Looking back at 2016, it's safe to say that any reasonable human being is more than excited to conclude this torturous sequence. In the spirit of shaking things up (pretty much this year's motto around the world), I decided to trade the usual messy New Year's celebration with friends and take a solo trip instead. Here are my 8 reasons why.
#1 You'll break the routine
Looking back on the past few years, my New Year's celebrations have been a nonsensical string of clubs, frat parties, losing the usual suspects - phone, keys, wallet, dignity, an embarrassing rendezvous with an ex on the streets of Boston and getting lightly hit by a car.
By choosing to spend New Year's alone abroad, I'm automatically cutting out this drama, plus introducing a dozen different options. This year's choice is watching a flamenco show in a cave in Granada while sipping on red wine. You should definitely explore rock climbing, ziplining, wine tasting, sailing, camping or wandering around mazes.
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Don't get me wrong, I love drinking champagne from the bottle as much as the next person, but somewhere along the way ingesting too much alcohol followed by two days of carb binging got painful.
#2 You'll be in a better shape
Taking a trip abroad is an excellent way to get exercise. The reason why travel is so healthy for the body is that you walk a lot more than you realize and don't have a fridge to constantly run to. I'm climbing steep cobblestone streets for hours in pursuit of nice views this year. Move over, cupcakes.
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#3 Going on a solo trip abroad is much less of a hassle
This one may seem counterintuitive, but think about it: getting the entire crew to agree on where to go, what to do, how much to spend, where to pregame is just the beginning. Getting there, keeping an eye on everyone (I'm always playing the role of a "shepherd"), breaking off fights, putting all your drunk friends in cabs in order of rowdiness...that's exhausting.
Going on a trip, on the other hand, can be extremely easy. I'm using Inspirock's free platform which lets you plan your activities by the day and book flights and accommodation in literally 5 minutes and next thing I know, I'm off to the land of jamón.
#4 You can be antisocial
Not that I don't love small talk, but sometimes I really don't care for it. It seems as though this year Donald Trump and The Kardashians are the dominant topics of conversation, so I'd rather spend some time taking photos of majestic mountains instead.
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#5 You'll learn something new
Travel is hands-down the most fun way to learn, largely because it doesn't feel like you're making an effort. Meeting new people and engaging in basic conversations can teach you a lot about politics, local government, food, history, and traditions.
#6 All. The. Food.
Being in Spain is kind of like being in a food amusement park, but the food is actually not just cotton candy - it's a catalog of varied gourmet dishes with a dash of mom's home kitchen lovin'.
#8 Your New Year's stories will be way cooler than anyone else's
Simply because most people do the same every year. Just the thought of boarding a plane gets people exhausted and they go like "screw it, let's go to the pub instead." While your friends will be boasting about their hookups and drunk escapades, you'll flash them your Instagram and see their jealousy poor your way in the form of likes.
Happy holidays and bon voyage!
