| Travel can be a time and resource intensive | | | | today, it is a rare occasion that most people |
| activity. There are many things that can go | | | | can afford to take the time off to take an |
| wrong, and often do, but careful planning, | | | | extended vacation longer than 2 weeks. Other |
| prioritizing and goal setting can reduce the | | | | obstacles that can pose a challange include |
| number and severity of most problems that may | | | | physical stamina, knowledge of the language |
| creep into your travel experiences. Learning | | | | and customs, and social/political unrest. If |
| how to set and prioritize your travel goals | | | | you have a bad heart, and don't know any of |
| will take you a long way towards creating | | | | the native languages in Afghanistan, it may |
| travel plans that will fit into your life and | | | | not realistic to plan a winter trek through |
| are more likely to bring you wonderful | | | | the eastern mountains of Afghanistan.The last |
| memories.Treat Travel and Vacations Like Any | | | | part of your travel goals is that they should |
| Other Goal Driven Area of Your LifeTravel and | | | | also be time constrained. Most people may |
| vacations can be a major financial | | | | say, "I want to go to Japan some day." |
| expenditure in anyone's life, and should be | | | | However, it isn't enough of a motivating |
| treated as such. Therefore, goals should be | | | | factor to complete your goals. You should |
| set before you plan your travel. Details | | | | say "I will go to Japan by October of next |
| such as how many coutries you want to visit, | | | | year."Now You Should Prioritize Your Travel |
| the number of cities do you want to visit, | | | | GoalsOnce you have created clear goals for |
| which tourist attractions you would like to | | | | your vacation, it's time to prioritize them. |
| experience, how do you plan to travel, and in | | | | This process is purely personal and based |
| what style do you plan to travel, should be | | | | upon your own life situation. You can |
| asked before making your travel plans. | | | | prioritize your goals based on time, by |
| Typically, the longer your vacation and the | | | | taking shorter trips now, and longer trips |
| more places you choose to travel to, the more | | | | when your job situation changes, or taking |
| important it is to set your travel goals.How | | | | more expensive trips now and less expensive |
| Do You Create Your Travel Plans and Goals?If | | | | trips later. You may prioritize your goals |
| you plan on making your travel goals | | | | based upon your current and future health, |
| successful, they must be specific and | | | | where you take your trekking trips when you |
| measurable, action-oriented, realistic, and | | | | are physically in shape, and take your energy |
| have a fixed time span. A specific and | | | | isn't as high.Of course your life may take a |
| measurable travel goal would include the | | | | turn in a completely different direction than |
| destination, method of travel, what you plan | | | | expected, and in that case, you may need to |
| to do, and who you plan to go with. The more | | | | adjust your goals. Even for huge life |
| specific you can get with the travel planning | | | | changing events, going through this process |
| details, the better you can successfully plan | | | | will give you a better chance at succeeding |
| a budget for your trip. An example of making | | | | in your travel plans. Once you have taken the |
| specific plans would be: "I will travel | | | | time to make them and write them down and |
| within my budget, with my girlfriend to New | | | | make them clear, you can focus your time and |
| Zealand for a bike touring vacation lasting | | | | energy into making them happen.Careful |
| two weeks within the next six months."To make | | | | planning and goal setting creates better |
| your goal action oriented, it should contain | | | | focus so you know how to make your travel |
| the verb of your choice of action. In the | | | | plans happen. Once you have set your goals |
| previous example the "I will travel within my | | | | and made your plans, you can begin to look |
| budget" implies action, states intent, and | | | | for resources that will help you with your |
| indicates the type of preparation and | | | | travel budget. Look online for prices, |
| planning required to carry out the task.Your | | | | destination information, and other types of |
| travel goal should also be realistic. When | | | | information that will help you reach your |
| stating the goal, the two most important | | | | vacation goals.Copyright 2006 B HopkinsLearn |
| questions include, "Do I have the time and | | | | how to travel to your favorite destinations |
| the money?" For many people, finding the | | | | at a fraction of the cost other people are |
| money to travel, is easier than finding the | | | | paying. |
| time to travel. In our time-starved society | | | | |