8 Travel Resolutions for 2024

The New Year is upon us and with it brings an influx of world travelers!

While the coronavirus still lingers, experts predict that 2024 will be one of the busiest travel years yet. And if you are one of the millions of people around the world who are now ready to travel after a long hiatus, you may want revisit your travel strategy. Your travel plannings tactics from the past (ie. Waiting until the last-minute, stuffing your clothes into an old suitcase, etc) may not serve you as well as they once did. And with an entire year of travel planning ahead of you, now is the perfect time to add a few new travel tactics – or travel resolutions – to your bag of tricks.

8 Travel Resolutions to Make in 2024

Be Passport Ready – You never know when the opportunity will present itself to travel outside of the country, so why not be ready for it! While passport wait times are back to pre-pandemic normals (6-8 weeks for routine passports), it’s best not to wait until the last minute to r enew an expiring passport or apply for a new one.
Invest in New Luggage – I traveled with the same luggage for nearly 10 years and while the old luggage was still usable, it was getting pretty worn. This year, I decided to buy my first high-end, hardshell suitcase from Away and have never been happier! I was a bit skeptical and honestly thought the Away craze was just a passing trend. But after just one trip, I was kicking myself for not buying one sooner. Ironically, just after I purchased and used my Away suitcase, I was gifted a hardshell Monos suitcase. The Monos suitcase is very similar to Away and has worked equally as well for my husband. No matter what you choose, be sure to take the time to research the size, styles, features, durability, etc of each brand before you make your purchase. To make it a little easier, check out Travel and Leisure’s review of the 10 Best Luggage Brands for 2024 – you’re sure to find one that’s the right fit for you.
Say Yes to Packing Cubes – As some of you already now, I am a firm believer in using packing cubes vs. freestyle packing. Packing cubes allow me to neatly compress all of my clothes for at least a week-long trip into 3-4 mesh zippered cubes that easily fit into a carryon suitcase. While I use Away packing cubes now – and LOVE them – I’ve used other brands that have done the job well. Bottom line – once you use packing cubes, you will not go back to freestyle packing.
Travel Light – This year, I traveled to Europe twice for 5-9 days and never had to check luggage. Traveling with just carryons has been a major game changer for me, saving me time and money. I no longer need to wait in line to drop off my luggage at check in or at baggage claim to collect it. I also never have to worry about baggage fees. I challenge you to make this year the year you will “go light or go home”.
Sign Up for Travel Alerts – Travel Alerts – such as those via Kayak, Google Flights, or Skyscanner – use metasearch to track and find the best flight deals for your desired destination, even if you’ve already purchased a ticket. By signing up for alerts and filling out specific criteria (location, dates, airline preference, desired price, etc ) you will receive a notification when your requested flight is at the best time to book. You can even set a very targeted search to monitor for any price drops on a ticket you’ve already purchased.
Register for Pre-check or Clear – Paying for TSA Pre-check and/or Clear can save you a lot of time and worry in the long run. In most travel instances, both options help you zip through long security lines faster than standard lines. Pre-check, which costs $78 for a 5-Year status – is a government run program that allows you to not only go through a shorter security line but there are also less strict screening requirements onsite (because you’ve already gone through a pre-screening process to obtain pre-check status). For this option, you don’t need to take off your shoes or remove liquids or large electronics from your luggage. Clear costs $189 a year and is run by an independent company. This option allows you to skip the security line completely. Instead, you “check in” at a Clear kiosk where your ID and boarding pass are verified through biometric technology. After that, a Clear agent escorts you right to the front of security. Pre-check and Clear do not replace one another; they are complementary. The programs are not available at every airport so it’s best to go with a program that is accepted at the airport you use most.
Become a Loyal Customer – Whether it’s an airline frequent flier program, a car rental club, or a hotel rewards program, signing up for loyalty programs is almost always free and comes with a host of benefits. From flight upgrades, to complimentary hotel stays to free breakfast during your stay, loyalty programs reward you based on how loyal you are to their brand (ie. How much money you spend with them). The more loyal you are, the better the benefits. Even those brand new to loyalty programs are better off than those who are not members. For instance, some programs apply instant perks as soon as you register, such as free WiFi during your stay, free bottled water in your room, or a $15 credit at the hotel gift shop. It’s definitely worth the less than 5 minutes it will take for you to register for each program.
Use AirTags – Apple AirTags, which can be used to track just about anything, are super easy to set up on your smart phone and are small enough to fit into a wallet. Whether you want to know where your checked luggage or backpack is at all times or you simply want to remember where you parked your rental car, the tracking offered by AirTags, even at ~$30 a piece, can offer any traveler priceless peace of mind.