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How to Make 2017 Your Year to Travel

Ring in the New Year with excitement and forward-looking plans for travel. Whether you are planning a weekend getaway or an extended stay in a faraway land, NOW is the time to start planning and saving for your 2017 vacation. By making this your New Year’s resolution, you can make your travel dreams a reality. Just follow these three simple steps:

1.) DREAM: There can be great fun in the research phase. There are no boundaries when surfing the Internet, so don’t limit yourself to places you’ve been to already in the past. We recommend looking up places you’ve always wanted to see, which will surely get you excited about travel. This isn’t the time to think about pet sitters and rides to-and-from airports. It’s time to dream. Browse beautiful pictures of the canyons out west, amaze yourself with the amenities now available on cruises voyaging to new ports, and salivate over those featured photos of the decadent pasta in Italy or pastries in Paris.

2.) DECIDE: Now that you’re hungry for travel, you can start a real plan by picking the month and days that you will be off this year. This is why it’s important to plan NOW and not later, when the ability to secure days off may be limited. It doesn’t matter if you don’t even know where you are going for your trip — just ask for the time off now so that you are committed. Next, think about those places you’ve researched and start your TOP 5 PLACES to see in 2017. Don’t worry about how expensive or elaborate the trip might be at this phase of planning. Knock yourself out and pick at least five places – anywhere from the Caribbean to Breckenridge to Fiji.

3.) BOOK: Compare the airlines, flight times, and hotel packages available for those places at the time that you want to go. There is no shortage of travel sites offering amazing deals and great travel packages that you can book far in advance for a surprisingly affordable rate. Compare prices at sites like Travelocity.com, Hotels.com, Tripadvisor.com, Kayak.com, and others that compete for you to lock-in the lowest rate on everything from transportation, to rooms, to excursions. You will be astonished at what you can find these days. Now BOOK IT! Leave a deposit, and commit. If scheduling this early in the year intimidates you, then consider the purchase of travel insurance to ease your mind. Just go for it. Once you’ve added this trip as part of your annual budget, you will be steadfast in saving money – putting every extra penny aside in anticipation of your big adventure or relaxing getaway.

Congratulations, you are now going to travel in 2017. All you have to do is plan the minor details, pack, have fun, and be safe. Oh, and make sure that your passport is current before you go. We suspect these tips inspired you to see the world beyond your usual boarders.

Eat well, live long, and travel far!