New Year resolutions do not have be of the boring, uninspiring, eat-less-exercise-more-quit smoking/drinking variety.

Instead, make a list of travel resolutions you can really get excited about and, God forbid, actually live up to them until they get boring.

1. Find a new shopping destination

Hong Kong? Too crowded. Seoul? Too overwhelming. Bangkok? Been there, done that, too many times.

Singaporeans just love a good shopping holiday but this year, resolve to expand your travel repertoire with new experiences and of course, new bargains.

We recommend: Hoi An, Vietnam

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One word to sum up your shopping experience in Vietnam’s dressmaking capital – bespoke.

Walk into any one of the city’s 500 tailors with a picture of what you want, and have it made to your exact measurements in 24 – 48 hours. You don’t have to stop at clothes. Leather bags, jackets and shoes can be custom-made too.

Just remember to research which tailors to patronise, spread your purchases over a few tailors so you don’t put all your eggs in the same basket, and, make like a good shopaholic and negotiate.

Then kick back at a scenic beachside resort while master tailors weave up your new wardrobe.

2. Travel solo

Ditch your friends and their ever-changing schedules, and go solo! If you hate being alone, stay at a backpacker hostel where you are likely to meet other like-minded individuals.

They may even end up being your new travel companions for the remaining leg of your trip.

We recommend: Osaka, Japan

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Osaka may be known as a less sophisticated Tokyo but the omnipresent street food vendors, reasonably priced food and accommodation, and bargain shopping should be enough to persuade you to visit this high-octane, neon-drenched city.

Plus, you never have to feel awkward eating alone in the country that invented bowls with smartphone holders for lone diners. Yes, the anti-loneliness ramen soup bowl is a thing.

3. Pick up a new skill

Make time to sign up for a class at your next holiday destination. Be it wine appreciation, cooking, painting, or dancing, attending a class offers you a better appreciation of the country’s culture and gives you the opportunity to interact with locals.

We recommend: Rome, Italy

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The Eternal City offers up classes aplenty for tourists. Gourmands will be keen on Italian cooking and wine classes while wannabe artists can make creations they can take home at mosaic making and sculpting classes.

And which hot-blooded male will turn down the opportunity to channel their inner Spartacus at a gladiatorial combat class?

4. Wake up (or stay up) for sunrise

Yes, we have sunrises in Singapore too, but there is usually something special about watching the sun rise on your holiday. The way the golden mound lifts above the mists of dawn and lights up the horizon with orange embers; definitely worth climbing out of bed, or staying up, for.

We recommend: Bagan, Myanmar

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There are sunrises, and then there are the sunrises in Bagan. The glowing rays of the rising sun hit the 2,000 odd temples scattered over the plains, turning them into varying shades of orange and red, while the morning fog lifts over a new day.

And there is no better way to experience the sunrise than from above in a hot-air balloon, sipping on champagne and chomping down breakfast canapés.

5. Take a hike

Hiking allows you to experience nature’s majesty in places where only your two feet can bring you. Different hikes for various difficulty levels mean unfit travellers need not worry about being too out of shape. So, step away from the urban jungle that is Singapore into a natural one.

We recommend: South Island, New Zealand

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Glacier hikes at Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers (20 minutes apart from each other) in South Island, New Zealand start off with a helicopter ride high up the glacier. While that is enough to justify the ticket price, the adventure continues with a guided hike through mazes of soaring pinnacles and pristine ice.

Some even end with a dip in a glacial hot pool. Now, are you a hiking convert yet?

Maewyn Tan is founder of Curated Travel, a customised travel planning agency based in Singapore. For more travel inspirations and insider tips, visit here

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