"Wanderlust 2025: Smart Travel Goals That Actually Stick"

 Join seasoned travelers Heide and Nicky as they break down actionable travel resolutions for 2025. From mastering minimalist packing techniques to building genuine connections through solo female travel, this podcast delivers practical strategies for transforming your travel dreams into reality. 
Learn budget-savvy tips for growing your travel fund, essential language hacks for authentic local experiences, and expert insights on navigating solo adventures . Whether you're a first-time solo traveler or seeking to elevate your journey planning, this episode provides inspiration for more meaningful, confident, and budget-friendly travel. 

Transcript

[00:00:00] Welcome to Untethered and Wanderwise, where adventure has no age limit. We're your co host Heide Brandes and Nicky Omohundro, and we're here to inspire and celebrate women over 45 who are embracing their independence and want to explore the world on their own terms.

nicky---heide--she-her-_1_12-23-2024_103350: Welcome to Untethered and Wanderwise, the podcast that proves adventure has no age limit. I am Nicky Omohundro. And I'm Heide Brandes. And we're here to inspire women over 45 to embrace their wanderlust and explore this big, beautiful world of ours. And today we're talking about something that's on everyone's mind is we kick off 2025 New Year's resolutions, but not just any resolutions.

That's right. We're diving into travel resolutions that will make this your best adventure year yet.

And unlike that gym membership that might gather dust by February, speak for yourself. I've been pretty good, Heidi. [00:01:00] These are resolutions you'll actually want to keep. So you ready to dive in? Absolutely. Let's do this. Resolution number one, travel solo at least once this year. Oh, that's such a powerful one.

You know, many of our listeners might be hesitant about solo travel, but there's something incredibly empowering about exploring a new place in on your own terms. Absolutely. And it doesn't have to be a month long trek through Nepal, though. That would be pretty. Freaking awesome. It could be as simple as a weekend getaway to a nearby city or a short retreat.

That's right. And you know, what's funny is this last year for my birthday, I actually did a day trip by myself. Really? Where'd you go? Um, I went to a drag Sunday brunch. I remember that. So I traveled there to do that. Yeah. Things happened. People had to cancel. They're like, Oh, we just have to reschedule.

I'm [00:02:00] like, no, it's my birthday. I'm still going to go. And it was the best experience ever. I think because I went solo, um, I felt like I was treated a little bit differently. I got put front and center and they're like, Oh, it's your birthday. And you're by yourself. Oh, definitely. Let's go. 

I took my first solo cruise. About a year ago, it was with Crystal Cruises and it was a week long and I was a little hesitant about it because, you know, I've been on a cruise before and it's always fun when you have your friends, but I had a blast being on my own on this cruise and I met so many people, kind of forces you out of your comfort zone to go out and be a little more sociable.

And I still have friends from that cruise that I talked to via social media today. Oh, that's fantastic. You know, this year I went with my children on a cruise. It was three of us and my daughter is 19 and she had to meet new people. Cause you know, you don't necessarily always want to hang out with mom and your little mom.[00:03:00] 

And actually, , the first week in January, she is taking another cruise with people she met on that cruise back in. So that's the magic of traveling solo is you really did get to discover yourself, but you discover this much more social aspect of yourself. You create these lifelong friendships with other solo travelers or other travelers.

Exactly. So one really great practical tip for our listeners is start small, especially if you're nervous, book a night at a bed and breakfast in a neighboring town, get comfortable with your own company. And build from there. Great tips. So resolution number two, learn basic phrases in three new languages.

Yes. Nothing breaks down barriers quite like attempting to speak the local language, even if you butcher it. That's true. So I remember my first attempt at [00:04:00] German, this last year proved something quite entertaining. But you know what? I, everyone appreciated the effort. I think that's what gets lost in translation is if you go into another culture and it's obvious you're at least making an effort to communicate on their terms as opposed to just, uh, I expect you to know English and talk to me in my English language.

I think the locals really appreciate that. And, they're a little more tolerant than we may be given credit for. So yeah, even if you learn, hello, thank you, please. Good evening. Good, good morning. Just simple phrases like that can go a long ways. And also too, I think adding to that, how are you?

Yes. You know, it's a simple, common courtesy. With apps like Duolingo and Babbel, there's really no excuse. Even 10 minutes a day can help you master these basic greetings and courtesies. And I think Duolingo even has a free [00:05:00] version that you can use. They do. And two, in worst case, we're Start watching YouTube and put your subtitles on.

That's true. That's true. That's what I did when we went to Turkey There was a YouTube video of basic phrases in Turkish. Yeah, there's something to be said about immersion Okay, so resolution number three and this is a big one. We talked about a lot Pack light and pack right. Oh my goodness. This is my eternal struggle.

, even as we're doing this podcast, I'm packing for a week trip to Seattle. I've got two carry ons and two check bags for three of us for a week, but this year in the coming year, I am committed to doing much better. Okay. Because listen, ladies, you do not need five pairs of shoes for a weekend trip. Just saying.

Well, yes. Do as I should, not do as I do. Yes. But seriously, the freedom of traveling with just a carry on [00:06:00] is life changing. Here's my tip. Create a capsule wardrobe for every trip. Everything must mix and match and stick to a basic color scheme. I know we talked about this in one of our previous podcasts about how to pack for a winter destination.

And I got to kind of try that out in Turkey. I still overpacked, but I got everything on into a large carry on and then a backpack, but it was winter there. I ended up wearing the same black shirt and black leggings multiple days in a row. And I just changed the jacket or I'd put a cardigan on top of it.

So I think next time I'm just going to bring the most basic of pants and shirts and just some fun shawls and jackets because. Nobody knows what you're wearing under those. Exactly. Yeah. For this trip to Seattle, everything that I'm bringing as far as clothing is actually in a carry on. And so I've got black leggings.

I have a pair of joggers that I'm wearing in the [00:07:00] plane. Another pair of sweatpants because the weather's going to be like between 30 and 50. Some base long sleeve t shirts that are a little bit more medium weight. And And then two sweaters, a jacket, and a vest. Yeah. And a total of four pairs of shoes.

Four pairs of shoes, Nikki! Well, there's rain boots, there's tennis shoes, there's casual shoes, and then there's a more dressier flat. And that brings up a good tip. Wear your bulkiest items on the plane. So if you've got that big, heavy puffer jacket and you've got the rain boots and you've got the heavy sweatpants, they take up a lot of room in your carry on.

So wear them on the plane. Yeah. My black riding boots look super cute in the airport. Oh yeah. Yeah. It's always nice to look kind of cute when you're flying. It is. So that brings us to resolution number four. And this is one of my very favorites. Try one new cuisine every month. And you don't even have to leave your hometown for this one.[00:08:00] 

Although it is a great excuse to travel. I'm never going to say no to a foodie destination. No. So, but start with some of your local ethnic restaurants. Learn about the culture. And let it inspire your next destination. Do you remember that time we went to the Ethiopian restaurant here in Oklahoma city?

Oh my gosh. I love Ethiopian food. I love the whole culture of, of eating Ethiopian food. And now Ethiopia is on my 2025 travel list. That's how it starts. Yes. And then you want to go to the next place and the next place. And I, one of my very favorite restaurants is the low Asian place here in Oklahoma city, which I still have to try.

Okay. That's set that for your January resolution. Okay. Try the lay ocean place. Yes, absolutely. Fantastic. So another resolution to consider for 2025 is document your travels meaningfully. This means going [00:09:00] beyond just Instagram photos, right? Yeah, absolutely. Start a travel journal, create a blog, or even just write postcards to yourself.

Your future you will thank you for preserving these memories because when you get home, . So much has happened on your trip that the little things might get lost. And when I travel, I, I try to do this every night. Sometimes it works sometimes doesn't, but I'll write down everything that happened that day.

And it's not writing down a novel. It's just little things like the color of, of the shawl that woman was wearing or what that particular, food tasted like, or, a word I learned. It's just little bits and pieces of memories. But they really help you remember when you're going back through your notes.

That's a great tip. Yeah. For me, I have a traveler's notebook that I travel with. And a lot of times if I'm sitting down, like enjoying a cup of coffee, I We'll try and sketch out something in my [00:10:00] traveler's notebook, or I'll just take a photo. And then too, um, when I was in Ireland, one of the people on my group trip, she bought postcards for her family and she would actually write down travel memories or just things that she really enjoyed while she was there and would send it from the country that she was in.

That's always fun. And I think that's a lost art of sending postcards. And that's going to be one of my new travel resolutions. I'm going to start sending postcards to people. Yeah. I mean, cause if you're looking for an inexpensive souvenir, I mean, a postcard is maybe the equivalent of a dollar and postage might be the equivalent of 50 cents.

So for less than 2 a person. You have a travel souvenir. True! With a postmark. 

So another thing that I like doing is just taking photos of where I am. It doesn't have to be a selfie, it doesn't have to be a landscape, just little things. I learned this when I had kids and would take pictures of them, like, in the grocery cart. Sometimes it's a picture of the view that I have in a cafe when I'm enjoying a cup of coffee.

[00:11:00] It's kind of like, this is the place I was in when or where, and it's just little things, street signs, bouquet of flowers. One of my very favorites was in Ireland. We were on the main street where you have a lot of the buskers and everything. And one of my favorite photos is a flower stand that was set up.

And I still have that photo and actually had it blown up into a canvas. And that was my very favorite photo. Well, another good tip is try using voice memos on your phone too, if you're not as comfortable with writing and you can turn on those voice memos and be like, I can't believe this view I'm seeing right now, the sky looks like the color of Sherbert and there's dolphins jumping out of the water, you know, so you can capture the sounds of street musicians.

The local markets, or even just waves on the beach. And of course, you and I are journalists and we're writers. So I ended up using Otter, which is a voice transcription, voice [00:12:00] text thing, for my interviews. And I am a huge fan of Otter. So that's my little tip. That's a great tip. So resolution number six.

Make sustainable travel choices.

This is so crucial for our generation of travelers. We've seen how tourism can impact destinations, both in good ways and very bad ways. Yes. Simple steps like carrying a reusable water bottle, choosing eco friendly accommodations, and supporting local businesses can make a massive difference. Yeah, and don't forget about carbon offsetting your flights.

This is a new thing and many airlines now offer this option when you're booking your travel flights. That's a good thing to remember. Yeah. Which kind of leads us to our next resolution. Resolution number seven, connect with local women. This one is special to me. Some of the most meaningful travel experiences that have come from connecting with other [00:13:00] women in different cultures.

Yeah. So when you're. Out on a trip, try booking experiences through women owned businesses, , stay at female run guest houses or join local women's groups on social media before your trip to get their recommendations as well. That's fantastic. Yeah. In Finland, we did something where it was a women run business and tour operator.

And one of the women invited people into their homes to have an authentic Finnish meal. So that was fantastic. We did a craft where we literally just made little name tags. So we would know whoever one was. And then we literally sat around this woman's dining room table and shared a meal together. Yeah.

When I was in the Yukon, we took a tour up the Yukon river to, this historic Fort and was a camping excursion, but it was a native. Woman owned tour company. It was just this girl and I think it was her brother, but she owned the company [00:14:00] and supporting, especially indigenous women, women who are local to the culture.

It makes a huge difference, not only in their lives, but the lives of other women in their community as well. And that reminds me of a story. So that reminds me of a story, a friend of mine, she's also a travel writer. She went to Selma, Alabama, which is the site of So much with civil rights, right? But a lot of the tour companies that will go and visit Selma are not based in Selma and they don't actually stop in Selma outside of the bridge.

Wow. So if you, she says that was one of the most impactful things that she remembered is you would come on this tour, you would stop in Selma. You saw the civil rights sites. You literally got off the bus. Saw it, took your picture and got back in the bus and left. And so you spent no time in Selma and so the local community.

 Is a historic site, but it's not reaping the benefits of tourism. So she [00:15:00] actually recommended going on your own reading beforehand and then spending some more time in the city in that small town.

And so our final resolution for 2025. Create a travel emergency fund. Not the most exciting resolution, but possibly this is the most important resolution. Absolutely. Set aside a little money every month specifically for unexpected travel opportunities or emergencies.

It could be 50 a month, which over the course of a year could be 600. Yeah. And that could be your ticket to a spontaneous adventure. I know we've talked about this before, but I'm a huge fan of the apps capital spelled Q. A. P. I. T. A. L. And acorns and it's linked to your debit card. So every time you use your debit card, it'll take a couple cents or a couple dollars or like 10 percent of your purchase and [00:16:00] stick it in a dedicated account.

Now, capital is not an interest bearing account, but what it does is. It starts growing a fund for you. And over the course of year, depending on how much it's been on my debit card, I can have anywhere from 800 to 2, 000 just squirreled away from extra pennies and cents. And that's fantastic.

And two in, I know we've talked about it here on the podcast as well, about signing up for a credit card company that gives you a travel bonus with points. You know, both of us, after we had Zach on with travel freely, we signed up for a new business card free. Individually. Oh yeah. And so in that 90, 000 points is sitting in my Chase account as we speak, plus a travel credit, I believe it's 300.

Me too. And I got the capital one and yeah, I met my spending limit because I put what I usually just use my bank card for. I put it all on the credit card, paid it off, but yeah, now I have 80, 000 points on that card to use [00:17:00] for travel. Yeah. And can you imagine where we could go? Oh, I know where we're going.

So I'm going to lift this out of the bag, uh, for my 50th birthday, which is coming up the end of May, Heidi and I booked a trip to Peru. Yay. So I got a wild hair. It was like, I want to do something just absolutely. Phenomenal for my 50th. And so I'd never been to South America. So I'm adding a new continent.

We're doing Peru, which is a new country for me and for me. And then we're also going to do world heritage site. We're going to do a Machu Picchu. Yes. And I'm very, very excited about this. And I really do think for the big birthdays, the five O's, the six O's you need to go big. And you're going big. We're going big.

And I'm glad you invited me. Yeah, it's going to end up being a nine travel day with eight days. In country. So it's just like so excited. And what's really great is [00:18:00] we both signed up for alerts from Exotica, which is a travel website, which is group travel. And so we signed our, I bought the tickets during their black Friday sale.

So what normally would have cost us about 3, 800 a person is 1, 900. That includes flights, hotels, accommodations, transfers, most food. Yeah. I. You can't beat that. So sign up for different websites that can help you stretch your travel fund and get alerts for mistake fares and things like that. Because even though you think you may not be able to travel or be able to afford to travel, where there's a will, there's definitely a way.

Absolutely. And before we wrap up, let's talk about implementation. Before we wrap up, let's talk about implementation. Heidi, what's your advice for listeners to stick to these resolutions?

Well, first write them down, make them visible, put them [00:19:00] on your bathroom mirror, your phone wallpaper, whatever. Wherever, as long as you see them daily and they're still fresh in your mind. And maybe most importantly, share them with others. Find an accountability person, join a Facebook group, connect with other women who share your goals.

Yeah. And community is everything. Speaking of community, we'd love to hear your travel resolutions for 2025, and you can share them with us on social media using hashtag Untethered resolutions. You can find us on Instagram at Untethered Wanderwise or on Facebook at Untethered and Wanderwise. And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast for more travel inspiration tips.

and stories from women who prove that adventure only gets better with age. Well, that's all for this episode of Untethered and WanderWise. Until next time, keep [00:20:00] wandering wisely. And Happy New Year!

Be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcast fix. Check us out on Instagram at untetheredwonderwise, that's no and, for even more travel inspiration and tips. Until next time, happy travels.