Our New Year’s Travel Resolutions

When it comes to travel aspirations, I always have my eyes set on bucket list trips – i.e., traveling the Scottish Highlands by train, riding the world’s biggest swing in New Zealand (check. it. out.), backpacking India, etc. While I know I’ll eventually get to all of that, I often lose sight of the fact that there’s a wealth of stateside destinations I’ve embarrassingly yet to see. In 2018, I’d like to eat a fresh beignet in NOLA, finally make it to Portland, and devote more time to familiarizing myself with NYC neighborhoods outside of my own.

- Chelsea Stuart, Writer

I'm a big planner when it comes to vacations, picking out where I want to eat and shop, plus what I want to see and do way in advance. On the one hand, I know I'm hitting the best spots because of all my research, but it leaves little room for spontaneity, which is such an important part of travel. So, in 2018, I'm going to not plan every detail, and instead get lost once in a while to see what I discover.

– Clara Sedlak, Executive Editor

In 2018, I resolve to finally splurge on Global Entry. After waiting in line for customs following a 16-hour international flight that arrived in the wee hours of the morning, staying patient while waiting behind a sea of confused foreign travelers is not one of my strong suits. If you don’t already have Global Entry, and fly more than once a year, you’re doing yourself a disservice: a $100 fee for five years, which includes TSA PreCheck, lets you breeze through airport security and customs lines, keep your shoes and belt on, and never have to take out liquids or laptops. Enough said.

- Linsey Olander, Editor

In 2018 I’m going to put some time and effort into improving my foreign language skills. The little bit of Spanish that I’ve held onto since high school has served me well in my travels, but there is SO much room for improvement. I know it seems like people speak English almost anywhere you go, but with plans to visit Mexico and South America this year, I want to be able to get off the grid a bit, and communicate with locals in rural and less touristy areas.

- Gretchen Moosbrugger, Photo Editor

My travel resolution for 2018 is to check into an all-inclusive resort. Every time I travel, I hit the ground running attempting to absorb everything new around me. While fulfilling, it's also physically exhausting, you forget to truly relax when you're constantly stimulated. I will love to check into a beachside mountain resort where I can decompress, listen to the waves, empty out my mind and explore some hiking trails. I hear Hawaii is perfect for all that. 

- Anita Ng, Photo Editor

I moved to the East Coast from the Midwest a little over a year ago, and I haven’t had the chance to get outside of NYC yet. There are SO many great cities that a short train ride away. This year I want to cross Philly, Washington DC, and Boston off of my list, even if it’s just a weekend getaway. The historic architecture, can’t-miss museums, and fresh seafood are definitely calling my name!

- David Hattan, Photo Intern

We fanned out across the country post-college, which leaves me with plenty of places to stay in cities like Denver, Chicago, D.C., and London. My resolution is to take advantage of their hospitality and plan some great weekend trips.

- Elizabeth Mullen