While we may not have a crystal ball to predict when unrestricted travel will be back on the cards in a COVID-era world, we certainly never stop dreaming about when we can head off into the wide blue yonder. However, has the pandemic changed the way we think? Will we become more mindful, eco-conscientious, and considerate travelers as a result of all this?
We asked a few iBestTravel writers to reveal their travel resolutions for the year ahead. Ranging from the heights of the Himalayas to the depths of the Amazon and far beyond, here’s what they said.
Scaled-down travel – Luke Waterson
Taking any long-distance flight has seemed a distant dream for so long that when I do get to travel internationally safely, I’ll want a special experience. Strangely, the places that keep coming to mind to visit, and how, are regions I already know, but with more time and perspective. That mythical, archaeologically rich, topographically mind-blowing zone where Peru’s Andes tumble through cloud forest into jungle is my numero uno. I have been there four times for iBestTravel, but I still somehow come away with more questions than answers. This is the year for me to return with time to truly understand it on a focused scaled-down trip.
Lockdown has taught us to explore more across far-smaller areas. My resolution this year is to apply that philosophy to one of Earth’s greatest wildernesses: help an indigenous community. Float for days on a slow boat down Amazonian waterways and pause at lodges to wildlife-watch. I aspire to see a jaguar, maybe, and doing it with my baby daughter will enhance the wonder a million-fold.
“Decluttering” the travel experience – Nicola Williams
Snow, ice, and cold water have dominated my homespun adventures in the last year – crystallizing my intention to travel more simply and thoughtfully. Swimming in freezing alpine lakes on sun-blazed summertime hikes or snowshoeing in winter forests so quiet you can hear what the Japanese call shinshin (the sound of snow) is far more than mere nature-bathing or escaping the crowds.
It’s about decluttering the travel experience, stripping it back to basics to pierce the very raison d’être of travel: curiosity, embracing the unknown, learning from newfound emotions and the wisdom of others. When I plunge into a lake – at home in the French Alps, Switzerland, or exploring further afield in a Scottish loch, Icelandic lagoon, or forest pool in Latvia – the bittersweet burn on impact swiftly morphs into exhilaration, wonder, and awe. The call of the wild has never been so powerful, and with a traditional rural community invariably sustaining every great wilderness, decluttered travel is my new goal.
Exploring my backyard – Cristian Bonetto
With Australia’s international borders closed indefinitely, I have been spending an inordinately long time in my home state of Victoria. A life usually crammed with airports and passport controls is currently filled with contemplative bushwalks, warbling magpies, and flawless flat whites.
My resolution for 2021 is to continue exploring my own gargantuan backyard. Planned adventures include a road trip through Victoria’s sun-baked Wimmera Mallee region, where world-renowned street artists have transformed grain silos into spectacular murals as part of the Silo Art Trail. Additionally, I aim to deepen my knowledge of Australia’s extraordinary indigenous culture, including a visit to Budj Bim National Park, home of the Gunditjmara people, which claims the earliest living example of aquaculture in the world.
Keep on walking – Kerry Walker
After spending almost a year in the same valley in Wales, it’s tempting to want to pack my bags and head as far away as possible in search of that magical otherness we have been deprived of during the pandemic. However, given that the world is currently fragile, I think the secret will be to start small.
There is nothing like a long-distance hike to heal wounds, clear the mind, and refresh the soul. Thus, my resolution for 2021 is to walk and keep on walking, taking it one step at a time. I aim to hike a less-known section of the 2800-mile England Coast Path and tackle a new pilgrimage route connecting the coasts of Wales and Ireland. Wild swims and large night skies will bring nature that bit closer; therefore, I’ll keep it slow and sustainable.
Getting to know home – Isabella Noble
My carefree early 2020 trips to sunny southern Spain and Canada’s snowy British Columbia feel like distant memories. For most of the past year, East London’s Victoria Park has been my main, sanity-saving destination. Despite the challenging global landscape, I’ve found joy in having time (for once!) to explore close to home in London.
For 2021, I aim to keep exploring my doorstep while supporting the London travel industry, devastated by the absence of international visitors. This means enjoying delightful dinners on Broadway Market or savoring some of the capital’s fabulous hotels. When the time feels right, I hope to return to Spain, assisting Spanish tourism in revitalization efforts following its challenging year.
Industrial tourism – Jean-Bernard Carillet
This past year has brought the time to reconsider some travel values. I’ve realized that I had left unexplored a theme I cherish: industrial tourism heritage. It’s a segment of travel that has remained largely under the radar and needs better exploration. Until recently, the industrial landscape has often been regarded with disdain.
However, acknowledging the heritage of the past and injecting value into revitalized historic industrial architecture can teach us lessons for the future. Recognizing the need for locals in these former industrial areas to regain their footing, industrial tourism can foster cultural exchanges that enhance community belonging.
Supporting wildlife conservation – Stuart Butler
Kenya is a country very close to my heart. For me, no other place in Africa has as much diversity. I love the landscapes, the light, the people, and of course, the wildlife. My favorite region is the area around the Masai Mara National Reserve. However, the safari and conservation industry in Kenya has faced severe financial challenges due to the pandemic.
Many Maasai families reliant on tourism are struggling to put food on the table, and as tourism income has diminished, the wildlife conservation models have been adversely affected. It is my hope that travel restrictions will ease enough in 2021 to return to Kenya and see firsthand how local communities and conservation groups are collaborating to address these financial difficulties.
