How To Make Your Bucket List Trip Happen Now!

Don't wait to live your dreams.

by

Deborah Gaines

 
Published August 01, 2025
Stocksy

I’ve always had a travel bucket list. But until recently, it was more of a fantasy than an actual planning guide. “I don’t have time, it’s too expensive, there’s no one to go with…” My excuses went on and on.

Then a dear friend, one of my lifelong ride-or-dies, became gravely ill. As we sat reminiscing in her hospital room, she said, “I don’t regret my mistakes. I’m only sorry for the things I haven’t done.”

Those words hit home with a loud thump, and I finally realized that life is too short to delay my dreams.

Since then, I’ve dusted off my bucket list and taken two amazing vacations. I’m currently planning the next two.

Here’s how you can stop waiting for the perfect moment (which, let’s face it, may never come) and start living your best life now.

Change Your Mindset

“If you build it, they will come.” Instead of listing all the reasons you can’t take the vacation of your dreams, start imagining yourself there. Are you relaxing on a tropical beach? Wandering the streets of an ancient city? If you have more than one dream, write them all down. Be as specific (“Walk the Camino de Santiago”) or as general (“Watch the sunset from the deck of a cruise ship”) as you like.

Prioritize

Pick the top three ideas that are calling you right now. Chances are, they have something in common. Are they relaxing escapes? Cultural odysseys? Adventures in the wild? The better you understand your motivation, the easier it will be to find the right experience.

Create a Timeline

Now it’s time to make concrete plans. When will your first trip be, and how long will it last? It’s okay to start small — the goal here is to get in the habit of having adventures. Whether it’s seeing your first Broadway play or digging your toes in the Caribbean sand, set a specific date and put it in your calendar. (Even better, tell three people about it. It will make the trip more real, and they may even want to join you!)

Set a Budget

Vacations come at all price points, from bare-bones to super luxury. Take cruises, for example: You can sail for as little as two nights or go around the world; depart from local ports or fly to the ends of the earth; and explore yacht tours, river barges and other vessels as well as traditional ocean liners. Similarly, if your dream is to see the northern lights, you can visit Alaska, Canada, Iceland or Scandinavia. Once you arrive, you can stay at hostels or budget hotels or splurge on five-star accommodations.

Check Out Group Tours

Smithsonian Journeys is one of several companies specializing in small-group, bucket-list tours like exploring classical Greece, walking the Camino de Santiago and cruising the Norwegian fjords. “With more than 55 years of experience, we offer over 350 departures to every continent, with trips to suit all kinds of travelers,” says spokeswoman Angela Ferragamo. Women traveling on their own can enjoy all-female adventures from Intrepid Travel, Insight Vacations or Women Travel Abroad, while Road Scholar caters to travelers aged 50 and up.

Work with an Expert

A knowledgeable travel agent can create a package that ticks all your boxes without busting your budget. For instance, I recently enjoyed a cruise through Holland and Belgium during tulip season — a dream come true for a lifelong gardener — on a European riverboat, the Viva Enjoy. The cost, including a well-appointed stateroom, meals, alcohol and daily excursions, was less than the price of a luxury hotel room for the same time period. Viva recommends using a cruise specialist like Las Olas Travel for “surprising deals on extraordinary adventures.”

Finally, remember that sometimes it’s better to take a risk and stretch your budget for the trip of your dreams. “It’s not just about the destination, but the story you’ll bring home and keep in your heart,” says Georgia Fowkes of Altezza Travel — Tanzania. “The most unforgettable vacations challenge you, move you and stay with you long after the return flight.”

Or as my friend would say, you only regret the trips you didn’t take.

 

What's at the top of YOUR travel bucket list? Let us know in the comments below.

Deborah Gaines is a travel writer, poet, and essayist whose work has appeared in Tripadvisor, Huffington Post, and Grown & Flown. When not on the road, she lives in New Jersey with her rescue dog and two opinionated cats.