️2026 Travel, Planned in 5 Steps: A Year of Travel That Fits Your Goals, Budget, and PTO

If you’ve ever found yourself scrambling to use vacation days or realizing too late that your dream hotel is fully booked, there’s a better way. By taking a big-picture approach and planning your travel year in advance, you can make the most of your time off, secure the best options, and actually look forward to your getaways instead of rushing to pull them together.

Here’s how to start mapping your 2026 travel calendar now—without overcomplicating it.

Step 1: Set Your Priorities

Think about what you want most out of the year ahead—relaxation, adventure, cultural experiences, family time, or a mix. Then jot down destinations or types of trips that fit each.

Ask yourself: Do I want a few big trips, several shorter getaways, or a balanced mix?

Step 2: Align with Your Calendar

Check school breaks, work deadlines, long weekends, and federal holidays. These dates are your best opportunities to stretch PTO and create natural trip windows without interfering with big life events.

Who likes turkey anyway? My favorite week to travel internationally is the week of thanksgiving, you can take a 1 week trip and sometimes only need to take 3 days of PTO.

Step 3: Match Trips to Seasons

Consider when each destination shines—whether it’s catching a city in peak bloom, timing a safari for wildlife viewing, or escaping to the beach during winter. Save bucket-list or far-flung adventures for when you can travel 10+ days, and use shorter weekends for closer getaways.

Example: Plan a hiking trip to a National Park in summer, and escape to the tropics when winter feels especially gray.

Step 4: Set an Annual Budget

Decide how much you want to invest in travel for the year as a whole, then break it down trip-by-trip. This makes it easier to prioritize, choose the right destinations, and avoid surprises later.

Why it matters: Knowing your budget early means I can help recommend destinations and properties that align with your goals—without surprises later. 

Step 5: Lock in the Big Ones Early

Reserve milestone trips, summer vacations, or major bucket-list adventures first. Booking early secures better flight schedules, the best rooms, and often comes with added perks. Then fill in the rest of the year with shorter escapes and space for spontaneous plans.

Advisor Tip: Booking early often means better flight schedules, the best hotels available, and the best rooms. 

The takeaway: The best travel years are the ones you map with intention. Align your trips with your personal calendar, each destination’s best season, and what matters most to you, and you’ll enjoy better availability, better pricing, and the satisfaction of knowing your adventures are set.

Ready to start? Now is the perfect time to sketch out your 2026 travel year so you can reserve the best options before they’re gone. Let’s start planning.