In my opinion, seeing the world is one of the most worthy uses of your hard-earned money. Traveling broadens your horizons, helps you develop skills that serve you well in all areas of life and helps you learn not only about the world, but yourself as well. If you are currently deciding on where to go, here are some important considerations that I have gleaned from my own experiences traveling abroad.
Do Not Put Too Much Stock in the Opinions of Others
Traveling is a highly subjective experience and one person’s dream destination can be another’s nightmare. While other people who have been to a particular place may be able to give some valuable input that is worth considering, ultimately, you should not base your decision on what other people have said if it happens to be in conflict with your desire or perceptions about the location.
During my current journey though Southeast Asia, I encountered a lot of people who said they did not like Vietnam—the people were unfriendly and always tried to cheat you. The conflicting opinions on this country seemed to be more so than any other country I had discussed with others, and when I finally decided to book my trip there, I had some apprehension. Turns out, it was one of the best parts of my trip and some of the people I met there were the friendliest I had ever met in all my travels. Phuket, Thailand is one of my favorite spots on earth and there were many times I encountered people who said they hated it there—most often, they stayed in the most touristy part of the island which is super-crowded and not any different than any other tourist center on an island. If you really feel a pull to visit a particular place, go with your gut and do not discount it because of other’s negative experiences.
Have Enough Money So You Can Actually Enjoy the Trip
For many of us to afford international travel, we often have to go the budget route and there is nothing wrong with forgoing a bit of luxury to make it possible. But, with that being said, you do not want to be on such a budget that you will have a hard time enjoying yourself—you want the option to not have to eat street food every night or treat yourself to a massage. You need to be realistic about your desires and preferences. I have long outgrown hostels; and if I was in a position where I could not spend more than 20 dollars a night on accommodation, I would rather go to Vietnam where you can get a decent hotel room for that amount, rather than Singapore, where that same 20 dollars might get you a bed in a shared room in a bare bones hostel. So, if you really have your heart set on going somewhere, but really cannot afford to travel like you would like, save that trip for another time and pick a more affordable location.
Pick Where You Want to Go, Not Where You Think You ‘’Should’’ Go
There are lots of places to choose from and in certain areas of the world, certain spots are certainly more popular than others with tourists; because of this, you may feel like you should choose one of these places rather than a more obscure one. Regardless of where you pick, you will probably have a great time anyway, but if you are leaning more towards a less frequented destination for whatever reason, do not feel like you should pick the more popular spot since that may be more ‘’worthwhile.’’
Kelli Cooper is a freelance writer who enjoys writing about all things travel; if you are in need of a great resource for finding great travel sites in one spot, she recommends you check out this web guide.
Genius! I think these are great trips and unfortunately, I’ve probably made all 3 mistakes in the past. It’s true, you really need go where YOU want to go, not others or the typical locations. Some of the best trips I’ve had have been small, non-touristy sort of locations. It’s also great to make sure you can afford the trip that way you can really enjoy your vacation and not be worried about funding.
These are really amazing tips, especially the first and last (although of course money is always important). It’s like judging a movie or book based on the reviews of others — you could wind up passing on something you’d love. Even if it does end up being less-than-great, at least you can say you got to come to that conclusion on your own.
I really see what you say, a place that can be great to one person can be horrible for another, it depends on what you like, and the experience you have. I see that some people like to travel and be comfortable in a nice hotel with room service, nice sheets and all of that stuff while others love the adventure, camping and more outdoor activities. It can also depend in the weather you prefer and the food you like. ,
Hi Bridget
Glad you liked the article…and yes, I have made all of those mistakes myself! I think doing what you want to do is so important..we can put a lot of pressure on ourselves when it comes to traveling and how we think we are supposed to do it.
Hey Erica
So true! People’s experiences are so subjective when it comes to travel and the conflicting opinions on the same places really drives that point home. I always like to see something for myself.
Hi Alice
That is so true–we all have different preferences and when people are giving their opinions, that obviously colors everything about the experience.
Great article! You really bring out some good points. I can definitely agree with the part of not putting too much stock in the opinions of others. Sure, your ant Margaret might have had a lovely time in Scotland, that doesn’t guarantee that you will too.
I agree with spending a little extra to make sure you enjoy your trip. I decided to go with a super cheap hotel when I was in Hollywood and boy did I get my money’s worth! Cockroaches were in the shower, the TV did not work, heater didn’t turn on and stains were on the comforter. To be honest it cracks me up now but it was no laughing matter at the time! We ended up going to a more expensive hotel the next night and felt much more relaxed.
I really like not planning the entire trip, I like to plan a few things but always leave an open window for adventure. For me that works, I always get to know someone who talks to me about a place or invites me to go somewhere and usually I don´t resist and that is how I have had the best times of my life.