8 world travelers share their New Year's resolutions for 2022
As we hurtle toward the end of 2021, there's one more thing you might want to do: Make some New Year’s resolutions. In 2022, you may pledge to use your points and miles to travel more — and even try to hit up some bucket-list destinations.
We asked a group of travel influencers and globe-trotters for their 2022 travel resolutions to give you some inspiration. Whether you already recognize some of these jet-setters, solo travelers and AvGeeks or they are new to you, be sure to follow them on their journeys in the new year.
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Brian Kelly, The Points Guy
Home base: New Hope, Pennsylvania.
New Year’s travel resolution: Visit Peru, take a trip with my parents and scuba dive in Raja Ampat, Indonesia, if/when it reopens.
Current travel statistics: In 2021, Brian visited 20 countries, eight states and flew 91,605 miles.
David Neeleman, Breeze Airways founder
Home base: Park City, Utah.
New Year’s travel resolution: To travel to the Maldives and hit my last three U.S. states — North and South Dakota and West Virginia.
Current travel statistics: I've traveled to 37 countries and been to 47 U.S. states.
Related: Breeze unveils its first expansion, adds new cities in Florida and New York
Monet Hambrick, The Traveling Child
Home base: Miami.
New Year’s travel resolution: To take my children to another African country, as I try to take them to a different one each year. We follow the deals, so we'll book which one has one. So far we've visited Kenya for $480, Morocco for $400 round-trip and we're going to Egypt for Christmas for 58,000 Delta Skymiles.
Current travel statistics: 26 states and 41 countries.
Cory Lee, CurbFreeCoryLee.com
Home base: LaFayette, Georgia.
New Year’s travel resolution: To go on a round-the-world trip. I have wanted to do a RTW trip for years, but as a wheelchair user, it’s challenging to plan accessibility for so many destinations in one trip. But in 2022, I’m vowing to finally make it happen. For now, I’m thinking I’ll start in Tokyo and then go to Dubai, Egypt and probably a couple destinations in Europe. I’m only in the early stages of planning it, but it already has me super excited for 2022’s travel plans.
Current travel stats: 32 states and 39 countries.
Dayvee Sutton, Emmy award-winning travel/lifestyle journalist
Home base: Atlanta, but currently nomadic in Mexico.
New Year’s travel resolution: To travel slower. I find more value in being able to stay at a destination longer — it's more sustainable, too. There are fewer emissions, and I get to immerse in a local community and meet friends. This allows me to tell deeper, more comprehensive stories.
Current travel statistics: I'm not really a country counter, because my goal is driven by my unusual experiences and local cultures. But I've been to 32 countries and 36 states.
Ryan Patterson, @diecastryan
Home base: Washington, D.C.
New Year’s travel resolution: I see more traveling with my family. My sister has never flown business class before, so I am surprising her with a spring break trip in Thailand on points.
Current travel statistics: All 50 states and 31 countries.
Brian Oliver, Beyond Bmore
Home base: Baltimore, Maryland.
New Year’s travel resolution: To hopefully make up for lost time during the last almost two years and get back out into traveling as often as I became used to. I plan to reschedule trips to Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Zanzibar. I also hope to see more of the U.S., particularly states that I have not yet visited. With the pandemic and restrictions changing daily, this may not be possible. However, I plan to travel as safely as possible and adhere to all rules within the U.S. and international destinations.
Current travel statistics: Nearly 60 countries and more than 20 states.
Jen Ruiz, Jen on a Jet Plane
Home base: Humacao, Puerto Rico.
New Year’s travel resolution: To see a World Wonder — I already have plans to see the Pyramids of Giza in early January — and explore an off-the-beaten-path place like Easter Island or the Galapagos.
Current travel stats: 35 countries, six continents and 31 states.
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How we chose these cards
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 10x | Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. |
| 5x | Earn 5x total points on flights through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. |
| 3x | Earn 3x points on other travel and dining. |
| 1x | Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
If you are looking to take your premium rewards to the highest level, this card is really a no brainer in our eyes. Chase's Ultimate Rewards make points easy to redeem, with a wide range of 10 airline and three hotel transfer partners and a friendly user interface. Despite the high annual fee, Chase is consistently adding new benefits to keep the card competitive in a fierce premium rewards field.Pros
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year
- Access to Chase Ultimate Rewards hotel and airline travel partners
- Unlimited 3x points on the broad category of travel and dining
- 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Broad definitions for travel and dining bonus categories
Cons
- Steep $550 annual fee
- May not make sense for people that don't travel frequently
- You must spend the $300 travel credit before earning 3x points for travel and dining
- No automatic hotel elite status
- Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,200 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 80,000 points are worth $1,200 toward travel
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
Rewards Rate
| 10x | Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. |
| 5x | Earn 5x total points on flights through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. |
| 3x | Earn 3x points on other travel and dining. |
| 1x | Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases |
Intro Offer
Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,200 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®80,000 bonus pointsAnnual Fee
$550Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.740-850Excellent
Why We Chose It
If you are looking to take your premium rewards to the highest level, this card is really a no brainer in our eyes. Chase's Ultimate Rewards make points easy to redeem, with a wide range of 10 airline and three hotel transfer partners and a friendly user interface. Despite the high annual fee, Chase is consistently adding new benefits to keep the card competitive in a fierce premium rewards field.Pros
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year
- Access to Chase Ultimate Rewards hotel and airline travel partners
- Unlimited 3x points on the broad category of travel and dining
- 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Broad definitions for travel and dining bonus categories
Cons
- Steep $550 annual fee
- May not make sense for people that don't travel frequently
- You must spend the $300 travel credit before earning 3x points for travel and dining
- No automatic hotel elite status
- Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,200 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 80,000 points are worth $1,200 toward travel
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more