It’s almost two weeks into 2026! Have you gotten started on listing or working on your New Year’s resolution yet?
If not, no worries! In the spirit of this travel-centred blog, I’ll be sharing some of my travel-related resolutions that will hopefully inspire some of yours.
Before we started, when it comes to travel resolutions, always remember – be realistic, be kind and most of all – have fun!
Chill with the Overtourism
Travelling in the post-pandemic era has never been easier.
Sadly, the issue of overtourism only grew in 2025, whether it’s new regulations for Mount Fuji and Kyoto’s geisha districts or frustrated Europeans protesting short-term rentals for tourists.
For 2026, I aim to lessen this negative perception of travellers in my own little way.
Choosing less-travelled destinations (ever heard of Mount Nokogiri?) and slower itineraries, staying and shopping more at local businesses or simply respecting local customs and boundaries – I aim to leave my destinations and the people who live there a tiny bit happier.
Explore More Local Destinations
Photo: photodharma.net
Going for a Viennese vacation or a Seoul ski holiday may sound glamorous, but who says Malaysia can’t offer travel spots that are just as compelling, and for half the budget!
Even in the well-trodden routes of West Malaysia, I dream of visiting the slumbering tin mining towns of the Kinta Valley – all accessible by KTM’s ETS rail service. The East Coast also still holds some increasingly rare stargazing opportunities.
Meanwhile, in East Malaysia, you have the UNESCO-recognized caves and highlands, sombre WW2 sites and, of course, world-class diving destinations!
Better yet, with tax relief incentives kicking in to promote Visit Malaysia 2026, there’s never been a better time to travel local!
Explore Beyond My Comfort Zones
Travelling around Malaysia or our culturally diverse Asian neighbours may be easy vacation plans, but for 2026, I hope to expand my horizons to further afield.
To take part in the diverse festivals of India, to watch the thunderous Great Migration in Tanzania or maybe hike through even the majestic grasslands of Patagonia – there is still so much to see and do out there!
This is particularly so if you share my hobby of photography. I’ve only picked up some travel photography basics as well as some tips and tricks recently, so here’s to more wild and wondrous sights for your lens and mine!
Get Better at Travel Budgeting
Everyone who has ever planned and budgeted their own holiday knows how hard (and futile) it is to stick to your own budget.
Pricey meals, overpriced souvenirs and sudden “must-buys” that are all obfuscated by exchange rate blindness and the holiday mood.
So, for 2026, if I’m not scoping out budget-friendly destinations or those with favourable exchange rates, I pledge to at least write down my expenses for future reference (and for some convenient buyer’s remorse).
Take Better Care of My Health
Yes, health-related New Year’s resolutions are a cliché that’s been done to death, but seriously – how are you going to enjoy your holiday if you’re feeling sick?
Even before you enter the airport, you can keep yourself fit and healthy for your vacation by eating and sleeping right or, if you’re travelling in winter, prepping your immune system with the annual flu vaccine.
And once you’ve arrived, staying warm during winter, keeping hydrated for summer heatwaves or even learning basic preparedness for natural disasters like tsunamis can serve you and your well-being well in 2026 travels.
And for the food-loving Malaysians out there, maybe slow down on the yummy Xinjiang street foods or Shandong’s Tsingtao beer. You wouldn’t want to have post-holiday weight regrets, would you?
Getting all pumped up by these travel resolutions? Maybe check out some of our recent guides to spring flowers in Europe, Winter Olympics host cities or regional sakura spots in Japan!
