Travel bucket list
I keep an ongoing travel bucket list that I tweak as the time passes. This bucket list allows me to make plans financially and helps me budget for trips and vacations. I usually plan the following year’s vacations and then keep in mind larger abroad trips that we want to take. Today I am sharing my long and short term bucket lists and where we plan to vacation this year and next.
Short term travel plans
I typically map out our vacations about a year in advance if they are within the United States. With the children’s school schedule in mind, I am able to plan some time away so we do not wait to long between vacations. Vacations allow us to spend some nice quality time as a family away from stressors and work factors and help us recharge. It allows the children to spend some long periods of time with their daddy who usually works out of town during the week. It renews us as a family unit. Now until we make reservations whether hotel or rental house, these vacations plan might change but we usually stick to them.This is what our next 12 months travel plans look like:
- October fall break: long weekend at Uncle’s at the lake (tentative plan depending on hubby work schedule and uncle). We will bring food, have fun on the lake, fish and maybe plan a couple excursions such as the flea market and maybe visiting a state park. Mostly we plan to visit and relax and enjoy uncle’s company as well as each other’s.
- Thankgiving break: week at the beach with sis in law, cannot wait: we had a blast last year!
- Spring break: 5 days in St Louis taking advantage of all the free museum, zoo, botanical gardens. We plan to visit the City Museum which is supposed to be awesome. We will use our hotel points for lodging and free breakfast and I will need to research budget friendly places for lunch and dinner (maybe find some children eat free places, food trucks for lunch would be cool!). I will be sure to reach out to Carrie at Curly Crafty Mom for suggestions!
- Summer break: free activities around home, visit to Missouri to see our friends, the pool!
Most of these will require saving for food and some fun activities as well as gas but nothing like airplane tickets and hotel rooms (I already have saved for the lodging at the beach), so it will allow us to put more money aside for future big trips.
Long term travel plans
Now this list is by no means set in stone. Many events could change these hopes/plans but writing these down helps me be accountable of how I spend our money and allows me to set some saving goals.
- 2021: Costa Rica
- 2022: New Orleans, beach
- 2023: Spain and France
- 2024: beach and somewhere in US
- 2025: solo trip to meet my friend on an island to celebrate our 50th birthdays!
- 2025: beach and somewhere in US
- 2026: beach and somewhere in US
- 2027: 25th anniversary cruise to Alaska for me and hubby
Yes, you have read the list correctly, I have mapped out the next 8 years! The reason I did that is that to afford any trip abroad, I need a couple years of savings to make those trips happen. Now, will we be able to make these vacations a reality? Only God knows in his wisdom. Family, work related events, hardships could prevent some or all of these trips!
However with goals in mind, I can prepare for the possibility of these trips and save accordingly, making cuts in my budget, prioritizing how to spend money on non necessities!
A bientôt!
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30 Comments
Kathrine Eldridge
Now that’s planning ahead! I think it’s such a good idea to do this. I think it helps with budgeting especially. Costa Rica is amazing!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
mimifce
I think it really does help me with budgeting. Expenses will come along like buying a newer car, making a home improvement but with a plan in mind it is much easier to make these vacations happen!
Christina
It’s just crazy to me how organized you are Mireille. Any tips about how to be organized like you?
mimifce
Christina, I would probably start with just one area to be organized in. Maybe it is planning vacation, keeping one part of your house organized.. And I think some people’s traits are probably to be more organized than others. Others have to work at it more. I go crazy if I am not organized! So just start with one thing!
Gail
You’re very organized Mireille, a woman after my own heart! I’ve booked our summer holiday for June next year in Greece plus a couple of visits to my mother in Devon. I’d like to set up more long weekends but my husband, who’s retired, is forever booking cycling or walking holidays so it’s difficult to grab the time! Thanks for linking up at #WowOnWednesday.
mimifce
If I don’t plan and organize we would be home and I am a traveler at heart. We usually book our international trips about 8 months in advance and the rest just a few months before unless it is a big trip. It also gives me something to look forward.
Jennifer
I’d love to go to Costa Rica!
Jennifer
Effortlessly Sophisticated
mimifce
I have heard it is beautiful!
Grace Liang
I love the idea of having a travel bucket list! I’ll need to make one for myself! 🙂
https://colorandgrace.com
mimifce
Yes you do!
Veronica Lee
At 57, I am now checking items off my bucket list that I made years ago! Yep, an Alaska cruise is on my list for 2025.
I checked off France in March this year.
mimifce
I think the only way to make things happen is to plan ahead for them and not just dream! I know it is not possible for everyone’s budget but with time and planning things are definitely more likely to happen. Alaska I think will be great (especially without my kids lol!)
jodie filogomo
Wow…you are a planner Mireille. How wonderful to have such a great list going!!
XOOX
Jodie
mimifce
Thanks, Jodie! Gotta to plan or else we would just stay home and I don’t want to stay home lol!
Heather
What an awesome travel bucket list. I think writing it down definitely helps to make it happen!
mimifce
It sure does!
Allie Mackin
OMG wow that is impressive lol!
Allie of
http://www.allienyc.com
mimifce
I am the planner, lol!
Mother of 3
I love that you’ve mapped them out so far in advance.. sadly I change my mind so often that until we have booked definite plans it’s always up in the air as to where we’ll go! We do have one trip planned for next year already and have talked about taking a trip down to see my sister as our second trip… but that will depend on finances, hurricane season, and school vacation times.
mimifce
The in the US trips will probably change somewhat but having an idea of what is coming ahead and what we wish we could do really does help me make it a reality!
Maureen
These are great tips and a wonderful way to make things reality. I really do think writing things down help us visualize our plans and goals. I love how you planned eight years out because truth is, life has curve balls but knowing where you want to go and how to do it, really helps. I would love to visit Japan, Costa Rica or Peru, perhaps Indonesia! So many places to see so little time! 🙂
Maureen | http://www.littlemisscasual.com
mimifce
Exactly! Things sure might happen in the next few years but having a plan in mind help me on my month to month saving and spending! Your travel bucket list soudns great too!
Ashley
I love your bucket list! I think it’s so awesome to have one so you can keep planning + dreaming!
-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
mimifce
Yes, with 4 kids in tow, gotta plan!
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom
Yes! Let me know if you have any questions about St. Louis when you’re here. 🙂 I am hoping to get away to Magnolia over Spring break. Fingers crossed. LOL
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
mimifce
oh, that would be so much fun! hope you get to go too!
Elise
What a fabulous bucket list!! I was just having the conversation today about marking things down with a date in order to make it happen. I love that you have all these ideas already! Spain and France sound amazing!
xx, Elise
http://www.sparkleandslippers.blogspot.com
mimifce
we just did spain and france so we have to wait a little while before we go again lol!
Michelle
Wow! I really like this concept. I may have to incorporate this type of organization to our travel plans.
mimifce
Thanks Michelle!