New Year’s Resolutions for Women Travelers

Happy new year! Let 2012 be one where you expand your horizons and get more joy per mile. Making these travel resolutions will set you in the right direction.

I resolve to travel alone. If you've never gone anywhere without a partner, consider going solo this year. You'll get to travel according to your own schedule, live on a budget that's right for you, and spend days doing what you like to do. No compromising! And don't worry: You won't be lonely. Traveling alone is a sure way to meet new people.

I resolve to go someplace I've never been. If you're in a travel rut and spend every vacation in the same place, shake things up. Beach lovers, try the mountains. Mountain lovers, head for the shore. Too drastic? How about this: If you head for Florida every winter, try the Gulf Coast instead of the Gold Coast for a change of pace, or vice versa. The important thing is to take the road less traveled: It'll open you up to new people, experiences and adventures.

I resolve to be a sport. If there's an activity you love but never have enough time for — whether it's golf, tennis, horseback riding, yoga, even deep-sea diving — make your next vacation an active one. Many resorts have teaching professionals in residence to help you improve your game, and they can set you up with a partner if you don't have one. Yoga retreats can be found across the USA. The oldest are in India. And as for diving, newbies can get certified at a resort while on vacation.

I resolve to make a list of my top 5 dream destinations. And every week, I'm going to put aside a little cash to make a trip possible. Then I'm going to start to research those destinations online and with travel guidebooks from the library so I can decide which one I'd like to visit first.

I resolve to travel with one suitcase. No more waiting at the baggage carousel or paying for luggage to accompany me. If I can't fit it in a regulation-size carry-on, I will leave it at home.

I resolve to update my luggage. If your luggage doesn't have four wheels underneath it, it's out of date. Two-wheelers were a great boon when they first arrived, but they've been surpassed by "spinners." Having a suitcase with four wheels that can rotate 360 degrees enables luggage to glide through an airport with ease, putting less stress on upper arms and shoulders.

I resolve to stay in touch on the road. Use your Facebook account so friends can follow your journey. Post pictures and impressions of where you've traveled and what you've discovered. On a recent trip to Paris, I asked my Facebook friends, "Where's a good place to spend half a day?" Thanks to Louise, who recommended Musée Marmottan Monet, I visited  the charming but little-known private-house museum that contains many of the Giverny Impressionist's most beautiful works of art.