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8 world travelers share their New Year's resolutions for 2022

Benét J. Wilson
Benét J. Wilson
Contributor
Benét, known as the Aviation Queen, is a former senior editor at TPG who is best known for being an aviation journalist for 25-plus years. Her love affair with travel and aviation began at age 6, when her Air Force family moved from California to a military base outside of London. The family flew from JFK to London on a pretty new Pan Am 747. She was amazed when, in 1992, she got her first aviation journalism job.
Jan. 01, 2022
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5 min read
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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.

Brian Kelly, The Points Guy

(Photo by 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

David Neeleman and his wife, Eva. (Photo courtesy of David Neeleman)

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

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Monet Hambrick, The Traveling Child

(Photo courtesy of Monet Hambrick)

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

(Photo courtesy of Cory Lee)

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

(Photo courtesy of Dayvee Sutton)

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

(Photo courtesy of Ryan Patterson)

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

(Photo courtesy of Brian K. 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

(Photo by 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.

Featured image by Getty Images
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.