My Top Ten Travel Resolutions for 2011

Over the past few years, travel has become a big part of my life. My husband Bill and I have really discovered a love for going to new places, making new friends, seeing new things, and trying new foods. Whenever we're stuck in a traffic jam, being herded barefoot through long security lines, or sitting squashed into tight seats on an airplane, I try to move beyond temporary annoyances by remembering that the most memorable travel experiences never come easily. Even the worst trips I've ever been on have had some redeeming qualities. I have never once gone on a trip somewhere and not learned something new. So, with that in mind, I've come up with a list of my top ten travel resolutions for 2011.

10. Visit a part of the United States I've never been to before.

Though I've traveled to over two dozen countries during my lifetime, there are many parts of the United States I have never seen. The only west coast state I've ever been to is Washington State and that was five years ago. I've never seen most of the midwest or New England. So in 2011, I hope to go to at least one state in the United States that I have never visited before.

9. Embrace wherever my husband and I end up moving in 2011.

My husband is in the Army and that means we move a lot. Though we just moved to our current location in 2009, we have to move again in 2011 because the installation where he works is closing. I'm not that thrilled about having to move again, but it may very well be the last time we'll have to do it courtesy of the Army. So, with that in mind, I hope I can embrace wherever we move next, even if it turns out to be my home state of Virginia... again.

8. Take a Space A flight somewhere.

One of the great advantages to being in the military or a military dependent is the chance to take "Space Available" flights. A "Space A" flight is a flight offered by the military to priority ranked members of the military community. You show up at a hangar, put your name on a list to go somewhere, and get ranked against other people who are trying to get somewhere. Certain people do have priority over others because ultimately, the flights are meant to satisfy a mission. So that may mean a military retiree and his or her spouse will get bumped in favor of a couple of soldiers who need to go somewhere on business.

Space A flights go all over the world, but many military members and their families use them to go to Europe or Hawaii. They're practically free, although it's hard to tell what kind of aircraft you might end up on. Bill and I have actually been wanting to do this for a long time, but taking a "Space A" flight requires planning and flexibility, since it's very easy to get bumped off of one if the mission changes. I'd like to just show up at a Space A airport and tell them to put me on a plane to wherever they're going that day.

7. Learn to pack lighter.

I consider myself a seasoned traveler, but I have a terrible habit of packing too much stuff. I'm always afraid it's going to be hotter or colder wherever we end up going, so I end up overpacking clothes. Every time we take a trip, I resolve to be more careful about the things I take with me, but then as I'm about to close my suitcase, I get this nagging anxious feeling that tells me I need just one more item. So in 2011, I'm hoping to silence that little voice that tells me to pack more... or at least get it to pipe down a little.

6. Learn to shop smarter.

Though I've gotten a lot better about this over the years, I have a tendency to buy junk when I go on vacation. I come home with souvenir pens, t-shirts, and baseball caps instead of art, music, or books. Lately, I've been making an effort to buy art when I travel and I hope to continue that trend in 2011.

5. Trade in my credit card points for travel purposes.

Like so many other Americans, I have a credit card that awards me points whenever I shop. I have accumulated thousands of points over the years, but I have yet to redeem them for anything. I've decided that in 2011, I want to use those points to get cash off a plane ticket or a cruise. If I'm going to put purchases on my credit card and pay interest, I might as well reap some of the rewards.

4. Make an effort to talk to the locals.

I think one of the greatest things about travel, especially to an exotic location, is being able to interact with different people. Not only is it a learning experience for me; it's also a learning experience for them. But even if I'm traveling a couple hundred miles, much can be learned about a place just by talking to someone new. Bill and I have found that some of our best travel memories have come from talking to the locals and finding out what makes their area unique.

3. Buy a new suitcase

Okay... so this is kind of a lame entry. Or maybe it's not. How many people are still using beat up luggage they've had for years? I still have a couple of ugly, plastic, urine yellow American Tourister suitcases my mom bought in the early 1970s. I don't usually travel with them because they're very impractical, but I do still have them. And the current rolling suitcase I use is a cheaply made piece that started falling apart just a few months after it was purchased. The zipper tabs have fallen off and the stitching is coming undone. 2011 is definitely the year I need to buy a new suitcase.

2. Update my passport

My tourist passport expires in February 2012. It's amazing how time flies. It seems like yesterday, it was February 2002 and I was getting a new passport so I could go to my sister's wedding in Jamaica. In 2002, I was still single, but engaged, so my passport still has my maiden name on the front page. I had the name changed after my wedding, but I have to direct officials to look at the last page to find where it was amended. I meant to get a new passport before the prices went up, but never managed to get to a place where I could have photos made, probably because I hate the way I look in pictures. So here I am, still carrying a passport that will definitely need to be updated in 2011 and I'll have to pay more for it, to boot. If you don't have a current passport, I urge you to get one too.

1. Take a transatlantic cruise on the SeaDream I or II.

In April of 2010, Bill and I took an unforgettable five night cruise on the SeaDream I. We had so much fun on that cruise that we put down a payment for another cruise while we were still onboard. SeaDream Yacht Club is an all inclusive line that prides itself on delivering amazing service. With that in mind, in 2011, I'd really like to take a transatlantic cruise aboard one of the twin SeaDream yachts. The logistics of such a cruise, not to mention the idea of being on a small ship for almost two weeks, is a bit daunting. But I still hope to do it. And if we can't manage a transatlantic cruise in 2011, I hope we can do it someday in the future. No matter what, I do plan to book a SeaDream cruise for sometime in 2011. Final plans will be made when we finally learn when and where we're moving next.

So there you have it...

My top ten New Year's travel resolutions is now complete. I want to wish my readers a happy and successful 2011. May you enjoy many amazing travel experiences in the New Year and beyond.