Travel Resolutions for 09
by PamHave you made yours? Mine is pretty simple: Get back to Hawaii, ASAP. Though I have this fantasy I'm rolling over in my head that involves going to Ethiopia, drinking coffee, seeing those churches cut out of stone. And oh, I want to go to Gwaii Hanas up in the Queen Charlotte islands to see the totem poles and noodle some more on why the Canadian First Nations people got a better - not perfect - but better deal than the Natives of the US. I wouldn't mind going back to Asia, though yes, this is turning out to be more of a wish list than a resolution sort of thing. Closer to real resolutions?
Get back to Hawaii, grow my travelblog more, sell some more travel stories. Yes.
The Traveler's Notebook suggests 12 Resolutions for Travelers in '09. I like that these aren't just about what to do when you're far from home.
Even when you’re not volunteering, your actions in foreign lands can benefit those around you. Wherever you are, seek out companies, products, and services dedicated to giving back to the community, and avoid multinationals that are more liable to exploit local populations. And of course, the importance of buying fair trade can’t be stressed enough.
Gadling has the homework kind of resolutions - get your house in order stuff. It's useful advice, real common sense stuff that will make you a better, more prepared traveler. You can't overdo that - and who doesn't want to travel lighter? Here's one for the wired...
Take the time to go over your high-tech equipment, and consider investing in lighter solutions like the Chargepod charger, or even a shiny new Netbook. The investment will pay off in the long run, and your back will thank you for it.
I just got a micro-notebook, it's like carrying around a paperback, I kid you not. The keyboard takes a little getting used to, but for blogging on the road, it's perfect.
Frugality part of your future when it comes to travel? (Or anything, for that matter?) This list on About includes excellent, actionable resolutions for making the most of your money while traveling.
It's good to look for free attractions in the expensive places you visit, but let's face it: some of the things you want to see will involve hefty admission fees. Good budget travelers research the admission costs for each, add to get a total, and then look at pass options for their destinations.
You know what? I've always eyed those cards askance, but when I took the time to do the math, I changed my tune. Getting your money's worth does involve a little planning - you want to use the card if you buy it!- but it's totally worth it. My favorite? The three day card in Vienna that comes with unlimited public transit! Bingo.
Elliot has posted a list he generated from Twitter - it's fun to see the "at" crowd sound off.
@AnaLovesMusic “Travel Resolution: I want to see how many places/how far I can go without stepping on an airplane.”
Oh, you know what? There's something else I want to do. Use public or alternative transit more. I used the city bus while visiting Tampa and while, yeah, I had to do more waiting around than I'd have liked, I also got a different sense of what Tampa is like for the people that live there. I rented a bike for SxSW - ooo, I'm excited about that - and even my accomodation is kinda alt - I'm in a mother in law unit I found on Craig's List. I'd like to try getting out more at night - I really like to go to bed and get up very early, but I should look at the night life more often. And... oh, I'll stop now. It's your turn. What are you travel resolutions for 2009?
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Comments
Travel Resolutions for 2009
I'd like to travel to Switzerland and Norway in 2009
Attend the BlogHer conference in Chicago, July 24-25; preferably on the Travel Bloggers panel.
Build my subscriber base on the What a Trip travel blog
Expand my freelance travel writing network
Thank you for providing a place for me to write my 2009 Travel Resolutions.
I enjoy reading your articles. Keep up the good work and may all your resolutions come true.
Nancy D. Brown
http://www.nancydbrown.com/
http://twitter.com/Nancydbrown
2009
The economy has sort of thrown a monkey wrench into what our plans were for this year as far as our big summer trip goes, and our available money for travel...so it's been back to the drawing board in recent weeks.
I'm resolving to as many shorter trips as we can manage this year. They'll have to be spur of the moment until Tim's work situation stabilizes, but that's not all bad as far as I'm concerned.
I'm resolving to hit more of the museums around town in the early part of this year. We are members of a lot of museums/parks around town and spend a lot of weekends we're home hitting them, but with Tim off work, we should be able to squeeze in a few more weekday visits at least in the coming months. Since he's been off work, we've been to the Motown Museum in Detroit and down to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame/Museum in Cleveland. We need to get to the Charles Wright museum in Detroit for the Tut exhibit before it leaves...and to the zoo to take more photos if it ever snows here :)
I'm resolving to work some of the social networking tools to build my blog traffic and visibility this year. That probably means I'll have to start using my Stumble Upon account more effectively and finally drag myself kicking and screaming onto Twitter!
Last year, I concentrated on establishing the blog, schedule and a library of content. The blog was the first step in an effort to revamp my writing career, moving from the local business-oriented print stories (moribund markets around here right now) to becoming the travel writer I always wanted to be.
This year, I'd like to see my traffic increase to the point that I can start to realistically start to monetize it or spin off of it for other writing possiblilities.
I already send my registration in for an Ohio writers' conference this spring...and I'm seriously considering this year's Blogher conference.
And I bought a new laptop near the end of last year so I can spend more time taking it out and writing "on-site"...whether it's at the local coffee house or further afield.
That's all I can think of at the moment :)
www.midwestguest.com
Horoscope / Forecast / Resolution & Travel
Revolution for 2009
Hi Pam,
Good luck on getting back to Hawaii. Which island again? I'm trying to decide whether I want to attend my 10 yr HS reunion next year in Hawaii. I graduated in Oahu and if I go I'll just use it as an excuse to see one of the other islands as well. Smile.
Ethiopia is highly recommended! I think you saw my photos from this year.
And if you took the public transportation in Tampa - wow! We don't have the best publich transport here as you probably found out.
Before the New Year I was feeling pretty firm in my decision to travel LESS in 2009. LESS in wanderlust that is and more for business. Travel as a hobby is expensive. I need to refocus in on collecting some FF points and hotel stays by working on the road. Will it happen?
On the first day of the year I went to read my January 09' horoscope found on Astrology Zone. Like always the Gemini's day planner seems to have TRAVEL penned in big, red, bold letters. If my new year is going to be based off my horoscope then I am going to be traveling like never before.
But I truly believe I might need a time out. I want to focus on language and not just the phrasebooks to get me by on weekends. I told myself the next time I travel I want to be able to connect with people by speaking with them in broken / half fluent language of their own. Right now I am focusing on Farsi and French. Farsi because I think it is a beautiful langauge and French because a lot of African countries and Caribbean islands I want to visit speak the language. Otherwise I'd avoid French.
In short, my travel resolution is deeper connections and interactions.
I do have a places I know i'll be heading this year and they are:
ATL & D.C. & Charleston, S.C.
Tornoto
Madagascar (I will be leading a Global Village build if anyone is interested in joining Sept 19-Oct 2)
I'm hoping that will be it, but it won't.
www.adrienne-is.com
Charleston?
When are you going to Charleston? Tell me it's the weekend of March 21 and that you want to attend my daughter's wedding! hah.
~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager
Flamingo House Happenings
Still a Wish List
Being self-employed means never making travel resolutions, I'm afraid -- other than "I'll go somewhere." Last year I had a big writing contract with Colonial Williamsburg, so I could afford trips to New Orleans, Egypt, Jordan, and Japan. This year starts with no contract, so all I can do is have a wish list -- Eastern Europe and Russia, if my book sells well or I get a good contract. Grand Canyon if I do slightly less well. A few local museums and the Botanic Garden if work remains scarce. So we'll see.
Cynthia
http://waltzingaustralia.wordpress.com