How I'll Think About my Future Travel Plans- The Adventuring Millennial

Four months and multiple postponed trips later I’m finally starting to think about traveling again.

I won’t say I’m ready to hop on a plane or book a hotel stay, but I’m at least considering future travel.

This thought doesn’t come lightly. Living through the first wave of coronavirus in NYC and losing my grandmother to COVID-19 has made me even more cautious about emerging from this quarantine.

The current Black Lives Matter Movement and my entrance into my own anti-racist work have also caused me to reflect on the ways I’ve centered white stories, restaurants, and destinations in my past travels.

When I start traveling again, I want to do things differently. Responsibility, sustainability, respect, and curiosity will be at the center of my travel decisions.

Here are eight ways my travel priorities have changed and how I’ll think about my future travel plans moving forward.

Do I Really Need to Fly Again?

Before the pandemic, I didn’t think twice about jet-setting. A day in Iceland, three days in England, then on to Spain for a few more days…sure, why not?

But having this time to pause and reflect on my travels has made me rethink this lifestyle for multiple reasons.

Short-haul flights still emit tons of CO2, which has a negative impact on the environment and climate.

Plus, jumping from country to country (or even just city to city) doesn’t give me enough time to truly appreciate the place I’m visiting.

When it is safe and responsible to travel again, I’m planning long, slow trips. I want to immerse myself in one area for weeks (or even months) at a time to reduce my harmful impacts on the environment and to truly learn about and experience the place I am visiting.

Where am I Spending my Money?

In the past, my budget drove my travel plans.

I’m not saying I’m going to have more money to spend on trips in the future. The pandemic has not been kind on the travel industry and as a freelance travel writer and trip designer, I’m still struggling for work. But I’m saying I will put more thought into where I spend my money when I make future travel plans.

I plan to prioritize local, sustainable, and environmentally-conscious businesses. I want to use my travel dollars to make a positive impact on the place I visit. Above everything else, I am moving forward with the mindset that I am a guest everywhere I go and I need to treat the destination, culture, and locals with respect and graciousness. And one part of that is being more conscious about where I spend my money.

The 3 S’s: Safe, Selfish or Sustainable?

I want to travel right now. SO. BADLY.

I miss getting a Scott’s Cheap Flight alert, booking a budget flight, and exploring somewhere new. The freedom and flexibility that came with the pre-pandemic times were incredible.

But that’s just it. These aren’t pre-pandemic times. As much as I want it to take a carefree trip right now, I just can’t. At least not as an American. Borders are closed to us for good reason. And even in our country, certain states are requiring a 14-day quarantine if you travel from a different state. We don’t have the virus under control. And the thought that I could travel somewhere as an asymptomatic carrier and infect a vulnerable individual is just not worth it to me.

As I mentioned earlier, my grandmother died in a nursing home from COVID-19 at the end of May. My family couldn’t be with her when she passed. We haven’t been able to have a funeral. I never want anyone else to experience this kind of grief and pain. And if that means I don’t get to travel until the pandemic is under control, then that is a small sacrifice I am more than willing to make.

I am not trying to come across as holier than thou or preachy. But losing a loved one to the virus has made me think deeply about every potential future travel decision.

That doesn’t mean I won’t travel again. Traveling is part of my identity- not to mention the multiple flight credits I still hope to use. But, I won’t be ready to hop on a plane again until I can do so without worrying about spreading the virus.

What are my Preconceived Notions?

During the past few weeks, I’ve taken a hard look at myself and my preconceived notions.

Especially after reading White Fragility, I asked myself if my biases and ingrained prejudices impacted my travel decisions.

The answer? Of course they had.

Why have I considered certain destinations consider “safe” or “dangerous”? Is there a reason I had a panic attack the night before my flight to Mexico City but not Sydney, Australia? (Although I felt equally “safe” in both destinations during my trip).

Moving forward, I am working to dismantle my preconceived notions about travel destinations. Of course, I won’t disregard travel warnings. But I will also not write off a destination based on an unfounded or biased opinion.

Can I Stay Longer?

I completely recognize that this is a privileged question. Travel isn’t guaranteed and staying somewhere for more than a week is expensive and often unrealistic.

But if I have the option, I’m going to extend my trips. Not just because I want a longer vacation. I’d love to stay long enough so I can get a break and also work remotely on my trips.

Staying in one place longer will make it more worth it to take a flight and will also let me travel more sustainably. I’ll get the chance to really dig in and learn more about the culture instead of just checking off the Top 10 List and leaving.

What is my Impact?

Along the same lines, I really want to focus on my impact.

When I travel, I don’t want to just take.

I want to do everything I can to be more sustainable. And that doesn’t just mean staying in sustainable accommodations and taking fewer flights. It also means focusing on being a respectful and responsible traveler.

I want to help break the stereotype of American travelers as rude, selfish, loud, culturally insensitive, and environmentally harmful. I like to think I’ve already focused on this but I am doubling down moving forward.

As I mentioned earlier, a huge part of this has to do with money. So when I look at the impact of my future trips, I will research where it is going and determine how I can make sure it is staying in the local community I am visiting.

Screw the Bucket List

Multiple presenters focused on this concept during the 2020 New York Times Travel Show. As someone who has visited countless bucket list-worthy destinations, this was a tough concept to accept.

But if I want to be a more sustainable and impactful traveler, I need to think about the destinations I want to visit. If my visit is destroying the destination, it just doesn’t seem like that’s where I need to go.

Instead, I want to focus on more authentic and less-trafficked destinations moving forward. I want to have a positive (or at least neutral) impact when I am welcomed as a guest into a new place.

How Can I Learn?

I love learning. Always have, always will.

Travel is one of the best ways to learn and I want to continue keeping this at the forefront of my trips.

During a trip, I have the opportunity to learn from locals through food, museums, and community experiences. But I will no longer take these for granted. People are not obligated to teach me so I will acknowledge the gift they are giving when they want to share their culture and traditions with me.

And I will continue to ask, over and over, how I can engage respectfully and sustainably.

I’d love to hear how you are thinking about your future travel plans. Have the past few months made you think about these differently?

If you are not quite ready to make a future travel plan just yet, here are some virtual travel itineraries you can follow from home:

Virtual Travel: 5 Itineraries To Help You Explore the World From the Comfort of Your Home

Online Travel Itineraries: 5 NEW Places to Explore While Staying Home