Plan at Least One Trip Purely Because You Want To Go
Not every trip needs a practical reason behind it. In 2026, make space for one journey that exists simply because it sounds appealing, interesting, or restorative, without needing to justify it to anyone else.
Spend More Time in Fewer Places
Rather than hopping quickly from city to city, try staying put a little longer. Slower travel often leads to deeper experiences, whether that means returning to the same café each morning or getting comfortable enough in a neighborhood that it starts to feel familiar.
Put Your Passport To Use Again
If your passport is expired, this is the year to renew it. If it has been sitting unused for too long, consider this a reminder that it’s meant to be opened, stamped, and taken along for the ride.
Choose a Destination You Usually Scroll Past
Not every memorable trip starts with a famous name. Sometimes the places you’ve never seriously considered turn out to be the ones you talk about the most afterward.
Leave Room for a Day Without Plans
Building in one unstructured day can change the entire feel of a trip. It allows for wandering, spontaneous meals, unexpected discoveries, and the freedom to follow your mood instead of a schedule.
Take a Slower Way There at Least Once
When possible, opt for the route that takes a little longer but offers more along the way. Trains, ferries, and road trips can turn the journey itself into part of the experience rather than something to rush through.
Let Food Guide a Trip
Planning around meals, markets, and local specialties can be one of the easiest ways to understand a place. In 2026, try letting what you want to eat influence where you go and how you explore.
Visit Somewhere Outside Peak Season
Traveling during the quieter months often means fewer crowds, better prices, and a more relaxed pace. The destination stays the same, but the experience can feel entirely different.
Pack Less and Move More Easily
Traveling lighter simplifies everything, from airport transfers to hotel check-ins. Bringing only what you truly need can make even complicated trips feel smoother.
Return to a Place You Already Love
There’s value in seeing a familiar destination again, especially with more time, different priorities, or a new perspective. Returning doesn’t mean repeating the same trip.
Say Yes to Something Slightly Outside Your Comfort Zone
That might be a solo journey, an overnight train, or a destination where you don’t speak the language. A little uncertainty often leads to the most memorable moments.
Spend Less Time Documenting and More Time Noticing
You don’t have to stop taking photos, but consider waiting to post until you’re home. Being present during the trip itself often makes it more meaningful.
Allow Yourself To Actually Rest While Traveling
Not every day needs to be full. Late mornings, quiet afternoons, and early nights are not wasted time. They’re part of what makes travel restorative.
Start Planning One Long-Term Dream Trip
Even if it’s scheduled far in the future, researching and imagining a trip can be just as motivating as booking something immediately.
Let Travel Be Good, Not Perfect
Not every trip needs to transform your life. Sometimes it’s enough for it to be enjoyable, memorable, and well-suited to where you are right now.
