The year 2023 is going to be an excellent one for vacations and excursions.
A new year represents a clean slate and new beginnings. Are you going to take up a new hobby? Make a decision to start enjoying the mornings more. Make every effort to achieve the ideal combination of work and personal life? No matter what your plans are for the year 2023, there is one objective that we at Travel + Leisure can always get behind: travelling more and doing it in a more meaningful way. For some of us, this means finally making it to one of our long-held bucket list locations, while for others, it's not so much about where they go as it is about how they get there—whether it's figuring out how to make the most of their miles and points or learning how to pack more efficiently and investing in better luggage.
We are excited about all the new experiences that are in store for us, and we hope that some of our travel goals may serve as motivation for you as you make your way across the world in 2023.
Make a choice and stick with it.
"Even though I've recently started dabbling in the world of airline reward programmed, I've always found it difficult to really commit to one airline. I've always been attracted by the instant gratification that comes with buying the lowest flight possible for each given trip. With the help of my brand-new Delta SkyMiles American Express card, I've made the decision that I will be flying Delta exclusively beginning in 2023. I'm looking forward to "playing the long game" and "raking in those perks and miles." — Nina Ruggiero, Digital Editorial Director
You should go back to India.
"I enjoy travelling quite a bit, and one of my favorite things to do is to visit new places every year. India is the destination that keeps popping into my head when I think about the places I want to visit in the future. I was born in Mumbai, and even though I came to New York when I was six years old, I've made it a point to travel back to the nation every two years to see my family and friends — that is, until COVID made other plans. I haven't been there since 2018, but I can't wait to go back for the aloo paratha that my grandmother makes, the brightly cultured jute (shoes) and jeweler that can be purchased from street vendors, and the chai, idles, doses, and kulfi that can be found at my favorite restaurants there. That is not to suggest that I do not also have an interest in seeing brand-new items. In point of fact, since since it was included on Travel & Leisure's list of the finest places to visit in 2023, I've had my sights set on Six Senses Vanna, a wellness retreat in the Himalayan foothills of Dehradun. — Alisha Prakash, Associate Editorial Director [Citation needed]
Carry less in your bag.
"Even when I have my entire itinerary planned out, I always feel the need to plan for 'what if' scenarios, which causes me to carry a lot more stuff than I'll really wear on a particular trip. This is because I always feel the need to be prepared." In the year 2023, I'm going to make a commitment to drawing out a day-by-day packing plan with outfits that are centered on a capsule wardrobe consisting of complementary pieces in a certain color scheme. — Sarah Burning, Senior Editor
Finally do Namibia.
"I've been daydreaming about taking a road trip through the deserts of Namibia for years, ever since I read about the extreme 4x4 adventures that you can have along the Skeleton Coast — and long before #vanlife was even a thing. I've always wanted to do it in a van, but I've never had the courage to do it. Since the adventure outfitter Nomadic Road is organizing a two-week drive across the country in December, which is a great time to go, this year may finally be my moment. — Paul Brady, Editor in Chief of Articles
One week at work, one week off to relax.
"In 2022, I mastered the technique of elongating my one-week vacations to Europe by working remotely for an additional week on either end of my planned vacation. This allowed me to stay in Europe for two weeks instead of just one." I merely had to be willing to work late nights for five days in order to stay aligned with New York hours. As a result, I was rewarded with the joy of mornings spent relaxing on the pebble beaches of the Cote d'Azur and enjoying long walks across the boroughs of Hackney and Islington in London. South America is the only continent I haven't been to save Antarctica, therefore one of my goals for the year 2023 is to finally make it there using the updated strategy I've developed for travelling. I can't help but fantasies about working for a week in either Rio de Janeiro or Buenos Aires, then taking the following week off to travel along the Caribbean coast of Colombia. — Elspeth Velden, General Manager of Travel Group
Continued ... Our 18 New Year's Resolutions for 2018!
— Modern Body Care (@StinkitofuSkin) January 24, 2018
#13 - Travel to new places
#14 - Spend more time with friends and family#newyearsresolutions #2018 #travel #newplaces #qualitytime pic.twitter.com/0lp8nCtyOW
Take that birthday trip you've been putting off.
"Finally, for our combined 30th birthdays (two years late, but who's counting? ), two of my closest friends and I have decided to take a trip that we've been putting off. Our destination: Colombia. After spending a few days in the city life of Bogota, we'll take a short trip to a coffee farm in the countryside outside of Medelln for some time in the jungle, and then we'll finish up with some beach time in Cartagena. We've spent a lot of time debating whether or not to go on this trip, and while there are a few things we want to do during it, the primary goal is for all of us to simply spend time together. — Liz Cantrell, Associate Editor
Upgrade my luggage.
"Unfortunately, my go-to travel bag, which is a canvas weekender printed with bucking broncos and which was a present from my brother on the occasion of my 12th birthday, can no longer be repaired. Finding a new, more grown-up piece of luggage is going to be my travel resolution for the year 2023, which is a sad but unavoidable reality. It is going to be difficult to top the sentimental and perfectly proportioned bag that has been my trusted travel companion for the past almost 30 years, but I'm hoping that something from this working short list will help me let go of it: the WM J. Mills & Co. Vintage Cambridge, Tom Bahn's Aeronaut 30, or the Canella Weekender." — Skye Senterfeit, Deputy Editor in Charge of Photography
It is time to go back to Australia.
"In 2018, I participated in a study abroad programmed in the Gold Coast of Australia, and it completely redirected the course of my life. Sure, I haven't stopped talking about it since then, but now that Australia is fully reopened and new airline routes are sprouting up from the United States, 2023 is the year that I will finally get there. In addition to going to Western Australia and swimming with whale sharks, one of my bucket list items is to visit the place where I used to live. I'm game to go pretty much any time of year, but if I had to choose, I'd say the spring or summer in the Southern Hemisphere would be my top choice. The Associate Digital Editor, Jamie Abramoff
Improve my Excel spreadsheet for vacation planning.
"Okay, I know this sounds ridiculous, but bear with me: I'm in the process of organising a honeymoon, and the itinerary I've built on a good old Google spreadsheet is a thing of beauty. We're doing a road trip from London all the way up to the Isle of Skye in Scotland's Highlands, and there are a lot of charming tiny villages, pubs, and inns that we have to remember along the route. The use of a thorough spreadsheet to track our itinerary has proven to be of great assistance. I am the type of person who, to tell you the truth, takes some organizational shortcuts when organizing a trip. I do this because I have the (perhaps misplaced) belief that I can work things out on the fly. As I was preparing for my honeymoon, I was reminded of how much I enjoy being organized and having a plan, and I hope to carry this newly discovered enthusiasm for spreadsheets into the year 2022. (I will, of course, be retaining some of my impromptu attitudes as well, because a dash of spontaneity never did anyone any harm.) ” — Maya Kachori-Levine, Editor in Charge of Luxury and Experiences
Obtain entrance to the lounge.
Considering that my flights departing from a regional airport will most likely involve some layovers and connections, my goal is to determine the most effective means by which I can enter airport lounges. If I have the option, I nearly always choose to fly nonstop, but I know that unforeseen circumstances and circuitous routes are in my future, so I might as well travel in comfort. I can't wait to have access to the lounge and enjoy all of the benefits that come along with it as a lady of the establishment." — Mariah Tyler, Editor in Charge of Visuals
Make the most of your miles and points.
"Over the years, I've piled up a lot of airline miles and points, but I'll be the first to confess that I don't know much about how to get the most out of those credits. Because there are so many far cities I want to visit in 2023, such as Tokyo and London, perhaps this will be the year that I finally become a points wizard and find out how to make the most of my miles. — Elizabeth Rhodes, Editor in Charge of Special Projects
Stop avoiding flights that leave early in the morning out of fear.
"I feel terrible for myself if I have to wake up too early, and as a result, I will not be able to take advantage of cheaper rates on early morning flights. It is my goal to get up earlier so that I may make the most of my time at my holiday destination. - Associate Photo Editor Devin Trainees
Engage in some exciting activities in South Africa.
My travel desire for the past five years has been to go on an adventure in South Africa, and with my honeymoon coming up at the end of 2023, it will be the perfect occasion to go. I want to start our trip in Kruger National Park or Sabi Sands Game Reserve, where we can see giraffes and elephants, and spend our days taking in the breathtaking scenery while lounging at a lodge and going on game drives. I think it would be a wonderful way to kick off our trip. Before spending the second half of our journey visiting the more metropolitan environment of Cape Town, we will make sure to soak up every bit of our adventure. We're going to take a stroll around the vibrant Bo-Kaap, and although though I won't be able to surf, I'm going to make it a point to check out the penguins at Boulders Beach. After a few days of indulging in the region's delectable cuisine and award-winning wines, I might even be able to persuade myself to go on a trek in Table Mountain National Park in order to take in the once-in-a-lifetime panorama.