My travel bucket list isn’t too long, but it certainly does have some interesting locations on it. The idea of bucket lists is not new, but the term “Travel Bucket List” seems to have popped up about 10 years ago. It’s a specific extension of the bucket list. So what’s the importance of having a travel bucket list?
Travel is something many people find inspiring, enlightening, and a source of joy.
Personally, for me, it’s all three. Anywhere I go I want to learn (the history, food and culture), talk with people and experience all the fun stuff to do.
Having a travel bucket list, and taking it seriously, can also make you a better person. This is one of the key reasons having a travel bucket list is so important.
The Importance Of The Travel Bucket List
When you decide to be serious about achieving your travel bucket list, there are a few things that you get out of the exercise. I mentioned that setting up a travel bucket list and sticking to achieving can make you a better person.
I thought about this carefully and came up with five reasons why having a travel bucket list and working to achieve makes you a better human being.
Discipline
In order to go on a trip, you need to have the budget for it! Saving money requires discipline. Think about the effort you need to put into setting aside money to travel.
Although for some, travel is not an expensive thing. However, for most people. going on any extensive trip requires saving your money. This sometimes means not buying coffee at a coffee shop each morning. Or packed lunch instead of a fresh, hot lunch at a fast-food place.
Giving up something, or changing your habits to save for a trip requires dedication and discipline. if you fall off the routine of saving, the trip will happen later, or perhaps never at all.
Setting & Sticking To Goals
This last point is connected to the ability to set and stick to goals.
How I like to go about setting a travel goal is to look at my budget and opportunities to save. Then I determine when I’ll be able to pay for the trip.
By working towards my travel goal, I build good habits that help me in every other facet of life. The art of being patient and working hard to budget and plan my trip are skills that I can apply in work and my personal life.
Budgeting
It would be lovely to win $1 million and travel anywhere in the world I like. But the reality is that travel is a nice to have, not a necessity for most. We have a mortgage and other living expenses, so learning how to budget for a trip is key to making it happen.
Even for those who rent, the expenses are always there. So learning how to budget is another important part of having a travel bucket.
Working towards reaching travel bucket goals means you need to learn how to save, skimp and practice the art of deciding whether it’s a nice-to-have item or need-to-have item.
Learning & Exploring
When you finally reach your bucket list travel destinations, you have the joy of learning and exploring. Delving into a different culture and learning the idiosyncrasies that make a group of people so unique helps you understand that you are only a small part of a larger, diverse human ecosystem.
By exploring and trying new things, you broaden your understanding of the world. You can understand human nature better as well.
Tips For Saving For A Trip
Travel for a family of three is expensive, let alone a family of four or more. Even solo trips are expensive. So how can you save for a trip?
- Choose destinations that are close to you but far enough that you get to experience something new and different.
- Set aside as much as you can for your trip each month. For some, it’s perhaps $50/month or $100/month. The more you set aside each month, the faster the travel bucket list destination becomes a reality.
- Get a part-time job to supplement your regular income. Put whatever you earn into a separate travel savings account where you can’t easily use the money on other things.
- Seek out great online sources of income. You can run a blog and monetize it, or do online surveys. Sell your products or services!
- Use a credit card with loyalty points for travel.
- Eat in, not out. Cut down on groceries by shopping online and keeping to a budget. Purchase ingredients and make meals from scratch.
- Buy clothing in consignment shops, and peruse the clearance sections for good deals.
- Plan your trip out and seek out free experiences where possible.
- Seek entertainment options that are free or require little expense: free neighbourhood festivals, TV via an antenna (cut the cable!) and shows via streaming, free books on your iPad or Kindle (or borrowed from a library).
My Travel Bucket List
Now that we’ve laid out why having a travel bucket list is important and how you can save for your trip, I’ll share my list!
There are a few places that we’ve visited in the past 10 years that I wouldn’t mind re-visiting.
The Dominican Republic for a sunny destination would be nice for a repeat visit. This would be ideal for a relaxing vacation. I like to stay at resorts that give you some interaction with locals from which you can learn about local culture.
A longer, in-depth tour of Scotland would be amazing as well. If we have the time and budget, I would love to do a drive all around Scotland, with a long hiking excursion along the West Highland Way.
While these destinations are on the list, there are others that have been added.
Between my repeat visit list, and a list that keeps growing based on movies I’ve watched that inspire me, I have a good list going.
My Top Five Travel Bucket List Destinations
One of the other important things about having a travel bucket list is to do a bit of dreaming.
- Scotland: We had our honeymoon in the UK and Scotland and would go back in a heartbeat. We love the history, the landscape, culture, and people. And of course, the whisky.
- Iceland: For the scenery and rich Viking culture. There is something wild about the landscape that calls to me.
- Alaska: We love the outdoors and the mountains, ocean, and wilderness of Alaska calls to us. My husband visited for work in November a few years ago, and he was in love with Anchorage and the area around it within minutes. So it’s a must-visit on our list.
- Caribbean islands: I’ve been only to two so far (Cuba and the Dominican Republic), but there’s so much more to see and do. St. Maarten, Bermuda, Turks and Caicos, and the Bahamas are on the list. Another visit to the Dominican Republic would also be on this list. However, I’d like to explore more of the interior of the country including its mountain regions. These countries need some love after so many hurricanes over the past few years.
- Eastern Canada: I have yet to explore Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia,, and PEI. Attracted by the food, the history, the culture, and the landscape, these provinces are top of my Canadian bucket list. A brief visit Halifax a few years ago cemented my desire to experience this part of the country.
Finally, a visit to my parent’s homeland of Poland would also be a must-do.
While many European countries used to be on my travel bucket list, they have dropped off due to an increase in terror attacks and general increases in violence.
| RELATED: Staying In Comfort At The Delta Montreal
QUESTION: What countries are on your travel bucket list?
