At the start of the year, we’re often bursting with hope, eager to be intentional about the year’s direction. One way is setting a roadmap for our deepest desires – that’s where goals come in. Goals are deeply personal; no two people’s goals are the same. We set them for different aspects of our lives.

While we set goals for careers, relationships, personal growth, and so on; some of us often forget to set goals for travel. Despite the burning desire to travel, our passports often collect dust, used merely for identification. For those who set goals, they might be vague and not actionable enough, like taking a first trip or taking more trips.

If you’re tired of falling short on travel goals or starting for the first time but don’t know how this comprehensive guide has got you covered. It takes you through the process of setting and achieving goals. Ready to smash your travel goals? Let’s begin.

What are travel goals? 

Travel goals are specific, measurable, and achievable objectives you set for your travel experiences. These goals can encompass a wide range of aspirations, from visiting certain destinations to engaging in specific activities during your trip.

They go beyond the desire to travel and are actionable steps to achieve that desire within a set timeframe. This structured and intentional approach helps plan effectively.

 

Why is setting travel goals important?

According to Health Direct, setting goals is important because it lets us imagine the kind of life we want. Once we have a goal, we usually put more time and effort into it, coming up with effective strategies to make it happen.

Setting travel goals is powerful as it helps you stay laser-focused on what you want to achieve travel-wise. Similar to how you set fitness goals to stay healthy and accountable throughout the year, travel goals act as motivators for new adventures, cultural appreciation, and stepping out of your comfort zone. They keep you motivated and excited as you plan to check off dream destinations from your bucket list.

This purposeful approach provides a clear roadmap, allowing you to channel your energy into specific destinations that contribute meaningfully to your overall travel journey. It adds depth to your experiences by enabling you to prioritize activities and destinations aligning with your interests and travel aspirations.

Another reason is that travel goals serve as a blueprint for planning and budgeting. With a clear vision of where you want to go and what you want to do, you can allocate resources wisely. This results in more effective and realistic budgeting, enabling efficient savings, prioritizing expenses, and making the most of your financial resources to achieve your travel aspirations without unnecessary financial stress.

 

How to Set Clear and Meaningful Travel Goals

Know your travel score

To start, let’s understand what a travel score is. It’s the cumulative score of all your destinations that you can use to increase your chances of getting visas to visit more countries. By analyzing your travel history, you can figure out your travel score. Simply put, the more countries you’ve visited, the higher your travel score; conversely, the fewer countries you’ve visited, the lower your travel score. Think about it this way, someone who has been to 20+ countries has a higher score than someone who has visited just 1 or 2. A higher score makes it easier to obtain visas for destinations like the Schengen visa, USA visa, and more. It serves as proof that you can visit a country and return to your home country once your visa period is over. To know your travel score, you need to be brutally honest with yourself. 

Learn more about travel scores in this blog post and how to build yours if you have little to no travel experience. 

Choose your destination(s) 

Choosing a destination goes beyond saying, “I want to travel to Japan”. There are some factors you should consider to choose the best destination especially if you have limited resources and a strict budget. Find some of the best tips for choosing an ideal travel destination below. 

• Visa requirements

One crucial aspect of choosing a destination is its visa requirements. Stay informed about current travel guidelines, visa requirements, and entry restrictions for your desired destinations. If you have a low travel score, you can start by prioritizing neighbouring countries or visa-free destinations. 

• It should align with your travel purpose 

When selecting your destination, prioritize places that align with your trip’s purpose. Is it for relaxation, a family getaway, a trip with friends, or a romantic vacation? Some destinations are better suited for specific experiences, such as group trips or romantic getaways.

• Focus on experiences and activities

Next, consider what experiences and activities resonate with you. Are you going for cultural immersion through food and cultural celebrations? Are you a history buff? Does haggling in the markets, and shopping till you drop excite you? Are you an adrenaline junkie? Do you live and breathe for nature? Each experience and activity you choose during your trip should fulfill your desires allowing you to craft a travel itinerary that brings joy.

• Research when to go

Another factor you should consider when choosing destinations is the seasons of your destination country; do you want to travel during the dry season or wet (cold) seasons? Each season has its pros and cons so be sure to research well before choosing the season to travel. 

• Pair countries

While choosing your destinations, pairing countries can be beneficial.  For example, you can combine Ghana and Togo in a single trip. After leaving Ghana, you can make a road trip or fly to Togo for a few days, saving costs due to proximity and it is less stressful than if you were to visit another time from your country.

• Be flexible

A key thing to remember is to maintain flexibility in your destination choices. Have a primary list of dream destinations but be open to alternatives based on your budget or when unexpected opportunities come.

For more information about countries, visit our destinations page. It provides essential details for informed decision-making, including visa requirements, when to go, how to get around, bucket list experiences, budget expectations, where to stay, paired countries, and things to know.

 

Craft a realistic travel budget

The cornerstone of any travel plan lies in a realistic budget. When creating your travel budget, factor in elements like flight costs, accommodation expenses, daily spending, and unforeseen expenses. Crafting a budget aligned with your financial capabilities ensures that your travel aspirations remain both exciting and achievable.

• Understand your financial situation

Calculate your finances and be realistic when saving and budgeting for your goals. If your current income isn’t sufficient, consider picking up side gigs to supplement it. Alternatively, adjust your goals to match your income reality—perhaps by reducing your desired destinations from three to two or even one trip.

• Prioritize savings

If you’re from a country with a “weak passport,” there is a possibility your currency might be weak too. Think about saving for your trips in foreign currency, especially in dollars. Now, to save for the trip itself, break down your trip into manageable savings goals. Begin by calculating all expenses—visas, accommodation, food, flights, transportation, souvenirs for loved ones, and other costs. Once you determine the total trip cost (e.g., $1,500 or the equivalent in your local currency), break it down into the number of months you need to save realistically with your current finances. For example, if you set aside $250 monthly, you’ll need to save for six months. You can automate your savings to make sure you meet your monthly savings goal without having to do it manually. 

• Consider group trips

To cut costs, think about joining group trips. You can save on costs like accommodation and transportation by travelling with others. At Kaijego, we believe in “Come as strangers, leave as friends,” and our group trips reflect that. Beyond cost savings, you’ll connect with amazing people. Check our group trips page to find a trip for your 2024 travel goals.

• Explore off-peak seasons

To maximize your budget yet have an authentic and relaxed experience, plan trips during off-peak seasons. Exploring destinations during these times often results in significant savings. Flights and accommodations are more affordable, and you can enjoy popular attractions with fewer crowds.

• Budget trips

If you’re on a budget trip, consider destinations and activities offering value for money. Explore alternatives to expensive tourist hotspots, such as discovering hidden gems, local markets, and affordable accommodations. This way, you can get the most out of your budget without compromising on a rich travel experience.

 

Create a travel calendar

Set aside time for travel just as you would for a meeting or hanging out with friends. Prioritizing your travel goals becomes easier when you have a well-defined timeline, bringing structure to your planning process. Every destination and experience is chosen with intentionality.

Before creating your travel calendar, take a moment to reflect on your travel goals for the year. Identify destinations and experiences on your must-experience list. Understanding these aspirations lays the foundation for a purposeful travel calendar. Creating a travel calendar involves balancing time and priorities. Consider the duration of your trips, the number of destinations you want to visit, and the balance between relaxation and exploring. 

• Set SMART goals

When crafting your goals, they should be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound). It’s not enough to say “I want to visit Ghana in 2024” or “I want to go to 3 countries before the end of the year”. Avoid vague statements like these that do not convey the urgency that will take your goal from an idea to reality. 

Try this instead: “I want to visit Ghana in March for 3 weeks on a $2,000 budget.” or “I want to go on a road trip to 3 West African countries and spend a week each during my leave in August for $3,000 ”. 

Make sure these goals are what you wish for but reflect your current financial reality. By applying the SMART criteria, you refine your aspirations into clear, attainable objectives that streamline your focus.

• Divide your calendar into monthly, quarterly or by half a year overviews

You should create a travel calendar to help you envision when you want to travel. You can assign goals to specific months. For example: January is for planning and researching destinations, February is for researching savings apps and starting your savings journey, and March is for purchasing travel essentials.

Another approach is to adopt the corporate world’s quarterly goal-setting. In the corporate world, each year is assigned by quarters; Q1 (January-March), Q2 (April-June), Q3 (July-September) and Q4 (October-December). Here’s a way to use this:  Plan and research in Q1, save in Q2 and Q3, and go on your dream trip in Q4. Adjust this on a personal level, considering your leave period or assigning a country per quarter if you can. 

Alternatively, if you plan to visit 2 countries, you can plan to go on one during H1 (First half of the year from January to June) and the other one in H2 (Second half of the year from July to September).

Whether you choose the monthly, quarterly, or half-year travel calendar, this approach helps you achieve your travel goals quickly without undue pressure.

• Be strategic if you work a 9-5

Creating time to travel when you work a typical 9-5 can seem like a distant fantasy but with strategic planning, it doesn’t have to be one.

One of the most efficient ways for 9-5ers to embark on a quick getaway is by planning trips during the weekends, especially long weekends. Instead of staying home to do chores or solely resting, leverage your long weekends you can go for a short trip to a neighboring city or country for some well-deserved relaxation with a different view.

With strategic planning around public holidays or taking a Friday or Monday off, you can turn a regular two-day weekend into a refreshing three or four-day adventure.  A great time to do this is to take a break during the Easter holidays and return to work after a relaxing vacation on Tuesday.

Consider exploring flexible work arrangements with your employer. Some companies allow employees to work remotely or adopt flexible schedules. Negotiating such arrangements can provide the freedom to travel without sacrificing your professional responsibilities.

Don’t underestimate the power of well-planned leave or paid time off (PTO). While it might be tempting to save up your leave days, allocating them strategically can result in extended vacations.

 

To wrap this up, setting travel goals provides a sense of purpose and direction. They should be intentional and should reflect what you want to achieve during the year travel-wise. By choosing your destination yet being flexible about it, crafting a realistic budget, and creating a travel calendar to achieve your goals; you will be able to achieve your travel plans this year. 

 

How we can help you achieve your travel goals

Kaijego provides personalized services that can be tailored to your travel goals for the year, ensuring a well-planned and executed journey to your dream destination. Contact us through this form for us to achieve your travel goals together.