Big mistake: The blunders that shaped our New Year’s travel resolutions

2022 has been a tough travel year for many of us.

Cancellations and delays that marked “airmageddon” when travel resumed en masse extended in “bagmageddon” for those of us Down Under.

Covid-19 and bad weather also contributed to ruining many well-deserved breaks, leaving many of us feeling just as tired and stressed when we returned as when we left.

But, as recent research by Booking.com involving more than 24,000 travelers in 32 countries and territories revealed, we adapt to our new travel environment and feel much more optimistic as a result. Seventy-two percent of those surveyed said they felt the journey was still worthwhile, with the mood changing, according to the travel platform, from “hopeful uncertainty to bold adaptability”. .

READ MORE:
* A love letter to Kaiteriteri – a favorite vacation spot for generations
* The most beautiful beaches in the world: the seven you must visit
* Money-saving tips to avoid breaking the bank while on vacation

In this spirit, the Stuff trip The team used lessons learned over the past year to share their New Year’s travel resolutions. We learned the hard way, so hopefully you don’t have to.

Take more mini-trips

When your family is spread out across the world, it’s natural to want to save up all your annual leave and use it all at once on a trip to see them. After all, long-haul travel isn’t worth it anymore unless you’re going somewhere for at least two weeks.

This year, I saved my time off and took three weeks to visit my sister in Portland, Oregon. I had a wonderful week as we drove through Zion National Park, Bryce National Park, and the Grand Canyon, ending our trip with a few nights in Vegas.

I don’t know if it was the crowds at the Cirque du Soleil show or those betting at the Bellagio, but when we got back to Portland, I spent the rest of my vacation completely sick. Although my Covid test was negative, I was too ill to return home, extending my trip (and my annual leave) to recuperate before returning to New Zealand.

The lesson I learned? Do not count everything on this single holiday. Take a few mini-trips throughout the year so you don’t rely on that one trip to magically erase the stress of the year.

– Trupti Biradar

Try again to enjoy the trip

2022 has been a pretty miserable year in terms of travel for me.

Despite the reopening of borders and the chance to see my family back in Ireland, the whole process of long-haul travel felt like a horrible chore. Two trips abroad last year resulted in bags going missing, I even caught Covid at home with mum, and as a bonus I gave her the dreaded lurgy.

In 2023, I am determined to recapture the joy of long distance travel, although much will depend on the ability of individual airlines and baggage handlers to return to their once high standards. I hope the destinations will be what I remember and not the trips.

I am back in Ireland later this year. Fingers crossed, the round trip will be perfectly boring and uneventful.

–Alan Granville

Start saving early

My first big foray into international travel last year was a trip to New York, and I couldn’t believe how expensive it was (we’re talking about $50 sandwiches).

After spending so much time spending my money on national holidays, it hadn’t even occurred to me that maybe the small New Zealand dollar wouldn’t go that far in the mighty United States of A – thus putting a significant pressure on my expenses.

So with a planned trip to Japan in October this year, I’m going to be seriously saving up, putting money aside every week and not touching it until the holidays. I will also keep an eye on these exchange rates, so I can lock in my yen and other pre-booked expenses at the best possible time.

Hopefully I’ll end up with some spending money to treat myself to a fancy wagyu feast – although I’ll do my best to adhere to other food-saving tips like skipping breakfasts Expensive from the hotel and save my meals at the restaurant for lunch, when set menus tend to be cheaper.

– Siobhan Downes

Make the transition to hand luggage only

Luckily, I’ve never been the victim of lost luggage, but it’s always a nervous wait at the baggage carousel as passenger items unfold in their own little fashion show.

Last year, the time spent waiting for checked baggage in the United States, where you have to clear immigration and recheck your bag on first entry, led to a mad rush for the connecting flight. The recent “bagmageddon” the chaos also makes me think it’s time to make the switch to carry-on only.

So this year, I plan to ditch the checked bag, instead taking everything with me on the plane in one convenient piece and putting it in the overhead compartment.

I always pack too much on my travels, carelessly packing too many long-sleeved shirts in case of formal dress codes, so I’ll find outfits that can be mixed and matched, boiled down to an adaptable pair of shoes and squirt items of toilet in miniature containers.

And if there’s something I need or forgot, it’ll be as easy as visiting the stores in my destination or just going without.

–Stephen Heard

Get up early when on vacation

I like to sleep well. When I finally get away from the hustle and bustle of life, I often want to flop and let go.

And although rest is important, I really like getting up early in a new destination. I love watching a sunrise, but I also savor and cherish the stillness of early morning. The stillness of the water, the light before dawn, the soft joyous chirps of morning birds waking up.

Too often, I go to bed late and hit the snooze button on my 5:30 a.m. alarm clock. But on a recent trip to Kaikōura late last year, I committed to waking up early and strolling the beach for the most epic sunrise. Not a soul was around – just me, a few birds and the gentle rustle of water flowing over the pebble beach. Pure happiness.

– Juliet Sivertsen

Return to the places you love

With a bottomless travel list, I rarely visit the same place twice.

When I lived in London, I took advantage of low-cost airlines and cheap Airbnbs to visit different European destinations every few months, accumulating as many “must-see” sites as possible.

Now that I’m back in New Zealand, I’ve started ticking off as many parts of our beautiful islands as I can – that same fear of missing out seeing me always running around like a headless chook.

It’s only been in the past two years that I’ve discovered the joys of revisiting a place I love – and I’ve felt much more relaxed as a result.

It all started when I booked a cheap Airbnb in Waiheke a few summers ago, largely because I left it at the last minute and there was no more affordable housing in my destinations from choice.

I had visited the island many times before so felt no pressure to try and see all it had to offer in one too short visit. Instead, I went for a jog each morning along my favorite beach, had a smoothie at my favorite cafe, and spent much of the rest of the day eating and drinking in my favorite restaurants. It was so refreshing and relaxed, I have been back two summers in a row and hope to lock in my 2023 visit soon.

Revisiting your favorite places gives you the opportunity to indulge in things that you know bring you joy. And sometimes that certainty is just what you need.

– Lorna Thornber