Unless you knocked out a few trips in January and February of last year, we're guessing you didn't come close to achieving any travel-related New Year's resolutions in 2020. And with the travel landscape still uncertain as of January 2021, it can seem hard to know where to focus your wanderlust.
Below, we've laid out seven travel-related resolutions for 2021. Seven is lucky in many cultures, and we hope these ideas bring luck to your future travels and help to keep your fires of exploration burning bright.
Support a cause or initiative in your favorite destination
Odysseys tour director George Omuya plants a tree for every guest he guides on our Kenya/Tanzania tour. Here, his son pours the first pail of water onto one of George's seedlings.
While you're stuck at home dreaming of our next adventure, spare a thought for some of the locales around the world that rely on tourism as their main source of income. Whether it's a nearby vacation spot that you haven't been able to visit, or a foreign paradise that still calls to you, make an effort to support your favorite places. You could purchase a gift card or product from a foreign merchant, donate to a historical society/preservation organization, or support someone like George, above!
Read our blog post How to Support the Travel Industry From Home for more ways to make an impact.
Dive into foreign films and books
Like it or not, it seems like we may be stuck at home for a few more months. Rather than binge-watching reruns of The Office, why not sample a few films and books from around the world? Art offers a window into a foreign culture, so you may well learn a few things while discovering a new favorite book or movie!
Wondering where to start? Vulture has a list of 15 must-read foreign books that were recently translated into English, and The Ringer put together a list of the 25 best foreign films of the 2010s.
Travel the world without leaving your kitchen
Few things are more satisfying than pulling off a recipe that you've never tried before. Use your time this year to dive into the cuisine of a favorite destination, or one that you've been meaning to visit, and try your hand at making some of their signature dishes.
Looking for some inspiration? Let our Tour Directors show you a few of their favorite recipes here!
Explore in your own backyard - literally!
While we wholeheartedly endorse the idea of exploring some of America's most wondrous national parks, we fully understand if you're not ready to hop on a plane or mingle with crowds at a park. In that case, it's time to focus your sights on a more local level. Resolve to plan a few day trips to nearby nature preserves, lakes, mountains, or beaches - embrace the environment that surrounds you. And as 2020's scores of home gardeners can tell you, even your own backyard can seem fascinating when you look hard enough!
Visit a local zoo
Here's an easy one. If you can't get to the savannah or the Outback, the local zoo is the next best thing! Zoos also have the benefit of being mostly outdoors, and are often uncrowded during the week. Plus, your visit will help support these educational organizations and ensure that generations to come will be able to marvel at the majestic animals on display, and begin to hatch a few travel plans of their own!
Prepare for future travel by renewing your travel documents
This resolution might just be the most practical of them all. While you're waiting for travel to resume, make an appointment to renew your passport and pick up a REAL ID, so that you're ready to hit the road whenever you want.
Learn a new language!
Lastly, this resolution will engage your brain, impress your traveling companions, and endear you to locals in your next foreign destination. Become a world citizen by learning a new language - it's not as daunting as you might think!
Share your great adventures with us on social media. Tag your pictures with #myodyssey and they may be featured on our website!
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