Lots of people would absolutely love to travel more, but sadly, few actually end up doing it. For many, there’s always some obstacle that gets in the way, like thinking they don’t have enough money or vacation time.

I’ve had those same hesitations, so I get it. But if you really want to travel more, you can make it happen, and you definitely don’t need to wait years to do it. Here are all the ways you can go on some exciting new adventures in 2023.

1. Start planning now

The best way to turn traveling from a dream into reality is to start seriously planning it. If you’re just hoping to travel more next year, without taking any action, you probably won’t end up doing anything differently than before. When you figure out where you want to go, how much money you’ll need, and when you’ll do it, you’re much more likely to follow through.

2. Set up a travel savings fund

Money is usually the main reason that people don’t travel as much as they’d like. It’s a good idea to set up savings specifically for travel so that you don’t need to go into debt to take a trip.

If you haven’t already, open a high-yield savings account, since these offer the highest interest rates. You can normally set up multiple sub-savings accounts toward different goals. So, make a sub-account with a name like “Travel Fund,” and start transferring money to it every month.

3. Find expenses you can cut back on

When you hear about someone who travels all the time, you might wonder, “How do they do it?” There’s hardly ever a real secret. They’ve made traveling a priority, and they don’t spend much on other expenses so that they have more to spend on it.

To free up more money for your travel savings, look for ways to cut expenses elsewhere in areas that aren’t as important to you. For example, if you’re always buying the latest smartphones and other devices, consider whether you’d rather have those or that trip to Europe you’ve always dreamed of.

4. Look for remote working opportunities

One great way to make travel work for you financially is by working remotely while on your trips. Consider looking at job boards with remote work or seeing if there’s a way to work remotely at your current job, even if it’s just from time to time.

I know that working while you travel probably doesn’t sound like the most appealing thing in the world. Trust me, you can have a fantastic time on a vacation while getting some work done, as well. And working remotely makes it possible to travel much more than if you were taking time off for every trip.

5. Open a travel credit card

A travel credit card earns rewards that you can redeem toward travel purchases, such as airfare and hotel stays. Many of the best travel credit cards also include lots of other perks, like points you can transfer to different airlines and hotels or access to airport lounges. The right card, or perhaps multiple credit cards, could help you travel at a much lower cost.

6. Visit places in the offseason

Prices are normally much lower when you visit destinations in their offseasons. For example, Europe is most expensive during the summer, but you can have just as much fun visiting in the spring or fall. For trips to popular destinations, be flexible about when you go, and you have a much better chance of finding cheap travel opportunities.

7. Sign up for travel deal alerts

There are lots of places where you can get alerts on the latest travel deals. These work especially well if you’re flexible about when you travel. Here are a few of the most popular places to set up travel alerts:

• Skyscanner
• Kayak
• Google Flights
• Hopper
• Scott’s Cheap Flights

8. Go on shorter trips

Not every trip needs to be a big, two-week vacation somewhere far away from home. One of the easiest ways to travel more often is to add shorter trips that you can take over a long weekend. Look for places that are within driving distance or that you can reach with a quick flight. These are a nice way to get a break from your normal routine without spending much time or money.

9. Consider more affordable destinations

There are travel destinations to fit pretty much any budget. If you want to travel somewhere without breaking the bank, it’s all a matter of choosing the right place. You could try Latin America or Southeast Asia, both of which offer lots of incredible and affordable places to visit.

Or, if there’s a specific country you want to visit, try going somewhere other than the most popular tourist attraction. Sure, Paris is far from cheap, but there are plenty of other cities that will allow you to experience France without paying nearly as much.

10. Spend smart while you travel

It’s easier to travel often if you get good at managing your money while you’re away from home. But if you spend too much, then you’ll probably need to wait a while before you can afford another trip.

My preferred approach is to find a middle ground between budget-friendly options and splurging. I’ll go to some nice restaurants and spring for more expensive activities that really interest me. However, I’ll also buy food to eat at my hotel, find cheaper places to grab a bite, and do low-cost activities, like visiting parks and museums.

Traveling doesn’t need to be something you dream about doing years in the future. If you make it a priority, and you follow the right tips, you’ll be able to visit plenty of new places in 2023.

Maybe you have one of those internal thermostats. If your home’s indoor temperature is even 1 degree cooler than usual, you get a chill. And if it’s 1 degree warmer than normal, you register that, too. Whether your body is sensitive to temperature changes or you’re prone to picking up bugs, it’s normal to be a little worried about staying healthy while you travel. After all, you’ll probably be frequently moving from indoors to out, pushing through changes in humidity, and maybe climbing on and off airplanes, where you may be sitting near an infectiously ill person for a long period of time, per Inside Science.

Couple these influences with some natural travel hiccups, such as erratic sleep and unusual food, and it becomes clear that it’s wise to take proactive steps to stay healthy while you travel. Because as fun as travel can be, there’s no denying it can tax your body and play upon a weakened immune system, Complete Care says.

Health experts are remarkably consistent in offering advice, which should bolster your confidence — and ensure you look back on happy and healthy travels.

Conquer jet lag

Jet lag may seem like the absolute worst way to begin a vacation. But actually, it could be worse: Trying to beat jet lag by “knocking yourself out” with alcohol will make it worse, as will pumping yourself up with caffeine, Advanced Infectious Disease Medical says.

Before jet lag triggers a domino effect — from fatigue to sickness — do your best to adjust as best you can to the current time zone. Your goal is to make the adjustment as soon as possible while drinking plenty of water. It will keep you hydrated, along with aiding in digestion and detoxing bacteria from your bladder, Harvard Medical School explains.

Pack a first-aid kit

The guy standing in line with a portable first-aid kit may attract chuckles, much like that kid in grade school who made people laugh with his bulging pencil case. But remember how many people ended up relying on that resourceful kid?

Complete Care recommends following this practical lead by either buying a ready-made first aid kit or assembling your own with over-the-counter pain relievers, anti-nausea meds, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, and anti-bacteria wipes. Bring your usual meds, too, and keep your kit with you rather than tucking it in a carry-on.

Keep your hands clean

Whether you’re at home or traveling, hand washing is the best way to protect yourself from germs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises. The necessity for keeping your hands clean is magnified when you’re on the road, since the potential for touching germy substances increases, too. Be especially careful not to touch your nose, eyes, and mouth with dirty hands.

Soap and running water can be hard to find, so keep a travel-size bottle of hand sanitizer with you at all times, the U.S. Travel Insurance Association recommends.

Stay hydrated

Heat stroke is probably more common than you think — and it strikes with lightning speed. It can take only 15 minutes for the body’s internal temperature to soar to 106 degrees Fahrenheit in the hot, stifling sun, per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And then all types of maladies can occur, including loss of consciousness.

Keep your body cool by making a water bottle your constant travel companion. Since you can lose track of your water intake in a snap while you travel, New York-Presbyterian’s website Health Matters recommends starting the day by downing two glasses of water so you can get a jump on this good habit.

Walk or bike, but move

It can be a challenge to tip the scales just right when it comes to food. You don’t want to fall asleep completely exhausted from exertion but you don’t want to be stuffed to the gills from overeating, either. Maintaining a steady amount of exercise by walking during your travels will keep your blood flowing and ensure you stay balanced and healthy, Travel Bugs World explains.

Plus, there’s nothing quite like visiting a new town or tourist attraction on foot (or, if you prefer, by bike). It takes longer, which fitness enthusiasts often say is precisely the point.

Get plenty of rest

If you’ve ever heard someone who has just returned from vacation announce that they now need a vacation, you can be almost certain they overdid it while they were gone. You may never know whether they ate too much, drank too much, or danced too much, but chances are they didn’t sleep enough. And this is exactly when people are most likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus — when they already feel tired and run down, Mayo Clinic says.

No one says you have to go “lights out” by 10 p.m. every night while you’re away, but getting seven or eight hours of sleep will help your immune system recharge and stay resilient.

Eat nutritious food

If you equate traveling to adventure, then you may make some thrilling food choices while you’re away. It’s part of the fun of having an adventurer’s spirit. But there are limits while you travel, especially if you assume your digestive system will be okay with you eating anything you want and as much as you want, all hours of the day.

Be sure to send postcards to your nearest and dearest if this occurs. You should have plenty of time to address them as you roll on the bed, clutching your stomach in pain.

To avoid that, stick to a nutritious diet while you travel, You’ll give your body one less reason to revolt on the way home.

A decade ago, social media opened us to a wide range of careers that no one could have imagined. Because of the allure of these online platforms, people have begun to not only pursue their passions but also to make money from them. The term ‘social media influencer’ was coined and has since evolved into many varieties. Influencers were present on every beat, from cuisine to fashion. In fact, we were quickly introduced to ‘travel influencers,’ people who not only travel but also motivate others to appreciate, discover, and take in the globe. In actuality, one of the most popular searches on Google was ‘how to become a travel blogger’.

Many people aspire to make travelling their full-time employment in order to pursue their passion. Of course, it’s a dream, but in order to realise it, one must have a solid grasp of Instagram’s effective practises. Rasmus Peter Kristensen, a travel influencer with over a million followers and owner of the handle ‘Resort,’ claims, ‘People who are passionate about travelling can become digital nomads and grow their travel Instagram following, becoming successful travel influencers. But getting the appropriate photos is crucial if you want to increase your following.’

He and his wife tour the world while he tries to discover the kinds of visuals that people will find appealing. Sometimes, he just goes with his gut, thinking that he is presenting the world in a lovely way that the audience would undoubtedly find appealing.

1. Find Your Niche

No travel influencer can become a successful travel handle by simply uploading photos and videos to Instagram. A person needs to find their area of expertise and research the topics they hope to affect. Luxury, health and wellbeing, adventure, hiking, gastrotourism, winter destinations, and many other topics are all examples of travel niches. Rasmus thinks that choosing a certain travel specialisation can help someone gain some expertise on that subject, and by fusing their personal flair with the writing, they can set themselves apart from other professionals in the field.

2. Use Creativity When Taking Photos:

Pictures by themselves can convey a lot about an experience. Rasmus contends that a top travel influencer should therefore develop their photographic talents and contribute to the production of eye-catching visual content for their travel website.

3. Demonstrate Your Video Skills:

How powerful can a well-produced video be if images can convey so much without using words? ‘In addition to the ability to create an IGTV, Instagram also includes a feature called Reels that enables you to create short videos. One can easily add additional effects to the content using Instagram’s tools. Additionally, adding the correct music merely makes travel-related stuff more appealing ‘, he says.

4. Establish A Brand On Instagram:

Many people’s attention can be drawn in by the original, creative, and motivational travel content. Additionally, it is crucial to consistently update fresh, eye-catching images and videos. ‘ I designed ‘Resort’ with the goal of uniting travellers and letting them individually discover different locations across the globe via the website. You must establish a strong brand on your page so that people can connect with you ‘,he claims.

5. Pursue Collaborations:

Rasmus argues that people should build their networks even outside of social media platforms and that by collaborations, he doesn’t just mean the ones that travel influencers make on Instagram. Meeting other travel influencers and working with them to produce original content is another important aspect. As a result, you can increase your audience, your following, and the conversions you make on the shared subject they have all learnt.

6. Hashtag All The Way:

‘Travel influencers need to make the most of hashtagging their brand because they are utilised to bring everyone to one location on Instagram. Many consumers can find information shared by influencers in the travel industry by using a certain hashtag. The posts draw their attention, and they begin to follow them as a result ‘, he says.

7. Make use of Instagram Tales:

Sadly, not everyone has yet understood its importance. ‘This feature is great. Utilize this feature on the platform where for a few seconds you can give a preview of a post to people, leading them to see your post and ultimately following them,’ he says.

8. Create Your Travel Hub Account:

People who are just getting started and haven’t seen much of the world can still create their Instagram travel hub account and repost the material of several other travel explorers and influencers.

Rasmus, who has travelled, claims that being a travel influencer and earning money from Instagram are both viable, but only if a person is willing to maintain working hard, give it their all, and produce regular, unique material. Make sure to research before setting off on a journey. Being an influencer may seem elegant, but it takes a lot of commitment and effort. Read about marketing techniques, watch a lot of stuff, and get inspired, but don’t imitate it, to make your account ace. Being an influencer is a gradual process, so have patience and provide relatable material.

Off the Beaten Path

The allure of exploring unusual and abandoned places is hard to resist, and many curiosity-seekers make it a hobby. Such sites, however, may contain hazards, so it’s important to heed posted warnings and avoid spots where entry is prohibited. Still, even viewed from afar, these locales are filled with wonder and can be quite haunting.

Bodie Ghost Town

The former town of Bodie, California, now shows up on maps as Bodie State Historic Park, where visitors can visit what’s left of a Gold Rush boomtown kept purposely in a state of arrested decay.

Michigan Central Station

Detroit’s once-proud railway station has wallowed in ruins for more than two decades, a victim of the collapse of the U.S. auto industry and a faltering economy. But it won’t be that way for long. In 2018, Ford bought the property, which features an impressive 18-story tower, and renovation is underway for a scheduled 2022 opening. Plans include shops, markets, and restaurants, with office space in the tower.

Castle at Ha Ha Tonka State Park

The ruins of a 20th-century castle are one of the main highlights of this Missouri state park. The castle itself was the dream of a Kansas City businessman who died suddenly before it was finished. His sons continued the work, but the mansion was ultimately destroyed by fire. The still-standing walls have since been preserved and stabilized, making the area a unique curiosity in the Missouri Ozarks.

Pima Air and Space Museum

Many areas where unused aircraft are stored are military facilities and don’t often permit tours. The Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona is currently closed by order of the U.S. Air Force, but previously conducted “Boneyard” tours. If you’re itching to see an airplane boneyard, consider checking out the once-monthly tour held by Boneyard Safari at the Aircraft Restoration & Marketing Facility in Tucson, Arizona. Docents guide guests through a variety of aircraft, though the tour is limited to three hours due to hot weather conditions.

Sloss Furnaces

The Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham, Alabama, had a strong 90-year-run producing iron beginning in the late 1800s. Since ceasing production in 1970, the plant has been designated as a National Historical Landmark and now operates as a museum — the only one of its kind in the nation.

‘Salton Riviera’

A once-thriving resort destination not far from Los Angeles, the Salton Sea area is ripe for exploration, though some may find the putrid-smelling air — a byproduct of the sea’s heavy concentration of minerals and salts — difficult to bear. Established in the 1950s, the area touted as the “Salton Riviera” included residential areas and plenty of businesses, but a rising (and very salty) sea level led to eventual abandonment. Numerous structures from the era still exist and offer a glimpse into a different time.

Bahia Honda Rail Bridge

The Bahia Honda Rail Bridge is in the lower Florida Keys. This railroad bridge was built in 1912 and was, at the time, the only overland route to Key West. After a hurricane wreaked havoc in the area in the ’30s, it was converted to an automobile highway and eventually replaced with a new four-lane bridge, leaving the Bahia without a function — except to be a unique backdrop at the beachy Bahia Honda State Park.

Central State Mental Hospital Cemetery

Many buildings at the nearly abandoned Central State Mental Hospital in Milledgeville, Georgia, have deteriorated to the point of being unsafe and aren’t open to the public. But free tours (by appointment only) are available, providing visitors access to the notorious facility’s three cemeteries where more than 25,000 patients are buried. In addition, a driving tour of the 1,750-acre campus is offered (a museum on the ground has been closed). A memorial made up of discarded metal grave markers can be found at Cedar Lane Cemetery. The markers were once affixed above the final resting places of thousands of former patients but were tossed aside in the 1960s by groundskeepers who considered them a nuisance.

Silver City, Idaho

This former mining town was once the home to about 2,500 people and 75 businesses. Once the gold and silver mines were depleted, residents slowly abandoned the town, leaving behind many vacant but still-standing buildings. Today, Silver City is one of the few U.S. ghost towns where visitors can spend the night — at the partially restored Idaho Hotel, which features 13 rooms, although accommodations are rustic (some rooms are unheated). The town has three other businesses but no service stations or electricity; the hotel relies on solar energy for its power.

Rodney, Mississippi

Unlike many ghost towns, Rodney, Mississippi, didn’t go bust after the gold or silver mines went dry. Rather, it owes its depopulation to several calamities that include the loss of its port after the Mississippi River changed course in about 1870. Today, there’s only one serviceable road in and out of this once-thriving city, and while some homes remain in use, the businesses and churches that once dotted this small town have fallen into disrepair. Recent visitors to Rodney advise tourists to use paper maps or written directions to find the town and not rely on GPS.

Bannack, Montana

The site of Montana’s first gold discovery thrived for some time, then was abandoned when the mines petered out. After the population of the town dwindled to nothing, the state stepped in and helped preserve the area as Bannack State Park. More than 50 original buildings remain standing, most of which can be explored.

Ranch House Cafe

Located along old U.S. Route 66 in Tucumcari, New Mexico, the Ranch House Cafe fell to the wayside, despite a quirky slogan: “Good food always — Always good food.” The old marquee and closed-up building are a bittersweet and endearing sight for those retracing the Mother Road. But other businesses along the now-named Route 66 Boulevard (including numerous hotels, gas stations, and other restaurants built during the 1930s, ’40s, and ’50s) have fared better and are worth checking out, too.

Staten Island Boat Graveyard

Despite the “No Trespassing” signs, New York City’s official dumping ground for seafaring vessels is still an attraction for historians and tourists, including some who prefer to make the arduous trek by kayak. Getting to the site on land requires a 13-mile bus ride and a hike across a “makeshift path of street signs and wood planks.” Those obstacles didn’t stop the city from advertising the spot as a destination for British tourists keen on nautical oddities.

Stanley Mickelsen Safeguard Complex

Decommissioned within months after it opened in 1975, the Stanley Mickelsen Safeguard Complex in Nekoma, North Dakota, was the nation’s only operational anti-ballistic missile complex. Today, the facility remains closed, but the unique flat-topped pyramid and other structures, eerie reminders of the Cold War, are viewable from the road.

Morris Island Lighthouse

The guiding light of the Morris Island Lighthouse off the coast of South Carolina helped ships navigate the way to safety for more than 85 years, but threatened by encroaching waters, it was decommissioned 1962, after a new lighthouse was built. Save The Light, a nonprofit organization that hopes to stabilize and restore the lighthouse, now owns it. Although it’s not possible to visit the lighthouse, it can be easily viewed from Folly Beach.

Lake Shawnee Amusement Park

A West Virginia amusement park with a haunted past, Lake Shawnee was built in the 1920s on land where an early settler’s children were murdered in the late 1700s. In the 1960s, two young children died while visiting the park.

Garnet, Montana

Garnet was born during the gold rush of 1895 and home to nearly a thousand miners and homesteaders at its peak. The mines were quickly depleted and most people were gone by 1912, but two dozen wood buildings persist, making this one of the best-preserved mining towns in the U.S. It looks almost like a movie set for an Old West boomtown. Today it is owned and managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Volunteers recruited to maintain the site give tours and get free lodging in a rustic Garnet cabin, as well as a small stipend. Beware, though: They report paranormal sightings and unearthly noises in the night.

Dogpatch, Arkansas

Fans of the Li’l Abner comic strip and cartoon may remember Dogpatch as the home of all its colorful country characters. By the mid-1980s, however, Dogpatch was no longer a moneymaker — it was sold several times before closing in 1993. It was sold again in 2014, to entrepreneur Charles “Bud” Pelsor, though he’s now looking for a buyer. In 2017, an entertainment company called Heritage USA Inc. began leasing the property from Pelsor, but that arrangement has fallen apart.

Holy Land USA

Holy Land USA provided a little slice of biblical history for nearly 30 years. The 18-acre attraction opened in 1955 and quickly became a popular spot for visitors to see recreations of stories from the Bible. It closed in 1984, although there have been recent attempts to resurrect it. The park temporarily re-opened in September 2014, after a lighted cross was put up on the property. More than 1,000 people gathered there for a Mass honoring the Rev. Michael McGivney, a local priest who is a candidate for sainthood.

Ludlow, Colorado

Rather than ghost stories and local legends, this coal-mining town is the site of a real-life horror story. In 1913, thousands of miners went on strike to protest their living and working conditions, only to be kicked out by their employer. About 1,200 workers and their families built a makeshift tent city near the mine and continued to protest. In April 1914, when the miners were celebrating Greek Easter, militiamen surrounded the camp, peppering it with gunfire and setting the tents ablaze. Eleven children and two women huddled in a foxhole were among those who lost their lives as the camp burned to the ground. The Colorado Coal Strike has been called the deadliest in U.S. history, claiming between 69 and 199 lives. Today, those who visit the remains of the company town, near Trinidad, can see the foxhole and a monument to those killed in the massacre.

Hobbiton USA

It’s a long way to the Shire from here — and a long way from this eclectic recreation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s world to the rich and textured one in the Peter Jackson films. Hobbiton USA was originally built in the 1970s when the closest Tolkien had come to the big screen was the oddly charming 1978 Ralph Bakshi animated version of “The Lord of the Rings” and a Rankin/Bass cartoon TV special in 1977. The simple sculptures of the California Hobbiton, which closed in 2009, reflect those efforts. Travelers should note that here’s also the nearby Avenue of the Giants, a 31-mile stretch of highway that winds through ancient redwoods.

Williams Grove Amusement Park

Dating to 1850, Williams Grove Amusement Park in Pennsylvania remained open until 2005. Fans still post details of visits they’ve made to the park on Facebook, where photos depict the park in its heyday. Those eager for an in-person glimpse may want to visit sooner rather than later. The park reportedly has been the target of recent vandalism, altering its faded allure.