The Delicious Anticipation of Your Next Trip

Travel can be frustrating. It leaves you wanting more no matter how much you’ve already had.  It gets in your head and under your skin to an almost obsessive point. When the travel bug starts a-biting it’s easy to feel like time not spent traveling is wasted time.

But with a slight change of attitude your downtime between trips can become almost exciting as traveling itself.   All you need to do is tap into the delicious anticipation of your next trip.  Where do you want to go?  When do you want to go?  How will you make it happen? Like any great event, the preparation can be half the fun.  Remember how much you enjoyed getting ready for Prom with your girlfriends or tailgating with your buddies before the big game?  This is your travel tailgate.

So how do you transform your lack-of-travel frustration into giddy anticipation?  Here are a few tips.

Throw a Pre-Travel Party

Who cares if your tickets aren’t quite booked yet?  Travel planning is the perfect excuse to get friends together and have some fun.  Make it a beach themed party if you’re hoping to soon jet off to the white sands of the Maldives, or a snow bunny party if you’re dreaming of visiting the Alps.  Serve up Margaritas at your Mexican themed party or vodka as you dream of faraway Russia.  Get yourself – and your friends – in the mood for travel with music, decorations and optional costumes that represent your next travel destination.

Set Reasonable and Measurable Travel Goals

Keep the travel planning process fun, not frustrating.  Set goals to save X amount of money in X amount of time, or to research the best places to stay by the end of the month – but make sure your goals are attainable.  Then treat yourself each time you reach one.  Managed to save $10?  Sounds like it’s time to reward yourself with by surfing a few travel sites and printing out some inspirational pictures of your destination of choice.

Push Yourself

Use your next trip to motivate yourself to do and learn new things.  Imagine yourself on the beaches of Costa Rica as you force yourself out of bed for that early morning run.  Envision yourself swirling through the streets of Buenos Aires as you finally get the guts to sign up for tango lessons.  Learn to kite surf, do origami or speak a little German before you leave to help make your trip all the more memorable.  You’ll be glad you did – and you’ll have a whole new reason to feel proud of yourself.

Enjoy the Cliché

Hoping to visit Beijing before the year is up?  Take yourself out for some Chinese food to daydream in style.  Looking to head to Cuba soon?  Spend next Friday salsa dancing the night away at the club in town.  Do the corny, cliché and fun things that get you excited to see a new part of the world.  Test out Ethiopian food at the local restaurant before jaunting off to Africa.  Watch cheesy romantic movies set in Paris before packing your beret and heading to France.

Your time between trips is an opportunity to dream, plan and enjoy the anticipation.  So go on, get excited and start that travel planning for your next adventure!