| Travel can be a time and resource intensive | | | | questions include, "Do I have the time and |
| activity. There are many things that can go | | | | the money?" For many people, finding the |
| wrong, and often do, but careful planning, | | | | money to travel, is easier than finding the |
| prioritizing and goal setting can reduce the | | | | time to travel. In our time-starved society |
| number and severity of most problems that may | | | | today, it is a rare occasion that most people |
| creep into your travel experiences. Learning | | | | can afford to take the time off to take an |
| how to set and prioritize your travel goals | | | | extended vacation longer than 2 weeks. Other |
| will take you a long way towards creating | | | | obstacles that can pose a challange include |
| travel plans that will fit into your life and | | | | physical stamina, knowledge of the language |
| are more likely to bring you wonderful | | | | and customs, and social/political unrest. If |
| memories. | | | | you have a bad heart, and don't know any of |
| | | | the native languages in Afghanistan, it may |
| Treat Travel and Vacations Like Any Other | | | | not realistic to plan a winter trek through |
| Goal Driven Area of Your Life | | | | the eastern mountains of Afghanistan. |
| | | | |
| Travel and vacations can be a major financial | | | | The last part of your travel goals is that |
| expenditure in anyone's life, and should be | | | | they should also be time constrained. Most |
| treated as such. Therefore, goals should be | | | | people may say, "I want to go to Japan some |
| set before you plan your travel. Details | | | | day." However, it isn't enough of a |
| such as how many coutries you want to visit, | | | | motivating factor to complete your goals. |
| the number of cities do you want to visit, | | | | You should say "I will go to Japan by October |
| which tourist attractions you would like to | | | | of next year." |
| experience, how do you plan to travel, and in | | | | |
| what style do you plan to travel, should be | | | | Now You Should Prioritize Your Travel Goals |
| asked before making your travel plans. | | | | |
| Typically, the longer your vacation and the | | | | Once you have created clear goals for your |
| more places you choose to travel to, the more | | | | vacation, it's time to prioritize them. This |
| important it is to set your travel goals. | | | | process is purely personal and based upon |
| | | | your own life situation. You can prioritize |
| How Do You Create Your Travel Plans and | | | | your goals based on time, by taking shorter |
| Goals? | | | | trips now, and longer trips when your job |
| | | | situation changes, or taking more expensive |
| If you plan on making your travel goals | | | | trips now and less expensive trips later. |
| successful, they must be specific and | | | | You may prioritize your goals based upon your |
| measurable, action-oriented, realistic, and | | | | current and future health, where you take |
| have a fixed time span. | | | | your trekking trips when you are physically |
| | | | in shape, and take your energy isn't as high. |
| A specific and measurable travel goal would | | | | |
| include the destination, method of travel, | | | | Of course your life may take a turn in a |
| what you plan to do, and who you plan to go | | | | completely different direction than expected, |
| with. The more specific you can get with the | | | | and in that case, you may need to adjust your |
| travel planning details, the better you can | | | | goals. Even for huge life changing events, |
| successfully plan a budget for your trip. An | | | | going through this process will give you a |
| example of making specific plans would be: | | | | better chance at succeeding in your travel |
| | | | plans. Once you have taken the time to make |
| "I will travel within my budget, with my | | | | them and write them down and make them clear, |
| girlfriend to New Zealand for a bike touring | | | | you can focus your time and energy into |
| vacation lasting two weeks within the next | | | | making them happen. |
| six months." | | | | |
| | | | Careful planning and goal setting creates |
| To make your goal action oriented, it should | | | | better focus so you know how to make your |
| contain the verb of your choice of action. | | | | travel plans happen. Once you have set your |
| In the previous example the "I will travel | | | | goals and made your plans, you can begin to |
| within my budget" implies action, states | | | | look for resources that will help you with |
| intent, and indicates the type of preparation | | | | your travel budget. Look online for prices, |
| and planning required to carry out the task. | | | | destination information, and other types of |
| | | | information that will help you reach your |
| Your travel goal should also be realistic. | | | | vacation goals. |
| When stating the goal, the two most important | | | | |