12 New Year's travel resolutions for 2020

Let’s scrap the crash diet on the 1st Jan and focus on some travel resolutions to kick start the new decade!

As 2018 was such an epic year of travel for us (check out our highlights), I started this year believing that 2019 just couldn’t compete. But with an overseas trip almost every month, including Morocco, Iceland and France road trips, a solo-parenting trip off the beaten track in Lanzarote, and a mumcation to Vietnam, just to name a few, well I think we did alright around the constraints of schools terms.

But as we draw to the end of 2019, thoughts are turning to plans and expectations for the new decade. We’ve got big plans for 2020, but I certainly want to make better environmental choices with our travels next year, and also focus on being in the moment with our travels, rather than getting the perfect Instagram shot.

Does this resonate with you? Or perhaps your family travel goals are to travel more, or make that once in a lifetime trip happen?

If you want to get the most out of your family travels, try out these New Year’s travel resolutions. Now you don’t need to take on all these travel resolutions. Perhaps just pick a couple, and they will get you that little bit closer to your family travel goals. If anything, they’re a bit more exciting than cutting calories 😉

Travel resolutions for 2020

1. Start a travel savings account

You need money to travel. Until you win the lottery, put aside a little each month solely for travel. This may mean you have to prioritise travel over material items. But you know it’ll be worth it. Want to know how we afford to travel so much? Click here. We also have a travel savings account set up just for the boys for when they’re 18.

2. Use up all your annual leave

How some people finish the year with leave outstanding, I will never know. If you’re in regular employment, take the paid break from work and go on an adventure and make memories with your family. Check out our tips for getting the most out of your annual leave.

3. Be overseas for your kid’s birthday

Kids’ birthday parties can be expensive. Rather than another manic soft-play event, go overseas and make it a birthday that everyone will remember. Both our boys have celebrated their birthdays overseas this year; Ezra celebrated his 4th birthday in France, and Arthur celebrated his 6th birthday in Iceland!

4. Travel to a completely new destination in your home country

You don’t have to fly somewhere exotic to have a holiday. Save your airfare and find somewhere new to explore in your own country. Check out these best city breaks with kids in the UK. Or want to make it a super cheap holiday? Pack the tent and go camping!

5. All talking family members learn 5 foreign words for each country you travel

Hello. Goodbye. Thank you. Yes. No. These words go a long way and will guarantee a smile from any locals you encounter. Especially if it’s your little ones saying them.

6. Travel lighter

It just makes travelling life easier; take only the bare essentials. Don’t bother packing any toys, you know they won’t play with them. Nappies can almost always be bought on arrival. This year we flew to Morocco for a 2.5 week road trip with just carry on only!

7. Step outside your comfort zone

Trust me, it will be your best adventure yet! Our overlanding adventures across Africa last year certainly took us outside our comfort zone. There were seriously challenging moments, but they were totally outweighed by the incredible memories we created together; my favourite will forever be camping each night under the African night sky.

8. Make a photo book or calendar

I’m sure I’m not the only one who plans to make a photo book from each holiday. I’ve succumbed to the true realisation that I will never have time to do this. Instead, I try and do one each year. This is much more manageable and they are a beautiful memento. Still don’t have the time? Well in that case, make a travel calendar. There are 12 months in the year, that’s just 12 photos you need from your previous travels.

9. Get in the photos

Getting a photo of the kids is easy. Hubby and kids – also easy. Me and the kids – need to work on that a lot. I’m always the one behind the camera, and I get rather particular about my photography and rarely want to hand my camera over to hubby. But in future years, the kids are going to want that reminder that Mum was on holiday too with them! We also need to work at getting more photos of us all as a family.

10. Eco-conscious travel

Think about how your travel effects the environment. We all see the videos going round social media about the devastating effect of our plastic use – but are you doing anything about it? Use a water purification bottle, pack metal straws and a bamboo toothbrush. Ladies, use a menstrual cup rather then tampons/towels. If you’re visiting a beach, collect any rubbish and dispose of correctly.

Also consider staying at an eco-resort and if you’re flying, offset your carbon emissions.

11. Forget about social media

This is easier said than done if, like me, you’re a travel blogger. However, we can get obsessed with getting the ‘right shot’ and posting our perfect holiday on to social media, that we forget to live in the moment and appreciate the now. Try leaving your phone at home for a weekend away.