Travel Goals and Resolutions of 2013

Happy 2013! The first week has officially passed us by and it’s time to talk about travel resolutions for the year. I see everyone adding to their “bucket list”, but I like to have short-term goals of 2-3 years, so they seem more easily attainable. Last year we went on some great trips and saved a lot of money on the way. While we planned to take our big vacation to Europe, it didn’t happen. The new hefty taxes and fees for travelers out of the UK were a surprise to us, but our back-up plan was a huge success and we now know what needs to happen this year to budget for London and Paris.

In addition to our goal of making it back to Europe, I also have blogging goals for the year where I can write (by blog and freelance) my way to working for myself. It’s hard to fit in a ton of extra work on top of my regular 40-hour-a-week gig, but I really feel like I can do it and have set objectives for myself to take me to part-time to full-time work-at-home-r.

I write for this ezine now!

2013 Goals

This year many of my goals are personal, but they are still travel-oriented in some respect. I’ve made big strides in gaining freelancing jobs in 2012 and secured at least three ongoing writing jobs – some of them even paying ones! – and one as a social media manager for a friend who owns a small business. I view these as a jumping-off point to getting bigger and better jobs that will help me achieve my work-at-home goals.

• I would love to have a byline in a magazine or newspaper, so that will be my goal to reach by the end of the year. In the coming months I’ll be working on and sending queries to some of my favorite publications.
• Advertise my writing skills more in order to gain higher-profile jobs – by June I would like to make half the income I make at my regular job from freelance gigs and my blog.
• Have my airfare to London and Paris bought and paid for by the end of Summer. While we have enough BA miles for two roundtrip flights, we still have to come up with the taxes and fees.
• Second edition! It’s true. Book edits are in the works and an updated edition of my book is a goal to accomplish this year.

2013 Travel Resolutions

• This year I will attempt to learn more about SEO, in order to up my blog stats in all ways.
• Be more social. Twitter has never been my strong area in being social, but this year I will spend more time reaching out to peers and followers on social media.
• I resolve to continue to work on my light packing skills. My carry-on on my last trip was packed almost perfectly. There were only two things I didn’t wear. Mostly, I would like to be a better souvenir shopper (which is generally Christmas gift shopping), so when I come back home I don’t have a big heavy extra bag. Obviously, this is a “we” issue and not just an “I” issue, so Eric and I can work on this one together.
• I will go somewhere I’ve never gone before this year.
• I will talk to more strangers on my trips.
• It’s always good to do something that scares you when you travel. I have yet to decide what it/they will be, but I will do at least one thing that I’m not completely comfortable with. Last year I went snorkeling, which would not have been so impressive the second time if the first time didn’t find me hyperventilating and holding onto my husband’s life vest while he dragged me back to the boat.
• I love food! I am looking forward to trying new foods this year, wherever we go.
• Using My French Coach game and Pimsleur, I will learn enough French to get by on my trip to Paris.

Yes, these seem like a lot of goals and resolutions, but I am really feeling that 2013 will be an even better year than 2012. I aim to work crazy hard in order to achieve as many as possible. What are YOUR travel resolutions/goals for the year?

Frugal Family Travels (Part 3) 1.5.13

If you missed previous parts of this series, click her for Part 1 and Part 2.

Has the travel bug bitten you yet? If you haven’t been on a vacation in a while, now might be the time to start planning. I find that a lot of people use their kids as an excuse for not going on a real trip. Sure, you could travel locally and still have a great time, and save money, but many times it costs just as much to do that as it does to go far from home. Many kids love to travel and get a lot out of the experience, including patience and social skills. If you need to find a way to make a vacation fit into your budget, I’ve included some helpful money-saving options.

Kids eat free. Most hotels offer free stays for kids under a certain age. What’s harder to come by are ones that offer free kids meal programs. Since dining can be a huge chunk of your budget, this can save you significantly. Even if you find a hotel that just offers free breakfast, that is a good savings.

All-inclusive resorts. Many times you can find all-inclusive package deals at resorts that offer kids stay and eat free rates. If you would pay the same or less for the total trip if you paid for hotel, air and food separately, then you’ve found yourself a great deal, because family-friendly resorts not only include food and most entertainment, they also have kids’ clubs where your children can interact with other guests’ kids and you can have a bit of grown-up time.

Shop the farmer’s market. If you can find an open farmer’s market where you are traveling, you can spend some time finding new and unusual foods, interacting with locals and then you can buy a nice selection of foods for lunch and find a spot in a local green space to enjoy your new fare and the fresh air. If a farmer’s market isn’t available, it’s likely you can seek out street carts with local cuisine. You’ll save money by not paying sit-down meal prices and tipping isn’t required.

Europe in the Fall. I don’t think I know anyone who doesn’t want to go to Europe and, despite what you may think, most European destinations are really kid-friendly. There are so many things to do and see that even the most fidgety child will be entertained. As long as you make time for resting and you aren’t go-go-go the whole time, you will all get a lot out of a trip there. Fall is by far the least expensive time to travel to Europe and is less crowded, meaning you can get to a lot more things in less time. This is awesome, because attractions and shops keep shorter hours, but that also means you can’t run your kids off their feet if your day isn’t as long and you’re forced to sleep or rest more than you would normally.

Visit developing countries. I think this is one of the best tips for everyone, not just those with families, because developing countries have lower economies and come with super affordable price tags for your entire vacation. You don’t have to cut costs if you don’t want to, because accommodations, dining and entertainment are all so much cheaper than at home. You’re also helping a country that depends on tourism to survive and finding an entirely new vacation experience. Countries like Ecuador, Belize and Peru are great examples, and if you want to go further, India or Morocco can be budget-friendly destinations, too.  These trips can be a total immersion for you and your family. This is a nice option if you have kids who like to try new things and meet people.

Kids are resilient and adaptable. They love new experiences and you can teach your kids tolerance and new languages by traveling to foreign countries with them. Sure, taking more things might be somewhat inconvenient, but having a piece of home will allow them to be more comfortable in their surroundings and love travel more.  Discovering the world with your family doesn’t have to mean discovering more debt. Your little travelers can also fit into your small budget.

The post originally appeared on Totally Temberton.

Frugal Family Travels (Part 2) 1.2.13

If you missed part one of this series, read it here.

Are you and your family ready for a vacation? Looking for ways to cut your expenses, so a trip will fit into your budget? No problem! Traveling with kids can be spendy, but if you know how to plan ahead and what you can do to make it more affordable, it can be a stress-free and relaxing experience. Everyone needs some time away and a good vacation can be an awesome bonding experience for your family. Following are five ways to save on your big trip.

Purchase a City Pass. Many cities worldwide offer what is called a city pass. You pay one price for a pass that includes many different activities and attractions and it enables you to bypass the ticket lines and go straight to the front gate. Not only does this cut your entertainment costs, it is also very convenient and enables you to do more things on the same budget.

Bring snacks and games. While this may not save you much money, unless your children are always complaining that they’re hungry, it can keep them entertained between activities. If you’re waiting in line or taking a break from walking, having a small snack you can dig out of your day bag or a game to play for a few minutes can alleviate boredom and keep kids happy when nothing’s going on. I find that games are a fantastic way to pass time on the airplane and snacks can save you money on the airline food menu.

Buy souvenirs ahead of time. If an amusement park is your final destination, chances are your kids are going to want shirts and toys and anything else they see for sale. These items can add up quickly and bust your budget. Many theme parks, like Disney, have a lot of surrounding stores with discounted items. Local grocery stores, Target and special souvenir shops can be a lifesaver. Purchase many items for the price of one and then either dole them out before you head out to the parks or secretly pack them in your day bag to give to children throughout the day when they start to get cranky or having a case of the “I wants”.

Pack light. I know that with kids it’s hard to do this, but it’s not impossible. Each of your children can bring their own carry-on for the plane and help spread around the weight. Whether it’s a small rolling bag that can fit under the seat or a backpack they can wear, they can share the load. While their clothes can be fairly lightweight, everything they want to take from home may not be. Pack as much of their clothes as you can in your own carry-on (Spacebags or Pack-It cubes may help) and then have them carry any spillover and a few things from home in their own bag. This may be a few (or a combination of) small toys, a coloring book and some snacks. Anything that will make traveling less of a chore. If there is more than one adult in your party, this may be done more easily, and you will have everything with you when you land, saving you checked baggage fees and time waiting for your bags on the carousel.

Rent baby equipment at your destination. This doesn’t sound money-saving at all, but it can be. Dragging around a stroller and other cumbersome products can be hard, cost you checked baggage fees and may even damage your own items in the process. Sites like BabiesTravelLite have lists for worldwide locations that rent baby equipment from strollers to baby baths. These places often rent equipment for an entire week for less than you would pay to rent them for a day at amusement parks and other places. You can pick them up on your way to your hotel or vacation rental and then drop them off on your way to the airport. You don’t have to juggle extra things at the airport and you won’t have to worry about damage to any of your own gear.

It might take a little extra effort and planning to travel with children, but it can be very rewarding in the end. It’s possible to save on many parts of your trip, making it just as affordable as before having kids when you didn’t worry (as much) about your budget. Your destinations are as open as ever and kids can only add to the fun of a new place with their excitement over things you may have long forgotten were exciting. So, pack your bags, stick to your budget and have a great time!

This post originally appeared on Totally Temberton.