For me, travel is vital to my heart and soul and is the only way to understand the amazing world we live in. There is nothing quite as empowering as packing up your rucksack and deciding to go on a long-term travel trip of exploration. If this is your first time, here are six things you need to know about long-term travel.
How do you plan a long-term travel?
- There are various ways to travel without staying in hostels.
Many people imagine that long-term travel involves staying in some less-than-ideal hostels, but that isn’t always the case. If you plan and shop around, you can get some fantastic deals on other accommodations, especially if you are willing to stay outside of the center of the city you are visiting or even consider Airbnb. - It’s all about the budget.
Unfortunately, the ability to plan long-term travel relies heavily on having the money to sustain yourself for a long time. You need to save up quite a significant amount before you go and keep to a strict budget to ensure your money lasts. One way to make it work is by getting a short-term job while traveling. - Not everywhere is going to be perfect.
The world is fantastic, but that doesn’t mean every destination will live up to the hype. You will almost certainly come across places that are a little disappointing when you travel for so long. For example, The Secret Traveller blog by 1Cover lists the most disappointing tourist attractions, including the Mona Lisa, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and even the Floating Markets of Bangkok. - You might get homesick.
You might be surprised that after weeks and months of itchy feet, wanderlust, and planning your trip down to the last minute, you feel a little homesick at some point on the road. Whether it’s for your grandma’s cooking or just your bed, there will be a moment when you wish you were home. However, you will feel much better as soon as you move on to the next activity or adventure or check in via video chat. - Long-term travel options might not be glamorous all the time.
As with all things in life, things will go wrong occasionally. Flights will be missed, belongings will be lost, the weather will be awful, and it will feel like a big deal at the time. You will learn to handle these things with a sense of humor and build resilience. - Long-term travel will change your life.
No matter what, long-term travel will change your life for the better. It will open your eyes to new cultures and ways of life. It will give you memories and lessons that last a lifetime. You can’t comprehend until you have done all how this is going to change your life.
So, what are you waiting for? The best time to travel is now! Don’t let anything or anyone put you off – it’s one of the best things you will ever do.
Do you have any long-term travel plans? Let me know all about it in the comments!
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