Travel resolutions for 2018 – my wishlist
Do you make New Year’s resolutions? I do love the thought of a clean slate, a shiny new year to fill – but after years of setting impossible targets for the most miserable month of the year, I’ve long decided that I’m only going to make travel resolutions rather than attempting a total life overhaul.
But this year, I’ve found myself struggling slightly to work out what should be on that list. Not because I’m running out of places I want to visit – quite the opposite, that list never runs out. Looking back at last year’s travel resolutions, I realised that we visited hardly any of the destinations I had in mind 12 months ago (apart from the two which were already all but booked).
Instead, I found myself carried away by new enthusiasms and jumping at unexpected opportunities; just the way I love to travel. So I’m hoping 2018 might also have some exciting surprises in store – and I need to leave some time to fit them in.
Which means that instead of a traditional wishlist of countries, I’ve decided to go for goals rather than places – I had some success ticking off my 2016 list, so if it’s not broke, why mess with it?
1. Explore more of London
Frankly, this is one which could and should be on the list every year – it’s not like I’ll ever run out of things to discover in my home city. But while we’ve had a few fun days out, the weekends seem to slip past and school holidays are usually full, so London’s sights have dropped off the radar.
I’ve yet to take Minnie to the Tower of London, my favourite place in the city. There’s the new Postal Museum, the Winnie the Pooh exhibition at the V&A and the Museum of London for indoor options – for starters.
Surely one day out per month ought to be possible: I’m fortunate that we just need to jump on the tube after all.
2. Find a balance
And in total contradiction to point 1, I want to find more of a balance in terms of trips and days out – part of me desperately wants to make the most of every chance to see the world, even to the extent of landing back from Oman on the Sunday afternoon before school on the Monday.
After all, in 10 years will we remember our amazing week in Oman or having a tired day or two afterwards?
But I couldn’t help notice that we both seemed very due a rest by the start of the Christmas holidays, and we only had a couple of days out in November and December. It’s a busy time of year, but I don’t think it’s coincidence that neither of us was raring to explore.
It’s been an amazing year of travel but perhaps some slower travel ought to be on the cards. Honestly, I’ve no idea how that might work in practice (and I might just need a dose of sun to perk myself up!)
3. Take more family trips
I love exploring the world with my daughter – I’ve had a fair bit of practice at solo parent travel and we’ve got our own little groove. With my husband’s free time restricted by work, particularly this year, it’s also been that or no travel (and you can guess how likely the latter is!).
But this year, we’re planning two holidays as a family and I can’t wait. I just need to come up with an exciting destination that can be visited in about a week, isn’t too hot and has more than just beaches (as he’s not a fan of the latter unlike Minnie and me).
Japan and Lapland are both hugely tempting – no chance of it being too hot in Scandinavian snow! – although both are also potential budget blowers…
A cruise is another one on my family wishlist for the second year running.
4. Do something unexpected (more than once?)
I’m not the kind of person who books a year in advance. Or even many months in advance. But it’s rare that I start the year with only a single trip lined up – a long weekend in Tuscany with a bevy of other bloggers. There will be Prosecco.
So this one is probably going to be easy to keep! After my three days in The Gambia, a country and part of the world I know very little, I’d love to see somewhere utterly different.
While Vietnam has long been on my bucket list, after Cambodia and Burma, I’m tempted to look further afield. The same goes for Jordan, a country I’d love to revisit, thanks to our recent trip to Oman. (Obviously it goes without saying that if a trip to either looked realistic, I’d be scampering to the front of the queue).
Quite how I’d manage Borneo, or Papua New Guinea, or Sao Tome, or Reunion or the South Pacific with a small girl, I’m not sure. They’d fit the bill though! Having not found time for any short-haul city breaks (outside the UK) in 2017, that would admittedly count as unexpected too…
What do you think? Do you make travel resolutions? Any tips for me on how to manage my conflicting list – or suggestions for ones that ought to be on every family traveller’s list?
Main image courtesy of Depositphotos, all others copyright MummyTravels
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Lapland is a budget blower, there is no doubt about it but totally worth it so see the look on the kids faces. Mine adored the husky sled rides, tobogganing and the reindeer as much as meeting Santa himself. I am totally into snow holidays now – hubby is trying unsuccessfully to point me in the direction of heat…… It’s team Olaf all the way for me
Team Olaf indeed! I went husky sledding when I was in Lapland pre-daughter and it’s one of my favourite things I’ve ever done, totally magical – I definitely think I need to make that happen this year.
Mine is to travel lighter but I’m failing miserably at it already
I have never been particularly good at that!
Great to see some your wishlist Cathy! I’m in the middle of compiling mine. I love it when something unexpected comes along but cannot wait to get on the prosecco with you in Tuscany!
Absolutely – if there’s only one trip to look forward to so far, it’s definitely set to be a fun one
Here’s wishing you all the best on your quest and a successful 2018. I love the idea of embracing the unexpected.
Thanks! And absolutely – I can’t quite imagine the thought of having every trip planned out for 12 months…
I bet you’d have a blast in Lapland! I know what you mean about wanting to see more of London, too. I sometimes think that non-London bloggers write about the place more than I do! As ever, I’ll be looking out for all the fab trips you do end up going on. x
I loved it when I visited pre-daughter, and think she would have an amazing time (if I can wrap us both up warm enough). I really must make more effort about London though this year, I feel distinctly shamed when I read blogs from people living at the other end of the country who’ve visited places which I haven’t got round to, despite only being across the city…
Your plans sound great! Maybe Azores would be nice for a family trip as well, especially if your kiddie is into seeing dolphins and whales. My travel resolutions don’t go beyond April, when I go on leave. I guess all these great family travel ideas will come in handy (hopefully!) starting June 😉 But before that, I have a week planned with the husband on La Gomera and we’re hoping to get to Athens in March.
#CityTripping
Thanks! The Azores was my last overseas trip while pregnant – would be fun to go back with her one day. And a very exciting year ahead for you: love the Canary Islands too and La Gomera sounds very chilled out, I’m sure you’ll be adding a few new experiences after June as well! 😀
Great resolutions! I also usually don’t have trips planned by the beginning of the yea,r but more a general idea of trips I want to take that year. Hope you can manage more family trips! Happy New Year! #CityTripping
Thanks! That’s something I definitely want to do – in some ways, it’s nice to have so many possible options ahead.
Those are some great resolutions! Happy New Year!!! #CityTripping
Thanks!
Lapland would be fabulous we loved our stay in the IceHotel, Japan would be fab but ots a long way for just a week. I’m like you and started the year with just two trips booked, now I get excited with every new possibility. Afternoon tea at the Houses of Parliament is on my wish list and some islands, love an island
Islands are always good – and afternoon tea at the Houses of Parliament sounds tempting too. For Japan, it’d probably be about 9 days (though about 7 after flying, and I did get the worst jetlag of my life there) but am still SO tempted…
Love your wishlist – especially about finding balance! I would love to explore more of London this year too but it’s just so expensive for us to get to as a family! It’s cheaper flying into Europe! Boooo
Thanks! It’s a tricky compromise – doing lots but not too much, so will have to see how that goes on. And that is so mad about the cost of travelling in our own country: I have been looking at UK options for half-term, and once I price things up, it can be cheaper going abroad…
I have four trips planned so far this year, London, Nice, Rotterdam (for traverse) and Finger Lakes NY for Tbex. I have found in the last couple of years that the places where I have little expectations are often the more surprising and enjoyable, so I am going to go to those more unusual places and take more risks!
Yes, there’s definitely something about going somewhere which doesn’t already have lots of preconceived expectations – no Traverse for me this year though.
We’ve started this year by booking a trip that slipped off our list last year – a week in Yorkshire during the Easter holidays. Not exactly glam and guaranteed good weather but my husband is from the North York Moors. We used to go up regularly until we no longer had family up there, which coincided with when we had the kids. Can’t wait to go back to revisit old haunts, though I suspect the boys will get a tad bored with ‘Daddy’s friend so-and-so used to live there’, ‘that’s where Daddy went to school’, ‘that’s where Daddy used to work’….!
That’s such a great part of the country with kids – my daughter is always slightly enthralled (and surprised, as I think she forgets I had an existence before her) by seeing places from my childhood.
When I moved to London a year ago, I promised myself that I will not take it for granted and will explore bits and pieces of the city every time I am off and I’m happy to say that I have kept that promise. There’s just so much to see and do in this city that even after a year, I haven’t even scratched its surface. I am now the go-to person of my colleagues to ask where to take their visiting family/friends around London even if they’ve lived in London longer than me. Lol. Good luck on your resolutions! All feasible. 🙂
That is such a good resolution – you really can spend a lifetime exploring. I can feel a 2018 must-visit list coming on
Love your wishlist, especially important is finding balance. I struggle with it a lot. Not only in terms of travel versus staying put, but spending versus saving, eating healthy versus indulging, etc. I”ll do my best to stay focused this year. xx
It’s the constant thing I’m looking for in life – and not just us, I think. Maybe finding balance is the ultimate goal.
What a fab wish list! Our resolution is to take more trips together as a family including more destinations off the beaten track x #CityTripper
Thanks! And a great resolution 🙂
‘Balance’is the word for me too. I am very fond of our trips as a family (and I am very spoiled as I get many on my own too) but I do realise sometimes I don’t make enough of an effort to show the kids that home is fun too. I don’t travel because ‘life is not good enough here’, I travel because I want to explore, but I sometimes worry my kids may not get that… so yes, balance and awareness that home is very cool too are my resolutions for 2018 🙂
That is such a good point – my daughter is very excited to be ‘on holiday’, wherever it may be, but I’d like to hope she never feels exploring closer to home is second best.
Crossing fingers for you getting what you want 🙂
Thanks!
It’s always great reading about other travel obsessives’ wish lists for the year – they’re the only people who understand our constant need to go everywhere! I’m with you on exploring the near as well as the far. We also want to go to the V&A early this year and I’ve still not been to the Museum of London. You’ve had some amazing opportunities over the last year so I’m fairly sure that this year will see you exploring far and wide. #citytripping
Thanks! And absolutely – it’s like a little club (or support group?) of inveterate travellers. And it has been an amazing year for us, very excited for what we might do in 2018.
These are great travel resolutions. We plan on exploring more of our home area, as well. We’re heading to San Diego next month, but unlike last year, that’s the only trip we have planned. Everything else is still up in the air. I’m hoping for a trip to Ireland in May but other than that, we’re going to take the opportunities and inspiration as they come. #citytripping
Thanks! San Diego is somewhere I’d love to explore – couldn’t quite fit it in to our California trip
Some great ideas there – I def need to do more of exploring my home cities of Bristol, Bath and London for sure. I’m being kinder to myself by not making any big resolutions, just trying to take things a bit easier and see how everything turns out. I am looking into destinations for our big trip this year already, but open to trying somewhere new just not sure where to start looking lol! #citytripping
Bristol and Bath are definitely on my wishlist for this year as well. And I think sometimes that’s the best approach, trying to plan a whole year in the first grey tired days of January is difficult when you never know what the next months will bring!
It’s like you read my thoughts, all of it! We definitely think very similarly. I’m just not there for the whole ‘travelling as a blogger, singley, without family’, yet, although if I’d been offered that gig in Tuscany that possibly could’ve swayed me! Have fun!
As for goals, we have a few awesome trips booked and a few more local (UK) weekend breaks away in the pipeline, so 2018 should be a great year for us 🙂 I love January!! #citytripping
😀 I am looking forward to a few days exploring solo, but even more so to our family trips (wherever they may be!) Sounds like you have a really fun year ahead as well.
I hear the Museum of London is wonderful, but alas we ran out of time before we got there… next time I guess. As much as I love traveling far, it’s not always possible, so I’ve spent the past 18 months touristing in my own town and had the best time! I’m not exactly sure where I’ll find myself this year, but my wish list is long! Happy New Year! #citytripping
You packed so much in to your trip, I’m not surprised you ran out of time a bit – there is ALWAYS more to explore in London too. And have loved your posts from LA, it’s so easy to overlook the city you live in sometimes but so much for each of us to discover there.
Oh I love these! We are in our final months living in Europe and trying to balance having a normal life with seeing as much as we can here before we move to the next place. We did a double whammy quick turn from Med Cruise to Northern Ireland over the Holidays and were completely exhausted, but we also had such a great time. Its good to have these sorts of problems right? I love reading your thoughts on it all though. #CityTripping
Hope you can cram in as much as possible – and in that case, I’d definitely tend to have a tiring few months and make the most of it too 🙂
What a wonderful list of resolutions and some fantastic ideas for travel. We have two trips booked this year so far, skiing in February and Scotland at Easter. We too wanted to explore more of the UK, even in the rain! #citytripping
Thanks! Skiing sounds very fun – and so much to explore in the UK, I keep reminding myself to make the most of it.
I’m keen to spend more time in London with my kids. The list of amazing places to visit just keeps growing though. Ive also got my eye on the postal museum, I’m sure my boys would love that! #citytripping
That is high on my list for this year – making myself another list of goals for London 🙂
Your resolutions resonate because I want to discover more of my city and travel to a place that is not that well-know or overly discovered. There are lot of “popular” places I want to visit but, with the Internet and social media, I have a pretty good idea of how the place looks and what I am going to see. Do not get me wrong, I do end loving those places but it would be exciting to see something that is not expected. Wish you the best for this year! #citytripping
Thanks! Definitely, although the popular places are popular for a good reason, I do love finding the overlooked spots. Happy 2018 to you as well!
I can relate to so much of this post. I do not plan my trips way in advance, partially due to commitment issues ;). Plus I always like a little spontaneity here and there. Japan is way up on my list like you, but alas the cost..not sure what will happen with that. And Vietnam I need to get to some day. A long weekend in Tuscany with blogger friends sounds perfect! #citytripping
Absolutely – the idea of having everything planned in advance makes me very twitchy. And yes, still trying to work out whether Japan is remotely realistic for my budget!
Great list of 2018 goals! I stopped making resolutions a long time ago, because they were always doomed to failure somehow…goals is much more positive anyway. I’m with you on trying to explore my own city more. Seoul is similar to London in that there is ALWAYS something new to check out! I’d also like to get out onto a cruise for the first time with my little one. 🙂 Re: Borneo – you could totally do it with a child. I’d recommend stopping over in Kuala Lumpur for a few days to acclimatize, and then taking a cheap Air Asia flight down to Borneo. One of my all time favourite travel experiences there was releasing baby turtles into the sea on a conservation island where only 60 people are allowed to stay overnight! 🙂 #citytripping
Thanks! And absolutely – much more fun to have a goal to meet than a list of things you feel you should do. And that’s very good to know about Borneo… tempting tempting!
We travelled a lot last year and moved to Australia so we now have an amazing new country to explore. This year will be all about Australia with a holiday in Melbourne already taken and one to Uluru at Easter booked. I like to plan ahead and make the most of holidays from work though I also love weekend breaks and we have a lot of places to visit in our new city – Brisbane! So expect a lot of #citytripping posts all about this beautiful city 🙂
Amazing – somewhere I would love to explore one day. Can’t wait to read all your posts.
Great travel resolutions for 2018! I hope you find the balance you need while exploring all the places that you want to see!
Thanks! That is going to be a slightly tricky one…
I have stopped making life overhaul resolutions for years but travel resolutions – bring it on! However, this year, I might not make big plans for travel. I had quit my job in May 2017 to pursue full-time freelance writing and blogging. My resolution for 2018 is to secure a few long-term projects so that my income is stabilised for the next year or two. Travelling will have to take a backseat but I’m not stopping completely either. I can only plan a trip to destinations closer to home rather than before when I didn’t mind travelling to faraway places! That said, I’m loving the flexibility of not being in the office 🙂 #CityTripping
The flexibility of working for yourself is wonderful – and always good to get the chance to explore a bit closer to home as well
Broken mine already – had a plan to prise husband out of Moscow for the winter holidays – first for a few days, then for a day trip and in the end we went exactly nowhere outside the city limits. Bah. Still, still a few days left to the end of the year!
#februarygoals
I love the idea of only setting travel goals – certainly more fun! And London is a fab city to repeatedly explore – I grew up in London but still find amazing new things on every visit. #CityTripping
Definitely beats boring old resolutions!
I’m desperate to take a long haul to a gorgeous beach this year, with Mini – a fellow beach adorer/traveller. However, due to work commitments, plus a loathing of sand and flying, I’ll likely be solo travelling, too! Think the US/Central America would be the most probable – I visited Belize on a solo trip in 2016, and think that has tons of adventure potential for littles.
Belize would be amazing – if only we were slightly closer!