Countdown to Your 2026 Trip: Wanderlust Tips

Wanderlust While You Wait: What to Do While Counting Down to Your 2026 Trip

That thrilling feeling of knowing your dream vacation is booked... but it's still months (or even a year!) away? It’s a unique mix of excitement, impatience, and daydreaming overload. So what do you do while you're waiting to pack your bags and post that first airport selfie?

Easy—you lean into the wanderlust. Here's how to make the most of the countdown while turning the wait into part of the adventure.

1. Craft Your Countdown with Soul (and Style)

Paper Chains with Purpose
Bring back a childhood classic! Create a chain with one link for every day or week until departure, and tear one off with dramatic flair. Bonus points if you theme your paper to match your destination (think tropical prints for the Caribbean or bold stripes for Europe).

Vacation Reveal Calendar
Build a mini "advent calendar" with daily or weekly surprises. Each door or envelope could hold a travel tip, fun fact, inspirational quote, or even a small treat.

Clothespin Countdown Garland
Hang symbols tied to your destination—like Eiffel Towers, palm trees, or cruise ships—on a string across a wall. Number them with clothespins and remove one each week. It’s visual, fun, and wildly satisfying.

2. Theme Your Nights Like a Movie Marathon

Travel-Inspired Movie Nights
Set the mood by planning weekly movie nights inspired by your future trip. Going to Italy? Queue up Under the Tuscan Sun or Roman Holiday. Dreaming of a tropical cruise? Play Mamma Mia! or Moana. Add a themed snack, dim the lights, and let the daydreaming take over.

DIY Destination Dinners
Make meals a celebration. Cook up paella for a Spain-bound adventure or mix up margaritas for a Mexican escape. You don’t need a passport to take your tastebuds on a test run.

3. Use Planning Hacks That Make Prep Feel Less Like Chore

Pre-Trip Checklist Magic
Instead of last-minute panic, break your prep into weekly steps. Confirm pet care, schedule that pedicure, organize your travel docs, download key apps, and double-check expiration dates on passports. Turn your to-do list into a checklist you’ll actually enjoy crossing off.

Countdown Timeline
Use a printable or whiteboard to divide your timeline: 6 months out, 90 days, 30 days, 7 days, etc. Every milestone gets a mini celebration (yes, even confirming airport transfers deserves a cookie).

4. Treat Yourself While You Prepare

Build in Little Luxuries
This is the perfect time to treat yourself to things that elevate your future trip—like a new beach cover-up, a memory foam travel pillow, or a great book to read on the plane.

Zen Your Prep Zone
Prepping doesn’t have to be frantic. Put on calming music, light a travel-scented candle (think coconut, lavender, or “ocean breeze”), sip something lovely, and let the trip prep feel like part of the vacation.

5. Pack Smart—Because You Can Still Play While You Prep

5‑4‑3‑2‑1 Packing Rule
If packing overwhelms you, follow this formula:

• 5 tops

• 4 bottoms

• 3 pairs of shoes

• 2 accessories

• 1 statement piece (jacket, dress, etc.)

It’s mix-and-match magic and saves space for souvenirs.

Start a Packing Staging Area
Claim a corner of your guest room or a large tote. Every time you think, “Ooh, I should bring this,” toss it in. It’ll save you from forgetting the little things (like plug adapters or your go-to sunscreen).

6. Go Mini-Adventure Mode—Even at Home

Play Tourist in Your Own Town
Visit that museum you always pass. Take a new walking route. Try a restaurant serving cuisine from your upcoming destination. Treat your own city like a practice run for exploring somewhere new.

Staycation Vibes
Not in the mood to venture out? Create an at-home escape. Spa night, beach towel in the backyard, fruity mocktails and a travel podcast? You’re halfway to vacation mode already.

7. Reflect, Share, and Build the Buzz

Journal Your Journey
Start a travel journal—beginning now! Write about what you’re excited for, fears you want to conquer (turbulence, anyone?), or simply document the countdown. This adds depth to the whole travel experience.

Get Social with It
Whether it’s your Facebook group, Instagram stories, or just a group text with your travel companions—share your excitement! Post your countdown rituals, themed dinners, or travel finds. Invite others into your joy.

Final Spark: The Journey Has Already Begun

You're not just counting down—you’re crafting a richer, more meaningful journey. The trip doesn’t start at the airport or cruise port—it starts now, in the excitement, the prep, the dreaming. And when departure day finally arrives? You’ll be ready in body, mind, and suitcase.

📌 Quick Tips to Pin, Save, or Share:

• Create a paper or pin countdown display

• Watch destination-themed movies or shows

• Cook weekly meals inspired by your trip

• Break prep into weekly checklists

• Pack early with a staging area

• Explore your town like a traveler

• Journal the journey & share your excitement

Need help turning this anticipation into a custom plan? I’d love to help you build the vacation of your dreams—even while you’re still in the dreaming phase. Let’s make 2026 the year you go big and go bold.