Barriers to Traveling Series: Part 2 (I wouldn’t even know where to Go…)

One of the greatest rewards of traveling is getting out of our comfort zone.  It is also one of the hardest.

The reason why we started this blog is because we believe the above statement is really true and accurate.  And we thought that it would be wonderful to have a community of people who encourage, inspire, share, learn and grow together, pushing each other to get out of our comfort zones and travel, adventure and experience. 

But there are so many incredibly valid barriers to traveling, and ignoring them is naïve or dismissive.

• I wouldn’t know where to go.
• Traveling is expensive, and it is not in the budget.
• We have kids.
• With the world as it is, it is too dangerous.
• I don’t want to be worried while I’m on vacation. I just want to relax.

We have experienced a lot of the reasons why to not travel, both in talking to travelers and also in our own experiences.  Personally, each one of the reasons cited have woven themselves into our stories.  They are all valid. 

It is important to understand something about this blog before we unpack these ideas.

Here at “Learning Through The World”, we think travel is personal and unique. We have absolutely no interest in telling anyone how they should be traveling more, ignoring barriers, etc.  It is simply to share that these exist and offer some practical tips for those interested in traveling anyway.

How you fit this into your life is your business.  Family Day Trips, Impromptu road-trips, long-planned dream trips on a beach or on safari…Whatever works for you is what we want to help you pursue.

Ok.  So lets get down to unpacking these.

Today, we are unpacking the first valid barrier to travel for many people.

I wouldn’t know where to go.

Let’s take this at face value first and offer some practical tips.  If this sentence resonates with you, you are probably fairly new to travel, and inspiration may be all you need to get started!

Determining Where To Go:

Here are some thoughts that may help you if you are having a hard time narrowing down your trip options.

What is the goal?

• What memories are you trying to create? A fun Family-Adventure? Experiencing a new culture? A Romantic honeymoon?
• What experiences are you hopeful to have through your trip? Do you want to hike a trail? Would you prefer to boat on the water? Is it exciting for you to see historical places? Would you prefer to spend time experiencing art and culture? Do you want to lay on a beach with your drink in hand? Do you desire to sleep in (parents, we see you!)? Do you need to try the best local foods and restaurants?
• What do you hope to learn? If you have children, what do you hope that they learn? Traveling is an amazing opportunity to learn and teach simplicity, contentment, experiencing a different culture, expanding boundaries, etc… Narrowing down your desires will help you pursue these learning and teaching opportunities with purpose.
• Do you prefer action, relaxation, or a mix of both?
• Do you want to be challenged out of your comfort zone or prefer to ease into this “travel thing?” There is a time and place for each.  Is it a particularly stressful time at work? Are your kids on summer break or just a short weekend in the academic year? Overall, are you in a place for relaxation or stepping out of the comfort zone.  It is really important to answer this question so you get what you want.
• Do you want to plan or be flexible (and to what degree?) We have done both and absolutely love the trips that come out of careful planning and the treasure the memories that come by letting go and just exploring! Knowing which you align with for an upcoming trip will help you to better pick your location, as some places lend themselves to each better.

Who is attending? 

Knowing the dynamics of the people attending will help you narrow down your search.

For example:

• Perhaps you are taking a trip with your Grandmother and Grandfather.  You probably aren’t going to trek to Mt. Kilimanjaro (unless your grandparents are amazing!).
• Perhaps you are traveling with a young one, so you prefer to drive, or limit the length of the flight.
• Perhaps you are traveling alone, and safety is your concern.
• Perhaps its a romantic get-away, and you desire a kids-free location.

The conclusions you make are personal, but asking these questions will allow the trip to come together a bit better than asking them while  you are there! (Poor Grandma and Grandpa would have a hard hike… 🙂 )

What is your budget?

There are so many tips to do budget travel, but that will be for a later blog.  Right now, you just have to narrow down what you want financially from your vacation before you can begin narrowing down a destination.

• Would you prefer to be able to cut loose financially on vacation or do you mind keeping yourself to a daily budget?  This will impact the location, as you can find wonderful locations for both needs but have to clearly decide what you want.
• Will you be flying or road tripping? Also, are you willing to do either, if costs would benefit?
• How long would you prefer to be gone? Would you prefer to go somewhere you have dreamed about for 5 days, or would you prefer to take all 7 days of your vacation away?

After you have come up with those conclusions, you can begin narrowing down your trip.  This will help you with either your own research, or if you talk to others.

Research Tools: 

There are countless places to find inspiration and planning for trips online.  

Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest – These are genuinely all wonderful resources, with countless companies and travelers sharing pictures and experiences.  If you are truly curious, this is wonderful! Plus, the inspiration will spark your curiosity, and it take no time to follow someone online.  You can be exposed to a new destination in a matter of seconds.

Travel Blogs – People who blog about travel LOVE travel.  And they have insight that they want to share. Follow their blogs, and if you have some that you really enjoy, reach out to them and contact them.  Odds are they are more than happy to help you get started and give you ideas.  You may not only find ideal destinations, but also sample itineraries, tips and insider information on that great restaurant you should try off-the-beaten path.

Groupon  – While the trips aren’t quite as customizable, you can find some great vacation ideas on Groupon Getaways (which we are not being paid to say).   If you go this route, the options are somewhat limited, which can be helpful when you are new to learning what you want out of trips. Many have the flight included, which can alleviate the stress of booking.  Everything is done, and you can simply start researching what to do while you are there.

Travel Apps – There are so many great apps out there!  Simply search for Travel Apps in your App Store and look for reviews.

Travel Professionals:  –  These professionals know their destinations and can often arrange things you may not think of, or they can save you time in your research.  Some people find that these services help to ease tensions and questions about a trip that is a little out of the box. If you feel overwhelmed and think that hiring someone to manage your trip is in your best interest (and your budget) then by all means, do so.  

 

No matter what you decide, the important part is just to take the first step. Narrowing down and learning what’s best for your situation can set you up to make wonderful memories!