If you read this blog regularly, you’ll know that last year I undertook the #take12trips challenge, and for me, it was a revelation. Not only did it help keep me motivated to find ways of bringing more travel-related experiences into my life but it was also hugely beneficial for my mental health.
Where to go to on holiday is a discussion I have all the time and boy does it get ever so slightly competitive with travel blogger types – it’s a real leveller to say somewhere in the UK rather than somewhere tropical and exotic. (I also believe that I need to see more of this wonderful country I live in.) In all seriousness though choosing where to take a trip is a personal choice, one mans trash could well be another man’s treasure. Big, small, luxury, shoestring, near or far are all meaningful points of view. The conversation inevitably then moves on to the financial aspect – “how can you afford to travel so much?” I’m often surprised by this, why do people still think travel is expensive? Ok, so the GBP is incredibly weak against most currencies at the moment but with all the blogs, magazines, apps, travel hacking and deal sites out there it really doesn’t have to be. There are travel deals all the time if you know where to look. I highly recommend looking at Skyscanner, Kayak and booking.com (I use the app an awful lot and have 3 future bookings in 2017 through them)
For some people what I am about to propose is just a horrible. Plan ahead. Not exactly revolutionary really? January is full of discounted travel options. You might think it’s a wishing your life away exercise but for me, though it’s all about prudent financial planning and having a pipeline of fun-filled activities to look forward to. Having something to aim for is exhilarating; I already have 6 of my trips booked and in the diary. It’s kind of essential when your planning #take12trips. I’m particularly excited about my first trip to Oslo in May.
Did you make a new years resolution to travel more? The only way to make sure you don’t back out of it is not to make up some excuse about time and money. Commit and just book it. Look for a cheap flight or a cheap train ticket and book it. Worry less about logistics. My biggest tip is to look for less popular cities for weekends away rather than the big hitters – you’ll usually find cheaper flights and hotels. It’s also a great way to #take12trips in more interesting places. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that surprise that Leeds is cheaper than London (even with the train fairs) or that Lyon is cheaper than Paris. That said last year I went to Stockholm, and the journey was cheaper than going to London in rush hour (and I live only an hour from London!!!)
I believe that disrupting routine is important for gaining a new perspective. So for 2017, I’m planning 12 trips in 12 months. I’d love to hear about your travel plans.
A big thank you to Clare from Need another Holiday and Monica at the travel hack for inspiring this adventure a little over a year ago.
To see more of my travel posts take a look here and here
Really impressive post. I read it whole and going to share it with my social circules. I enjoyed your article and planning to rewrite it on my own blog.
bercuti
I really want to travel more in 2017 and I have a little girl in school, so limited to school holidays. Thank you for the inspiration though. Where else have you got planned? Does your son travel with you?