Want to Travel the World? 7 Travel Myths Holding You Back
If you’ve been dreaming of traveling the world, but have been letting people’s negative comments and opinions stop you, then this post is for you! Here, I’ll discuss seven travel myths that might be holding you back and show you have easy it is to explore new cultures and landscapes – even if you plan on doing it solo.
Here are 7 of your “travel myths” that I’m about to debunk once and for all.
I grew up in a home that rarely traveled. Coming from a family that separated when I was only five years old– both my parents had to do what they could to make ends meet. This meant to travel, when it did happen, was more of a luxury than a necessity and usually only consisted of weekend getaways or short trips to see extended family.
It wasn’t until later in my life that I realized travel is so much more valuable than that.
Even though I had no background or prior experience, I grew to love it. I realized that travel needed to be a necessity in my life, and therefore I make sure I do whatever I can to incorporate it. It’s not easy, but my overall quality of life is so much better every time I board a plane.
To help combat the misinformation out there, I want to debunk 7 of the most common travel myths I’ve encountered over the years so that you can feel confident booking that flight!
Travel Myth #1: traveling is scary
Fear of traveling is one of the BIGGEST reasons why people don’t do it. Fear is a big part of why people don’t attempt a lot of things in life.
If you want to travel, you need to fight those butterflies in your stomach and dive headfirst. Once you give it a try, you’ll soon realize that it isn’t that scary—and you’ll find yourself becoming a new, confident individual. This feeling is one of the many benefits of travel.
“If you kill the butterflies in your stomach, you’ll kill the dream. Most people back away when they get that nervous, uncomfortable feeling. But that feeling signals you’re doing something that matters to you. Embrace the feeling. Lean into the discomfort. Try to understand what the feeling is telling you.”
Jonathan Fields
The biggest reason for the fear is that people believe that international travel is unsafe. The American culture teaches us that anywhere outside of the United States is corrupt and dangerous, when, in fact, that isn’t the case. Do some research on travel forums to find out what it’s like in the country you want to visit.
Don’t let your fears control you. Just doing a little research can go a long way.
Travel Myth #2: travel is too expensive
Traveling is much more affordable than you may think—it’s all about making travel a priority in your life. How many of you get that $4 Starbucks coffee every morning? How many of you find yourselves at the mall every Saturday afternoon buying crap you don’t need? How many of you own more than three pairs of jeans?
If you own more than that, you own too many.
And don’t forget, in certain parts of the world your U.S. dollar goes a long way. In the Philippines, for example, my boyfriend and I spent an average of $20 per night for accommodation and maybe $5 per meal.
If you purchase at the right time and find the best deals, international flights are relatively inexpensive as well (Dustin and I spent $400 round-trip to the Philippines).
If you save up and plan accordingly, there are ways of taking a trip without breaking the bank.
Travel Myth #3: You don’t have the time
If traveling is something you want to do, you need to make it a priority in your busy schedule. Get creative with your vacation time, take a weekend trip somewhere, or plan a destination family gathering for the holidays.
If you get creative, finding the time to travel isn’t that hard.
Travel Myth #4: I can’t travel solo
You may be suppressing that desire to travel simply because your friends don’t share that same dream. Don’t let that stop you. There are plenty of people out there (including myself) that have traveled solo and loved every second of it! Solo travel is much more beneficial for your overall health and wellness than you may think.
And if you’re absolutely against solo travel—there are plenty of tour groups you can join that can take you all over the world. Try Contiki, Intrepid, or G Adventures, for example.
See also:
Travel Myth #5: I’m waiting for that special someone to travel with
I was traveling around the world long before I met my significant other. IN FACT, we met on a trip to Bodrum, Turkey!
Don’t wait for that special someone to start traveling—you very well could find the one on your travel adventures.
See also:
Travel Myth #6: Traveling is hard, I will suck at it
Believe it or not, a common excuse I hear is, “I suck at traveling; that’s why I don’t do it.”
I will agree, that learning how to navigate through an international airport, reading road maps and google maps in an unfamiliar country, fighting the language barrier, finding reasonable accommodations, and navigating public transportation takes a particular set of skills.
But that’s just it—if you don’t practice, you’ll NEVER be good at it. The fear of making mistakes and potentially losing some money in the process will always keep you from wanting to travel. The fear of sucking at it will always be there until you learn how to travel well.
See also:
Travel Myth #7: Traveling will jeopardize my career goals
Believe it or not, companies understand the value travel brings. Your mind and skill set have been expanded far beyond confining cubicle walls.
By taking the plunge to travel, you stand out from the crowd, and you can share how your traveling experiences shaped your mindset. Travel experiences give you personability and creativity.
For example, you can explain to your future employer skills you have learned while on the road. You can discuss how you created budgets, developed itineraries, even designed and planned flight and trip logistics.
These skills show organizational, financial, and even leadership capabilities.
If you genuinely are considering traveling but don’t know where to start, I encourage you to do your research, read A TON of travel blogs (including this one), and once you decide where you want to go—BOOK YOUR TICKET.
