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