Archive: New Year's Travel Resolutions
This new year, Rick resolves to:
Spend less time seeing sights and more time talking to people.
Remember that time is worth more than money.
Savor solitude in magical places: the Pantheon, Cape Sagres, atop my own
Alp.
Share with my wife the most romantic places: dinner on Paris' Ile St.
Louis, a hilltown hideaway in Tuscany, the Cinque Terre's Via del' Amore.
Spend more on better wine.
Honestly work the kids' dreams into our itinerary when traveling as a
family.
What did you resolve to do?
Summer Plans
My 2003 travel resolutions: I WILL explore southern England when I'm working
in London this summer; and I WILL go to Paris before the end of the summer
and appreciate the Louvre this time!
Allison
Sun City, CA USA 03/11/03
2003 Travel Resolutions
1. To learn some Italian so that when we travel to Italy in November, we
can communicate better.
2. To forget about all the political crap and just go, in spite of friends who are concerned about safety.
3. To take less junk with me and enjoy a slower paced visit with time for sipping wine and enjoying the differences.
4. To plan future visits to Europe and other parts of the world.
For all our differences, we are all pretty much the same.
Janet Syslo
Omaha, NE USA 03/04/03
4th Trip, this time solo
My parents gave me a ticket to Europe and a rail pass (along with some $$$)
To go on my 4th european adventure. I am 16 now, will be 17 by day of departure
6/12. I have decided to enjoy the places which i will be visiting, and stay
away from too much clubbin'. -SS
Sergio Silva
MX, MX 03/03/03
Taking my little guy to Europe
I'm doing it! 36 days and I head off to Europe for a month. Wish it were
longer but I'm lucky to have this much time. Ten years ago I backpacked
through Europe on my own, and I promised myself when I had a little one
I'd take him to frolic in the castles and climb the Eiffel Tower with me.
We're doing all that and more!
Seattle, USA 03/02/03
Europe Travel
Will leave for the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany on the 8th of April.
We spent 3 weeks in Germany this past September and hope to return to Europe
mainly Prague and Germany at Christmast this year. Who knows what tomorrow
brings?
Susan
Seabrook, TX USA 03/01/03
Leaving the country..
I'm going to Germany by the end of the year. On my own, regardless. I will
not live with regret and opportunities missed because I allowed myself to
give into fear or insecurity.
K. Lesar
Denver, CO USA 02/18/03
My family and boyfriend refuse to leave the country, so I have decided
to go on each of the one week city tours by myself, one city at a time...
Deborah
USA 02/18/03
My Resolution
My resolution is to travel solo for two months in Europe. I've planned and
saved for the trip for a little over a year now. I am ready to actually
see the areas that I've been reading about.
Greg
Charlotte, NC USA 02/18/03
to travel anyway
We wonder if we get to travel this year, not because of the threat of war
but because our 39 year old daughter is terminally ill with breast cancer.
In the last week we resolved to travel anyway. There's really nothing we
can do for her except be supportive. Fortunately she has a loving husband,
family and friends. So we just rented an apartment (a hop and a skip from
the Boboli Gardens) in Florence for the month of May. We will enjoy Firenze
and Toscana from this home base. We also rented an apartment in Rome for
the first week of June; still looking for an apartment for a week in Venice
and a week in London. We are hoping for a seven-week vacation this spring.
We would also like to spend a month in Paris for Christmas 2003. We really
enjoy Europe and its people and its culture. We just hope for good health
and the means to travel. It is very enlightninhg.
christy
san francisco, ca USA 02/16/03
travel resolutions
To manage the finances to both save for retirement and kids' college funds
and satisfy my travel longings.
Chere
Kelso, WA USA 02/08/03
bad habits
Resist sleeping in. Take enough film, instead of running out and missing
great photos. To take the glitches in stride and not walk around with a
knot in my stomach about the plane crashing, my lugagge getting lost, getting
on the wrong train, etc. Not blow my budget on steaks and truffles!:)
elizabeth
houston, TX USA 02/02/03
I will continue to take one major trip out of the country each year.
When I am old, I will go back to all my favorite places I saw when I was
young. I will continue to try and educate people that foreign travel is
not "dangerous" and will actually enrich your life.
Shirley Pethan
Duluth, GA USA 01/22/03
My Resolutions are.....
I resolve to spend 3 months in Europe this fall on my own(though I admit
I am taking 2 of Rick's tours). I resolve to be in Paris in November, so
I can celebrate turning 29 in style. And mostly, I resolve to get my lazy
behind in the gym so I can go on those tours and not be left huffing and
puffing at the bottom of the hill!
Jo
New York, NY USA 01/20/03
Aaron's Resolutions
I RESOLVE to continue learning Spanish, to travel to Spain and Cental America,
and to share my enjoyment of travel and learning about other cultures with
my friend and family. ADIOS!
aaron goffman
Toronto, on Canada 01/19/03
Languages
Mine are to learn French, and continue with my Spanish. Hopefully, I will
be able to go to Spain to learn to speak Spanish better. And learn more
about the cultures too.
Marie
USA 01/17/03
My plan has always been to see Europe before I turn 30. It WILL happen
this year!
Hillary
Redwood City, Ca USA 01/09/03
Take Mom and Dad to Europe
Celebrate via a trip to Europe the life, health, and vigor of my 70-something
parents, both of whom are cancer survivors and who introduced me to independent
travel in Europe a quarter-century ago. (We bought the airline tickets last
week! :^)
Paul Hughes
Albuquerque, NM USA 01/07/03
relax and enjoy
I hope to stop working and enjoy all the money I've saved by travelling
through Italy and Switzerland.
stephanie
philadelphia, pa USA 01/05/03
I am resolved to learn French this year, so that when I go back to
Paris I can get off the tourist path and see new sights and experiences.
Rick
New Orleans, USA 01/03/03
Travel
I resolve to find a way to travel more!! The problem is not so much the
money but the vacation time. We're great at travelling cheaply! More arm
chair travel is in the works for me this year! I've convinced my husband
(who hates the long flight) that we 'need' to take two annual trips to Europe
instead of just one. We're planning a week in the Czech Republic in March,
and another trip for the summer that was supposed to be Spain and Portugal,
but I can't stop dreaming about Paris, Gimmelwald and Cinque Terre!!
Monique
Boston, MA USA 01/02/03
New Year
I am going to travel alone. Always wanted to that, but never did. I plan
to travel to Spain, Switerzerland, Denmark alone. I will enjoy the sights,
people, culture, etc. I will smile and just be happy that I am able to travel.
As far as my itinerary, I will do whatever I want. That's the beauty of
traveling alone — you can do whatever, whenever. I like that.
USA 12/30/02
2003 resolutions
Once again, to spend less time looking through my camera viewfinder, to
spend more time in places not listed in guidebooks and to get acquainted
with people!
Anonymous
USA 12/29/02
New Years Resolution
My 2 top travel resolutions this year are to meet Rick Steves and decide
my next destination! I am planning to attend the Tour Reunion next month,
which should help me achieve both!
Freyja
LaGrange, IL USA 12/27/02
I Resolve...
To go. Just go. As often as possible, as pleasantly as possible. To pack
my suitcase with optimism and enthusiasm and share them with everyone I
meet. To remember that good memories are timeless treasures and good people
are everywhere. To learn something new, try something new and go somewhere
new every day, but never forget old favorites.
V. Allford
Sunland, CA USA 12/25/02
A couple of months ago, I quit my job and sold my house in Northern
California to travel. At 28 years old, I resolve to meet as many people
and see as much of the world as I can before returning to the 'real world'.
Or maybe, that's exactly what this is...
Amie Dworecki
(currently in) Edinburgh, Scotland 06/04/01
This time in Paris I resolve to: Spend more time sitting still at cafes,
sketching, people-watching & -meeting, & less time sightseeing! Enjoy more
local cultural events. Really taste & savor never-before-tried local foods
& drinks. Be brave & kiss a Frenchman!
Terrie Blazek
Palos Hills, IL USA 05/15/01
My resolutions are: see more attractions, try different restaurants, plan
things out more, and take Rick's books with me. I am catching up on what
I didn't see the first time.
Nancy
Dallas, TX USA 03/26/01
I resolve to take a "core" family trip to Eastern and Central Europe — my
husband and me, plus our two adult kids — no spouses or grandchildren. It's
been years and years since we've traveled together as a "core" family.
Colleen Fenrich
FL USA 03/12/01
I resolve to return to Cinque Terre, Italy, and spend a week there,
walking from one village to the next, then spend a weekend revisiting Portofino.
We were there last September, and it was beautiful even though it rained.
ANNEMARIE HIRSCH
ORINDA, CA USA 03/04/01
i resolve to actually go beyond the planning stage and actually GO! i've
been dreaming of a backpacking trip to europe for 5 years, but i never seem
to have the money. i'm starting early, saving for summer 2002. wish me luck,
and maybe i'll see you there!
nathan
toledo, oh USA 02/14/01
I resolve to do it on my own!
I had been planning a solo trip to Paris, but got jittery about it,
and succumbed to traveling with my husband instead. So now I need to resolve
to let him enjoy Europe HIS way while I enjoy it MY way. I cannot expect
him to be facinated by the lights in a train station or the strange food
products in the grocery stores (as I am!). But one day I WILL get there
and explore all on my own!
noelle
brooklyn, ny USA 02/13/01
I resolve to let my travels abroad affect my politics at home. More
pedestrian-friendly areas and more emphasis on mass transit.
Mike Kruger
Renton, WA USA 02/10/01
I resolve to: ride bikes in Holland, walk along the wall in Rothenburg,
feed the bunnies in Reutte, dance in the Piazza San Marco, watch a sunset
and sunrise in Vernazza, run barefoot through the meadows in Gimmelwald,
picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower. And, best of all, thanks to Rick Steves,
share these wonderful experiences and count my blessings with my new husband
starting in June 2001!
Renee
CO USA 01/30/01
I resolve to return to Germany this year. I was stationed there in
the Army about 20 years ago, and I want to go back "home" again!
D. L. Williamson
Indianapolis, IN USA 01/29/01
I promise to go back to Germany, the place of my birth. I will bring
my mother with me. I haven't been back since 1976, when my parents restationed
in Texas. I know it will be different, but I can't wait to see it again.
Karen Smith
Dripping Springs, Tx USA 01/29/01
Review French and German so I am more fluent on my next trip. More
important than memorizing vocabulary is tuning my ears so that I can recognize
words and better communicate. A little language-of-the-country goes a long
way toward building goodwill.
Donna Cunningham
San Diego, CA USA 01/29/01
I have another resolution: to visit Provence in July to see the lavender
fields in bloom, and to celebrate Bastille Day (July 14) there! This trip
will make it hard to abide by my earlier resolution of taking fewer pictures,
but I think it's more important to revel in the ambience instead of viewing
everything through the viewfinder. Besides, the pictures won't capture the
fragrance!
Mary from Oregon
USA 01/25/01
Move slower, stay longer, and savor every moment. I may not pass this
way again.
K. Casaday
San Diego, CA USA 01/25/01
Go back! I was in Europe for the first time last year and I can't believe
I waited so long.
Kathy
Seattle, WA USA 01/23/01
I resolve to become a Parisian for two weeks by renting an apartment
over a café near the rue Cler. I'm going to buy food at the rue Cler markets,
make picnic lunches and eat them in the park near the Eiffel tower, and
I'm going to people-watch and write in my journal at the downstairs café.
MJ
Longwood, FL USA 01/21/01
I resolve to take at least one rail trip this year. Living in Germany,
we get caught up in the autobahn mentality, always certain that the speed
of light is the best way to get where we're going. This year, I'll convince
my husband to take the train when we head out for our week's vacation with
the kids.
Kristi Little
Mannheim, Baden-Wuerttemburg Germany 01/17/01
With better health this year, we resolve to enjoy Britain and France on
this trip as much as we enjoyed Germany in the past.
Mark Crawford
Murphysboro, IL USA 01/12/01
As an international courier, who travels to a different destination
in the world every month (sometimes twice a month), I want to write more
adventure articles, listen to more people, visit more orphanages, take advantage
of all the free musical concerts in churches and remember to take lots of
pens. Kids love pens, especially colored ones.
Ann Garske
Pleasanton, CA USA 01/08/01
I resolve to save some money and begin planning my next trip to Europe.
I also resolve to visit Rick's travel center in Edmonds, and take advantage
of what it has to offer.
Meghan
WA USA 01/07/01
My resolutions for the year 2001 are about to become OUR resolutions:
— Experience Paris as only newlyweds can.
— Take our time to meet locals
— Absorb the culture around us
— Live each day to its fullest, not worrying we won't ever return later.
— eat something ugly!
— Live, laugh, and love our way along life's road.
Deb
Okemos, mi USA 01/07/01
I resolve to enjoy my May 2001 trip to France to the fullest. My husband and I will be celebrating 20 years together so this will be the most special of our numerous European experiences.
I sympathize with Mary's overabundance of photos (I, too, am an inveterate
photo taker), but we have such a grand time reliving the moments of the
photos that I'm probably never going to give up that habit. My husband
and I will dig out those photos on a cold night, plan a meal based on
that trip, and have the best time over our food and a great bottle of
wine, looking at the pictures and remembering the great time we had.
judy
virginia beach, VA USA 01/07/01
We resolve to go on a camping trip for a few days every month and begin
to plan a six-month+ camping trip in Europe.
Alex Cross
deltona, fl USA 01/06/01
*Make my first solo trip to Europe (Slovenia, Austria & always Italy).
*Start planning for 2002...Spain, Ireland (again) or more Italy?
*Eat even more local food & drink more regional wine (I'll be the American
w/the glowing red nose).
Daydreaming about Europe
Chicago, IL USA 01/05/01
I resolve to return to Spain and spend more time in one place only — no
more running around.
Rebecca Walters
Santa Rosa, CA USA 01/04/01
At 62, I realize that the years go by faster and faster the older one
gets. I therefore resolve to Do It Now; to be more spontaneous; and to realize
that not all travel plans have to be worked out in infinite detail beforehand.
I'm going to allow more room for "winging it" the way I did 40 years ago!
JN
Augusta, GA USA 01/04/01
I resolve to take fewer pictures my next trip in 2001. I am still sorting through 32 (count 'em, thirty-two) boxes of slides from my April-June 2000 trip.
Half of those pictures were taken in Norway. Norway has the most incredibly beautiful country I have ever seen (even more beautiful than the Pacific Northwest), but I really didn't have to go that wild!
Hint: pointing the camera towards the midnight sun, even if it's behind a cloud (which it was the whole week I was in Norway's Lofoten Islands), underexposes the foreground so everything is dark. Many point-and-shoot cameras have a way around this by pointing the camera away from the sun, holding the button part way down, and then pointing back to where you want. It would have helped if I had read those instructions before returning home afterwards! However, I'm not too sure that little trick would capture the awesome quality of the light.
I do have a few excellent shots of sunlight on the mountains just before
midnignt, but my failing to read directions first wasted a couple of rolls
of film. You can capture the awesome light, but probably not by pointing
towards the sun.
Mary from Oregon
USA 01/04/01
I resolve to return to the UK. I was there last year for the first
time and loved it! This year I will return and see the north a bit; Edinburgh
and York are on my plans. The last time was a 7-day trip to Bath and London
and I ran myself to death. This time I will go slower and enjoy the people
more. I also plan to take that Paris day trip.
Robert Shafer
Dayton, OH USA 01/04/01
In 2001, Christopher Carter resolves to:
-seek out new back door adventures in Germany. I love Rothenburg, but
so do the masses.
-Learn the beer songs that local Germans sing in the beer halls.
-Camp under the stars in Switzerland, and wake up to the sound of cow
bells.
-Save enough money to make it all happen.
P.S. I accept donations!
Christopher Carter
St. Louis, MO USA 01/04/01
I want to return to Ireland and bicycle all those great lanes with
the sheep and the Irish people. After a 35-mile bike trip to another hostel
or B&B, I want to savor another Guinness in an Irish pub in a small village!
The few days of rain actually make it better!
J Sloan
Omaha, NE USA 01/04/01
Rick's resolutions are great! I volunteer for immediate adoption as
one of his children.
Jim Bronson
Frankenmuth, MI USA 01/04/01
This is my year for France. I'll volunteer with an organization that
restores old villages and castles. I plan to learn some French (or renew
the little I once knew) and savor the French food. I want to see Monet's
garden in Giverny and the beautiful south of France.
Marcia Groth
Topeka, KS USA 01/04/01
I resolve to JUST GO!!!!
bernadette
north bend, or USA 01/04/01
I'd like to spend more time savoring sights rather than trying to see as
many as possible. I'd like to learn about the people not the attractions.
Nancy Butka
MI USA 01/03/01
I want to continue to stay in one place long enough to feel like part
of the neighborhood. We stayed in the Russell Square neighborhood in London
for two weeks — walked to the British Museum every morning, got to know
the shops, the restaurants and the PEOPLE. It was great!
Carol Dietmeyer
Madison, WI USA 01/03/01
-Expand my horizons both internal and external.
-Travel to at least one new place each year.
Sandy
Seattle, WA USA 01/03/01
i went to uk/ireland in '93, continent in 94. i had a fantastic time.
favourite was ireland, but only saw south; in 2001 i want to see north.
happy travels
shirley tarves
hamilton, ontario canda 01/03/01
I went to France with ETBD in August and fell in love with the place
and the people. I resolve to go back for a month in 2002. My goal is to
experience village life in one region. I love it. Can't wait.
Glenda Walker
Newport News, VA USA 01/03/01
My resolutions come from a trip I made last year. I returned to Germany in July 2000 for the first time since I spent a year there as a college student in 1994-95. I was planning to take a week-long driving trip through southern Germany and stop for a day or two in Lübeck where I went to school.
Well, one or two days turned into six and my trip through southern Germany was cut short. I saw old friends, met students currently in the exchange program, and fell in love with Lübeck and Germany all over again. It was one of the best experiences of my life. So, I resolve to:
-Remember travel isn't about itineraries and guidebooks, it's about finding or revisiting your own Back Doors (as Rick would call them). The real joy of travel is about living your life to the fullest for at least a week or two at a time.
-See southern Germany! Also take a close friend along and introduce him to the joy I get from travel.
-Persue a possible opportunity I have to work in Germany and realize
a goal I made for myself while I was still in college.
Peter Harren
Lake in the Hills, IL USA 01/03/01
My travel resolution for 2001 is to see the following countries through the back door, immersing myself in the local culture of 99%-tourist-free villages and nothing-like-it-in-America architecture and art, and tasting every unidentifiable drink and cuisine possible:
— Italy and Greece
— Spain and Portugal
— Wine country and French Riveria
Michelle
Portland, OR USA 01/03/01
More hillwalking in Scotland this year.
Brooke
USA 01/03/01