New Year’s Resolutions for Globetrotters

For all those filled with wanderlust, Air Charter Service brings you the ultimate New Year’s travel resolution list for inspiration.

We’ve put together some thought-provoking resolutions that you should consider putting on your list, with tips on how to make these ideas a reality. From nearby weekends away to an exhilarating adventure far from home, if you’ve been thinking about making travel a priority this year, our private jet charters can make your travel dreams come true.

There is nothing more thrilling than planning multiple trips within a year, and Christopher Sharpe from Make New Tracks is saving for a long haul adventure, but throughout the year the aim is to experience city breaks in off-the-beaten-track spots around Europe and plenty of staycations across the UK.

“Planning a big trip, or even a small one, can seem daunting but once you book your flights, everything else will fall into place. Use your annual leave wisely, plan your breaks around bank holidays and think about how you can maximise your time in each destination.”

Learning to dive opens up all sorts of new travel possibilities. Arianwen from Beyond Blighty recommends that anyone keen to travel considers getting the certification. “The more qualifications you achieve, the more experienced and confident you become, and the more accessible some of the more complicated dive sites will be. So many amazing experiences around the world rely on your ability to dive. I've since swum with sharks in the depths of Belize's Blue Hole, explored beautiful caverns and cenotes in Mexico, swum through a gigantic pulsating mass of sardines in the Philippines and admired a huge diversity of fascinating marine life on coral reefs around the world.”

Aside from experiencing the wildlife in their natural habitat, Arianwen also notes the social benefits to diving such as “a really great way to meet likeminded people.”

When we asked Arianwen how to achieve this goal, she suggested, “to look at which training body you'd prefer to do it with. PADI and SSI are the most popular. You should then think about what you'd like to see on your dives and where in the world you'd like to be based. There are some excellent options in Honduras, Thailand and Colombia. TribloO is a dive school comparison site that makes this decision much easier by allowing you to narrow down your search results and find schools that have proven to be of exceptional quality.”

Taking shorter and more frequent trips can be just as exhilarating as one long trip overseas, and as Monica Stott from The Travel Hack realistically believes, “weekend breaks are more achievable for most people in comparison to two-week holidays. They're more affordable, easier to plan and easier to squeeze into busy lives. I work 40+ hours a week and have children, so weekend breaks are the perfect alternative to longer holidays.”

When we asked Monica why these types of travel breaks are important, her thoughts were that they “give you something exciting to look forward to. Lots of people just take one big holiday a year but I think it's better to take lots of shorter holidays and spread them throughout the year. Weekenders can break up the monotony of boring or stressful jobs and help you make the most out of your limited time off from work.”

Monica also shared some tips for achieving these short breaks throughout the year such as to “Join in with the #Take12Trips Challenge on Twitter where my fellow Weekenders are sharing their weekend break ideas and inspiration. Take 12 Trips is a challenge to take 12 mini holidays throughout the year – one for each month. Planning and booking your trips for the year is really exciting and gives you so much to look forward to.”

“Make sure you live in the moment; it’s yours, own it” said Macca Sherifi and Brianna Wiens from A Brit and a Broad.

The tag team from A Brit and a Broad have resolved to step away from technology and appreciate their surroundings with more off the grid travel in the new year. “With the rise of new technology such as smartwatches, everyone is connected 24/7 these days. That means when you’re going on holiday it is almost impossible to completely switch off.

“At times, travelling can be a sensory overload; there’s just so much going on around you, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with things. Often, it’s good to take a step back and just appreciate where you are and what it is you’re doing.”

In order to realise this goal, they will “look at the big picture without focusing on the details. It’s important to take each day as it comes and just enjoy it.”

The New Year’s must see places

With so many destinations available to travel to, from a trip back in time in Cuba, to the ancient wine routes of France, these destinations should be on the top of your travel list.

Antarctica

Classified as a desert and as the southernmost site of the South Pole, Antarctica has numerous islands to discover and explore. Take a 20-day cruise around the islands where you’ll see the wondrous wildlife of native seals and penguins, cross the Antarctic convergence and pass icebergs as you hear from marine, historical and geological experts.

Mozambique

A Southern African country, based alongside the Indian Ocean, Mozambique is the destination for snorkelling and diving. Stay at one of the many beach lodges which house a diving centre, and experience the wonder of seeing clownfish, angelfish, stingrays and whales in their natural habitats.

New Zealand

With a population of just over four million people, New Zealand is most well-known for its exceptional, natural landscapes. Take a trip to Matamata where you can experience the magic of The Shire, built for The Hobbit and The Lord of The Rings Trilogies.

Côte d'Or, Burgundy, France

The most respected and admired wine-making area in France, this region was listed as one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites in July 2015. Take a tour of the Route des Grands Crus where you can stop off at various vineyards, and taste a variety of wines paired with traditional French meals.

Greenland

As the world’s largest Island, Greenland is best known for sighting the Northern Lights. Also known as Aurora Borealis, this natural phenomenon occurs all year round but is best seen during Greenland’s summer months.

Sri Lanka

A small island off the South coast of India, Sri Lanka is well known for its history of aromatic cuisine. Visit one of the many spice gardens, where smells of cinnamon, pepper, cardamom and nutmeg fill the air as you learn about the rich history of the island’s spice production.

Havana, Cuba

With the reopening of the US embassy in Havana, take a trip to the historically rich Caribbean island. Drink a mojito in the place it was invented, La Bodeguita del Medio, or take a walk along Havana Harbour.

Saint Helena

Situated in the South Atlantic Ocean, this island is an isolated piece of paradise only accessible via sea. Famous as the place of Napoléon Bonaparte’s exile and death, visit the French-owned Napoleonic properties and view exclusive Napoleonic artefacts.

Seoul, South Korea

As the bustling capital of South Korea, Seoul is an eclectic mix of old and new with tall skyscrapers, Buddhist temples, street markets and palaces. Experience the explosion of pink flowers from strikingly beautiful cherry blossom trees, at one of the many cherry blossom festivals hosted in the city during spring.

Banff National Park, Canada

Just over an hour’s drive from the town of Calgary, the Banff National Park forms one section of the exquisitely scenic Canadian Rocky Mountains, and is the oldest national park in the country. Book a mountain lodge in summer and experience the natural wonders of the hot springs, and 1600 km of trail paths while observing the native wildlife such as elk, moose, bear, bison and wolf.