2026 Travel Resolutions You’ll Actually Keep

New Year’s resolutions usually come with a side of guilt. More discipline. Less fun. A list of things we’re supposed to fix about ourselves.

Travel resolutions should feel different. They should feel like a door opening.

As we step into 2026, we’re thinking less about doing travel “better” and more about making it feel more meaningful, more doable, and more aligned with how we actually want to experience the world.

Whether you already have flights booked or you’re still waiting for that spark of inspiration, here are the travel resolutions we’re taking into the year ahead, the Chronic Explorers way.

1) Choose trips that make you feel something

Not trips you feel obligated to take. Not destinations chosen because they’re trending.

Choose the trip that makes you feel curious, excited, relieved, or even a little nervous in a good way. The one you’d still look forward to on a hard week. The one that feels like a reward, a reset, or a long-overdue yes.

A good question to ask yourself: When I picture coming home, what do I want to say about this trip?

2) Put something on the calendar sooner than later

One of the easiest ways to actually keep a travel resolution is to make it real early in the year.

You don’t need a perfectly planned year. You just need something to look forward to. Even a long weekend can shift your mindset in a big way.

Waiting for the “right time” often turns into waiting forever.

3) Make travel easier by choosing the right style of trip

There’s a time for DIY travel and a time for letting someone else handle the logistics.

In 2026, we’re seeing more travelers craving experiences that feel seamless, social, and thoughtfully paced without feeling rigid or overproduced.

That’s why Hosted Journeys remain at the heart of what we do:

• Small groups (on average 14 travelers)

• Adults-only

• More inclusive pricing

• Guided by our team from start to finish

• Designed for connection, comfort, and real experiences

If your resolution is to travel more, choosing a trip that removes friction may be the smartest move you make all year.

4) Plan for how you actually want your days to feel

This is where a lot of trips go sideways.

Some people love early mornings and full days. Others want slow starts, long lunches, and room to wander. Most of us want a mix, just not every day.

In 2026, we’re resolving to build itineraries that match real energy levels, not fantasy versions of ourselves.

5) Stop saving the “good” trip for later

If there’s a destination you keep pushing off because it feels too big, too far, or too once-in-a-lifetime, consider this your nudge.

You don’t need a perfect year to take the trip. You just need a plan.

6) Choose experiences that connect you to the place

Travel doesn’t have to be packed to be meaningful.

Sometimes the moments that linger are:

• A meal that tells a story

• A guide who brings a place to life

• Time in a neighborhood instead of a highlight reel

• Space for unplanned discoveries

In 2026, we’re focusing less on doing everything and more on doing what matters.

7) Make travel social again, in the best way

Not forced togetherness. Not matching shirts. Just the kind of travel where shared moments turn into real connection.

This is one of the reasons our travelers love Hosted Journeys so much. You get the ease of a curated experience, the joy of meeting like-minded people, and the comfort of knowing someone is there to handle the details.

A Look at What’s Ahead for 2026

If one of your travel resolutions this year is to travel with more intention, ease, and connection, we’d love to be part of it.

In 2026, our Hosted Journeys take us from the ancient wonders of Peru, to the wild beauty of Alaska for our five-year anniversary celebration, into the waterways of Botswana, back to the magic of South Africa, and onward to Antarctica in early 2027.

Whether you join one of our Hosted Journeys or work with us on a Tailored Exploration designed just for you, our promise stays the same: We handle the details so you can focus on the moments.

Here’s to travel resolutions that feel good to keep.