Making Travel a Priority.

Many of us have reservations about leaving our comfort zones. The excuses we give are numerous, and rarely ever make any sense to anyone but ourselves. When we do this, however, we end up closing so many doors for ourselves in the process, and the quicker we stop using excuses, the better.

When it comes to making travel a priority, stop thinking about doing it “one day” and think about doing it in the next few months.  Give a specific time frame for when you want to do it.  When you set a specific time in the future, it will make it more likely to happen.  When you think of doing something “one day”, you’ll just keep putting it off and it will never get done.

Take a look at the other reasons that are keeping you from traveling.  One of the most common reasons is how you have kids now so traveling has to stop. While this  seems entirely reasonable, especially with the growing costs of traveling with your family, priorities such as school, work, etc., but that doesn't mean that the option is entirely closed to you. In fact, if you travel around the world, you will most likely see one or two families on holiday in inexpensive places, making their time together count without having to spend a fortune.

In many cases, the best time to travel is as soon as possible.  Don’t wait until retirement or when the kids are out of the house.  That could be too late.  If you have the money and time to go than do it.  Just because the place you want to go will always be there doesn't mean you can take forever. Part of the fun that goes into traveling is the adventure it entails.  And adventure is about not knowing what will happen next. And remember, going on holiday does not have to put  a huge hole in your pocket. There are always cheap alternatives to hotels, business class flights, expensive meals and crazy spending sprees. If you truly love travelling, you won’t mind spending a few nights with a backpack on your shoulder looking for your next bed.

Common misconceptions about travel

Common misconceptions about travel

 

Many people avoid traveling their entire lives just because of what they the ink they know about it. However, much of what we know when it comes to travel (especially those of us who do not have first hand experience with it) all comes from hearing stories from other people, taking the bad bits and listening to advice we really shouldn’t. Here are some of the most common misconceptions when it comes to travel that tend to keep many people from experiencing the wonders of travel (adapted from HuffPost Blog):

 

"I don't have enough money to travel."

 

There are plenty of resources, grants, contests and scholarships available to students, post-grads and professionals throughout the world. There are also opportunities to volunteer or work abroad, which can both greatly reduce or completely cover the costs of travel and accommodation. Studying abroad is also an option for college students, and there are many scholarships and funding options available for these programs as well. Travel does not have to be costly!

 

"I have better things to spend my money on."

 

This may be true, depending on the person. But you do not necessarily have to attach any physical value to something in order for it to be worth the money! Travelling will undoubtedly make an impact on your life, and the people you meet, the experiences you have and the things you learn are surely worth more than anything you could buy in a store. If you want to make an investment in your personal well-being, your education and your future, travel is certainly one of the best things money can buy.

 

"I've seen the movie Taken; it's unsafe to travel abroad."

 

As long as you are alert, you will be fine. Many people who travel go through new hardships, because, well, you’re going to a new place, and bad things to happen. However, if you’re willing to learn from your mistakes, and take advice from people who know what they’re taking about, you should be safe enough in any new country. Also, it wouldn’t hurt to have Liam nelson’s phone number on speed dial…just in case…

 

"Traveling alone is terrifying, or I don't have anyone to travel with."

 

Traveling alone is not as scary as people often think. There are plenty of people in every place who are happy to help and get to know travelers. You'll make friends and you'll probably learn a thing or two about yourself along the way. Just make sure to keep an open mind and be friendly, show your support and let people know that you’re interested in learning about their culture. Also, many travel destinations are filled with people who, just like yourself, think that they don't have anyone to travel with, so meet few of them and band together!

 

"I've never been abroad."

 

All the better that you consider going! It may seem intimidating to travel internationally (or even locally!) for the first time, but it's actually a lot easier than you think. There are many misconceptions about going abroad that are often untrue, but thinking that you shouldn’t go on a trip simply because you’ve never been before is incredibly easy to solve…just go! Your experience and your willingness to do new things will prove very useful to you in future, and you might even find that you’ll be trying to convince others to join you on your next one.

 

"I don't have the time to travel."

 

Traveling does not need to last for months or even weeks. It does not need to consist of a trip across the ocean or to another continent. A trip to another city for a weekend may be just as valuable as a trip across the country. Learning about a new place doesn't mean that you have to spend a lot of time and money doing so! There are even ways to be a traveler in your own city by exploring the areas you're unfamiliar with or going to cultural events. There are many ways to be a traveler that don't have to take up a lot of time. You just need to find them.

 

"I need to be doing something that will show up on my resume."

 

First of all, if you keep a blog during your travels, it looks very impressive when you talk about starting your own travel blog on a resume. It shows initiative and passion. Also, it can open up many opportunities, including volunteer service, international programs, etc. that look fantastic on resumes and add a unique touch. Basically, you can put traveling on your resume, you just have to explain how your travels gave you relevant experience for the working world.

 

"I don't know where to begin."

 

Not knowing where to start is probably the easiest problem to overcome. Talk with someone you know who has been abroad before and have them walk you through the process. There are plenty of resources, web sites and people out there who are more than happy to help you plan your first trip. After that, the rest is easy!

5 useful holiday tips

Going on holiday can be a stressful time for anyone, not just because they are becoming more and more expensive to pull off well, but because there is usually so much planning involved that it is easy to get caught up on one part of it and forget about the rest. Here are a few easy tips that will help you get through this stressful time.

 

1. Pack light

 

The goal is to pack with one bag. As much as possible, pre-plan your itinerary, figure out the specific items you'll need for your trip and stick to that list — if you start contemplating what to bring the night before you take off, you're doomed. But packing light doesn't have to mean going without. Just be strategic about what you bring so that you don’t have to struggle with transporting all your luggage once you get to your destination, and even worse, end up losing stuff because you can’t keep track of it all.

 

2. Cut out the middleman as much as possible

 

It's a basic rule of economics: if you want a deal, eliminate the middleman. Major booking engines like Expedia have been dropping their transaction fees, but even so, when you book directly with an airline or a hotel, you get same or better prices 99% of the time and better service 100% of the time. This doesn't necessarily only extend to hotels and airlines, however. Any booking or planning you might do, you will probably be better off doing yourself. It might take a little while longer, but you’ll save money, and perhaps even get to know more about the procedure, so next time will be much easier!

 

3. Get travel insurance

 

This one is quite a no-brainer. Even if you;re the kind of person who believes nothing bad could possibly happen to you while you’re on holiday, plan for it anyway, since you might find yourself in more trouble than you can handle if something happens and you haven’t planned for it. Most basic travel insurance packages include things like injuries, lost luggage, sickness, and even cover you if you have to cancel your trip before going. While you probably won’t get the entire amount back, you will at least be able to get a portion of your money back after paying your cancellation fines.

 

4. Get your schedule in order

 

We all know that time management is something that can quickly get the best of us. When you’re planning a holiday, make sure to leave enough time for the simple things that no one ever thinks of, so that you don’t end up doing things last minute. Fill up your car the night before you leave, pack at your bags at least 24 hours in advance, and keep all your tickets and boarding passes together in a place where you will see them, so that you don’t forget to grab them on your way out.

 

5. Don’t forget to have fun and relax

 

Whatever stress you go through, you should try to remember the point of your holiday. You’re taking your vacation to get away from your stress, so try take everything as it comes, and remember that its not the end of the world. Any plans you have on your trip, whether its a booking at a hotel that doesn't work out, or a rainy day that ruins your plans, just let it go and let your plans change. You never know, you may even end up having a better time!