|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
If one of your 2025 resolutions is to travel more, you need a game plan. Spontaneous trips can be fun, but making the most of limited vacation days and tight schedules means it’s best to plan. If you’re unsure how to map out your 2025 travels, here are a few easy steps to get you started.
1. Print out a 2025 calendarÂ
Whether you print out a calendar or pull it up on your tablet, you need something you can write on to give you a visual of the entire year. This will help you envision how your travels align with other important dates.
2. Mark down any commitments you already know ofÂ
Write down any dates off-limits for travel, from important birthdays and doctor appointments to weddings and work conferences. Marking these on your calendar will help you plan around them.Â
3. Set a travel budget for the year Â
Look at how much savings you already have and decide how much you want to dedicate to traveling. Then, think about how much money you can set aside each month. These numbers combined will be your budget for the year. You can adjust it, but you need a baseline budget to know how many trips you can plan.Â
4. Start thinking about where you want to goÂ
Now is the time to look for inspiration! Check your bucket list, and head to social media wherever you get your travel inspiration. Thinking about where you want to go early on is especially important for major events or holidays (i.e., the Day of the Dead in Mexico or Christmas markets in Europe) that could make it challenging to find accommodations.
If the dates don’t matter for the destination you’re interested in, research the best travel months. For example, you don’t want to be in Thailand during the monsoon season. This is also the time to start studying essential budgeting advice for your destination to ensure you can afford it.Â
5. Mark down any set vacation dates
Do you have to consider your kids’ school schedule when planning vacations? Or does your job only allow for vacations around specific dates? If so, highlight these as potential dates for travel. This is also a good time to scope out any long weekends where you can combine holidays (i.e., Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, etc.) with a few days of vacation to extend your PTO.Â
6. Start assigning trips to your available datesÂ
 With potential dates and destinations picked out, it’s time to start putting things on the calendar and assigning timelines for your trips. If you only know where you want to go but not when or vice-versa, use the flexible dates and destination options when searching for flights on Skyscanner, Kayak, or Google Flights. This will help you find the most affordable destinations and/or flights. If you’re not ready to purchase your flight now, set flight alerts to monitor prices so you buy once they drop.Â
 Last but not least, keep researching, planning, and booking! These are just the first few steps to mapping out your trips and having a general game plan of where you’ll go in 2025. With a plan in mind, executing these trips and reaching your goal of traveling more in 2025 will be much easier.Â
Jessica is a freelance journalist on a quest to see and experience everything our gorgeous planet offers and share her experiences with her fellow travelers. Jessica has written for several world-class Travel Magazines.
