Travel Plans for the New Year: 2026 Edition
- Kimi's Travel Thoughts
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Happy New Year! The past year was yet again a fun one for Kimi's Travel Thoughts. I took in new experiences with family and friends, continued to improved my Instagram content where all my exclusive pictures and videos are shared and took on my most ambitious day trip so far. In 2026, I will continue exploring Central Texas through my Monthly Adventures Series and attempting to push my limits with day trips to various locations even further than I did in the past few years. One thing I didn't get around to last year that was on my 2025 travel list was a trip to Las Vegas. Well, it turns out that trip is simply being deferred just a handful of weeks beyond 2025.
As I have done the past three years, I'm going to preview some of the trips I have planned for 2026. This will help you know what posts to expect and when they might be published online. It can also be a way to put ideas in your head about where you may want to go this year if you don't already have solidified travel plans. Keep in mind that I also don't have all of the details for my 2026 trips finalized which is why I'm only previewing them. I will update this post with links to blog posts recapping each of these trips throughout the year as I get them published.
Puerto Rico
When one of your best friends invites you on a company trip to Puerto Rico that is basically free, you go! That's what I have planned for early 2026 and I'm looking forward to enjoying this surprise vacation. Remote work at the beach (because there will be work to do for my 9 to 5) and building in time to explore the area around the northern coast of Puerto Rico is going to make for a fantastic week! I don't even have to plan the entire itinerary for this trip which means I get to simply go and experience the island without having to think too hard in advance about what I'll be doing while I'm visiting. Any opportunity to spend time with my friend and take a nearly free trip is going to be good and I can't wait to write about my upcoming trip to Puerto Rico!
Weekend in Las Vegas
I have plans to join some friends in Vegas for a weekend trip where we finally can play some blackjack together at a casino for real instead our typical dinner table practice rounds. We've talked about a trip like this for a while and it's finally coming to fruition in early 2026! As you may have noticed, my travel plans are starting to include more people. This solo travel is starting to find more friends and family to travel with and I'm excited about it! It's been a few years since the last time I was in Sin City, and I love that each time I go is a different experience. For once, I'm going to do more than just eat brunch and go to a show!
San Diego Day Trip
Now that day trips have become a regular occurrence on my blog, I am committed to continuing my personal challenge of exploring cities in a single day. I've become so dedicated to these day trips that I created a list of locations that I would like to visit. I was having trouble selecting locations from my list a couple of years ago and posted a poll on social media for other people to pick for me. I plan to post poll on social media again to help me narrow down my options for a future day trip! I'm aiming for San Diego this year, but I'm curious to see what others recommend. San Diego for a day trip is more of a goal and not a fully predetermined destination that I have to go to. Perhaps I'll post another poll on Instagram again!
Mexico City
A trip to Mexico City is more of a wishlist destination and not one that I really thought about making plans for until I started drafting this year's travel preview. There are some good flight options out of Austin that would make traveling there very easy, and Mexico City is a location that I feel like I could go to any time of year. I'm anticipating a much bigger international trip in 2027, so this would make for a nice small scale visit to another country if things work out for me to go this year. If you have suggestions for activities to do or places to eat in Mexico City, please let me know!
Japan
That much bigger international trip in 2027 that I just mentioned? Well, it's actually for Japan! The reason I'm mentioning my plans for a trip to Japan in my 2026 travel preview is because I'm also considering possible travel dates in late 2026 for this trip. This year, I will be celebrating my 30th birthday and I'm planning a 10- to 14-day trip to celebrate and travel throughout the country! I was originally looking at early January 2027 dates to make the trip to Japan, but I would also like to take advantage of going during the holiday season because I'll already have time off from work and could be there to ring in the new year. Decisions, decisions -- but either way I will be going to Japan to celebrate my birthday!
Looking to the Future
My plans depend on my work schedule and available time outside of other life priorities. However, I will continue to find ways to squeeze in as many new experiences and trips into 2026 as possible. I am an ambitious person which means my travel plans are sometimes more than what I can actually accomplish. Nonetheless, I will always try to get as much done as I can! Traveling is important to me and can't let one aspect of my life become so time consuming that I can't enjoy the others.
My resolution last year was to focus on traveling to places I hadn't been to before. For 2026, my resolution is to focus my efforts on improving my video content on Instagram and being open to spontaneous trips. Through a combination of longer vacations, short-term trips, day trips, and capturing moments from activities that don't make the Monthly Adventures Series, I think I can get this done. I'm so excited to share these experiences with you throughout the year! Do you have suggestions for anywhere else I should go or what I should do at these destinations? Let me know on social media or leave a comment below! Kimi's Travel Thoughts is on Facebook and Instagram.