How to Achieve Your Travel Goals

Ever spent hours playing around on a maps app on your phone, imagining yourself in various destinations? Maybe you’re dreaming of spotting penguins in Patagonia or empowering women in India. No matter how small or big you think your travel dreams are, the important thing is that they’re significant to you.

If you’re not sure where to start, you’ve come to the right place to get a blueprint on how to achieve travel goals. Whether you don’t have any specific travel dreams in mind or have several swirling around your noggin, that’s OK! Here you’ll find plenty of inspirational travel goals examples to give you some inspiration and ideas to prioritize them.

Plus, this article will walk you through the process to achieve your goal in 10 steps, covering everything from overcoming obstacles to budgeting finances. And we’ll give you plenty of helpful tips along the way to boot!

Why set travel goals in the first place?

Because knowing your goals is your first step to achieving dreams like THIS.

Setting travel goals will help transform your dreams of seeing the world into a reality. If you have lots of travel dreams, it can get overwhelming thinking about where to even start. But with travel goals, you can break them down into step-by-step processes with timelines, giving you more direction with planning and helping you stay focused and motivated.

You can also track how you’re doing at each step and make sure you’re gearing yourself up physically, mentally, and financially for your experience abroad. Plus, nothing in the world will feel quite as meaningful, magical, and fulfilling as when you’ve achieved your travel goals!

What are some common travel goals?

So what are travel goals? Whether you’d like to sink your toes in Spain’s sun-kissed beaches or plant trees in the Amazon rainforest, everyone’s travel goals will vary!

Common themes are present among many travel goals, so while a specific goal listed below may not resonate with you, maybe the underlying meaningful motivation will.

Travel goals examples:

• Connect with a new culture: speak a new language, tango in Argentina, learn ancient tea-making in Japan
• Marvel at world wonders: trek up to Machu Picchu, walk the Great Wall of China, explore ancient ruins of Rome
• Go the distance: zipline in Costa Rica, scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef, climb Mount Everest Base Camp
• Satisfy the senses: savor food at a Michelin-starred restaurant, soak in hot springs in Iceland, hear live music at Tomorrowland festival in Belgium
• Make a difference: teach English, rebuild communities, rehabilitate animals
• Breathe in a spiritual journey: walk the Camino de Santiago, namaste in India, meditate in Bali
• Share an experience: backpack with a bestie across multiple countries, honeymoon on the beaches of Bora Bora, go on a safari with family

Now you know what travel goals are! Just remember, you’re you-nique and one of a kind—make goals that excite you and align with your own personal interests and motivations!

How to achieve your travel goals

As Winston Churchill once said, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” Not to worry though—we’re going to help you plan to succeed by answering how to achieve travel goals! Keep in mind that your experience before your journey abroad may have some ups and downs along the way. But, know that with any challenges you’re facing, many others have overcome them, and you can too!

1. Create a bucket list.

Trust us, nothing compares to finally seeing your bucket list come to life.

The travel goal examples in the section above can help you get started with creating a bucket list, but you have full permission to dream your heart out! Are you looking to fuel your adrenaline, learn something new, or help others in need?

Create a fridge-worthy bucket list that gets your heart pumping! You could also create a real-life vision board and frame it on your wall to help you envision your dreams every day.

2. Select your top travel goal.

Once you’ve created your bucket list, it’s time to select the top one—for now!

If you’re not sure which goal to prioritize first, here are some questions to ask yourself:

• Which of these travel goals 100% aligns with my own interests?
• Which of these travel goals can I realistically achieve in the next few months to a year?
• How much will each of these goals cost? What kinds of financial resources can I attain in the near future to achieve them (job income, scholarships, grants, crowdfunding)?
• How safe is the destination for my travel goal (politically and physically)? Will I need to learn any special skills before I go? Be sure to factor them in your timeframe.

If you haven’t already, write down that #1 goal on a piece of paper—you’re 42% more likely to achieve a goal if you write it down!

The more specific you get with a timeframe, the better. For example, turn “learn Spanish” to “I will attend an intensive four-week Spanish course at a language school in Costa Rica in June.”

3. Turn obstacles into opportunities.

If you hear any doubts or fears (from your mind or naysayers), then know that it’s normal to have those. But, become a thought DJ and spin any potential problems into solutions!

You’re likely not the first person ever who has faced many problems, and according to Marie Forleo, “Everything is Figureoutable.”

If you’re worried about money, time, or support, the following steps below will help you come up with solutions to those concerns!

Plus, we have you covered with 10 common travel problems and solutions.

4. Do some research.

Doing research before you get to your destination will help you make the most of your experience.

The age-old saying holds true: Knowledge is power! The more you know about what you’ll need ahead of time, the better you can prepare yourself for your travel goals. Also, doing your own research will help you discover the best things your destination has to offer.

Here’s a checklist of travel items to research:

• Cultural etiquette
• Language
• Passport/visa requirements
• Vaccination recommendations/requirements
• Packing requirements (for climate/culture/goal)
• Flights
• Accommodations
• Transportation
• Food and drinks
• Activities
• Insurance
• Programs available

If you’re not sure where to start, create a MyGoAbroad account, which will match you with programs, provide more travel resources on how to achieve travel goals, and help you find scholarships and deals too!

5. Set up a travel itinerary.

Now that you’ve done some investigating, it’s time for the fun part—planning your trip! You could make a spreadsheet, use a travel itinerary app, or make a log with classic pen and paper.

Break it down by dates and times, starting with your departure flight and ending with your return flight. Then, add your accommodations, noting your transportation mode to and from the airport.

Next, add your excursions for all the places you want to visit, classes you want to take, and things you want to do—anything specific to your travel goals, so make it your own!

6. Create a budget.

Review your travel itinerary and note down the cost range of each of the items, along with any additional supplies, and add them up. Keep in mind that many programs bundle together the cost of accommodations, activities, paperwork, etc.

Once you know the total cost, you’ll have a better idea of how much money you’ll need to save. If you have direct deposit with your job, set up automatic transfers from your checking account to your savings account to help put that on autopilot. You’ve got this!

Need extra sources for funds? You can fill out a Scholarships & Deals application on MyGoAbroad right now to get matched with funding opportunities. You can also explore GoAbroad’s scholarship directory or start a fundraising campaign on FundMyTravel! (Plus. here are some cheap ways to travel abroad.)

7. Subscribe to travel newsletters.

Get the inside scoop right in your inbox.

Sign up for notifications and newsletters from travel organizations to hear about the best deals on flights, transportation, accommodations, activities, and more to help you save money.

Plus, many travel organizations and goal-related resources can provide insider tips on where to eat, how to manage finances abroad, how to learn a language, and more right to your inbox.

8. Find a supportive network.

Surround yourself with people who support your travel goals! Chatting with people who have achieved your travel goals will help you feel inspired and motivated. Plus, they can offer expert advice and guidance.

If nobody you know supports your travel goals, seek out people who will! You could join social media groups, online forums, or in-person groups. They may even be able to help keep you accountable with achieving your travel goals too.

9. Schedule check-ins and celebrate progress.

Identify the milestones for your travel planning journey. This could be getting your program selected, visa and passport paperwork done, vaccinations received, weekly language learning goal met, monthly savings amounts achieved, etc.

Track your progress along the way with these checkpoints! Don’t forget to reward yourself with kindness (and maybe a treat) for all the wins—no matter how small—along the way.

10. Stay open-minded and flexible!

Now it’s time to put your plan into action.

You may need to make some adjustments along the way before, during, or after your trip—it’s all part of the adventure!

Maybe you’re seeing that accommodation at a hotel is too expensive, but you could stay in a hostel or with a host family—and also in a place that allows you to cook your own food. Or you may need back-up excursion ideas if prices are too high or the weather isn’t cooperating.

No matter the case, be willing to ask locals for any help or recommendations. Even if certain foods or cultural activities are outside of your comfort zone, try new things and have some fun!

Start comparing travel programs side-by-side on MyGoAbroad right now

Now get out there and nail your travel goals!

Now you have a complete playbook on how to achieve travel goals—that will help you transform your willpower to wanderlust! Keep taking those baby steps and before you know it, they’ll turn into big leaps. Ready to actually become the dot on a map in your dream destination? Let’s go!

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