Three Easy to Keep Travel Resolutions

Is traveling more one of your New Year's resolutions? Here are 3 easy suggestions for making your travel dreams a reality in 2010.

1. Say goodbye to Starbucks and bonjour to Paris. Let's face it, traveling without money is nearly impossible. Unfortunately, today's economic climate has forced many of us to drastically downsize our travel budgets. However, by reducing your spending in other areas you can add some serious cash to your travel coffers. 

For example, visits to my lovely neighborhood cafe cost me about $20 a week. I've decided to limit my croissant and coffee sojourns to one trip a week and put $15 a week into my travel kitty. Doing this faithfully, I will save $720 towards my next trip. This time next year, I could be sipping a cafe au lait in Paris.


2. Explore your own backyard: Fantasizing about your dream vacation can be both a great motivator and a bit of a downer. If that trip is too far off in the distant future, frustration can easily set in. Set aside one day every 4-6 weeks to nurture your inner explorer by taking an inexpensive day trip to a place close to home. Visit that vineyard, historical house or museum that you've never been to.

3. Wanderlust Begins in the Brain: When I was a little girl, I traveled in my mind before I ever left my neighborhood. Books, movies, music, and food are great ways to indulge your wanderlust with minimal effort. Are you dreaming of Barcelona? Pour yourself a nice glass of cava and curl up with Carmen LaForet's classic book Nada or watch Woody Allen's Vicki Cristina Barcelona. For a few hours you'll feel transported and absolutely rejuvenated.