look like and help you get more out of a trip. Thanks for sharing!

You nailed it Amanda! If you aren’t going to actually experience travel through a few of the goals you laid out, what is to point in going?

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• Apr 13, 2023

101 Super Bucket List Goals - Goals that Fuel Your Passion and Interests Not One and Done

Updated: Jun 29, 2023

What are you passionate about? Do you have any hobbies or overarching travel goals that are not a “one and done” item? Places or experiences that belong to a category of things?

Some people wish to see all 50 United States or 63 National Parks. Perhaps you want to see every major wine region in the world. Each of these are what I call “super bucket list goals”.

I have a few of these types of goals.

I’d like to see 100 countries. There are 197 countries that the United Nations recognize. Why 100? 100 is an arbitrary number. It’s true. I’ve been to 45 so far, and I feel like I need a stretch goal, so 100 is it.

Another goal that I have is to see all seven continents. I have been to 6 so far, but I am still missing Antarctica. I’ve set a deadline to do that by the time I am 50 because (1) I need time to save for such an expensive goal, and (2) I want to do it when I should still be physically and mentally able to do it.

Maybe you have some things like this on your list. Maybe you have never thought about it before.

Read on for a list of ideas for Super Bucket List Goals.

Table of Contents:

Travel goals by geography, bucket list adventures, major religion travel goals, literature, art, music, and culture bucket list places, gastronomy super goals, major travel transportation goals, major military sites to visit, most amazing resorts and accommodations to see in your lifetime, government sites to visit, nature travel goals, sports and sporting event travel goals, miscellaneous super travel goals.

Visit 50 United States

Visiting X number of countries (to be defined by you)

Visit every Continent

Visit all 10 Canadian Provinces

See the 32 Mexican States

Visiting all 7 continents

Visiting all 63 National Parks in the contiguous U.S.

Visit a certain number of UNESCO World Heritage sites

Visit all Francophone countries

Visit all Spanish-speaking countries

Set foot on all landforms/countries where the equator crosses

Sister Islands: Tahiti (mother), Hawaii, Phillipines, New Zealand

Spend time in each country along the Silk Road

Climb the highest peak on each continent

Complete 10 animal safaris across the globe

Hike the world’s top hikes

Travel from North America to South America overland

See the new Wonders of the World

Visit the 58 14ers in Colorado

Highest Peak in Every State

Do 5 Things that Really Scare You (e.g., Bungee jump, Skydive, learn to scuba, kite sail, etc)

Tour the main countries and cities associated with the world’s largest religions: (Jerusalem, Vatican City, Mecca, Varanasi, Bodh Gaya

Follow the paths of the apostles

Follow in the footsteps of the Saints

Visit important places in the Bible

Visit the most impressive temples across the world (e.g., Angkor Wat, Chichen Itza, Forbidden Palace, etc.)

Literature, Art, Music and Culture Bucket List Places

Visit the World’s Top Landmarks (e.g., Statue of Liberty, Eiffel Tower, Angor Wat, Christ the Redeemer, etc.)

Most Unusual / Kitschy place in each State (e.g., Corn Palace, Largest Ball of Twine)

Visit all Carnegie Libraries

Visit all Walt Disney Parks Across the World

See 10 Major Events in Different Countries (e.g., St. Patrick’s Day in U.S., Diwali in India, Carnival in Brazil, etc.)

All the Major Travels of Mark Twain

All the Major Travels of Ernest Hemingway

Visit the world’s Top art museums

Visit the Birthplaces of All Major Forms of U.S. Music (Tupelo, Michigan, Detroit, Chicago, Dallas, New Orleans)

Visit the top Ivy League universities across the country

See the world’s major opera houses

Biggest Film Studios in the World (Bollywood, Hollywood, China, etc.)

Try all major forms of massage in their home country

See your top 5 favorite artists or bands in their hometown

See a concert at the world's largest and/or best concert venues

Eat at the top Michelin-starred restaurants

Visit All Major Wine Regions

Try olive oil in all of the world's leading olive oil producing areas

Go on a worldwide coffee tour

Learn about chocolate from the world's leading producers

Learn to cook your favorite cuisine by taking classes in different regions of the country

Learn to cook the Mediterranean diet by taking classes in various countries around the Mediterranean

Visit the Blue Zone countries and learn about what makes them live so long

Boat on all major U.S. Rivers

Boat on the world’s most major rivers

Drive the country’s best road trips

Drive the world's best road trips

Drive all of the major U.S. Interstates East to West and north to South

Try 50 types of transportation. See my article on the 54 M ost Romantic Ways to Travel

Do the Best Train Rides in the U.S.

Do the Top X Best Train Rides in the World

Ride the World’s Best Airlines

Fly the world’s longest and/or best flights

Ride on 10 forms of aircraft

All major WWII sites

All major Civil War sites

All major WWI sites

All major Vietnam War sites

All major Korean War sites

All War of 1812 sites

Stay at the Best Resorts According to Condé Nast

Stay at the Best Resorts According to Robb Report

Stay at the Top 100 Hotels from Travel + Leisure

Pick your favorite hotel chain and see their top properties (e.g., St. Regis, Four Seasons, Sandal's Resorts)

Vist all Disney World locations and stay on property

Visit all U.S. State Capitols

Go to all Presidential Libraries

See the center of ancient and modern civilizations

Go to Washington DC and visit the White House and all of the monuments around the Mall and beyond

See the World’s Best Waterfalls

See the greatest animal migrations (e.g., monarchs, the Great Migration, etc.)

See 50 different types of animals in nature (Here are my favorite Wildlife trips that I've taken )

Complete the Best U.S. Hikes

Hike the great trails of the U.S. (or beyond?)…ex. Appalachian trail, Pacific Coast Highway

Best Botanical Gardens in Major International or U.S. Cities

All the Great Lakes

Visit the World's Largest Rivers (Amazon, Nile, Yangtze, Mississippi)

Go to the world's largest zoos

Touch every ocean

Sail every sea

See all major geological events (e.g., iceberg, mountain, volcano, canyon, crater, etc.)

Sports and Major Sporting Events

Visit all Major U.S. Ballparks (Baseball)

See all Major U.S. Football Stadiums

Go to the top NCAA Football Rivalry match-ups

See a game at all Major Soccer Stadiums Across the World

See all the Major Car Races (Formula 1, Nascar)

Golf at the most beautiful golf courses in the U.S. (or most challenging)

Attend every major golf tournament worldwide

Visit every major sports championship match (World Cup, Superbowl, NBA Finals, Grand Prix, Tour de France, World Series, Cricket World Cup, Wimbledon)

Ski at the World's Top Ski Destinations

Visit existing Olympic villages

Miscellaneous

See 10 celestial events (e.g., meteor, solar eclipse, lunar eclipse, comet, etc.)

See an example of all major natural phenomenon – aurora borealis, solar eclipse, lunar eclipse, asteroids, meteoroids, tornado / cyclone, hurricane, tsunami, volcanic eruption, glacier calving…

See the World’s Most Beautiful and/or Haunting Cemeteries

Please comment below with any other ideas that I'm missing and share this article with a friend!

• Bucket List and Beyond
• U.S. Travel
• National Parks

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100+ SMART Travel Goals

This page features a curated list of travel goals. I created it as a source of inspiration for my 100 life goals project and wanted to share it with others in hopes of inspiring them to create their own goal list.

There is an overabundance of bucket list ideas circulating online that lack the necessary specificity, measurability, and time-bound nature to make them actionable goals. Therefore, I curated a list of SMART goals that are more specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

Whether you're young or old, there's something on this list for everyone. So, read on to discover some of the best travel goals that can help you transform your life and achieve your travel dreams.

An important note before scrolling down:

The list below includes 100+ travel goal ideas, but if you're looking for a bigger list then download my book, The SMART Bucket List .

It includes a list of 1000+ SMART goal ideas from various categories, such as fitness, travel, personal growth, and more. Each goal is crafted to meet the SMART criteria, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to create a truly actionable goal list.

Click here to download it for FREE . Additionally, you’ll get my Design Your Dream Year workbook, containing a proven step-by-step action plan to check off those big goals on your list.

* One more thing, if you decide to take part in any of the goals listed below, you do so entirely at your own risk. Some of the goal ideas listed here can be risky, so seek out guidance if you decide to try them out, especially the challenging ones.

With this in mind, let's rock and roll!!

SMART Landmark Travel Goals

Here are a few specific examples of SMART goals that you can set for this type of travel:

• Visit Machu Picchu within the next 2 years
• Visit the Great Wall of China within the next year
• Visit the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam within the next year
• Visit the Colosseum in Rome within the next year
• Visit the Petra archaeological site in Jordan within the next 3 years
• Visit the Alhambra palace in Granada, Spain within the next year
• Visit the Acropolis in Athens within the next year
• Visit the Palace of Versailles in France within the next year
• Visit the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt within the next year
• Visit the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona within the next year
• Visit the Taj Mahal in Agra, India within the next year
• Visit the Forbidden City in Beijing within the next year
• Visit the Palace of Westminster in London within the next year
• Visit the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes within the next year
• Visit the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris within the next year
• Visit the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro within the next year
• Visit the Acropolis in Athens, Greece within the next year
• Visit the ancient city of Pompeii in Italy within the next year
• Visit the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco within the next year
• Visit the Tower of London within the next year
• Visit the Vatican City in Rome within the next year
• Visit Machu Picchu in Peru within the next year
• Visit the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul within the next year
• Visit the temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia within the next two years
• Travel to Australia to see the Great Barrier Reef within the next three years
• Visit the Galapagos Islands within the next three years
• Visit Iceland to see the Northern Lights within the next two years
• Visit the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam within the next year
• Travel to Australia to see the Great Barrier Reef within the next three years, booking the trip by the end of this year

SMART Luxury/Alternative Travel Goals

• Stay in a houseboat in Amsterdam within the next year
• Stay in a yurt in Mongolia within the next 3 years
• Stay in an igloo hotel in Lapland within the next 2 years
• Spend a week on a houseboat on the backwaters of Kerala within the next 2 years
• Stay in a castle hotel in Scotland within the next 2 years
• Stay in an eco-lodge in the Amazon Rainforest within the next 3 years
• Spend a week in a treehouse in Costa Rica within the next 3 years
• Spend a week in a yurt in Mongolia within the next 3 years
• Stay in a traditional ryokan in Japan within the next 3 years
• Spend a week on a houseboat on Lake Powell within the next 3 years
• Stay in an ice hotel in Sweden within the next 4 years
• Stay in an overwater bungalow in Bora Bora within the next 2 years
• Spend a week in a beachfront villa in Bali within the next 2 years

SMART Epic Journeys Goals

Here are a few examples of SMART goals in this specific area of travel:

• Take a road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway from San Francisco to San Diego within the next year
• Take a road trip through the Scottish Highlands within the next 3 years
• Go on a road trip through the Australian Outback within the next 2 years
• Take a road trip along the California coast with the family during the kids' spring break
• Take a roadtrip trip to explore national parks in Utah next year
• Take a road trip to Yellowstone National Park during the summer of next year
• Take a road trip to explore the Grand Canyon in Arizona within the next 2 years
• Take a train journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway within the next 5 years
• Take a cross-country rail trip across the United States within the next 2 years
• Take a family trip to Hawaii to learn about Hawaiian culture within the next 3 years
• Go on a backpacking trip in the Andes Mountains within the next 4 years
• Spend a week exploring the ancient ruins of Athens within the next 2 years
• Spend a month exploring the Galapagos Islands within the next 4 years
• Explore the European countryside via rail, taking a scenic route from Amsterdam to Vienna and visiting at least 5 other countries along the way, within the next 3 years
• Take a cruise to Alaska within the next three years
• Cruise down the Nile River within the next 5 years
• Take a river cruise down the Danube within the next 2 years
• Spend a week on a cultural immersion program in Morocco within the next 3 years
• Take a luxury rail journey on the Eastern and Oriental Express from Singapore to Bangkok, including a private cabin, fine dining, and sightseeing, within the next 2 years
• Take a solo rail trip to Japan, visiting Tokyo, Kyoto, and other cities on the Shinkansen bullet train network within the next 18 months
• Take a solo road trip to Australia, exploring the vast countryside from Perth to Sydney on the Indian Pacific, within the next 2 years
• Take a road trip to New Orleans during Mardi Gras, joining in the festivities and experiencing the city's rich culture and history, within the next 2 years
• Take a scenic cruise through the Norwegian fjords, stopping at picturesque towns and villages along the way, within the next 2 years
• Complete a multi-day trek to Everest Base Camp in Nepal, reaching an altitude of at least 17,500 feet, within the next 3 years

SMART Travel Experiences Goals

Here are some examples of SMART goals that you can set for this type of travel:

• Go on a wine-tasting tour of Napa Valley within the next year
• Go on a safari in Kenya within the next 3 years
• Go on a whale watching tour in Alaska within the next year
• Spend a week on a meditation retreat in Bali within the next 3 years
• Spend a week on a yoga retreat in India within the next 3 years
• Spend a week volunteering in a rural village in Tanzania within the next 4 years
• Go on a Disney Land vacation with the family within the next 2 years
• Go on a surf trip in Hawaii within the next 2 years
• Visit the Blue Lagoon in Iceland within the next year
• Spend a week skiing in the Swiss Alps within the next 2 years
• Take a photography tour of Iceland within the next 3 years
• Take a language immersion course in a foreign country within the next year
• Go on a food tour of Italy within the next 2 years
• Go on a culinary tour of Japan within the next 2 years
• Go on a glacier hiking tour in Iceland within the next 2 years
• Attend a traditional tea ceremony in Japan, learning about the history and cultural significance of the practice, within the next year

SMART Festivals & Celebration Goals

Here are a few examples of SMART goals that you can set for this type of travel:

• Attend the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro within the next 3 years
• Attend the Dia de los Muertos celebrations in Mexico within the next 2 years
• Attend the Holi Festival in India within the next 2 years
• Attend the Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans within the next year
• Attend the Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, experiencing the food, music, and beer culture of this iconic event, within the next 2 years
• Attend the Full Moon Party in Thailand within the next 3 years
• Attend the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona within the next 2 years
• Attend the next Summer Olympics
• Attend the Burning Man Festival in Nevada, USA, within the next 3 years, experiencing the art, music, and community of this unique event
• Visit Rio de Janeiro during Carnival, watching the parade and experiencing the vibrant atmosphere, within the next 18 months
• Explore the colorful and elaborate Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico City, visiting museums, markets, and cemeteries, within the next year
• Attend the Coachella music festival in California, USA, watching live performances by my favorite artists and discovering new ones, within the next 12 months
• Visit the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in China, admiring the incredible ice sculptures and enjoying winter sports, within the next 3 years
• Take a trip to India during Diwali, experiencing the vibrant lights, music, and food of the country's biggest festival, within the next 2 years
• Attend the La Tomatina festival in Bunol, Spain, participating in the tomato fight and experiencing the local culture, within the next 18 months
• Take a trip to Thailand during Songkran, experiencing the traditional water festival and learning about the country's culture and history, within the next year
• Attend the Sundance Film Festival in Utah, USA, watching independent films and meeting filmmakers and actors, within the next 12 months
• Visit Edinburgh, Scotland, during the Fringe Festival, experiencing the world's largest arts festival and enjoying the city's history and architecture, within the next 2 years
• Attend the Holi Festival of Colors in India, experiencing the colorful powders and music of this joyous celebration, within the next 18 months
• Take a trip to Japan during the Cherry Blossom Festival, admiring the stunning blooms and experiencing the country's unique culture and food, within the next 3 years
• Attend the Rioja Wine Harvest Festival in Spain, experiencing the wine-making process and enjoying the food, music, and culture of the region, within the next year
• Attend a major international music festival, such as Coachella or Glastonbury, within the next 2 years, seeing at least 10 different artists perform live

SMART Romance Travel Goals

• Take a honeymoon trip to Bora Bora and stay in an overwater bungalow for at least a week within the next year
• Renew our vows on a secluded beach in the Caribbean, with a private ceremony and a romantic dinner on the sand within the next 2 years
• Plan a surprise weekend getaway to a cozy cabin in the woods, complete with a fireplace and hot tub, within the next 6 months
• Book a romantic river cruise in Europe, visiting at least 4 different countries and enjoying gourmet dining and entertainment along the way within the next 3 years
• Take a couples' cooking class in Tuscany, Italy, learning to make authentic pasta and enjoying local wine and cheese within the next 18 months
• Spend a week in Bali, Indonesia, indulging in spa treatments and enjoying the beautiful beaches and temples within the next 2 year
• Take a road trip along the California coast, stopping at romantic destinations such as Big Sur and Napa Valley within the next year
• Plan a surprise date night in Paris, France, including a private boat ride on the Seine and a romantic dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant within the next 6 months
• Attend a destination wedding in Mexico and extend the trip to enjoy a romantic beach getaway, with activities such as snorkeling and horseback riding within the next year
• Book a luxury safari in Tanzania, staying in a private tented camp and seeing the Big Five animals in their natural habitat within the next 3 years
• Take a romantic hot air balloon ride over the Napa Valley, followed by a private wine tasting and gourmet lunch within the next 2 years
• Plan a surprise weekend trip to New York City, including tickets to a Broadway show and a carriage ride through Central Park within the next 6 months
• Take a couples' yoga retreat in Costa Rica, practicing mindfulness and relaxation techniques in a beautiful natural setting within the next 18 months
• Visit the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru, hiking the Inca Trail and enjoying a romantic dinner with a view of the mountains within the next 3 years
• Book a private yacht charter in the Greek Islands, exploring the crystal clear waters and enjoying sunset dinners on deck within the next 2 years

Other Travel Goals

Here are a few more examples of SMART goals that you can set in the area of travel:

• Visit at least 10 countries in the next 5 years
• Visit three new countries within the next two years, spending at least two weeks in each country
• Visit all seven continents before turning 40, completing the goal within the next 10 years
• Achieve status as a top-tier frequent traveler with a major rail company by logging at least 50,000 miles in the next 12 months
• Visit every single station on the New York City Subway system by the end of next year, taking a picture at each stop as evidence
• Plan and book a multi-generational family vacation by rail, including grandparents, parents, and children, to a scenic destination in the next 2 years
• Visit the Seven Wonders of the World, including the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, and the Colosseum, within the next 10 years

More Goal Ideas?

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How to Create a Travel Goal

• November 30, 2023

Adventure is a State of Mind

Setting an attainable goal can make a huge difference when it comes to whether or not you actually achieve that goal. This is true whether you are setting career goals, fitness goals, or travel goals.

What Don’t You Want?

When we hear the word “goal,” most of us start thinking about what we want. Where do we want to go on our next travel adventure? What do we want to do when we’re there? The author, Mark Manson , suggests that just as important as what you want is what you don’t want. To every achievement in life, there is a cost. So the question is what cost or struggle are you willing or unwilling to accept? As he states, “What we get out of life is not determined by the good feelings we desire, but by what bad feelings we’re willing and able to sustain to get us to those good feelings.”

The most obvious travel example of this is how much money you are willing to spend for your trip. Obviously, we all have limits to both our time and our money . There are less obvious struggles, however, that we need to consider in setting our goals. For me, this is easiest to identify when it comes to camping.

My husband, Greg, and I both love nature, although his tolerance of the discomforts that come with some nature experiences is significantly higher than my tolerance. Early in our marriage, Greg took me tent camping…once. I very quickly identified that sleeping on the ground and squatting in the woods instead of enjoying the glories of modern plumbing were not struggles that I was willing to accept.

A few years later, I was willing to reconsider camping when we bought a small popup camper and Greg promised to always camp with me in a campground with at least some sort of toilet. (Initially, I held out for toilets with running water but later gave in and agreed to stay in campgrounds with, at minimum, vault toilets.)

Recently, we bought a camper with not only a flushable toilet but a shower! Now I’m all in for the camping trips Greg wants to take. Wouldn’t I enjoy hiking into a remote area and camping somewhere far away from everyone else in a beautiful expanse of undisturbed nature? Sure…but not enough to squat in the woods.

Which Struggles Can You Accept?

When you’re thinking about your travel goals, identify what discomforts you are willing to put up with. This will help you to narrow down your goals. Also keep in mind, however, that if you are unwilling to tolerate some discomfort, you are also unlikely to have any travel adventures.

Everything in life comes with some discomfort or difficulties that we have to overcome. The question is not how to eliminate all of those struggles but to instead decide which struggles you are willing to cope with in order to achieve the amazing adventures you want to have in your life.

When Greg and I go camping, I still have to deal with unpredictable weather, limited showers, and bugs, but those are all negatives that I’m willing to accept for the price of experiencing the beauties of nature. As Mark Manson says, “our struggles determine our successes. So, friend, choose your struggles wisely.”

Limit Your Goals

Someone once told me that they hadn’t really traveled much because they couldn’t decide where to go. That is indecision at its finest! Limiting your goals doesn’t mean that you can’t dream — I usually have three to five possible trips (goals) floating around in my head at any given time — but it does mean that at some point, you have to pick one goal to actually work toward.

For some people, the fear of making the wrong choice and missing out on something better keeps them from committing. If this is you, remember that avoiding making a choice is actually making a choice. It’s a choice to miss out on everything! Deciding to focus on just one goal at least lets you achieve and enjoy that goal, even if you have to miss out on other possibilities.

The tragedy in life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. Benjamin E. Mays

Set Goldilocks Goals

Just like Goldilocks wanted her porridge to be hot but not too hot, it’s important that your travel goal be specific but not too specific. If your goal is too vague, such as “I want to visit a beach,” it is difficult to make your goal into a reality. How do you figure out transportation if the only goal is “a beach?”

On the other hand, you are likely to encounter friction and disappointment if your goal is too specific. If your goal is to visit not only a specific beach but to stay in a specific room in a specific hotel on that beach on a specific date, there is a risk that at least some element of that goal is not going to be attainable. What if someone already booked that room before you for that date?

A Goldilocks-just-right sort of goal is one in which you have a vision of where you want to go and what you want to do, but there is also some flexibility in that goal. For example, you might want to stay on the beach in Aruba, but you can either be flexible about which hotel you stay in, or if you know you want a specific hotel, you can be flexible about what floor you stay on or what dates you stay there.

Your goals can also be activities that have some flexibility to them. For example, you may know that you want to eat a lot of good French food when you’re in France, but you’re aware that the menus can change seasonally and you’re open to trying many different types of food. Or maybe you know that you want to be outside and active, but that could be hiking or biking, depending on what’s available where you are staying.

Goals That You Control

An extremely important lesson to remember in life is that we can control our actions, but we can’t control the outcome. Part of this is because of things completely outside of our control, like the weather. We can control whether we dress warm enough for the weather, but we can’t control whether the sun is going to shine. Similarly, we can’t control others. How they act, including how they react in response our actions, is not under our control.

Being clear about what we can and cannot control is an important distinction to make when we are deciding on what we want our travel adventures to look like. For example, if we want to have lots of one-on-one conversations with people living in the country we plan to visit, we can’t control whether others will talk to us or whether they will even share a common language with us. We can, however, plan to learn some of the local language and to spend time in places that will increase our opportunities to have conversations, such as traveling by ourselves rather than with a large tour group.

While we are traveling, making moment-to-moment decisions that align with our goals and are within our control will make a difference in how likely we are to achieve those goals. For example, I love visiting with people who are local to the area I’m visiting as a way to learn more about their culture and language. When Greg and I visited the Azores with friends, one evening our friends had gone to bed and Greg was out late doing some nighttime photography. I could have gone to my room to wait for Greg, but I instead spent some of that time hanging out in the lobby where the night clerk, in between answering phone calls, talked to me about life on the island and some of his opinions about the quirks of the Portuguese language.

Attainable Goals

As mentioned before, we all have limited time and money, so it’s important to set goals that are realistically achievable. You are just going to end up frustrating yourself by trying to plan a trip that is impossible, whether it is because it’s beyond your financial budget or it’s beyond the amount of time you have available. For example, if you only have a week of vacation time to spend, I guarantee that you are not going to try to visit ten countries and still have a good time. Remember, it is often true that less is more !

Talk with your travel companions about what their goals are for the trip, but also discuss their priorities and how it is unlikely that every single thing that every person wants to do and see is going to fit into the time allowed for the trip. Being realistic about how much you can and cannot do can avoid a lot of frustration when you are on your trip and feel like you are somehow failing if you’re not checking off every single thing on your wish list. As Paula Pant, author and host of the podcast Afford Anything says ( Episode #463 ), “the gap between expectation and reality is where disappointment lives.”

Put It in Writing

There is something magical in writing down a goal. What was previously a dream and somewhat amorphous becomes concrete and real when we put it on paper. Once you’ve made that written commitment to where and when you are going, it gets easier to figure out the next steps and to answer the questions you need to ask to start the planning process. Ask yourself and your travel companions what things you want to see and do , how you want to get there , how you’re going to get around once you’re there, where you want to stay , and how you want to structure your days .

Every new piece of information you’re able to write down leads to the next. Once you’ve answered where you’re going and figure out how long you want to stay, you can pick when the best dates will be for you to set off on your adventure.

Consider the Possible Obstacles

Last but not least, consider any possible obstacles to attaining your goal. There are many times in life that being able to plan for a possible problem means that it actually never becomes a real problem. For example, if you’re worried that the trip will be too expensive, plan to add a little extra to the money you’re saving each month for the trip. If you know that one of your traveling companions has more work commitments during certain seasons of the year, plan for a time when they historically have had fewer. If you’re planning to travel to an area that has a high probability of hurricanes, either travel during a time of year that this is unlikely or make sure that all of your tickets and reservations are refundable and have a backup plan for where you want to go if your original location is negatively impacted by a weather event.

Obviously, not everything in life is predictable, but often planning can give us options. Flexibility is also important. As I said before, you can’t control everything, so just accepting this fact can help you cope with problems or obstacles as they arise.

Enjoy the Process

Whether you are setting goals for your next travel adventure or for some other area of your life, it is important to focus not just on the goal. In other words, it’s important to enjoy the journey, not just the destination. Goals give us direction, but if you focus only on the end result, you may have to wait a very long time to achieve the enjoyment of that goal, and you’ll miss out on a lot of life in the meantime.

What if you are planning a dream trip but it takes you much longer than you expected to save the money you need for it? If only the goal matters to you, you may end up focusing on the disappointment of still not taking that trip and checking something off of your bucket list.

On the other hand, if you enjoy the process, even if it takes years before you can leave for your travel adventure, you will enjoy the dreaming and the preparation. You’ll look for opportunities to get just a tiny bit closer to that goal. For example, you’ll be excited when you read a book or watch a movie that takes place where you want to go, and you might see a delay in your plans as an opportunity to learn more of a foreign language that will help you when you do actually get to use your passport.

Have you chosen a travel goal? Do you know where your next travel adventure will be? Do you have goals for the experience? If you do, how do they align with the recommendations above? Are there any changes you can make to improve the likelihood of achieving your goal?

Sandi McCoy Kramos is a licensed clinical psychologist with a doctorate from the University of Virginia and over 30 years of experience as a therapist. She is also a lifelong traveler with years of experience planning and implementing individual travel adventures for herself and family and friends. When asked why she started this blog, Sandi said, "Over the years I've realized that when people say they want to travel but don't actually do it, it's often their own insecurities and lack of knowledge that get in the way. I want to give individuals the knowledge they need to actually make their travel dreams come true."

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10 travel goals that will help you stretch yourself and experience the world

Did you set some travel goals as part of your New Year's resolutions for 2020? If not, it's not too late. A new year and decade bring new ways to experience the world, says Dora Ball, editor of Travel Goals, (Lonely Planet, $25). “Travelers today are not as interested in ticking off a load of sites far away. They’re more interested in travel as self-discovery.” She shares ideas for rewarding journeys and encounters with USA TODAY.

Go off the grid

In our always-connected age, the lure of remote places is growing, Ball says. “It gives you an opportunity to re-evaluate your lifestyle habits, and escape from social media.” That’s what draws many to Les Toits du Monde, an electricity-free retreat with treehouses and other unique lodgings in the Laurentian Mountains, near Montreal, Canada.

More information:   lestoitsdumonde.ca

Live with locals

Instead of talking to hotel employees and tour guides, see how local residents spend their daily lives, Ball says. “For all the amazing sites in the world, meeting real people and spending time in their home can have a great effect on us.” She suggests a homestay in Orjan, a village near Amman, Jordan. “You become a part of the family for a night or two. You might help with the daily chores, and the money you pay is going directly to that community.”

Learn more: Best travel insurance

More information:    engagingcultures.com

Learn a local craft

One of the best ways to understand the culture of a place is through a local trade or craft, which offers a window into its history and values, Ball says. That’s what draws many to a weeklong boatbuilding course in Brooklin, Maine, which teaches the basics of design as students construct a wooden sailing skiff from scratch.

More information:    thewoodenboatschool.com

Keep a sketch journal 

You’re bound to make a deep connection to a place when you take time to draw it. “It’s not about being a great artist. It’s about slowing down and taking in your surroundings,” Ball says. Travelers can join an organized drawing group, like Urban Sketchers in Seattle.

More information:   seattle.urbansketchers.org

Make an epic overland journey

With low-cost air travel, it’s simple to cross continents in mere hours, but why not do it the old-fashioned way: on the ground? If you've got the time, you could spend months driving the length of Africa from Cairo to Cape Town or traveling the Silk Road, the ancient trade route that connected Southern Europe to Asia, Eastern Africa and the Middle East. Or consider driving the Pan-American Highway, which connects Argentina to Canada. “The journey is the goal, being open to what you see along the way. It’s the ultimate education in the world,” Ball says.

More information:    dragoman.com

Test your mettle

Sometimes a trip is about pushing yourself to the limit. It could be a demanding hike like Angels Landing in Utah’s Zion National Park, while others might try the Yukon Quest, the world’s longest annual river race, which has canoeists and kayakers paddle 444 miles along the Yukon River. “They’re not necessarily fun when you’re doing it. They’re kind of extreme, but when you succeed you feel amazing,” Ball says.

More information:    yukonriverquest.com

Support a social enterprise

Travel can not only enrich your life, but it can help support humanitarian and conservation projects. “You can feel good about where your money’s going,” Ball says. For example, Kenya's Maji Moto Maasai Cultural Camp lets visitors experience traditional village life, music and food during overnight stays that benefit the community.

More information:    majimotomaasaicamp.com

Sleep in a Dark Sky Sanctuary

For an unforgettable light show, seek out night skies unmarred by light pollution. “It connects us with the outdoors. It’s a mini digital detox because you become much more attuned to natural light cycles,” Ball says. A prime spot: the Cosmic Campground International Dark Sky Sanctuary in the Gila National Forest in New Mexico, which offers  360-degree unobstructed views of the night sky, and is located more than 40 miles away from the nearest artificial light source. “You’ll be able to see the stars lit up in all their glory.”

More information:    fs.usda.gov

Try something new

Ball says one of the best experiences for travelers is to try something new. “It’s the core of what enriching travel’s about. When you have a new experience, the memory locks in there.” It can be as simple as learning how to gather your own food on a mushroom foraging class in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains. “You’re surrounded by nature and you get to take something home with you.”

More information:    foragesf.com

Spend the night in the jungle

There’s no better way to experience the wilderness than sleeping in it. “You’re in a dark place, no streetlights, there are squeaks and howls and thumps and bumps. It forces you to face some fears and be aware that there’s a great ecosystem out there,” Ball says. One example: Ecolodge Lapa Rios in Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, which has open-air bungalows in a 1,000-acre lowland rainforest reserve.

More information:     laparios.com

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How to plan your dream vacation

Sometimes you crave a vacation — but actually taking one feels out of reach. Maybe you're struggling to find the time or save up the money. Or maybe you just can't seem to launch those plans out of the group chat. Overcome that planning inertia and take the big trip of your dreams. Here's where to start your search, organize your logistics and enjoy yourself.

MARIELLE SEGARRA, HOST:

You're listening to LIFE KIT...

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

SEGARRA: ...From NPR.

Hey, everybody. It's Marielle. You remember the early part of the pandemic when the days of isolation stretched into months? At night, I would lay on the floor of my apartment with my eyes closed and listen to guided meditations, to try to take myself to a happier place. One time the prompt was something like, picture yourself doing something that brings you great joy. The first thing that popped into my head was an image of me wandering the cobblestone streets of some small European village, probably in France. The sun was shining, and every step I took was a feast for the eyes. Medieval houses, colorful flowers resting in vases on outdoor tables, patisseries with gorgeous pastries in the window, just waiting to be eaten.

I didn't realize until that moment just how much I missed traveling and how badly I wanted to look at something outside of my four walls or the blocks of my neighborhood. The next year, I took a three-week trip to the U.K. and France, and I ate those pastries and wandered until my feet hurt and filled a hole that had been growing inside of me.

Big trips can do that. Lale Arikoglu knows what I'm talking about. She's the articles director at Conde Nast Traveler.

LALE ARIKOGLU: On a really basic level, I think it's just being able to have a break from the crush of regular life, whether that's work or childcare or school, wherever it may be, you know, the opportunity to just take yourself out of your routine and be somewhere else and get to immerse yourself in that place to me is, like, the main draw of it.

SEGARRA: Now, when we talk about a big trip, that could mean different things depending on your travel style and your budget. You know, it might be a long road trip or an extended stay at a cottage in the woods or a multi-city tour on another continent. But it's typically something you save up for and plan months in advance. Lale has a big trip coming up. She's going to Peru.

ARIKOGLU: I've been waiting to do it for a long time. The reason to go there is for a friend's wedding. And now I'm building a trip around it, and it's going to be about ten days long with multi-stops, you know, having to choose multiple places to stay. And logistically, you know, it's actually taking some thought and some planning. One of the things that we're going to do when we're there is hike Machu Picchu. There's a group of us going. And Machu Picchu - it's a dream to see and experience.

SEGARRA: Now, it's easy to get bogged down in trip planning. And it might stop you from booking the thing entirely, but Lale says, do it. It's worth it.

On this episode of LIFE KIT, Lale shares her best tips on planning the big trip of your dreams. We'll talk about where to start your search, what logistical questions you should ask yourself and how to actually relax and enjoy yourself once you're there.

SEGARRA: Let's say I do want to take a big trip, right? I'm feeling that itch to travel, but...

ARIKOGLU: Right.

SEGARRA: ...I don't have a destination in mind yet or a duration. I'm really starting from scratch. Where does the planning start?

ARIKOGLU: When you start the planning, you've really got to think what you want to get out of the trip. You know, If you really just want to decompress and relax and rest, then you probably don't want to do some like multi-stop European city trip, right? You probably don't want to hike Machu Picchu. Perhaps it is that you're incredibly bored of your surroundings, and you need adventure and you need excitement. And therefore, you're going to be thinking of some really different destinations. It might be that you're traveling alone for the first time. You've decided to do a solo trip. You know, where is a place that might feel comfortable for you as a solo traveler, but still feels like it's taking you out of your comfort zone? So I think it's sitting with yourself and thinking, OK, what is, like, the goal here? That's takeaway one. Ask yourself what do you want to get from this? Set the mission of your trip.

It feels like another really important detail at the beginning is budget, right? Like, how much money do you realistically want to spend on this trip or can you afford to spend?

ARIKOGLU: And, you know, that's going to look different for everyone. If we're talking big trips, rarely are they spontaneous, right? You're planning for a long time. So that also allows you to save and finance for it. No, there's lots of great savings apps that can just, you know, that take a little bit of money out of your paycheck every few weeks, and you can kind of start, like, a travel fund that way. I think that's quite a nice way to do it. But I think, you know, you can do a big trip on a budget. It doesn't have to be, I think, a lavish, international trip. I mean, you know, we're going into spring and summer, there are so many incredible national parks to see, there are so many amazing, very diverse, different cities. There's, like, so much on your doorstep, so I think you can really argue, you don't have to cross continents to have a big trip. And so if that feels a more affordable way to get away for a couple of weeks, then, you know, look in your backyard.

SEGARRA: Right. I wonder, too, like, part of budget, besides money, is also time. Like, how much vacation time do you have? Do you have any tips for people who don't have that much vacation time?

ARIKOGLU: So I think if you look at the calendar and you look at where the holiday weekends fall, There are some tricks to being able to kind of, like, turn your limited number of vacation days into - kind of you can stretch it out if you bookend it with a holiday weekend or something like that. But on the flip side, it's also most expensive time to travel, right? There is an argument for choosing shoulder season, so that's not traveling to a destination when it's at its peak. And this is great for your own personal experience, but it's also in terms of helping that destination deal with overtourism, overcrowding. If we're talking about Europe, for example, the summers are getting hotter. So avoiding those really intense, hot, summer seasons can actually be really advantageous for your own travel plans.

SEGARRA: Yeah. That seems like maybe the next thing to consider as you're planning a big trip before you start looking at destinations is what time of year are you looking to travel?

ARIKOGLU: Definitely. And that's more of a luxury for some people because If you're having to navigate school holidays, then you're a little bit more limited. But again, it's sort of when you're thinking about carving out those goals and what you want to get out of the trip. Maybe it's the seasonality that's really important. Maybe it's all you want is hot weather and a beach. You know, if you're planning some summer travel, you could totally flip things on its head and go experience winter somewhere. I went to Patagonia when it was entering into their fall in Chile, and it was a really magnificent time to be there, and it was when New York City was going into spring. It felt like upside-down land to be choosing to do that, and it was so wonderful. It was great.

SEGARRA: Yeah. I think there's a lot of room for creativity there. And also, as you said, like, it opens up more possibilities if you consider going places during the shoulder season.

ARIKOGLU: And you get to be in a place and actually be in the place with the people who live there. One thing in August, if you go to Europe, everyone who lives there has, you know, gone off somewhere else on vacation to escape the heat and the tourists, and so, you know, you're in Rome with just all the other tourists and none of the Romans.

SEGARRA: All right, so takeaway two. Before you land on a destination, think about your constraints. What time of year do you plan to travel? For how long? What budget are you working with? If you're short on time, you can make use of holidays or pick a destination closer to home. If you're short on money, think creatively. You know, maybe you do a road trip through some parks or cities nearby.

SEGARRA: It seems like another thing to consider here is, how much do you like crowds? Because for me, it kind of ruins a trip or an experience if everywhere I go is super crowded. I get very overwhelmed by that and overstimulated.

ARIKOGLU: And it's also, you know, who are the crowds? Because there's been times when I've gone somewhere and I've gone and done the same bucket list site that everyone else is, and you're sort of standing there and you're thinking, What am I actually here for? Well, what is the purpose of this? What am I getting out of it? What am I giving to this destination other than just being another member of the crowd?

SEGARRA: Yeah. I think that's an important question, right? 'Cause, like, we have been talking about what are you looking to get out of it, for the most part. But there's another side to this - right? - and it's what am I giving? And also, what am I taking? Like, am I taking too much from this place?

ARIKOGLU: I think about that a lot. When you're planning, be really thoughtful about where you're spending your money. When you're choosing a hotel, is it a hotel that is locally owned? What restaurants are you booking? Where are you shopping? Where are you buying your souvenirs? You know, I think there's lots of ways to be really thoughtful about, you know, how you spend your money, and that can go into your budgeting, as well.

SEGARRA: I know there are certain places that at a certain time, at least, they said, please, tourists, like, please stop coming or stop coming during this time.

ARIKOGLU: Yeah. When a destination says that, I mean, it's something to be taken so seriously because they're usually destinations that have an infrastructure or an economy that really relies on tourism. So things have to have gotten pretty bad for a destination to say, take a beat, not right now, and listen to that, and, you know, the place will be better for it when you do go see it.

SEGARRA: I picture it as if you were, like, going to - going over, like, a friend's house uninvited, or, like, if they were like, please, today's not good. Like, our whole family's sick, like, we're all throwing up, and then you were still banging on the door, like, hey, what are you doing? Can I come stay over?

ARIKOGLU: I think that is a perfect analogy. Perfect. And no one wants to be that person.

SEGARRA: No.

ARIKOGLU: I'd hate to be that person.

SEGARRA: That'd be weird behavior.

ARIKOGLU: Yeah.

SEGARRA: Takeaway three, travel responsibly. Research the places you're interested in, and make sure they want tourists at the time you're looking to visit. When you're booking, consider putting your money toward the local economy rather than international chains. Also, learn about whatever destination you choose. Be open to the cultural practices and languages there. And be a respectful visitor.

Anything else that people would want to figure out before they start narrowing down or looking at destinations?

ARIKOGLU: I think it's also thinking about who you want to travel with. Someone can be your best friend, but they can be your worst roommate. I think travel's kind of the same, so kind of finding someone to travel with or a group of people to travel with who you're aligned with in the planning stage, rather than when you get there and then you suddenly discover you all want to do different things. So I think communicating right off the back what you all want out of the trip and what you're excited about and also being really honest with each other about finances.

If you're on a group trip, I mean, it's like splitting the bill, but a thousand times worse. And so I think if you can kind of, like, set some parameters at the start and be really honest about what you feel comfortable spending money on because inevitably, there is going to be some people on the trip who want to spend more money on some things than others.

SEGARRA: Yeah. And it seems like that conversation, there should be some form of that before you book anything.

ARIKOGLU: Yes, 100%. And, you know, I think even if you don't feel comfortable doing it, speaking up if something just feels too expensive.

SEGARRA: All right. So takeaway four, figure out who you're traveling with. You might prefer to travel alone, or if you're going with friends, partners, or family, just make sure you're on the same page about what you want from the trip - the pace, the activities and how much money you can spend.

SEGARRA: OK. So it sounds like we've given people a lot of things to consider before they choose a destination. Once they've done this soul searching, how can they start to find destinations that fit those desires and limitations?

ARIKOGLU: For me, part of the fun of travel planning is doing the research, whether it is a trusted travel publication or reading some books you love or going on to - you know, there's, like, a ton of just, like, online communities of people who love swapping travel tips and actually, I think, can be really helpful.

SEGARRA: Yeah. I think it can be helpful maybe to in the brainstorming stage to just, like, not go in too deep but just make a list of places that seem exciting to you and that might fit your parameters. Like, I have a Google Doc, and it's just, like, places that I would be really excited to go.

SEGARRA: When you are considering a destination, how helpful is social media - is - like, seeing where your friends are going or where influencers are going? Is it a good idea to follow those trends?

ARIKOGLU: I think it can be useful in picking things you want to do once you're there, particularly if it's, like, based around, like, big events or openings. You know, we have our best places to go list that runs every year. It could be, like, new train routes, new hiking routes, new museums that have opened, things that are happening in destinations centered around an anniversary. So, you know, kind of consulting those sorts of lists and rounds up as well can be very helpful. But I think, you know, going back to what we were talking about in terms of over tourism or overcrowding - you know, on social media, you will see people at the same spots time and time again. And they're usually spots where just around the corner, there's also something equally beautiful to see.

SEGARRA: Yeah. Like, I remember when Santorini was really popular. And it's like, whew - like, if you could actually see what was going on behind that photo, like, you would hate being there because it's so - it's just way too many people...

ARIKOGLU: Right. Right.

SEGARRA: ...All lining up to take a picture in - against that beautiful backdrop.

ARIKOGLU: Exactly. And, you know, it's Santorini. It's all beautiful. It's all amazing.

SEGARRA: OK. So takeaway five is to choose a destination. And cast a wide net when you're brainstorming 'cause you never know what's going to catch your eye. Also, Lale says, do your best to think outside of the current travel trends. Though you can use them for inspiration.

So once you've got a destination in mind, how can you start to sketch out the details of the trip? And I guess I should say, how much detail do you really need to figure out?

ARIKOGLU: So I was going to say, don't overschedule yourself, and don't overbook yourself. I think I've been guilty of doing that before, and then you realize that you have no downtime. It might seem like you're being really efficient, but you need a little bit of spontaneity on your trip. Don't overschedule. If there are a few key things you really want to do that you feel you will be crushed if you don't get to do it, then book it. Make sure that's arranged all in advance. So maybe it's finding one thing on each day of your trip. That's what you center your day around and you can frame your itinerary around that, but I wouldn't overschedule.

SEGARRA: Yeah. And then I think when you look at these things potentially sketched out on different days, then you say like, you know, that seems too busy. What's the most important to me here? Like, which of these activities do I want to book ahead?

ARIKOGLU: Right. You know, if you're suddenly realizing - you're like, I am cramming a lot in if I try to go to these three places, then choosing which one to let go.

SEGARRA: Yeah. 'Cause that's always a consideration, too. Like, if you're flying somewhere far, you might think, well, I'm already going to Poland, should I also do Germany?

SEGARRA: There's that impulse, you know? Or I'm going to Poland, so I want to see all of Poland. But that can make for a very frenetic kind of trip.

ARIKOGLU: And you wouldn't tell someone who was visiting America to be like, well, you've come all the way to America, so if you're going to New York, then you also need to go to New Orleans.

SEGARRA: Right, right. Exactly. That's Takeaway 6 - keep your schedule light and malleable. Lally recommends picking only one activity to do for each day of your trip and then building a flexible itinerary around those.

You know, it occurs to me that another element of a big trip when I'm going into them - I know that something's going to go awry during it.

ARIKOGLU: Always (laughter).

SEGARRA: Yeah.

SEGARRA: I remember being in Barcelona when I was in college. I went by myself for, like, a week. And I speak Spanish, but it wasn't fluent at the time. And I just got - I just missed being able to easily say what I wanted to say, and I went into, like, a Wendy's or something because I just wanted something kind of American. And I got some chicken nuggets. I couldn't think how to say nuggets in Spanish. Like, I was like, is that even a word, like, in Spanish, or did they just say nuggets? And I just broke and started speaking in English because I was trying to only speak Spanish. And I was like, I give up. Like, can I get some chicken nuggets, please?

ARIKOGLU: The true American in you comes out screaming at chicken nuggets in a foreign McDonald's.

SEGARRA: Yeah, yeah, give me my nuggies.

ARIKOGLU: (Laughter).

SEGARRA: Yeah, I just - like, sometimes you just need to go roll up into a ball and eat your chicken nuggies and be by yourself for a minute and then come back out, you know?

ARIKOGLU: Yeah. I mean, like, travel so much of the time is sort of, like, infantilizing because you're so powerless. But it's, like, the same in an airport. You're just sort of powerless at a certain extent when things go wrong. And I think my approach to it - to sort of very taxing and challenging air travel schedules, with connections and potential miss flights and lost luggage and all the things that come with that - is to sort of just give myself up to the airport gods, and just as soon as I'm, like, through TSA, just be like, what will be will be. I'll get there eventually and just, like, I'm powerless. And that's been, like, for me, quite liberating. And it also means that I'm not the person screaming at some poor gate agent when things go wrong.

SEGARRA: Yeah, it's a moment of - it's actually an opportunity for mindfulness. Like, I think that could even be helpful going into a big trip, to tell yourself, like, something is going to go wrong. Yeah, just keep that in mind.

ARIKOGLU: Oh, my God, so much of travel is about being tired and hungry.

SEGARRA: We're really selling this.

ARIKOGLU: I know.

SEGARRA: (Laughter).

ARIKOGLU: I'm like, my whole job is to travel. It's great.

SEGARRA: Isn't it terrible? Yeah.

SEGARRA: I try to remind myself, like - what is the point? - like, go back to those goals. What is the point of this? It's to have a good experience, to meet those needs, to give myself what I've been craving.

ARIKOGLU: Exactly. And I don't know. This sounds a little cheesy and a little trite, but anyone who gets to travel is really lucky. Ultimately, it's a real privilege that you get to do it. And it's such a freedom and it's such a special thing.Don't make it stressful.

SEGARRA: That's our final takeaway. Something on your trip is bound to go wrong. So once you're there, sit back and try to surrender. After all, traveling in the first place is a treat.

SEGARRA: OK, jet-setters, time for a recap. First, figure out what you want from this vacation. Decide your budget and time constraints. Commit to traveling ethically. Make sure you're aligned with the people you're traveling with. When you choose a destination, cast a wide net and have fun with the research. Don't overschedule yourself, and once you're there, relax and roll with the punches. For more LIFE KIT, check out our other episodes. We've got one on how to find cheap flights and another on how to pack your suitcase like a pro. You can find those at np.org/lifekit. And if you love LIFE KIT and you just cannot get enough, subscribe to our newsletter at np.org/lifekitnewsletter. Also, we love hearing from you, so if you have episode ideas or feedback you want to share, e-mail us at [email protected].

This episode of LIFE KIT was produced by Margaret Cirino. Our visuals editor is Beck Harlan and our digital editor is Malaka Gharib. Meghan Keane is our supervising editor and Beth Donovan is our executive producer. Our production team also includes Andee Tagle, Clare Marie Schneider and Sylvie Douglis. Engineering support comes from Robert Rodriguez. I'm Marielle Segarra. Thanks for listening.

Copyright © 2024 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

• CREATE MY MAP

How to travel more this year: The 10-step guide to achieving your travel goals

Do you have a bucket list of dream destinations and experiences that you're constantly swooning over, but you just never seem to check any off? Well, a dream without a plan is just a wish - and we're here to fix that! Let's make those dreams a reality!

Good news! You don’t need a million bucks, 2 months of vacation time or elite airline status to make your travel dreams come true. With our simple 10-step guide to success, you will be on the path to achieving all of your travel goals and soaking up all that the world has to offer!

1. Set goals that motivate you

Take a second and ask yourself: What is my motivation for prioritizing travel as an important part of my life? Is it to experience new places and cultures? To discover my passion? To escape from the daily grind? To jump outside of my comfort zone? Something else?

The answer is different for every traveler. Whatever fuels your desire for seeing the world, be sure it is kept at top of mind each day. A push pin map with all of your dream destinations pinned can help achieve this!

2. Dream big!

Take an afternoon to sit down and create a “Bucket List of 100 Dreams” - a completely unedited list of 100 things you would like to do in this life. The sky's the limit here so aim for goals a little out of reach.

This’ll be tough - and that’s the point! The beginning of the list may be loftier, long term dreams. But by the last third it might be simpler things like visiting a state park an hour away. Doable getaways that you could accomplish on a lazy weekend!

3. Narrow it down

Take a look at all of the goals on your bucket list. Now choose one of the places or experiences on your list and commit to it. When deciding which goal to tackle first, you can use the below questions to narrow it down and prioritize your goals:

• Which of the destinations is closest to me?
• Which trip is the least expensive?
• Which trip would be the easiest for me to take right now?
• If I could only visit one of these places before I die, which one would I choose? With this question you’re pinpointing which trip you’re most passionate about.

4. Turn your excuses into actionable steps

We’ve all heard (or even used) the excuses:

I don’t have enough money to travel. I can’t get enough time off work to travel. I don't have anyone to travel with.

Squash those excuses and replace them with simple tasks:

• I will create a budget plan to save the money I need to take this trip.
• I will plan my time off work in advance. If you can’t find the time to travel, you likely need to reassess your priorities to fit travel into a busy life .
• I will find a tour company that caters to solo travelers if I can't find a travel companion and don't want to go solo.

5. Set SMART travel goals

It's important to identify not just the difference between where you are and where you want to be, but to create a step by step plan to bridge that gap. Set SMART goals which give you a direction and help you organize and reach your goals. To make sure your goals are achievable, each one should be:

Your goal should be clear and well-defined so that you can focus your energy on achieving it.

Ask yourself: Who, what, where, when and why?

Instead of saying “I want to travel more” or “I want to go back to Europe," which are vague goals, clarify where, when and with who you want to go. An example is: “I want to visit Paris with my boyfriend for a week in May to celebrate our anniversary.”

It's important to have measurable amounts and dates attached to your goals so that you can track your progress and stay motivated, while feeling the excitement as you inch closer to your goal.

Ask yourself: How will I know when I have reached this goal?

Instead of “I want to stay for a week and spend less than $5,000” make your goal more quantifiable like “I want to stay for 8 days, 7 nights and spend xxx on flights, xxx on accommodations and xx on experiences.”

The goal should challenge you but not be entirely out of reach. It should be realistic and attainable to be successful.

Ask yourself: Do I have the resources and capabilities to achieve the goal? If not, what am I missing?

Choose a realistic trip to focus on first based on your current income and circumstances (vacation time, visas, distance, cost of flights, etc)

This step is about ensuring that your goal is important to you and that it also aligns with your other life goals goals.

Ask yourself: How much does this matter to me and is it worth the time and effort? Is it significant to my life?

Consider your travel style and how long you would want to spend in each destination. Does it make more sense for you to take a one-week 5-star vacation in Bali or a 6-month budget backpacking trip around South America?

Your goal should have a clearly defined timeline including not only your travel dates but the stages of saving, planning and booking your trip and milestones for each. This step helps to prevent everyday tasks from taking priority over your longer-term goals.

Ask yourself: Is my timeline realistic while also creating urgency?

A good example is: We can save $3,000 in 6 months but need $1,000 for flight by January, $1,000 for accommodations by February and to book our activities by April."

6. Write it down

Did you know that you are 42% more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down? This makes the goal real and tangible, taking the trip from abstract and makes it concrete.

As you write, use the power word "will" instead of "would like to" or "might." This way you can visualize yourself achieving the goal. Hang your goals up on your fridge or mirror so that they are top of mind every day.

7. Immerse yourself in your goal

To keep yourself motivated for saving and planning for your travel goals, immerse yourself in them!

Make the inspiration visual! Pin your next destination on your map with a heart pin and add inspirational photos to your matching pin board .

Create a vision board or Pinterest board with photos and blog posts about your dream destination. Surround yourself with people who have similar goals in your friend circle or in a Facebook community such as For The Love of Travel .

8. Tell people

Accountability is key! Sharing your travel goals with others increases your chances of sticking to them. And better yet, find someone to join you in your travel goals and you're in it together!

9. Take the first step

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step! Then on to the next step… and the next... If you try to conquer everything all all at once, you may get overwhelmed and give up. Taking things one step at a time keeps things manageable - and achievable!

Remember, goal setting is an ongoing process, not just a means to an end. Build in reminders to keep yourself on track, and set aside time to review your progress.

10. Celebrate and repeat!

So you saved the money, booked the flight, planned the experiences and are off on your adventure? Congrats! Take some time to celebrate and reflect - then get to work on that next travel goal on your list!

We hope you found this guide useful to make those dream trips a reality! What is your approach to tackling your travel goals? Share them in our Facebook community !

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Saudi Arabia eyes 320,000 new hotel rooms to meet soaring tourism goals

By bne Gulf bureau

Saudi Arabia is projected to have 320,000 new hotel rooms by 2030 as the Kingdom ramps up efforts to accommodate an annual influx of 150mn tourists, both domestic and international, according to a report by global property consultancy Knight Frank .

This massive expansion of the hospitality sector is central to achieving Saudi Arabia's goal of increasing the travel and tourism industry's contribution to the economy from nearly 6% to 10% by the end of this decade, the report stated.

The analysis comes on the heels of record tourism numbers for Saudi Arabia in 2022, with visitor spending reaching $23.2bn in the first half of 2023 alone - a 132% jump from last year. International arrivals surged 142% year-on-year to 14.6 million in the first six months.

While nearby Gulf nations like Bahrain, Kuwait and Egypt emerged as top source markets, Saudi authorities are exploring strategies to attract visitors from further afield, said Turab Saleem, Knight Frank's head of hospitality and tourism advisory for the Middle East.

'This includes developing cultural and entertainment offerings nationwide to complement existing attractions like the Jeddah F1 Grand Prix and numerous 'Entertainment Seasons,'' Saleem added.

Notable projects include theme parks like Boulevard World and Qiddiya in Riyadh, as well as Saudi Arabia's successful bid to host the 2030 World Expo, which is expected to draw 40mn visitors and inject $94.6 billion into the local economy.

The report highlights that 67% of the projected 320,000 new hotel rooms will be upscale or luxury properties, typically requiring one to two staff members per room. This suggests between 232,000 and 387,000 hospitality workers may need accommodation as the sector expands rapidly.

Knight Frank expects Marriott International to overtake Accor as Saudi Arabia's largest hotel operator by 2030, with 26,200 rooms under its management compared to Accor's projected 25,400 rooms.

'Provision of quality housing for hospitality staff will be essential to ensure the success of Saudi's tourism ambitions,' said Faisal Durrani, Knight Frank's head of research for the Middle East.

The holy cities of Mecca and Medina are set for a significant hotel boom, with 221,000 new rooms announced, planned or under construction to cater to religious tourists - expected to reach 30mn annually by 2025 and 50mn by 2030.

Knight Frank estimates around $104bn will be required for construction costs alone to realize the 320,000 new hotel rooms nationwide, with $70bn dedicated to the religious tourism hubs of Mecca and Medina.

California announces first new state park in a decade and sets climate goals for natural lands

Californians will be able to use the park for hiking and picnicking, with plans for swimming and boating access in the future.

MODESTO, Calif. -- California will open its first new state park in a decade this summer, Gov. Gavin Newsom and state officials announced Monday, as the state sets targets for cutting planet-warming emissions on natural lands.

The 1,600-acre (648-hectare) Dos Rios tract in the state's crop-rich Central Valley is set to open June 12 as California's 281st state park. Located near the confluence of the Tuolumne and San Joaquin rivers, it is surrounded by vast almond orchards and dairy pastures. Californians will be able to use the park for hiking and picnicking, with plans for swimming and boating access in the future.

Ali Manzo, a Central Valley native and California State Parks interpreter, said the new park will help bring people together and allow them to develop a deeper respect for nature.

"Dos Rios is not just a park," Manzo said. "It's a community treasure that offers peace, adventure and a vital connection to nature."

Manzo joined the governor, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and civil rights icon Dolores Huerta to announce the new park.

The Earth Day announcement comes as Newsom unveiled new targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions on natural lands. The plan sets out to reduce the risks of wildfires, expand forest cover and restore wetlands. Newsom said the targets would move the state closer toward achieving its mandate of carbon neutrality, meaning it will remove as many carbon emissions from the atmosphere as it emits, by 2045.

"These are stretch goals, unquestionably," the Democratic governor said. "The good news is we're making real progress."

Newsom did not say what success would look like for implementing the targets. His administration did not release an estimate for how much the plan would cost the state, which is facing a massive projected budget deficit.

The targets come out of a law Newsom signed in 2022 requiring the state Natural Resources Agency to work with other agencies to create a plan to reduce emissions from natural lands.

The plan aims to reduce the risks of wildfires across nearly 53,000 square miles (138,000 square kilometers) of land by 2045 through methods that include burning vegetation that can make wildfires more intense. The state also plans to plant 4.2 million trees, manage and restore 1.6 million acres (647,000 hectares) of grasslands, and protect more than 233,000 acres (94,000 hectares) of wetlands and seagrasses along that timeline.

California has spent about $9.6 billion since 2020 on efforts to address climate change using the state's natural lands.

Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot called the plan "a big deal" because the state has focused much of its climate policy on reducing emissions from other areas, such as the energy sector, and less so from natural lands.

"We know we have to reduce pollution significantly, but we also need to improve the health of our landscapes to actually remove carbon dioxide from the air," Crowfoot said.

In recent years, the state has approved the eventual phasing out of the sale of new fossil fuel-powered cars, lawnmowers, and large trucks that transport goods through ports and trains powered by diesel.

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Center for Undergraduate Research and Engaged Learning

Distinguish Yourself

Have Career Goals. Will Travel

This summer, Jacqueline Aguirre De La O will begin a five-year Department of State fellowship that will pave the way for a career in the U.S. Foreign Service. Soon after, Kathy Chacon will head to the United Kingdom to start a master’s in film studies as a Gates Cambridge Scholar.

While the two UCR alums are pursuing different career paths, they share a few things in common: both are Latina women, both are first-generation college students from the Inland Empire, and both credit UC Riverside with supporting and empowering them on their educational journeys.

Read more about Aguirre and Chacon below and join them for a panel discussion hosted by Chancellor’s Research Fellows and CHASS. The panel, “ Journey of Resiliency: UCR Latinas Growing Professionally through International Experiences, ” will be Monday, April 15, at 11 a.m. in Humanities 1500 and is open to the campus community.

Jacqueline Aguirre De La O

Aguirre De La O, who graduated in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, has been awarded a 2024 Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship from the U.S. Department of State to begin a career in the Foreign Service.  

The competitive fellowship will enable Aguirre De La O to pursue a master’s degree at a university in Washington D.C. — she’s currently deciding between programs at Georgetown University and American University. The fellowship also includes a summer 2024 internship with a U.S. Congressmember and a summer 2025 internship with a U.S. embassy or consulate.

Upon completion of her master’s, Aguirre De La O will become a U.S. diplomat in 2026, embarking on a challenging and rewarding career in the Foreign Service. While she knows she’ll support the Foreign Service’s mission to “promote peace, prosperity, and human dignity around the world,” she has no idea where she’ll posted or what she’ll be doing. 

“I am excited to be a diplomat because I will have an opportunity to live and learn from different ethnic communities around the world — in places I may have never imagined I would live in.” Aguirre De La O said. “It is also important to show how diverse America truly is and bring diverse ideas to the table that will help advance foreign policy and foster mutual understanding between the U.S. and foreign nations.”

It won’t be Aguirre De La O’s first overseas experience. As a high school student at Riverside’s Norte Vista High school, she fell in love with Korean culture and K-pop. At UCR, she took on work-study position at the Young Oak Kim Center for Korean American Studies and served as a peer advisor for UCR’s Education Abroad office. In her junior year, she spent a semester studying in Seoul.

As her graduation approached, Aguirre De La O knew she wanted to return to South Korea, but wasn’t sure how. Gladis Herrera Berkowitz, director of UCR’s Center for Undergraduate Research and Engaged Learning, stepped in, encouraging her to apply for an English Teaching Assistantship grant from the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.

“I was nervous about applying because the Fulbright is a nationally competitive scholarship and I didn’t think I was qualified,” Aguirre De La O said. “Gladis encouraged me, and I decided to go ahead because no matter what happened I knew it would be good experience for applying to graduate school.”

Aguirre De La O was accepted, with travel postponed until 2022 because of the pandemic. While she was waiting, she accepted a work-from-home internship with the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey Office. The experience working for and learning about the federal government planted the seed for her successful application to the Rangel Program, which she applied to after returning from her Fulbright in South Korea. 

Aguirre De La O recognized faculty and staff members across campus for their support and encouragement. Among them: David Biggs, professor of history; Carol Park, a graduate student and Aguirre De La O’s supervisor at the Young Oak Kim Center, Edward Chang, an ethnic studies professor and founding director of the Young Oak Kim Center, UCR’s Education Abroad Office, and the TRIO Scholars program, which provides support to first-generation and minority students. A special thank you goes to Herrera Berkowitz:

“Gladis has always supported and motivated me. I feel like it wasn’t for Gladis I wouldn’t have applied to any of these things,” Aguirre De La O said.

Kathy Chacon

Chacon, who graduated in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in media and cultural studies, has been selected as a 2024 Gates Cambridge Scholar at the University of Cambridge.

Chacon will pursue a master’s degree in film and screen studies and continue research she started as an undergraduate exploring the representation of women in film. Her long-term goals is to become a professor and producer championing diverse stories that bring positive change.

“Throughout my education, I have observed a lack of prominent Latina film scholars, and I hope to change that,” she said.

Chacon, who graduated from Patriot High School in Jurupa Valley, described her UCR experience as “pure magic.”

As an undergraduate, she participated in study abroad programs in Rome, Japan and London, and pursued various internships, including serving as an ambassador for Java City Coffee through a partnership between the coffee retailer and UCR’s Dining Services. She worked on campus during all four years of her studies — as a cashier at campus stores and a student data analyst for the Center for Bibliographical Studies and Research. 

In her final year, Chacon became a Gluck Fellow of the Arts, where she helped address the negative effects of media on body image, self-esteem, and beauty standards through a free workshop developed for local middle school aged girls.

“As a first-generation American and first-generation college student I never felt out of place at UCR,” Chacon said, recognizing professors Setsu Shigematsu and Gloria Kim for boosting her confidence and self-worth. “UCR was my oyster, a place with opportunity at every corner.”

The support Chacon received at UCR was echoed during her three-month, scholarship-funded study abroad experience at Queen Mary University of London.

“One of my lecturers reached out after reading my final exam paper to send me encouraging words on my writing and say that I should pursue graduate studies,” Chacon said. 

Chacon applied to both Cambridge and Columbia University. She was accepted to both and set her heart on Cambridge.

“The only thing that was holding me back was money because I was not offered funding from the university and would have had to take out the entire cost of the program through loans — a decision that would have left me in debt for decades and cost me over $100,000 in interest alone,” Chacon said.

Without other options, Chacon made the painful decision to withdraw her application. However, with encouragement from a friend she’d met in London, she applied to Cambridge again, this time scrambling to meet the Gates Scholarship deadline.

“The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is one of the most generous postgraduate scholarships in the world. And to me, it meant the difference between getting a Cambridge education or not, Chacon said. “I poured my heart into my application, and when I received the notification that I was selected as a finalist, I poured my heart into preparing for the final interview. Gates Cambridge is my lifeline. I’m deeply honored to join the 2024 cohort. I’m overflowing with gratitude and joy.”

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‘Conan O’Brien Must Go’ Is the Best Version of Conan

The comedian’s new travel show proves he’s at his best away from the rigid confines of late night

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After hundreds of episodes of Hot Ones , there’s little a guest can do to shake up the reliable formula of thoughtful questions combined with increasingly spicy chicken wings. But Conan O’Brien isn’t just any guest. Conan is someone who arrives with “Dr. Arroyo,” his personal physician, who, when asked where he went to medical school, answers “1998”; he deposits the remains of each wing into his jacket pocket; seemingly unfazed by the heat, he chugs hot sauces like they’re in tiny liquor bottles from a hotel minibar; he rubs the drumsticks on his hands, mouth, and, yes, nipples. Even as Conan’s pale complexion begins to resemble a ripe tomato, he remains committed to the bit, raising his body temperature by two degrees in a state of delirium. (According to Dr. Arroyo, of course.) Behold, the comedy GOAT:

Aside from being one of the funniest people on the planet, Conan seems to operate at the peak of his powers when surrounded by chaos. He was, for a time, our longest-tenured late-night host: He had a career on the airwaves that spanned nearly three decades, not unlike his icon, Johnny Carson. But while Conan could do the usual late-night beats in his sleep—the opening monologue, the celebrity interviews—he was never better than when things went completely off the rails. Consider: Conan used his last week as the short-lived host of The Tonight Show to waste NBC’s money on bringing a Kentucky Derby–winning horse to set; trolled his interns and staff in remote segments; introduced the world to his associate producer Jordan Schlansky, who gamely played a pretentious foil ; found an actual Tinder date with Dave Franco.

But some of Conan’s best work has been when he’s left the rigid confines of late night altogether. In 2015 Conan began a spinoff travel series, Conan Without Borders , in which he explored other countries armed with little more than his self-deprecating wit. “[Travel shows are] completely outside the realm of anything I do,” he explained to The New York Times in 2019. “They can be frightening because they take away a lot of control. I’m out there, I don’t often know what I’m going to encounter.” More often than not, it’s led to comedy gold. For instance, while he was taking a Japanese etiquette lesson, Conan’s instructor said that he wasn’t her type. The reason: “Face.”

Face . You could never script something so casually brutal; therein lies the magic. Most important, Conan never mocks other cultures to induce laughs—instead, he makes himself the butt of the joke, leaning into the bit of an ignorant tourist. But what truly elevated Conan Without Borders was how he could deftly weave in educational components and approach dark periods of a country’s history with genuine sensitivity. (Conan’s visit to the Armenian Genocide Memorial with his longtime assistant, Sona Movsesian, is among the most emotionally resonant moments of his career.) Thankfully, even though Conan has bowed out of the late-night scene, he’s doubling down on the travelogues.

On Thursday—Conan’s birthday, no less—Max released Conan O’Brien Must Go , a four-part series that takes him to Norway, Argentina, Thailand, and Ireland. These destinations were inspired by his podcast, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend , which, in addition to celebrity interviews, features conversations with fans from around the globe. (The fans frequently invite Conan to come visit their neck of the woods; few would ever imagine he’d take them up on the offer.) While Conan O’Brien Must Go doesn’t rely on celebrity cameos, every episode opens with Werner Herzog voice-over narration about the grandeur of Mother Earth and how, to fully appreciate its natural wonders, we must sometimes “defile it.” Rest assured, Conan the Defiler is more than up to the task.

What separates Conan O’Brien Must Go from his first travel show is the incorporation of those fans, including a Norwegian fish farmer, an Irish medical student, and an Argentine painter. The fans understandably react to Conan showing up at their front door with a mixture of shock and glee, but before they even get a chance to compose themselves, he playfully roasts their respective living situations. Nobody gets it worse than Jarle, a young Norwegian rapper who still sleeps with soccer-themed bedsheets from childhood and has bread so stale it lands with an audible thud when Conan drops it. “I’ll wipe the floor with you,” Conan tells Jarle, “which actually might be a good idea, because I think you’d pick up a lot of lint.”

The Ringer ’s Streaming Guide

There’s a lot of TV out there. We want to help: Every week, we’ll tell you the best and most urgent shows to stream so you can stay on top of the ever-expanding heap of Peak TV.

But while it’s enjoyable in its own right to see Conan surprise fans, Conan O’Brien Must Go is never better than when he throws all caution to the wind mingling with the locals. One standout bit in Argentina involves a soccer team that invites Conan to its stadium, where he proceeds to take the sport’s reputation for theatrical diving to another level, with fake blood spurting out of his mouth. Argentina is also where Conan reunites with his archnemesis, Schlansky, who repeatedly corrects him on the proper pronunciation of tango over dinner. (Schlansky insists he’s right, even when the chefs disagree with him.) And while some comedians might have second thoughts if nobody seems entertained by their shenanigans, Conan always doubles down—if only for his own amusement. (The Argentine gauchos did not enjoy his singing talents.)

Despite all the silliness that’s part of the Conan experience, Conan O’Brien Must Go also manages to have moments of real profundity. For one, Conan uses the Ireland episode to explore his own heritage, culminating with a visit to the patch of rural farmland that belonged to his ancestors. It puts everything into perspective: His forebears fled the Irish famine for America, and their descendant returned with a camera crew and decades of fame and success under his belt. Truly, what are the odds? But what really tugs at the heartstrings is a brief video from the Norwegian fish farmer Kai, who explains how Conan’s visit to his small town completely changed his life. It’s genuinely heartwarming stuff, proving that comedy can achieve more than just laughs when it’s approached with curiosity and empathy.

It’s been three years since Conan last graced our screens, and his absence really underlined that he’s one of one. You can’t imagine anyone else showing up to a foreign country and reacting to situations on the fly without everything falling apart at the seams. But as Conan proved time and again during his late-night tenure, that’s where great comedy can be found: among the people, whether it’s in the streets of Harlem or a Civil War reenactment . Conan’s late-night career went through many phases , all of them worthy, but in retrospect, it feels like the format was holding him back. Conan O’Brien Must Go isn’t just a hilarious return to form: It’s one of the best things he’s ever done. Let’s hope the show’s Season 2 renewal will be a matter of when, not if. With Conan at the helm, there are so many more countries worth exploring—and defiling.

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Will the NBA’s Next Defining Team Emerge in These Playoffs?

The NBA has had five different champions in the past five years. Another new winner this year would make six in six—tying the longest streak in league history. Are dynasties dead? And what will this year’s title race tell us about the state of the NBA?

You Can Bet on Every Aspect of the NFL Draft. But Do Sportsbooks Actually Know Anything?

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Bakari Sellers talks to the creators about how they put together this series, why they chose to film in Nashville, who the audience is for this project, and much more

Pearl Jam: Part 1, With Kevin Clark

This week we dive into the music of Pearl Jam. In the wake of the dissolution of Green River and then Mother Love Bone, a new band coalesces, and explodes after adding an enigmatic frontman in the form of a San Diego surfer named Eddie.

Rules of a Restaurant Playlist, Dave Returns to Hamlet’s Kitchen, and Price Fixing

Dave and Chris dive into the menus of three different restaurants in this week’s game of Price Fixing!

California News | Work begins on high-speed-rail line from LA to…

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California news | san jose-based solar-power firm cutting 1,000 workers, california news, california news | work begins on high-speed-rail line from la to vegas, the goal is to have trains operating in time for the olympics in la in 2028.

By Ken Ritter | Associated Press

LAS VEGAS — A $12 billion high-speed passenger rail line between Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area has started construction, officials said Monday, amid predictions that millions of ticket-buyers will be boarding trains by 2028.

“People have been dreaming of high-speed rail in America for decades,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement released to coincide with a ceremony at the future site of a terminal to be built just south of the Las Vegas Strip.

Buttigieg predicted the project will bring “thousands of union jobs, new connections to better economic opportunity, less congestion on the roads, and less pollution in the air.”

Brightline West, whose sister company already operates a fast train between Miami and Orlando in Florida, aims to lay 218 miles (351 kilometers) of new track between Las Vegas and another new facility in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Almost the full distance is to be built in the median of Interstate 15, with a station stop in San Bernardino County’s Victorville area.

Brightline Holdings founder and Chairperson Wes Edens dubbed the moment “the foundation for a new industry.”

“This is a historic project and a proud moment,” Edens said in the statement. “Today is long overdue.”

Brightline aims to link other U.S. cities that are too near to each other for air travel to make sense and too far for people to drive the distance.

Company CEO Mike Reininger has said the goal is to have trains operating in time for the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.

Brightline received $6.5 billion in backing from the Biden administration, including a $3 billion grant from federal infrastructure funds and approval to sell another $2.5 billion in tax-exempt bonds. The company won federal authorization in 2020 to sell $1 billion in similar bonds.

The project is touted as the first true high-speed passenger rail line in the nation, designed to reach speeds of 186 mph (300 kph), comparable to Japan’s Shinkansen bullet trains.

The route between Vegas and LA is largely open space, with no convenient alternate to I-15. Brightline’s Southern California terminal will be at a commuter rail connection to downtown Los Angeles.

The project outline says electric-powered trains will cut the four-hour trip across the Mojave Desert to a little more than two hours. Forecasts are for 11 million one-way passengers per year, or some 30,000 per day, with fares well below airline travel costs. The trains will offer rest rooms, Wi-Fi, food and beverage sales and the option to check luggage.

Las Vegas is a popular driving destination for Southern Californians. Officials hope the train line will relieve congestion on I-15, where drivers often sit in miles of crawling traffic while returning home from a Las Vegas weekend.

The Las Vegas area, now approaching 3 million residents, draws more than 40 million visitors per year. Passenger traffic at the city’s Harry Reid International Airport set a record of 57.6 million people in 2023. An average of more than 44,000 automobiles per day crossed the California-Nevada state line on I-15 in 2023, according to Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority data.

Florida-based Brightline Holdings launched the Miami-to-Orlando line in 2018 with trains reaching speeds up to 125 mph (200 kph). It expanded service to Orlando International Airport last September. It offers 16 round-trips per day, with one-way tickets for the 235-mile (378-kilometer) distance costing about $80.

Brightline West acquired rights to the project in 2019, pieced together right-of-way and environmental approvals, and reached labor agreements.

Ideas for connecting other U.S. cities with high-speed passenger trains have been floated in recent years, including Dallas to Houston; Atlanta to Charlotte, North Carolina; and Chicago to St. Louis. Most have faced delays.

In California, voters in 2008 approved a proposed 500-mile (805-kilometer) rail line linking Los Angeles and San Francisco, but the plan has been beset by rising costs and routing disputes. A 2022 business plan by the California High-Speed Rail Authority projected the cost had more than tripled to $105 billion.

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Education | California schools may be required to provide kosher and halal meals

Crime and Public Safety | Northern California teacher makes no-contest plea for ‘unlawful sex’ with 14-year-old boy

California News | Teenager missing after jumping in Northern California river to rescue a swimmer in distress

Crime and Public Safety | Man shot during attempted carjacking in Oakland