Here we are - that strange time between Christmas and New Year.
The fridge is full of odd leftovers, you've forgotten what day it is or when you last got dressed and everyone's scrolling through their phones like it's a competitive sport.
By now, you’ve probably decided that 2025 is the year you’ll travel more, see more and just maybe refine your holiday game.
After all, who wouldn't want to fit in like a local and become the very picture of travel sophistication?
Think less Brit abroad and more world citizen who knows how to pack light and live large.
12 New Year's Resolutions for British Travellers
So, with that in mind, here are 12 new year resolutions some of us Brits might like to make before booking our next trip abroad.
1. I Will Not Take Tea Bags and Biscuits Abroad
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You’re in the heart of Tuscany, surrounded by rolling vineyards and you've just ordered a cappuccino.
Instead of enjoying the moment, you pull out a battered box of tea bags. Hmm, not a good look.
I'll be the first to admit that there's something comforting in a familiar brew after a long day.
And that the 'English breakfast tea' you get abroad just isn’t tea at all. (Seriously, what is that stuff?)
But you're in a different country. Opening yourself to new experiences is exactly why you're here.
Dive right into what’s in front of you. Order a Portuguese bica, an Italian espresso or a Japanese Sencha.
Who knows, you may even find your new favorite drink.
Free up some room in your case and leave your digestives and emergency PG Tips at home. You'll survive, I promise.
2. I Will Eat Local Food for Breakfast
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This one is like asking the sky not to be blue, but here goes.
We Brits love a full English on holiday. Probably because it's not something we eat every day at home.
But, still, the key word is 'English'. We can have a fry up any time. So maybe digging into the local food will make your trip all the more memorable.
Start your days abroad with a plate of chorizo and eggs in Spain or a fresh bowl of Greek yogurt with honey. Let your taste buds have a holiday too.
Who knows? You might even come home with new breakfast ideas and save some cash on your morning Greggs.
3. I Will Not Get Angry at Towels on Sun Loungers
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You wake up in the morning and head to the pool only to find the sun loungers are all taken. Again.
But before you blow a fuse and start waking at 5am to mark your territory with a towel before heading back to bed, remember - it's just a sun lounger, not a throne.
Instead, take a deep breath, grab a cocktail and embrace the art of finding the perfect shady spot elsewhere.
Bonus points if it's near the beach or the bar.
4. I Will Always Remember to Put My Liquids in the Little Plastic Bag
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There's something about going through airport security that activates stress in all of us. And to add to the anxiety, there's always that one person.
That person holding up the line. Frantically digging through their hand luggage for a rogue bottle of sunscreen, watching as the security officer looks on, sighing.
It could be any of us, to be fair. It's all too easy to make a mistake in the bustle of holiday packing.
So, pack smarter in 2025. Make double and triple-checking your liquids, electronics (and pockets) a habit and routine part of your pre-airport prep.
Future you, and the entire queue behind you, will be eternally grateful.
5. I Will Not Stand up Immediately After the Plane Lands
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You know who you are. The seatbelt sign dings off and you're up like a meerkat, elbowing everyone in row 23.
Sit down. Relax. The plane door isn't opening until next Tuesday anyway.
Think of it this way - everyone is going to get off the plane and end up in the same place. Standing in the aisle like a sardine isn't going to get you anywhere any faster.
Why not use the time to scroll through your photos or plan your next adventure?
Plus, staying seated makes you look like a calm, seasoned traveller - and that's always cool.
6. I Will Learn a Few Words of the Local Language
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Imagine you’re in a charming Italian trattoria. You greet the waiter with a confident "Buonasera" instead of pointing at the menu and mumbling.
They beam and suddenly you're being treated to the best table in the house. It's not magic - it's smart planning.
Sure, there are enough things to think about ahead of a trip. But taking a little time in the weeks before to learn a few useful phrases - even if it's hello, goodbye, and thank you - can only be a good thing.
So, make the locals smile rather than eye-roll in 2025 and make friends with the little green owl before you go.
7. I Will Not Eat the Entire Lunch Buffet Just Because I Paid for All-Inclusive
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It's a strange phenomenon that baffles science. People of other nationalities hear "all you would like to eat" at the buffet.
Yet, we Brits hear "all you can possibly eat. In as short a time as you can manage. Go. Now. GO GO GO!"
There's something about a buffet that triggers a competitive response in us like no other. Except there's no competition. And also no need to eat a lot.
Where's the fire? We don't know. All we know is that we have to eat, now, quickly. And everything.
We’re British - it's in our DNA to get our money's worth. Even if we're almost sick, bust the top button of our jeans and get escorted off the premises in the process.
But, in 2025 and beyond, maybe it's time to manually override this urge and eat all we care to, not all we can. Also, remember - the buffet isn't going anywhere.
Pace yourself - have a salad. Maybe some fruit. You'll thank yourself when you're not waddling to the beach and slipping into a food coma.
8. I Will Not Forget to Charge My Power Bank
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It's happened to us all. You spring out of bed on the first day of a trip, raring to get started.
But then, disaster! You find you've charged everything overnight but your power bank.
Three hours into your day, after rinsing your maps, trawling museum and gallery websites and Googling 'the best coffee near me', you realise you're on one bar of battery.
Nothing kills your holiday vibes faster than a dead phone. You could find yourself wasting hours sitting back at your hotel staring at the slowest-charging phone EVER.
Or, even worse, it could go dead and leave you standing in a queue without your QR code, or asking for directions back to your hotel.
So, pack extra adapters and make charging your power bank as routine as brushing your teeth. Your Instagram feed will thank you.
9. I Will Always Give the Armrests to the Middle Passenger
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Middle-seat travellers have a rough deal. No window, no aisle, little legroom. Plus, the joy of being pressed up against two strangers for several hours.
Yes, they could have reserved a better seat. But at the end of the day, someone has to go in the middle.
So, this festive season and beyond, why not be kind to those less fortunate than your window-hugging self by acknowledging the unwritten rule of airplane etiquette, i.e., the person in the middle always gets both armrests.
It really is the least you can do. Think of it as good travel karma.
And, who knows? One day, the universe might reward you with a business-class upgrade on a flight to Australia.
10. I (and Especially My Kids) Will Always Wear Headphones With Phones or Tablets
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You're 32,000 feet in the air and some kid starts blasting 'Baby Shark'.
Across the aisle, a guy starts watching a repetitive, high-pitched music video.
Then, somewhere in the back, a drum n bass fan decides now is the time to finally try out that six-hour playlist.
What do these people have in common? None of them has headphones.
Bang goes that book you were reading. And your patience. And eventually, maybe even your sanity.
In 2025, keep your fellow passengers as happy and appeased as possible and don't forget to pack headphones in your hand luggage.
And, if you're travelling with a brood, several pairs of smaller headphones.
Your fellow travellers - and your dignity - will remain intact.
11. I Will NOT Clap When the Plane Lands
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This one has probably been in the spotlight enough to have become obsolete by now. But it's worth adding here to stamp out the phenomena for all of our sakes.
Occasionally, that person, or people, will still clap when the plane lands.
Nobody knows why and nobody can bring themselves to look. Maybe they enjoyed one too many cans of airplane espresso martini on the flight.
Or maybe they’re genuinely grateful to be back on land.
Either way, it’s super-cringe. Let’s move into 2025 on the promise to hold the applause for the theatre, or the karaoke bar. Although, we all kind of secretly love it really.
12. I Will Always Buy an eSIM Before I Travel
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And finally, saving the best for last. Nothing ruins a trip like staring at a 'you are offline' notice on your browser.
When you land in a new city, you want to instantly navigate, message and share updates without hunting for a SIM card store.
That’s the beauty of an eSIM. It’s fast, convenient and a game-changer. In 2025, don’t leave for the airport without one.
Ready to Travel Like a Pro in 2025?
Tick off that last resolution - grab an eSIM from Airalo before your next adventure.
If you're new to eSIMs, check out this quick explainer before heading to our online store to get started.
