New Year, that moment of reflection where we stop for a while to think about everything we’ve done, done wrong or, even worse, have not done during the last 365 days that have just passed by. For me, among my infamous ‘New Year Resolutions’ (that include a midJanuary enrolment in a gym with the strong conviction not to leave it within 15 days); there’s always the promise (easier to accomplish that the gym one) to travel as much and as far as my budget allows me. Because travel is one of the few ways I find where I can transform myself, to see life with different eyes, dilute the routine with new challenges and opportunities open for the unexpected to happen. Traveling is where I create the space to break the schemes I have built during my daily life, to find some other ways that I would have never suspected that existed.
I have tried to keep to this promise since I left home at age 16, even though 2015 was one of the busiest years of my life. I’ve gone through three different jobs, I have an apartment, a cat and I also had open heart surgery. Yes, none of this was easy to deal with, but still I managed a transatlantic leap to explore a bit of Latin America, more specifically, Colombia.
You will always find time for things that really matter, so if your plan for 2016 is to get up and travel the world, here I give you my tips to help you keep to your New Year`s resolutions from the moment you make the decision until you step on on the plane.
First you need a good (macro) plan and a clear brain to take you to the places you want to conquer. If you want 2016 to be a year of travel transformation, start with the certainty that you will achieve that goal. Whatever your plan is for this year, only you can know the motivation that it will take to reach that. Understanding your own reasons to make this change in your life is the key. A useful tip to start with is to write 5 reasons why you want to travel the world and always keep them in mind; you can take them with you in your wallet or put them in a place where you can easily see them as a constant.
The next step is to prepare micro goals every day, which are larger goals for the coming weeks and months. Among these tasks can be gathering the necessary documentation if you’re going to a country in which you are required to get a visa, consular procedures, buying tickets, finding a good backpack, among other things. Also, you have to define what kind of trip you want to do: if you want to do everything by plane, train, bus or even hitchhiking.
Another vital thing is to do some detailed research about the destinations you want to visit, the culture, religion, climate, transportation, currency exchange rates, make hotel reservations, find Couchsurfing hosts, etc.
Another thing not to overlook is that above all, you have to have fun carrying out the plan. There`s no use pursuing a goal if halfway through you’re bored or no longer seem to be interested (although if it is travel we are talking about, I doubt it will). Enjoying the process is essential!
If you need a little help to keep you excited about the trip and seek out some inspiration, talk to adventurous friends who have done what you are about to undertake, get inspired with blogs and social networking accounts or search for competitions where the prize is a trip around the world. An experience that has inspired hundreds of travellers is that of Will Moore (check out @greatglobaladventurer on Instagram here) who won the AXA Great Global Adventure competition in 2015. The grand prize is a trip around the world with most of the expenses paid, as well as 4-6 weeks of paid internships in 2 different AXA offices around the world, PLUS a volunteer experience anywhere in the world with AXA`s CR partners!
Make sure you check out AXA`s Great Global Adventure site here to play the game, re-opening in February!
Once you’re ready to take the plunge, remember that this point is the culmination of the preproduction stage, to enter to the trip itself, which will involve challenges and an open road, willing to be traveled and discovered.
So the best thing is to be prepared and yet not be, that is, addressing the tour with the attitude of being ready for everything, but at the same time letting it all surprise you. And believe me, it is the best feeling you can experience. Other useful tips for traveling from one place to another are:
– Always carry snacks. A wellfed brain makes better decisions and reacts faster. Maybe go for light and healthy options such as almonds and walnuts
– Always take your swimsuit even if you’re going to destinations that do not include a beach nearby. You may get to stay in hotels that include pool and to that you cannot say no.
– Turn off the GPS for a while and get lost. It is the best and most authentic way to discover the soul of a place. You will find treasures that do not appear in any guidebook. By getting lost, you will find the true essence of places.
I partnered with the brand to write this article but every word is mine