Travel resolutions aren't just for New Year's Day: late winter is an awesome time to resolve to travel well, travel smart and travel a lot this spring and summer. One idea: resolve to try a solo trip. Traveling solo is a bit (okay, maybe seriously) scary at first -- who will help you? What if you get lost? To whom will you talk? You'll quickly get past those fears...

• Try a Solo Trip
• Travel Resolutions

"The man who goes alone can start today; but he who travels with another must wait till that other is ready, and it may be a long time before they get off."

--Henry David Thoreau

Related Reading: Women's Travel Tips | Student Travel Safety

Photo © Kathleen Crislip | Student Travel blog home

If you had to carry back liquids and gels in any appreciable volume after the holidays, you might have decided packing for complicated airport rules was a major drag. Totally true. What about taking the train in the US next time?

It's easy, it's pretty inexpensive, especially with an Amtrak student discount, and it's more fun than the bus. Start by ensuring Amtrak's trains go where you want to get with an Amtrak routes map, a trick trip atlas online.

• Amtrak Routes
• Amtrak Photos - Tips for traveling on Amtrak and photos from Amtrak trips
• 15% Amtrak student discount
• New and Cool for US residents (and to students at a discount!): Amtrak Passes

Related Reading: Amtrak Pictures | International Train Travel An Alternative to Airport Security Hassle | College Campus Amtrak Travel Discount | Greyhound Bus Student Discounts

Amtrak Photo © Kathleen Crislip Student Travel blog home

While you're resolving to travel more this year, make a resolution to take a road trip or two. Easier and less hassle than flying, and good practice for getting out there in 2012. And even a trip that seems like a big yawn may yield crazy moments if you see something like the Great Eastern Iowa Tractor Ride (pictured). Ain't that America?

• US Road Trip Photos
• Road Trips 101

American Road Food | Ready Your Car for a Road Trip | Top 5 Money Saving Road Trip Tips | How to Calculate Gas Costs | US Maps

Related Reading: New Year Travel Resolutions | Driving in Mexico | Mexico Maps

Photo: Kathleen Crislip | Student Travel blog home

Doing Southeast Asia with a backpack this year? There's a definite banana pancake backpacker trail through this exotically awesome part of the planet, and along that beaten path are parties you'll never forget, like the moonlit madness of Koh Phangan and the go-to Gill T thrice-weekly bacchanalia at the bars. Sounds like code? Kinda is, but Greg Rodgers, our guy on the ground in Asia, has the inside info with what your whereabouts should be when:

• Great Places to Party in Southeast Asia

Related Reading: Asia Travel | Southeast Asia Travel | Asia for Backpackers | Southeast Asia Hostels and Guesthouses

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