Today, I like traveling whenever I have the time, inclination, and budget for it. But I initially didn’t start out being a travel fanatic. I disliked a lot of the things associated with it, including the expense, paperwork, long queues and crowds, packing and unpacking of luggage, and generally feeling like I might offend someone at any given moment in a foreign country.
So at what point did I say “I wanna travel the world” and mean it, you wonder? Well, it all started when I found myself with a group of college friends who simply “must” backpack in this exotic Asian destination filled with abandoned white sandy beaches and pristine, crystal-clear waters. I was wary at the thought of being in a foreign country thousands of miles away from home, whose food might disagree with my stomach, and whose customs might take some getting used to. But join them I did. And it was such a wonderful experience that it eventually became the gateway to my wanderlust.
Fast-forward to today, and I’ve started to pay it forward to people who want to know how to start traveling the world. As I’ve stated before, I don’t consider myself a travel expert yet. In fact, I don’t think I mind that I will forever be a student of traveling! However, I do have the kind of experience that’s resulted in practical information. With that, I hope these tips help you with your travel plans!
Begin Planning Now
It might seem impulsive, but then again that’s how all grand ambitions start. If the traveling bug has bitten you, it’s best not to ignore it. Scratch the itch by planning! It doesn’t have to involve detailed itineraries yet, especially if you don’t have the budget for traveling at the moment. But if you don’t do something – anything! – about it now (not even to talk to a close friend about your plans), then it will remain just a dream.
So go ahead and read travel blogs and forums, talk to people who have visited the places you dream of, and look up flight schedules and travel sites to get an idea of all the hows, wheres, whys, whens, and whats of your travel plans. The important thing is to start somewhere.
Start a Travel Fund (No Matter How Small)
I’ve been asked the question “How to start traveling with no money?” several times, so I’m going to answer it today.
The answer is, you can’t.
Unfortunately, unless you have the stamina and courage to hitch rides everywhere (which I highly discourage) and forage for free food, you’re going to need a travel fund to travel.
Back in college, I didn’t have real work yet, so I did the next best thing I could to start a travel budget. I held a garage sale of my old clothes, books, and sports gear. I didn’t make much, but it did set me on the way to saving up and being frugal for the next couple of years so that I can fund my first solo travel out of the country! So don’t fret if your savings won’t cover a traveling budget just yet. You can always start by being aware of your spending habits and giving up little luxuries (nix the expensive blended coffee drinks, for one!) so you can save a little every day for your travel plans.
Research On Your Favorite Places
It doesn’t matter how near or far, or how familiar or exotic a place is. If you want to visit it, find all the information you can on it! In my case, I scoured our local libraries for anything I can find on my dream destinations like Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan back in college. Those places were so foreign and unfamiliar to me that all the literature I found on them read like science fiction! That didn’t stop me from saving up for a visit to them, though.
And thanks to the research I did prior, I was able to steer clear of potential social gaffes (including when and where to tip – or not, the kind of clothes I should wear to particular locations, etc.). I also got to learn about “secret tourism” spots – the kind where I can get delicious yet affordable meals, comfortable accommodations that aren’t luxurious hotels, and beautiful places devoid of tourists based on my research.
Plan a Trip With Friends First
If you are anything like me, the thought of traveling alone to a strange place is a daunting one. I was barely out of my teens when I first entertained the idea, but decided against it and went with a group of friends instead. It turned out awesome! Not only did we prove that the more, the merrier, but our expenses were significantly distributed, so we didn’t end up in debt despite traveling thousands of miles somewhere.
So if you want to travel but you think you can’t do it alone first, enlist a group of trusted relatives or friends to go with you. It does present a lot of advantages. You have to make sure that you’re on the same page regarding traveling preferences such as mode of transport, accommodations, food, destination, and a variety of other important issues, though. Being stuck somewhere strange for a length of time with surly people you can’t get along with would be enough to put you off traveling altogether.
Use Cards that Earn Miles
If you’ve been traveling for some time now, you’ve probably discovered the magic of earning mileage using specific debit and credit cards. I used to think they were unnecessary until I got to see for myself just how useful they are. For starters, my points do not expire so I can get to use them for stuff at partner retailers while earning myself some “SkyMiles”. In turn, these points or miles can be converted into discounts for partner hotels anywhere in the world, or travel packages, airline or cruise discounts, and other travel-related perks.
The Verdict?
If you find yourself saying “I want to travel around the world soon,” then it’s high time to do something about it now. Don’t wait until retirement or when you aren’t in the best of health to do so! The world is waiting for you to discover it.
Now, I am in no way encouraging you to throw caution to the wind. It’s perfectly understandable to prioritize other essential things in your life like family, work, and personal commitments. But there’s no time like the present to start traveling, even if it means merely looking up potential flights or travel destinations that fit your budget, lifestyle, and schedule.
So at what point did I say “I wanna travel the world” and mean it, you wonder? Well, it all started when I found myself with a group of college friends who simply “must” backpack in this exotic Asian destination filled with abandoned white sandy beaches and pristine, crystal-clear waters. I was wary at the thought of being in a foreign country thousands of miles away from home, whose food might disagree with my stomach, and whose customs might take some getting used to. But join them I did. And it was such a wonderful experience that it eventually became the gateway to my wanderlust.
Fast-forward to today, and I’ve started to pay it forward to people who want to know how to start traveling the world. As I’ve stated before, I don’t consider myself a travel expert yet. In fact, I don’t think I mind that I will forever be a student of traveling! However, I do have the kind of experience that’s resulted in practical information. With that, I hope these tips help you with your travel plans!
Begin Planning Now
It might seem impulsive, but then again that’s how all grand ambitions start. If the traveling bug has bitten you, it’s best not to ignore it. Scratch the itch by planning! It doesn’t have to involve detailed itineraries yet, especially if you don’t have the budget for traveling at the moment. But if you don’t do something – anything! – about it now (not even to talk to a close friend about your plans), then it will remain just a dream.
So go ahead and read travel blogs and forums, talk to people who have visited the places you dream of, and look up flight schedules and travel sites to get an idea of all the hows, wheres, whys, whens, and whats of your travel plans. The important thing is to start somewhere.
Start a Travel Fund (No Matter How Small)
I’ve been asked the question “How to start traveling with no money?” several times, so I’m going to answer it today.
The answer is, you can’t.
Unfortunately, unless you have the stamina and courage to hitch rides everywhere (which I highly discourage) and forage for free food, you’re going to need a travel fund to travel.
Back in college, I didn’t have real work yet, so I did the next best thing I could to start a travel budget. I held a garage sale of my old clothes, books, and sports gear. I didn’t make much, but it did set me on the way to saving up and being frugal for the next couple of years so that I can fund my first solo travel out of the country! So don’t fret if your savings won’t cover a traveling budget just yet. You can always start by being aware of your spending habits and giving up little luxuries (nix the expensive blended coffee drinks, for one!) so you can save a little every day for your travel plans.
Research On Your Favorite Places
It doesn’t matter how near or far, or how familiar or exotic a place is. If you want to visit it, find all the information you can on it! In my case, I scoured our local libraries for anything I can find on my dream destinations like Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan back in college. Those places were so foreign and unfamiliar to me that all the literature I found on them read like science fiction! That didn’t stop me from saving up for a visit to them, though.
And thanks to the research I did prior, I was able to steer clear of potential social gaffes (including when and where to tip – or not, the kind of clothes I should wear to particular locations, etc.). I also got to learn about “secret tourism” spots – the kind where I can get delicious yet affordable meals, comfortable accommodations that aren’t luxurious hotels, and beautiful places devoid of tourists based on my research.
Plan a Trip With Friends First
If you are anything like me, the thought of traveling alone to a strange place is a daunting one. I was barely out of my teens when I first entertained the idea, but decided against it and went with a group of friends instead. It turned out awesome! Not only did we prove that the more, the merrier, but our expenses were significantly distributed, so we didn’t end up in debt despite traveling thousands of miles somewhere.
So if you want to travel but you think you can’t do it alone first, enlist a group of trusted relatives or friends to go with you. It does present a lot of advantages. You have to make sure that you’re on the same page regarding traveling preferences such as mode of transport, accommodations, food, destination, and a variety of other important issues, though. Being stuck somewhere strange for a length of time with surly people you can’t get along with would be enough to put you off traveling altogether.
Use Cards that Earn Miles
If you’ve been traveling for some time now, you’ve probably discovered the magic of earning mileage using specific debit and credit cards. I used to think they were unnecessary until I got to see for myself just how useful they are. For starters, my points do not expire so I can get to use them for stuff at partner retailers while earning myself some “SkyMiles”. In turn, these points or miles can be converted into discounts for partner hotels anywhere in the world, or travel packages, airline or cruise discounts, and other travel-related perks.
The Verdict?
If you find yourself saying “I want to travel around the world soon,” then it’s high time to do something about it now. Don’t wait until retirement or when you aren’t in the best of health to do so! The world is waiting for you to discover it.
Now, I am in no way encouraging you to throw caution to the wind. It’s perfectly understandable to prioritize other essential things in your life like family, work, and personal commitments. But there’s no time like the present to start traveling, even if it means merely looking up potential flights or travel destinations that fit your budget, lifestyle, and schedule.
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