10 travel resolutions for 2010

Whether it is your annual vacation or just a weekend getaway, you can always do a lot more to make your holiday a more fun and refreshing experience. And as you go about making your New Year resolutions for a better, healthier you, here are 10 resolutions to help you make the best of your travels this year!

I will not take my work with me
This perhaps is the most difficult one to keep. It is hard to tell the boss that you will not be reachable during your two-week hiatus. But try.

Don't carry your laptop, switch off your cell phone and take it easy. Your vacation is supposed to be a break from the daily grind, so let it be just that!

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh

It is one thing to be prepared and quite another to pack for every eventuality no matter how remote. For instance packing heavy woolens for a summer trip to Matheran or Shimla is quite unnecessary. It is advisable to check the weather conditions and forecast before you travel.

So pack smart and pack light. Pack a few casual outfits (t-shirts, sports shoes, tracksuit), an outfit or two for a possible meal at a fancy restaurant), comfortable shoes and you should be set for most holiday spots. Leave the heavy jewellery and four pairs of black pumps for a night on the town back home.

Illustration: Rediff Archives

Taking a vacation on the spur of the moment might be fun, but may not always be possible with the demands of your job or lifestyle. So instead, take the time to plan and prepare.

Pick the dates at least a month or two in advance. This will not just help you plan your holiday well, but you might also benefit from discounted early-bird fares. This will also help you fix the best time to visit a place and scout around for other possible locations if your first choice doesn't work out.

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh

This is another tough one to keep. Who hasn't splurged on that gorgeous shawl or beautiful leather bag that you just had to have? But does it make up for the month-long cost-cutting that you will have to do to make ends meet? Or justify the hefty credit card bill you get at the end of the month?

When on vacation, carry a fixed amount of cash, an emergency stash and just one credit card (if you absolutely must). Carrying around too much ready money is just an invitation to splurge, and credit cards even more so. So pick up the odd souvenir, a few knick-knacks for the folks back home and stop at that if you've run out of moolah.

Illustration: Rediff Archives

It is wonderful to lounge by the pool and take in the rays, but spending two weeks of your holiday within the confines of your resort or hotel, may not be the best way to enjoy the place.

Take a day to travel around town, visit the sights, enjoy the local cuisine and try and learn a little about the local people/ culture. After all, if your idea of a vacation is to just relax with a cold beer, you could do that at a hotel round the corner if not at home, without the travel and at half the cost!

Illustration: Dominic Xavier

On one weekend every month, try and plan a quick getaway with family or friends or just yourself.

This could be to a nearby hill station, a water park or an organised trek. Or just explore your city -- explore the various sights and sounds that your city has to offer. This will provide a quick recharge for your batteries with little or no planning.

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh

When it comes to tourist hotspots, India has no dearth of must-visit destinations. But flying to Goa every December would just be denying yourself the pleasure of enjoying all that this country has to offer.

Instead, take a chance and visit a lesser-known beach or lake. Go online and check out travel blogs for places that you might like to see. Sure, some of these spots may not have five-star accommodation or Tandoori Chicken, but chances are they will offer you an experience quite different from your regular holidays. If not, there's always Goa.

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh

India has a ton of events and fairs all over the country, through the year. Go online, search for the events around your travel dates and pick one that interests you. For instance, the snake boat race that happens in Kerala every Onam or the Pushkar mela in Rajasthan are both huge tourist draws.

This will give you the chance to enrich your knowledge of India's diverse culture while enjoying the sights, sounds and delicious fare unique to these festivals and regions.

Illustration: Rediff Archives

Granted, adventure tourism is not for everybody. But then again, not all adventure holidays involve death-defying jumps off icy crags or tumbling head-first into bubbling rapids (although those are fun).

If you're not the outdoors type, try snorkelling or a short, morning trek or even a bird-watching jaunt. It does not have to be an activity that challenges your physical or mental strength, but one that presents you with a refreshing, new experience.

Illustration: Rediff Archives

Remember to preserve the beauty of the places you are visiting. Reduce and recycle whenever you can. Opt to stay at an eco-friendly resort if possible. Use local transport instead of hiring a car or taxi. It is important for every one of us to do what we can to protect and preserve nature and its resources.

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh