learn of travel

13 invaluable life lessons you learn through travel

Recently updated on August 1st, 2023 at 02:07 pm

Travel is one of life’s greatest teachers. It pulls you out of your comfort zone and plunges you into the unknown. It reveals a world of cultures to explore and people to meet. And it helps you develop virtues like patience and humility. So whether you explore a new neighbourhood or a new country, here are 13 of the best life lessons you can learn through travel.

1. To enjoy experiences over things

One of the greatest lessons you’ll learn through travel is that we need very little to be happy. And it’s not cars, phones or clothes that make us happy – it’s our experiences. A study published in the Journal of Psychological Science revealed that experiences provide more lasting happiness than material possessions. A Trafalgar study showed that 74% of people would rather have experiences over things. When you travel, you’ll form strong bonds with people, learn new skills and create lasting memories.

2. To leave your comfort zone and try new things

If you want to flourish in life, you must get out of your comfort zone and embrace the unknown. If you always stay in a well-worn routine, you’ll never truly expand your horizons. When you travel, you leave behind the familiar and take on a world of new things. You’re constantly learning through travel, with new cultures, friends, foods and languages. You may feel excitement or even fear, but usually never boredom… and it will be one of the most rewarding things you ever do.

GET INSPIRED BY: Splendours of Japan

3. To appreciate different cultures (and our similarities)

One of the best parts of travelling is experiencing different cultures. When you visit a new destination, you become immersed in a culture’s history, language, customs and cuisine. You’ll get to see famous landmarks like a historic temple or palace, take part in a traditional festival, eat at a local restaurant and even try speaking a few phrases. And as you explore the cultural differences, you may also come to find that we’re all not so different after all.

4. To be patient

Travelling teaches you not to sweat the small stuff. Whether you’re facing long lines at the airport or having trouble communicating in a foreign language, you’ll likely encounter many small frustrations on your journey. These little obstacles are a valuable lesson in patience, and at the end of your trip, you’ll be able to deal with almost anything.

GET INSPIRED BY: National Parks and Native Trails of the Dakotas

5. How to make friends with strangers

When you’re learning through travel, you open yourself up to a world of human interaction. Whether you’re meeting fellow travellers on the road or swapping stories over a glass of wine with a local, you’ll find plenty of people are open to chatting. Strike up a conversation, and you might just make a new friend. RELATED CONTENT: 5 benefits of solo travel (And how it will change your life for the better)

6. To never take nature for granted

One of the best things about travel is exploring the natural beauty of the world. On the flip side, you’ll also witness the fragility of our planet. You may visit destinations where clean drinking water is a luxury or where natural disasters have caused mass destruction. You may see forests disappearing, coral reefs dying, or glaciers melting before your eyes. When you travel, you learn to appreciate every natural wonder, every sip of clean water and every bite of healthy food.

GET INSPIRED BY: Best of Switzerland

7. To be spontaneous

You may be a rigid planner at home, but travel teaches you how to go with the flow. Your travel journey won’t always go to plan and when obstacles arise, you must embrace your impulsive side. Sometimes it’s better to let go of the schedule and take a spontaneous adventure. You never know what you may find, and that’s the beauty of it!

8. To appreciate the little things

We’re often so busy in our daily lives, we forget to appreciate the little things. When you travel, you take time to slow down and reflect on your experiences. You treasure the beauty of things we often take for granted, like watching the sunset, savouring a delicious meal, and cherishing your friendships. Travel teaches us it’s the little things that count.

RELATED BLOG: 3 ways Trafalgar’s Make Travel Matter experiences connect you to a destination 

9. To be humble

When you open yourself to learning through travel, you are often humbled. You’ll realise just how small your footprint is in our enormous world. You’ll understand how lucky you are and how much you may take for granted in your daily life. You may also often encounter acts of kindness and generosity from strangers who have far less than you. Travel quickly teaches the value of humility.

10. The importance of smiling

We always advise Trafalgar guests to learn a few phrases in the local language before travelling to a new destination. It allows you to communicate more easily with locals and can spark some wonderful interactions. But for the times when words fail, you can always count on a smile. A genuine smile is a universal communicator and expresses friendliness and gratitude. Travel teaches that you can never go wrong with a smile.

11. How to think outside the box

When you travel, there will always be bumps in the road. Anything can happen, from getting lost or getting sick, to dealing with lost luggage or flight delays. You’ll often need to deal with problems without getting completely stressed out. Travel teaches you how to think creatively and adapt to all sorts of situations.

RELATED BLOG: What to pack: Travel Directors share their top tips

12. You are capable

One of the most important lessons you learn through travel is that you are more capable than you thought. Travel teaches you confidence, independence and freedom. It boosts your self-awareness and your problem-solving skills. Travel shows you that you can navigate a foreign country, make new friends, and overcome difficult situations. When you realise how powerful you are, your travel journey becomes one of the most transformative experiences of your life.

GET INSPIRED BY: Italy Belissimo

13. You never stop learning

“When you stop learning, you start dying” Albert Einsten

Just because we’ve left school doesn’t mean our education stops. Learning keeps us young, and travel is one of the greatest teachers of all. Travel inspires a sense of wonder and discovery, and there’s an entire world of things to do and people to meet. You could explore a forest or walk down a new street. Try a different cuisine or learn about another culture. When you travel, you never stop learning.

What life lessons have you learned through travel? Let us know in the comments below. ..

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• What Travel Teaches You: 23 Travelers Share Life Lessons From the Road
• June 28, 2023

FREE DOWNLOAD: 20 QUESTIONS THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE(STYLE)

A simple roadmap for setting up a life you don’t need to escape from.

• Digital Nomad

One of the most important realizations I’ve had during my travels around the world: it’s not the place you’re in (or the work you’re doing, people you’re with, etc), it’s about the mindset. It’s always mindset. In this post, we hear from digital nomads who share life lessons from traveling the world.

Blake Miner

Travel  is the best teacher. It can open your eyes to new cultures, new landscapes and new ways of life. With every new place you visit, you gain a greater understanding of the world around you and what it means to be human. 

So pack your bags and get ready for an adventure, because travel is guaranteed to teach you something new. These digital nomads give insights into what travel teaches you as they share their most important life lessons learned.

Ready? Let’s go!

Life Lessons Learned From Traveling the World

We're more similar than we think.

Human nature at its core is good

Keep an attitude of gratitude

View the world through the lens of opportunity

Life is yours for the taking

Travel without set plans

Expect the unexpected

Get in touch with your core self

Experiences trump things

Develop a sense of wonder

Go with the flow

Appreciate the feeling of "home"

You can design your lifestyle

Appreciate humanity

People are inherently kind

You are a product of your environment

Mindset is everything

Learn to be an observer

The importance of sharing

Experiences trump possessions

People are inherently good

Carry minimal possessions and keep an open mind

A Final Word

I’ve been fortunate enough to meet some of the most inspiring, interesting and brilliant people on my travels and have learned a number of important life lessons .

I hope these insights have given you an idea of what travel teaches you and inspired you to go on an adventure of your own.

The best part is that these insights are all things you can do yourself by simply picking up your bags and heading out into the world—no passport required. They can be applied no matter where you are!

What have you learned from your own travels? We’d love to hear about it in the comments below!

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10 Valuable Lessons Learned from Traveling

On the surface, saying travel helps you grow is so cliché. Sure, it happens to be the truth, but what does it really mean?

The lessons learned from traveling are certainly different for everyone depending on who they are and their experiences. I’ve felt firsthand the many benefits of traveling but I wanted to reflect specifically on what travel has taught me. Each one of the travel lessons on this list has had its impact and continues to shape who I am as a woman, traveler, and human being.

1. The world is kind.

Not only that. The more I travel the more faith I have in human beings.

And of all the lessons from traveling on this list, I cherish this one deeply.

Every place I’ve been, and even more so when I travel solo, are local people and fellow travelers who say hello and are happy to help you out of a jam. Even when there are language barriers, most locals feel a sense of responsibility and pride in making sure you pass through their little corner of the world safely and enjoyably.

I’ve had pseudo-aunties making sure I made it across the land border between Chile and Argentina in Patagonia .

A kind old man in Romania walked me to the unmarked bus stop I needed in Rasnov all the while smiling and pointing out things on the main street as he chattered on in Romanian.

I was happy to cross paths with Trisha and Ambrose from Ireland who joined me for dinner in Sighisoara and told me all about their plans to hike in Romania .

Yes, there are bad eggs everywhere, even right in our backyards.

But, what travel teaches you is the majority of people are good.

Instead of letting the day’s news make you afraid of other people, visit places near and far. I’m absolutely sure you’ll be overwhelmed, like I’ve been, by the innate kindness and generosity of human beings around the world.

2. It’s ok if expectations don’t pan out.

Before visiting Vienna, I’d heard so much about the city’s beauty, history, and culture and couldn’t wait to experience the city myself.

But, it turns out, I just didn’t like Vienna the way I thought I would. I was frustrated by how difficult it was to get around and just not overly impressed with the vibe of the city overall.

Back at home, I reflected on Vienna and thought maybe it was me. After all, so many people love Vienna! I decided I’d even be open to visiting Vienna again.

But, I’ve also realized it’s ok. Vienna just didn’t do anything for me. The same as how plenty of people visit New York City (where I’ve lived for many years) and don’t like it.

This experience forced me to think about travel expectations.

It’s fine to have them. Just keep them in check and remember to always react to the moment.

Don’t judge yourself for feeling a certain way because whatever it is, it’s ok. It doesn’t have to be the same as what other people think.

3. Gratitude creates happiness.

I’m so grateful for all of the places I’ve seen and the experiences that come from those visits.

Each trip comes with these “Are you kidding? Pinch me.” moments.

It happened while I was cruising along on a quad in the wilderness of Swedish Lapland . The feeling came again in Prague when my husband and I woke up early and had the Charles Bridge to ourselves or when we couldn’t take our eyes of the Northern Lights in Finland.

Every time I repeat the words, “thank you, thank you, thank you, out loud. It helps keep me in and appreciate the moment. And, the more I focus on my gratitude, the happier I feel.

The best part is what I learned from traveling about being grateful has carried over into my everyday life.

4. Be an eager lifelong learner.

We’ve all seen travel quotes proclaiming how traveling is the best way of learning, expanding the mind, and broadening perspective.

Yes, they’re inspirational grains of truth, but this type of learning and personal growth doesn’t happen by accident.  

As travelers, we still need an open mind and shouldn’t judge something just because it’s different. Travel can absolutely be a relaxing escape. But, isn’t it also a brief chance for us to escape our daily routines and welcome new things without prejudging them?

Isn’t this the essence of learning?

Whether I’m walking through a museum in London , debating politics with a Canadian NATO officer in a Budapest bar, or learning about the wildlife in the Okavango Delta , every experience, every conversation allows me the chance to learn something new and see something from a different angle.

So, what’s the catch?

We have to want to learn it.

Otherwise, the experience will pass like every other moment in time and we’ll come out unchanged continuing to think and say things like, “Isn’t that weird?” or “How strange that person is!”

5. Sometimes life gets in the way and you have to roll with it.

I’ve had to cancel a trip to Cuba and 2 separate visits to Mexico City.

I’ll be honest. Not being able to visit Cuba still makes me sad. But, I know there was nothing I could do to change the circumstances.

Life needed me to be someplace else. I completely accept it.

I’ve realized it’s what you do in the aftermath that reveals your true spirit.

I could’ve let my frustrations take over. But, releasing those feelings (and yes, there was a conscious moment of release) and rolling with the tide turned out to be far better than fighting it and stewing in my own disappointments.

Which brings me to my next point…

6. Embrace spontaneity.

When you research, plan, and prepare with one destination in mind, all your momentum is heading in that direction. When the emergency brake is pulled, the stop and change of direction is jarring.

Canceling Cuba , though, forced a level of spontaneity that was nothing short of exhilarating.

How incredible it is to be sitting on your couch one night, only to unexpectedly hop in a car before dawn the next morning on a road trip from New York City to Utah for a National Parks adventure. That just doesn’t happen every day!

It’s good to shake things up and see how you make do. It felt good to do the unexpected, thrilling to leap without much of a plan.

And in hindsight, I needed the vast openness of Arches , Canyonlands , Bryce , and Zion National Parks. I needed to breathe deeply after having to cancel the trip I thought I’d be on.

The parks reminded me of my tiny speck of a place in the Universe. Even when things in the moment seem so massive, they’re really just a single drop in time shaping the broader landscape.

7. Most times fear is not really fear.

Fear is usually more perception than reality.

The majority of our fears are not even actual fears. They’re all of our self-doubting, insecure, nervous thoughts and feelings masquerading as fear to mess with our minds and bodies.

These thoughts only have as much power as you allow them. And, it takes a true pause and reflection to differentiate real fear from your own inner-sabotaging. 

I’ve traveled solo despite these thoughts. I thought I’d never leave my hotel room when I arrived in Santiago, Chile for my first solo trip, but I spent some moments with myself in that room identifying what was really going on. 

I’ve hiked Angels Landing in Zion National Park with these feelings thinking I could never make it the last bit up to the viewpoint because it’s only for  real hikers.

I’ve pushed past them every single time and was rewarded greatly with increased confidence and strength, as well as a better awareness of what I can accomplish.

8. Experiences are better than stuff.

I have never been a materialistic person and have always been super practical with my purchases.

I still wear a cardigan sweater my husband bought me back in 1999 when we barely knew each other. It wasn’t until all the glasses in the kitchen except 2 had broken from years of use before I finally bought another set.

The more I travel the less I buy.  After so many unforgettable travel experiences, there’s no handbag or home accessory that’ll ever compare.

So I only shop for what’s necessary and I make sure every dollar spent earns back miles and points for travel.

When I reflect back, it’s my travel experiences like exploring the Angkor Temples or hiking in Patagonia , as well as my family, fur babies, and friends close to me, that bring the most happiness.

I don’t remember a single Christmas gift from last year but I remember how fun it was to host my friends for a Thai dinner party to show off the cooking skills I learned in Chiang Mai .

9. Pay attention to your hunches.

My entire solo trip to Romania started with a hunch.

I’d seen a few photos. Read 1 or 2 blog posts. But something about it just grabbed my attention.

I deliberated for a while, especially since I’d originally wanted to go back to Asia during the same time period. But, when I finally arrived in Bucharest and eventually Transylvania , I was blown away.

Why weren’t more people talking about these places? Why weren’t there more people visiting?

I followed my hunch instead of checking off another travel bucket list item. In doing so, Romania stole my heart and showed that perhaps it should have been on my list all along.

10. Life is now. Make every day count.

People always tell me how good it is to enjoy life when you’re young. I appreciate the sound advice, but also think you should make the most of the time you have no matter what age you are!

The average life expectancy in the U.S. is about 80 years old. It’s an undeniable fact. Our days are limited.

If you live to be 80 years old, how many more days do you have left?

If travel is one of your true passions in life, make sure it has a consistent presence in whatever time you have left. I certainly will!

Exploring this amazing world and learning from the people in it are infinitely worthwhile ways to spend however many days we have left.

What are the most valuable lessons you’ve learned from travel? 

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20 Life Lessons from a Life of Travel

Before the world abruptly stopped and travel was put on hold, I had been travelling for the last eight years. My lessons from travel span an entire memoir.

I started a blog back in 2012 as a way to document my journey and before I knew it, writing about my travels has become my career.

I’m from a normal upbringing but my life these past eight years has been anything but normal. I’ve been climbing mountains in Pakistan , learning how to make pastries in the basement of The Ritz in Paris, staying with Buddhist monks in Japan and too many more experiences to count.

These experiences have taught me more than I ever realised.

That is, until now.

Home is wherever feels good

After eight years of living out of a suitcase, I finally decided last year that it was time to “move home”. But where exactly is home, when you’ve spent so much time away from it?

I bought a house, renovated it, and promptly realised the childhood town I grew up in did not feel like home anymore. Firstly, because I’d met a man in the Okavango Delta who I would later move to South Africa with. Secondly, because I had grown and changed so much since my departure, that my normal wasn’t so normal anymore .

The truth is, home is wherever feels good.

It is easier now than ever to live in a new country. If you feel up for it, give it a try. Nothing is stopping you but yourself.

Experiences are better investments than things

Has anyone ever told you not to buy a new car because of devaluation? The same could be said about new handbags, designer clothes, and keeping up with interior design trends.

Experiences are investments that pay more in life gains than possessions ever will.

Sometimes you need a trip to grow, find yourself, or find answers you’ve been looking for. Why not take one of these life-changing trips .

Some trips that shaped who I am include: renting a van and driving around New Zealand , 10 days in Pakistan and every single solo trip of self-discovery .

Money does not equal happiness

Growing up in a privileged country, I was conditioned to believe that money = happiness. How wrong I was. Having met people from all over the world who have much less than the average westerner locked into a mortgage, suffice it to say they are much happier than their counterparts.

What is it then, that warrants happiness?

Acceptance of your reality. Simplicity in all things. The gift of giving.

Quality trumps quantity

So the old saying goes; quality trumps quantity. The same is true in light of travel. The more you travel, the more you start to realise those snippets of a new city, country or culture aren’t quite enough.

The further you travel, the less you want to.

You realise it is better to know a place – like really know a place – instead of just know how to ride the metro. The more I explore, the deeper I want to get to know a place.

Gone are the days of my late teens country-hopping around Europe. I’d rather move into an apartment in Berlin for a few months or pack up my life and move to Cape Town.

Learning a new language

Growing up in an English speaking nation, learning a new language was not a necessity nor was it easy. Living in Australia leaves you isolated from foreign languages, cultures and traditions.

Travel is an easy way to break that cycle.

From German to French and a hint of Afrikaans, over the years it has become easier to learn the basics to communicate in foreign languages.

If you are eager to learn, try these language courses .

You learn to stop caring what people think of you

What is it about travel that forces you to leave your inhibitions at home? I can hardly remember my pre-travel self who was insecure, shy, and fearful of what others would think of me.

The woman I have become would not have been possible without travel. Without encountering strangers, meeting local heroes and discovering that everyone has a story to be told.

I care less now about what anyone thinks of me, despite having created a career where I live online. I’m susceptible to criticism on a daily basis but I’ve learned that if you don’t stand for something, you believe anything.

Own up to your mistakes

Another one of my life lessons from travel has been to admit my wrongs. Granted, I’m still working on this as we are often the last to admit our wrongs.

But who was responsible for catching a train from Munich that was westbound instead of heading East toward Budapest? Me. Whose job is it to fix the mistake? Mine.

Travel forces you to make mistakes and this makes it easier to own up to them. Especially travelling alone – no one is responsible for your mistakes but yourself.

You learn how to problem solve

Not only do you learn to own up to your mistakes, but you learn how to problem-solve as a knee jerk reaction.

Wrong train? Get off at the next stop and start again.

Booked a plane ticket for the wrong date? You’ll need to talk your way out of those change fees.

Mugged on the streets and suddenly your cash flow is halved? Time to start budgeting and cutting your expenses in half, too.

What is important in your life

After spending so much time alone exploring foreign lands, I’ve learned to value human connection and community more than anything else in my life.

As a Virgo who loves her alone time, I’m more than comfortable being on my own. I have however learned that too much time alone is not good for me – because what is life without human connection, interaction, and mutual dependence?

The more you learn, the less you know

The further I travel, the more I learn – or so I used to believe. The truth is, with all my prejudices and a Western mentality, the more I travel the less I actually know for sure.

The more I travel, the more I learn. But the more I learn, the less I know for sure.

I’ve been forced to question what the media tells us, how stories are spun for traction, and just face straight out lies.

Vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness

I used to think being vulnerable was a weakness.

However being vulnerable is being yourself. After years of travel and meeting so many people the world over, I’ve come to realise that there is no greater power than just being yourself .

Being your most authentic self is a weight off your shoulders as you never have to try prove anything, you just are. This gives you all the time and power back to work on what really matters to you.

Books are just as much of an escape

Sometimes you just can’t escape. Whether you’re stuck in the office or have used your holidays for the year, often we have the urge to go somewhere but we just can’t yet.

I have found over the years that books provide just as much of an escape. Hence, launching my book club for travellers .

You don’t have to know someone a long time for a deep connection

Some of my greatest connections with people have been accomplished in a day – some even less.

You don’t need to know someone for a long time to have a deep connection with them. You can connect in such a life-changing way with someone who tells you just what you need to hear at the right time you need to hear it.

You can travel without leaving home

Now more than ever, I’m learning there are some great ways to travel and fulfil my wanderlust without leaving home. Whether it be trying a new recipe from a foreign cuisine you love or virtually visiting a museum, there are some great ways to travel without leaving home. Here are my favourites .

You learn to invest in yourself

While we’ve already learned that experiences are a better investment than things, only in recent years did I learn to invest in myself.

Whether it be learning how to make French pastries in a kitchen basement in Paris or investing in life-changing books on entrepreneurship , the greatest investment is yourself. If you never stop learning, you never stop growing.

Long-distance works if you want it to

I’ve had a few different experiences with long distance relationships after 8 years living out of a suitcase. Some have worked and some haven’t.

The truth is, long-distance works if you want to. It’s like any other relationship – you make sacrifices, you make it work. This is one of the lessons from travel I’d rather not admit to – but we can only learn from our mistakes.

Silence speaks as loud as words

Travel has a way of bringing out the best and worst in people. Unfortunately, the good comes with the bad and we have to learn to deal with it.

In travelling with my partner more recently, I’ve learned that silence speaks as loud as words. Sometimes not saying anything really says it all.

Travel is really just about perception

The old saying goes: you see what you want to see.

Travel and your experience abroad really come down to perception. Had a bad day? It could be worse. Life on the road will throw you many curveballs but is all about how you deal with them. Choose to be positive. Opt to be optimistic. If you want to have a great experience, you will.

Your twenties are practically made for travel

I used to be scared by that window of time between living with my family I grew up with and creating my own. But the truth is, this window of time is the perfect opportunity to go out on our own and discover ourselves for the better.

I used to be scared by that window of time between living with my family I grew up with and creating my own.

I never would have shaped my own world view without taking this time to go out on my own. Just because my parents taught me a certain way of living, doesn’t mean I need to follow it. Sure, I will always hold dear the way I was brought up to see the world – but I had to go out and add my own flavour to it.

You won’t always be alone so enjoy the solitude

After spending a lot of time alone, human connection becomes more and more desirable. But the truth is, you won’t always have this time to yourself. You won’t always be able to be selfish. To choose yourself. And to do all the things you want to do and skip all the things you do not. Enjoy the time in your life where you can be alone. It won’t always be this way.

Brooke Saward founded World of Wanderlust as a place to share inspiration from her travels and to inspire others to see our world. She now divides her time between adventures abroad and adventures in the kitchen, with a particular weakness for French pastries.

Find me on: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

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15 Life Lessons Learned From Traveling

by Elizabeth Gorga March 17, 2023

• After Your Life Abroad

They say that travel changes you. When you choose to indulge in your wanderlust and see the world, you will rarely ever return as the same person. More likely, you’ll come home as a more confident, independent, self-aware human. A better human. So what is it about travel that’s so life-changing?

After traveling meaningfully, you’ll never be the same.

There is something incredible about opening your eyes to how other parts of the world live, speak, eat, and work. It shifts your perspective in a whole new way when you visit new countries and learn about new cultures. And yet, some of the biggest life lessons learned from traveling are gained not only through the places you go, but how you handle your travel experiences—the travel mishaps and cultural blunders.

Every aspect of travel is a learning experience, and lessons learned from traveling can’t be learned anywhere else.

What does traveling teach you?

There is truly nothing more memorable in life than travel. It’s one of the few things we can do over and over in life while constantly discovering something new. Every travel experience is different—we’re exposed to different people, different ways of life, different food, languages, and cultural experiences.

Once we get a taste, we want more and more because there is nothing like the personal growth, expansion, and adventure that come with wandering through foreign lands.

Travel has the power to both delight us and challenge us. And it’s through both that we learn. What travel teaches you is that it doesn’t matter where you go—it only matters that you give yourself the opportunity to leave the places you know and let wanderlust take you by the hands and start to dance.

When you do, the life lessons learned from traveling can completely alter your path.

15 life lessons learned from traveling

Traveling is one of life’s greatest teachers.

So what does traveling teach you? These are some of the most important lessons learned from traveling the world.

1. Be humble.

No matter who you are, how many years you’ve been on this Earth, or what you’ve done with your life thus far, you will never know everything there is to know. There is always more to discover, more to learn.

What travel teaches you is that you’re not so big in the grand scheme of the world— you are no more important than any other person and there is always room for growth. Travel truly humbles you.

2. You are never alone.

You’ll be amazed how easy it is to bond with other travelers.

Loneliness is a universal feeling; all humans have a desire to fit in, to belong, to have a tribe. One of the most important life lessons learned from traveling is that you are never alone in your feelings of loneliness, and at the same time, you are never truly alone.

Travel brings people together. Even when you’re traveling solo , all you have to do is smile at a stranger and ask a question to spark conversation. Before you know it, you’ll have friends to join you for dinner or tag along with you to the next city.

3. The friends you make abroad are friends for life.

There’s no stronger connection made than between two people who are out of their comfort zones, having the experience of a lifetime, in the same moment in time. While it’s easy to make friends while traveling , the friendships made are also solid ones.

Travel allows you to get to know people in their most vulnerable states, creating bonds that are difficult to break. The friends you make while traveling are often friends you will keep for life and will open doors to further travel opportunities.

4. Do the things that scare you.

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Do one thing every day that scares you.” When we leap outside of our comfort zones, we have the ability to continuously learn, expand, and shift our perspectives.

Travel allows you the opportunity to constantly do things that scare you, whether that’s eating fried crickets or jumping out of a plane at 14,000 feet in the sky . Every one of these experiences teaches you something about yourself that you never knew before and allows you to push your boundaries.

5. Getting “lost” is relative.

Letting yourself wander can lead to some of the best moments.

One of the best parts of traveling is getting lost in a new place—wandering aimlessly down cobbled streets with no map, taking the train to the end of the line and exploring somewhere new, following your gut instead of your iPhone to show you hidden treasures.

What travel teaches you is that getting “lost” is relative. And in fact, when you find yourself somewhere unexpected, this is where the real adventure happens.

6. Go with the flow.

No matter how much you plan while traveling, it’s inevitable that at some point you’ll throw your plans out the window. Things won’t always go your way when traveling; sometimes that will look like a canceled flight, and other times it will look like falling in love with a new city and canceling that flight yourself.

To quote another great, John Lennon reflects that “life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” So forget the plans and let go of the schedule because travel teaches you to be impulsive and go with the flow.

7. Experiences far outweigh things.

When you’re living out of a backpack, sleeping under the stars, or spending hours on slow moving trains, you’ll find that you actually need very little to keep you happy. One of the most valuable life lessons learned from traveling is to place value on experiences over material things.

You don’t need fancy cars, a flashy wardrobe, or king-sized beds to bring you joy. In fact, the new experiences, exotic street foods, and late night conversations with new friends are what you’ll remember most while traveling.

8. Patience is the greatest virtue.

Be prepared to be unprepared.

Mishaps are inevitable while traveling. Whether that comes to you through a missed connecting flight, a train strike leaving you stranded in a foreign city, or a miscommunication while struggling with a new language, travel teaches you not to sweat the small stuff.

In the spirit of going with the flow, travel will teach you to deal with anything that’s thrown your way with patience.

9. There’s nothing more beautiful than Mama Earth.

Natural beauty around the world will take your breath away and leave you in awe, from snow-capped mountains to deep blue oceans to lush green rainforests and exotic wildlife, and everything in between.

You’ll also undoubtedly witness the heart break in earth’s ecosystem, the fragility of melting glaciers and dying coral reefs, the beaches and hiking trails covered in plastic waste . Both will give you a greater appreciation for the magic of Mama Earth and how precious her resources are.

10. Appreciate life’s simple pleasures.

Some of the best moments in travel could be sitting around a campfire telling stories with your travel mates, sharing a home cooked meal with locals, or having a hot shower after a day of wandering until your feet are caked in dirt.

These things don’t require elaborate plans or spending a lot of money. It’s one of the simplest life lessons learned from traveling—to be present with the people around you and indulge in your senses.

11. Just smile.

As a traveler, how could you ever run out of reasons to smile?

With over 7,000 languages spoken throughout the world, it’s incredible that there is one universal language: a smile. No matter who you are, where you’re from, or what language you speak, travel teaches you that smiling is the same everywhere.

It displays friendliness, gratitude, and helps you connect with those around you. When in doubt, offer a smile…and don’t be afraid to smile more often!

12. Think outside the box.

Travel opens your mind in more ways than one. When dealing with the inevitable mishaps that come with every travel experience (whether that is losing your luggage, getting sick with food poisoning, or struggling with the language), travel teaches you to deal with all kinds of situations by thinking outside the box.

You’ll become more innovative, adaptable, and gain problem-solving skills that will help you deal with anything life throws your way.

13. We are all the same.

Through travel, you have the ability to experience different cultures and see how other parts of the world live and operate. Yet what travel teaches you is that we’re not all that different. Humans all over the world appreciate connection and family above all else. And there is comfort knowing that no matter how or where we live our lives, we all have core values in common.

14. You can do ANYTHING.

Travel changes you. It makes you more confident and independent. It offers a freedom you can’t find anywhere else. It teaches you how to problem solve, make friends even in the loneliest times, navigate language barriers, and get through hard things. All in all, it teaches you that you are powerful and gives you the courage to do anything you set your mind to.

15. There’s no place like home.

The flight home is almost always a bittersweet moment.

Travel offers a completely new perspective on home. It may help you appreciate what you left behind and help you dig stronger roots to where you’re from. For others, it may reveal that you belong elsewhere and help you plant roots where you truly belong. No matter the outcome, travel teaches you there’s no place like home.

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10 Lessons That Travel Has Taught Me

Written By: Renuka Walter

Inspiration

Updated On: November 16, 2022

I have always believed that travel teaches you without a scorecard. It enriches you gently. When you step out to see the world – meet people, get acquainted with different cultures, taste new cuisines or simply breathe in an unfamiliar city – you learn a lot!

Learning through travel happens naturally – you don’t have to try too hard. It’s all about losing yourself into the arms of a new environment.

You have to first shrug off the ‘safe’ and ‘tried and tested’ syndrome and delve into the unexplored with a free spirit.

Table of Contents

Lessons Travel Taught Me

Travel has taught me a lot.

It has taught me so much that I am even keener to learn more through it. Let me share 10 things that I have learned from my travels so far.

Value little things

Travel has opened my eyes to small, ordinary things of life- things that are undervalued, but have great significance.

Now I am more conscious towards waiters, chauffeurs, florists, vendors and any random person whom I come across on my vacations.

I have a deeper sense of respect for them, because they are the ones who make our travels smooth for us. 

I often make it a point to interact with people, and that makes my travel experience even more rewarding.

Travel Broadened my perspective

Now I have a much better perspective of life. I have come out of my shell where all I knew was my family, my relationships, my job, my struggles and my life.

Travel has opened new doors for me – I can see different aspects of life.

I can understand what is important and what can be sidelined. It has helped me think beyond the traditional mindset that there is more to life than the usual.

Travel helped me open up

I have learned to interact with people.

I am an introvert – I don’t speak much when I am around people I don’t know. But now because of travel I have started interacting with people on my travels.

I am not saying that I instantly become friends anybody and everybody, but I do initiate conversations with random fellow travelers.

I believe if you don’t interact with your fellow travelers and the locals of your destination, you barely experience a place.

Travel Boosted my confidence

I have always been as confident or as nervous as any other person, but travelling has instilled a new level of confidence in me.

I am certainly more confident of myself as a person today than I ever was.

When you travel, you have to manage so many things on your own – from booking accommodation to deciding where to eat and lots of other things that you do independently.

At the end of the day, there is a sense of achievement that you have explored a destination on your own and that’s a big deal!  

I know my priorities in life – I’m more confident of myself now.

Travel Gave Me Purpose

Ever since I have started travelling, I know my priorities very well. I

know that I want to travel as much as possible. I know what I have to save for, what makes me happy and what I have to seek in life.

When I was not travelling, life was a usual rat-race and my priorities were work and money.

I didn’t know where I was going. I was clueless about my own ambition in life.

Travel has given me a clear direction and purpose.

Travel Made Me Less-Selfish

It may sound funny, but travel has helped me shed my selfish side.

I have always considered myself a sel- centered person. But travel has nudged me to look around and see life.

Now I am able to view life in all its hues.

I am able to relate to all kinds of people. I can think beyond my own challenges and realize the adversities faced by others. I’m able to look at others with compassion – everybody has challenges to deal with.

Travel Has Given me variety

Travel has introduced me to try new things and to be open to new cultures, people, food, architecture, landscape and so much more.

I have learned to appreciate the variety that life offers.

We don’t understand it till the time we begin to travel.

Now I wonder how some people get bored in their lives, when life has such wonderful things to enjoy. We just need to step out of our homes and discover the immense beauty out there.

Travel Sparked my Creativity

Through travel I am a more creative as a person.

By creativity, I don’t mean that I have learned a new skill. I simply mean that I have become more creative in my day-to-day living.

Travel opens our minds so much that we begin to see something interesting in everything – it could be something as simple as preparing a meal or arranging books on the shelf.

Travel Made Me More Grateful

It’s human nature to grumble about things.

But when we travel, we are able to negate such things with ease. I have realized that I have developed an attitude of gratitude.

I am more excited and thankful about life than I ever was because of my travels.

Made me more knowledgeable

Ever since I have started travelling and mainly started writing about my experiences, I have also been able to improve my world-wide knowledge.

As they say, travel is the best education.

Now I read a lot about destinations, different cultures, traditions, cuisines and other things. I look forward to learning about new things.

Now I find myself more equipped with knowledge, which has eventually made me a wiser person.

So that was my ode to travel. But that’s not all – I am sure there is much more that I must have learnt! And I will continue to learn throughout my life.

How has travel changed you?

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About Renuka Walter

Renuka is a writer/photographer and a travel blogger from India. Through her blog, she aims to inspire and awaken people to travel. She has been a native in four different cities in India and would not mind more city-hopping in the future. When she is not travelling, she likes to be a tourist in her own city. Follow Renuka at VoyagerForLife / Facebook / Pinterest

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29 thoughts on “10 Lessons That Travel Has Taught Me”

Nice travel blog..

What a brilliant read. Thanks for sharing this. I loved when you said complain less and be thankful. A lot of people just forget to be thankful 🙂

I also wrote about what travel has taught me and how it is taking my life story ahead. Do read my article and let me know if you like it 🙂

Great post – travelling teach us so many things. Confidence, open-mindedness, knowledge and much much more. I think you nailed it 🙂

We also wrote about our experiences from 2016 on our blog – a kind of status on the year. http://freerangetravellers.com/the-9-most-important-realisation-from-my-travels-in-2016/

That’s very well put, Jaryd! Travel actually reveals the beauty of life, which we fail to discover in our safe and routine lives.

I find the greatest thing I have learnt from travelling is wisdom and comprehension of cultures around the globe . What I mean by this is that travel teaches you unique things you can’t learn unless you travel from everything you see, smell, feel and comprehend. You learn more than you honestly imagine and it definitely makes you a lot wiser than what you would be if you were to stay at home stuck in a 9-5 bubble that doesn’t allow you to explore and gallivant.

Great post. Travel has helped me with all of these lessons as well. The big one for me is overcoming my introversion – still working on learning how to talk to strangers. I sure have grown over the past year of traveling.

Good for your Laura, you are right, travel definitely pushes you to be an extrovert. It can be difficult to talk to people, especially when you are an introvert, but it you have a lot more fun and experience more when you are open to talking to people. Congratulations!

That’s wonderful to know, Laura! Travel really helps us to rediscover ourselves.

Glad travel has brought so much growth in your life, rock on!

Thanks Steven 🙂 The journey of growth has just begun… the learning is everlasting!

Love it! Rock on is such a positive saying. It put a smile on my face. Thanks!

Great post! For me, the most important thing I have learned from traveling was “coming out of my shell”, stop being shy and start getting “more social”.

That’s so true, Natalia! Travel helps you rediscover yourself – even I was shy and reserved, but travel has made me a lot friendlier.

Wonderful Natalia! It sounds like travel has done amazing things for you too!

I think they should do away with self help books and people should simply travel. It always seems like this is the best way to grow and mature as a person. I think staying in the same place allows people to get bogged down with unnecessary worries. Seeking some sort of drama and excitement where otherwise life would be too static or dull.

I’m starting my travels in September and they couldn’t come soon enough. I look forward to writing a post like this myself. You are an inspiration.

Thanks! That’s nice to know, Kate! Travel helps us find the true meaning of life. It makes our life more worthwhile! People who don’t travel keep themselves from experiencing, learning and growing.

We agree, travel certainly helps people learn and grow. It’s one of the best ways to educate yourself while having fun!

Well said. Before we travelled, we read a lot of self help books. It wasn’t until we purged our lives from all the unnecessary expenses like two cars, big house, lots of bills and finally pursuing our dreams that we felt fulfilled. I spent years reading about how to improve my life, but travel is what finally helped me live a happier more fulfilling life.

Totally agree, Dave and Deb! Travel is one thing that squeezes out all the pain out of your life – the unnecessary desires, greed, anxiety, competition – everything fades away when travel is your priority.

Travel has taught me I’m a much more flexible person than I thought I was. Also someone recently described me as “adventurous” and I’d never thought of myself that way at all. However, I guess to people who don’t travel I am adventurous.

That’s so nice, Lisa 🙂 True, travel helps you rediscover yourself. Now you know that you are adventurous – because you enjoy stepping out of your comfort zone.

You are so right. People who travel and try new things don’t necessarily feel adventurous, but to others we are. It takes a lot of courage to try something new and to travel on your own. We feel that travel makes everyone more adventurous. It’s wonderful

You said “I often make it a point to interact with such small people” , why they are small ? Because of the job they are doing for living ? Or they are not tall enough ? Maybe should be re-worded a bit, people can understood it differently (like I did)

I didn’t catch that word in my editing Anja. Thanks for pointing that out. I believe that it may be a language barrier on Renuka’s part. After re-reading it I don’t think that she meant to offend, but instead didn’t use the right wording. Hopefully Renuka will reply with what she meant. I took out the word ‘small’ as I would never describe an occupation that way. Dave and I are former waiters, and I chauffeured many a person around when I was a production assistant in the film industry. All people in life are important, never small. Thanks again for your comment.

Thanks Anja for your comment. 🙂 Yes, I totally agree that no occupation is small. However, things in India are a little different. Here people are considered small. My intention for writing ‘small’ was not small, but to highlight the importance of such people who help us during our travels – waiters, drivers and the like. I’m sorry if it didn’t sound good. I have deep respect for everybody.

Well said Renuka. We did notice quite a difference in culture while visiting India and it is wonderful that travel has helped you see the importance in everyone. We think travel breaks down boundaries in all aspects of life.

I agree with all of it! I certainly think that mingling is key to getting the most from travel – and that you should try harder to mingle with locals than with fellow travellers, although you will learn so much from both.

That’s true Arianwen. 🙂 Mingling with locals is certainly more rewarding. It gives you an interesting perspective about the place.

Well said Arianwen, mingling with everyone is a good thing. We’ve got some of our best tips and made some of our greatest friends from meeting fellow travelers as well as the locals.

22 Important Life Lessons We Can Only Learn If We Travel

It doesn’t matter where you go exactly. It just matters that we’re leaving hometowns and exploring completely new cultures, cuisines, and countries.

Read update

More things people learn from traveling.

Travelling is known to change you. Surrounding yourself with different cultures, different people and different outlooks on life are bound to change all of us a bit. That’s one of the greatest things about travelling as a whole – apart from tasting the different cuisines of course! You are on a constant learning curve as you venture from the US to Europe to Asia and so forth. It can be a scary thing at times, especially if you don’t understand the language. Ultimately, however, travelling will be the best thing you’ve ever done for yourself. That’s because travel broadens our minds and expands on our worldly wisdom.

Many people travel for the sole purpose of personal growth. But you should also know that travel isn’t all glory...there are ups and downs to it just like everything else in the world. You are going to deal with challenges along the way, but that’s part of the whole experience. Doesn’t all personal growth surface from personal challenge? After getting a taste for international travel, arguably it is best to solo traveler for the most immersive experience .

For the most part, traveling is the most fun and rewarding experience we’ll ever have. It doesn’t matter where you go exactly. It just matters that you’re leaving your hometown and exploring other countries and cultures.

Let’s take a look at some life lessons we can learn from traveling.

UPDATE: 2022/12/02 14:44 EST BY AARON SPRAY

Traveling can really change people's perspectives on the world. There are other parts of the world that are wildly different from wherever one's home is (often they are difficult to accept). This article was updated to include more things people would learn from traveling around the world.

22 Travel teaches us: To leave our comfort zone

If you always stay at home and simply flit between work and home, you’re not really leaving your comfort zone. You’ve found a comfortable routine in your life where your heart doesn’t need to skip a beat all that often. Travelling brings about the opposite effect. You are forced to leave your comfort zone whether you like it or not, because you are in a new country with a new culture and things are different. You are leaving behind friends, familiar foods, and often a familiar language. Entering a new territory, however, is exhilarating. There is no better feeling than expanding your horizons and coming home with endless stories.

21 Travel teaches us: To be more patient

When you travel overseas, not everything is going to flow like you want it to. In your home country and your hometown, you’ve probably grown familiar with how things roll. But when you travel to other parts of the world, obstacles are going to arise and you are going to have to find a way to deal with them.

Whether it’s struggling to get your point across in another language or losing your luggage along the way, you’ll definitely become more patient the more you travel. Learning how to deal with these little challenges is the best lesson in patience ever.

Related: What Cuisine You Should Try, Based On Your Vacation Preference

20 Travel teaches us: To appreciate cultures and their differences

Isn’t the best thing about travel experiencing new cultures? We all learned about cultures back at school, but it’s not the same. Actually experiencing a culture is totally different. From visiting museums, admiring landmarks to eating out in a local restaurant, you are exposing yourself to people and lifestyles that are usually totally different to what you find back home. You don’t have to stay in a country long before you start picking up local customs.

The vast difference between one country and another’s culture depends on the countries themselves. But generally, every new country you visit will teach you to appreciate new cultures.

19 Travel teaches us: To enjoy life over possessions

Many people believe a new car, a new house, or a new something will make them happy. Actually, humans need very little to find happiness in life. That’s a life lesson you’ll learn from travel. When you have to pack so lightly and bring only the essentials, you rely more on your experiences for pleasure. Sleeping in rundown guesthouses and hostels is something you learn to live with.

The joy of travel comes from the experiences you encounter, not the possessions you bring with you. This is when you start to realize that all the things you needed back home aren’t needed anymore.

18 Travel teaches us: Making friends with strangers is freeing

It’s easy to build a global network of friends as you travel. If you are travelling alone, you will especially find yourself in need of some human interaction. The good news is, finding traveler friends isn’t hard. When you meet travelers, they are usually happy to hear your story and share theirs too. You both have that mutual love for travel, which only strengthens the bond. If you are travelling solo, you will never be alone with all the travelers out there to befriend. You just have to stick your neck out a bit if they don’t speak to you first.

17 Travel teaches us: Being alone isn’t a bad thing

Traveling alone does get lonely, we’re not going to lie. When you are constantly saying goodbye to friends and entering a new territory, there will be those lonely moments. It can be especially lonely when you’ve spent the day sightseeing with nobody to talk to about it.

On the other hand, being alone also gives you time to reflect on your experiences. You won’t be distracted by outside opinions and you also won’t have to deal with conflict of interest and activities. This is your journey and you can do what you want. Going to bars, eating meals in restaurants, and walking around a city alone will soon feel familiar and not scary in the least.

16 Travel teaches us: To try new things

If you got offered a snail appetizer in your home country, you’d probably refuse right away. When you visit other countries around the world, you will get used to being offered or served unusual and maybe even unappetizing foods. Over time, it will become normality and trying new things will be part of your DNA.

Every culture has its own foods and customs. Although it might be hard at first, you’ll soon adapt to trying new things – even if you wouldn’t try them back home. Travel broadens your mind and pushes you to do the new and not hold back.

Related: Readers Say These Countries Have The Best Food In The World

15 Travel teaches us: Forget about the plan

As rigid as your travel plan may be, most of the time your travelling schedule does not go according to plan. That’s why you have to embrace spontaneity when you travel. You never know what’s going to crop up when you travel so it’s always good to just forget about the plan and go with the flow. Besides, you have enough rules in your home life. Now is your time to find your impulsive side and let your travelling journey guide you. Drifting is one of travel’s best pleasures. Instead of making a strict plan, just drift and see where it takes you.

14 Travel teaches us: To Discover new cuisines

One of the most enjoyable parts of travel is trying the different foods around the world. There’s no point in just sticking to the food you know when you travel abroad. Visiting new countries gives you the perfect opportunity to try new things. And that in itself broadens your mind and your taste buds. In fact, some people say you can learn a lot about a culture from its food.

If you’re the kind of person who sticks to their steak and fries, traveling will open your eyes to all the other wonderful dishes out there available for you to try.

13 Travel teaches us: To Find beauty in small things

We tend to take things for granted most of the time. We sometimes fail to see how special something is until we travel. With travel comes new perspective. It makes you appreciate things more – especially the small things. And normally you will find that it’s the free things that give us the most joy in life. When you travel, you will encounter at least a few curveballs along the way. It’s during and after these moments when you start to find beauty in small things like friendship, food, and even the rising sun. We stop taking things for granted and start opening our eyes.

12 Travel teaches us: To think outside the box

Once you leave your country, things aren’t going to be the same as what you’re accustomed to. Little obstacles will occur and you’ll have to find a way to deal with them. Maybe you have no wifi for directions, maybe the restroom is a hole in the ground…like it or not, you will learn to think outside the box.

Thinking creatively is a major life lesson you’ll gain from traveling the world. There are always going to be bumps in the road. If you can find a way to deal with them, it will be much easier and less stressful. Traveling allows you to adjust to new situations easier.

11 Travel teaches us: Lessons come in the most unlikely times

Especially if you’re traveling solo, you’ll find yourself making conversation with everyone around you: on buses, trains and planes throughout the world. Each new person you meet offers an intriguing story and maybe even a shred of wisdom.

When you surround yourself with a variety of different people during your travels, you will learn a lot. Forget what you read in the books. You learn a lot more when you’re out there in the world . Through your conversations, you will learn to respect how different your lives are. You will also learn that most of us, in spite of the cultural difference, want the same thing ultimately: happiness.

10 Travel teaches us: To Accept kindness and humility

Without even realizing it, most of us follow a cynicism attitude towards people. It’s a great shame because we sometimes overlook genuine kindness in the world. When you travel, expect to meet a whole variety. Not everybody is going to be kind, but accept that some people are. Meeting people through your travels will teach you to accept kindness – sometimes even from strangers. And it is your job to be open to invitations.

Accept the chai latte from the shop owner, accept the invitation to the local family wedding, and accept kindness whenever can - the rewards will be joyful.

Related: 12 Tips For Surviving Long-Haul Flights In Economy Seating

9 Travel teaches us: Amazing things lie on the other side of fear

Fear paralyzes us. A lot of us miss out on so much because of fear. Travelling alone, for instance, may be something you’ve always wanted to do. What stops you from doing it? Aside from money, it’s probably fear. You overlook all the excitement and focus on all the bad things that could possibly happen.

Sometimes, you need to do the things that scare you the most because on the other side of that fear, you’ll discover the most amazing things. Push yourself to do new things, try new things, and push through those feelings of fear. It’s the most liberating thing ever! If one is traveling to an unusual destination, then one should find sources that give reliable on-the-ground advice .

8 Travel teaches us: Smiling is a universal communicator - smile more

Although it’s always good to learn a few phrases in the local language, smiling is a universal communicator. Sometimes you won’t always be able to get your point across or make conversation with people as you travel around the globe. The good news is, you always have gestures you can use. One of them is smiling and it’s the best way to show people that you’re approachable. Frowning, on the other hand, does not.

Frankly, you can’t go far wrong in a foreign country if you smile. You can express many things with a smile: happiness, friendliness, gratitude. Traveling teaches you the importance of smiling.

7 Travel teaches us: We never stop learning

Wherever you go in the world, you will also learn, see and discover new things. Travelling is definitely a learning opportunity. That’s why it’s usually the most curious of personalities that long to travel. Every day you can learn something new.

This isn’t exclusive to traveling because you can still learn something new in your everyday life. But when you travel, the opportunities to learn come in abundance. You’ll be exploring and discovering new cultures, new people, new foods - everything is a learning curve and a chance to broaden your mind.

Every experience and every conversation you have teaches you something new.

6 Travel teaches us: Failure is a learning opportunity

Take it or leave it, not everything is going to go to plan when you travel. You are going to fail at some things and it’s going to be hard. Maybe it’s the language barriers or the inability to accomplish certain things during your travels. Either way, travel teaches you that failure is a learning opportunity.

So what if you messed up the local word and asked for rotten eggs instead of bread at the grocery store? Nobody apart from yourself cares anyway. All you can do is accept that you made a mistake and learn from it. That is all we can do: learn from our failures.

5 Travel teaches us: Health is the most important thing we have - take care of it

We all take our health for granted at times. When you travel, you need to take extra care of your health – particularly if you are alone. In a foreign country, it’s not always going to be easy to get understood or maybe they don’t have the right medication.

If you get sick during your travels and find yourself in a foreign hospital where nobody understands a word you’re saying, you will definitely learn to appreciate your health.

Outside of your home country, things work differently. It’s good to realize that your health is the most important thing you have. Take care of it, nourish it and do your best to stay healthy.

Related: Your Guide To The Most Peaceful Countries In The World

4 Travel teaches us: To adapt quickly

Some of the most unbelievable situations may crop up during your travels. Unless you want to go back home and give up your dream of seeing the world, you need to adapt – and fast! If not, you’ll never appreciate the greatness of travel. Anything can happen when you travel. Sometimes you find yourself in various situations and you need to find a way to solve problems quickly and without getting totally stressed out.

Once you’ve travelled to a few different countries, you’ll soon realize that the things that seemed like a big deal in your home country are now totally minor issues.

3 Travel teaches us: To discover our own powers

Being alone in a foreign country can teach you one or two things about yourself. For starters, it makes you realize just how much you can handle being alone without the help or support of friends and family. When you’re away from everything and have all that time to yourself, you’ll be surprised how zen you feel.

Even when you face difficult situations, you’ll find a way to overcome them. You are more receptive to new experiences when you are alone and it can be one of the most transformative experiences in your life.

Probably the most important lesson of all that comes from travelling is that you are more powerful than you thought.

A Little Adrift… 20 Powerful Life Lessons You Learn from Solo World Travel

Last updated on January 22, 2023 by Shannon

Five years ago today, I sat at Los Angeles International Airport watching the ground crew load the plane outside the window with baggage and fuel. Conflicting emotions warred inside of me. In two short hours, I would board a one-way flight to Australia to start my year-long round the world trip. This moment was the culmination of five months of meticulous planning and the realization of my dream to see other places— to find a purpose for myself while traveling through the cultures and countries I had read about in National Geographic all my life. My brief but powerful panic attack earlier in the day gave way to acceptance as I sat at my gate. I was nervous and still unsure about what awaited a slender, solo 24-year-old woman from the states who possessed little travel experience but great curiosity. But, I had faith that even if everything went wrong and I hated this decision, that I would come out OK on the other side.

I didn’t know it then, but that solo trip in 2008 evolved into more than a decade of slowly traveling and working my way around the world. I have spent long periods of time exploring just a few regions of the world. And beyond that, I have used these years to gain a better perspective on myself . A few travel lessons were hard-won and humbling. Others came from unlikely tutors and at unlikely times.

Are you left wondering: But what do you really learn from travelling? So much. There are more lessons learned from travel than any person could fully articulate, but it’s worth a shot to try. These are 20 things I’ve learned from travel since that day I sat at the LA airport debating the wisdom of my decision to travel solo around the world.

1. The world is inherently kind.

New acquaintances hearing my story are often alarmed by the breadth of my travels. Or, more pointedly, by a few of the countries I have visited. It’s hard to have an open perspective on the world if you only hear negative stories and stereotypes perpetuated by the mainstream media. Traveling unravels those prejudices with a more complex story of the world. Even more, traveling illuminates the light of inherent kindness pulsing from the world. Though traveling has some dangers—I have discussed them before —there is a deeper well of gracious kindness that coats every corner of the world. In every place, and within every culture I have found new friends and new stories about these places. People have have welcomed me into their homes. Many others helped me when I was sick. All of them shared a nuance about their culture and country that has forever lit that place in a new light for me.

2. Language barriers are surmountable.

New travelers, and those with the dream to travel, write me to share their travel fears. Many express fear about the language barriers in new places. It’s also a frequent question asked middle schoolers when I speak at their schools (right up there with “what’s the grossest thing you’ve ever eaten?). The world has hundreds of languages and dialects. On a travel day in some places you can pass through half-a-dozen languages before you fall back to sleep that night. It’s all too easy to get bogged down in the perceived obstacle. That’s a lot of languages to learn! But the truth is, English is the language of tourism. While there are few places where English-language guidance is rare, major tourist sites generally default to English as the second language of communication. This undercurrent of tourism suffuses so many pockets of the world. But where it’s scarce, even then it’s not a travesty. I’ve always found that a bit of preparation (like a phrasebook or smartphone app) works when coupled with patience, a game of charades, and a big smile.

3. Solo does not mean lonely.

It can mean lonely at times, I have never been lonelier than when I was sick on the road . Those moments, however, are the exception, not the rule. Traveling solo these past five years opened up conversations, moments of clarity, and deep friendships that would have been harder if I had traveled with others. Because I’m alone on the road, I seek friendships that other travelers may not need nor notice. And as a single woman, I am accepted into places males are not allowed. Women befriend me on buses and invite me to tea. In many cultures, men and women alike take me under their wing the moment they find out I am alone. Across dozens of cultures and countries, people have offered me help, friendship, and safety. Even more, traveling solo affords the solitude and space to work through thoughts and issues. It gives more time process each travel moment and assimilate the lessons and ideas. Solo travel teaches more about yourself than any self-help book ever could. Solo never has to mean lonely. Male and females both should travel alone at least once in their life.

4. Travel is affordable.

Traveling the world for five years on end is out of the norm for most people. Traveling away from home for long stretches in unimaginable for many people who have a strong homebase and routine. That’s OK, I’m not suggesting that long-term travel is the only way. But even shorter trips should be a priority for those who express a love of travel. Travel does not have to be a high-end luxury cruise around Europe. It can be that, but for those who dream of travel, it’s more affordable than many assume. My 11-months on that first year cost me about $18,000 for everything from lodging to airfare to food. Developing regions are not only more affordable, but they offer some of the most fascinating opportunities to learn more about the world . It’s also where your impact will go further if you spread your money responsibly by supporting social enterprises . Over the years, I have met travelers from every income bracket and socio-economic level. If you prioritize travel, you can find the ways to make it happen.

5. Travel, like life, is personal.

What one traveler loves, another might find dreadful. I eschew big cities and I am content to travel through towns with sub-500 people. That sounds like hell to some travelers. By traveling all these years, I learned that museums are not my thing, but I can wax poetic on my hike or the linguistic nuances of a new language I’m learning. We all geek-out on different things, and it’s totally fine to geek-out on whatever makes you happy. By personalizing a trip to exactly the activities you enjoy, it provides a fresh lens on the world and a deeper way to understand the local culture.

6. Gratitude is the greatest lesson in cultivating a happy life.

Traveling with my niece underscored for me the importance of instilling the character traits of empathy and gratitude into the next generation. With Ana, we talked about the wealth disparities we witnessed in each new place. A mother in  Laos shared how hard she had to work to send her child to the most basic schooling. And in turn, Ana learned a tangible appreciation for her educational opportunities. My niece saw the long, arduous hours farmers put in to grow the rice and coffee that fill our tables in the West. We watched workers spend hours to earn a living wage that barely supports their most basic needs. Practicing gratitude is not exclusive to travel, but long-term travel cultivates lessons in thankfulness and instills the practice deep into your life.

7. Eating the street food makes a trip memorable.

Some prominent travel guidebooks caution against sampling the local street eats in a new place. For shame. While there are definitely street-food safety precautions , the flavors, freshness, conversations, and friendships formed on tiny plastic stools sitting at rickety tables behind steamy hot street food stalls are many of my greatest memories. It’s worth it.

8. You should always carry travel medicine.

It can save your life , especially if you eat the street food. ;-)

9. Travel lessons come from unlikely places and unlikely people.

I have spent hundreds of hours in deep conversations with strangers on buses, trains, and planes all over the world. Each new person offered a fascinating story, a nugget of wisdom, or a nuance of the local culture. Through these conversations I learned a great respect for how different our lives can be, but even more the shared commonalities. Travel made me face my arrogant notions of “book smarts” and instead look at each conversation and experience as a chance to learn.

10. The developing world is more modern than you think.

Though I have seen great poverty and wealth disparities on my travels, it is the modernity of foreign places that surprised me. Bangkok, Thailand has some of the most spectacular glass malls in the world — a dozen floors of haute couture, trendy restaurants, and enormous cinemas.  Tokyo, Japan is completely developed and yet  nothing like the West. Sub-Saharan Africa has more developed cellular phone infrastructure than most Western countries. And they innovate through that network in ways no other places ever has. There are no stereotypes that prove true about any one thing, and that includes developing economies .

11. Make new friends, but keep the old ones.

I had a music box in childhood that tinkled the notes from a song into the air when it opened. The lyrics play as a refrain in my head as I travel the world and meet new people, “make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold.” 

These past five years have taught me important lessons about nurturing and maintaining my old friendships even in the face of new ones. Travel has limited my ability to keep and build those deep, old friendships. There is joy and value in the new friends and new lessons, but also a limit to the depth of the human experience I can encounter when I constantly move. Through this website, I have formed connections within the travel community. I have also become formed deep friendships with several people I met through travel. I value these people and the role they play in my life, but equally important are the friends I know who know my history.

It hasn’t always been easy to balance traveling long-term with supporting those friends. Traveling all these year taught me to be increasingly grateful for the deep and lasting friendships—it has taken very specific focus to ensure I maintain the friendships that pre-date my travel days.

12. Accept kindness.

Somebody wise probably once said that cynicism is the great killer of joy. If not, they should have. Accept kindnesses from strangers and be open to invitations and new experiences. Accept the chai tea offered by the friendly shop owner and learn his story. Jump at the offer to go to a large Indian wedding in the next town, you’ll have a blast. Be gracious, bring a gift, and be open to the new experience.

13. Call your parents.

My dad has never made me feel guilty for staying on the road all these years. As a thanks for his support, I assuage his fears in whatever way I can. Although I am not a parent, I know my the weeks I drop off the grid without any contact are hard on him. So, whenever Internet allows I send frequent emails and we Skype a couple of times a month. I respect that this person invested 18 years of his life making sure I lived to adulthood, the least I can do is keep him in the loop.

14. It’s okay to buy souvenirs.

I buy myself paintings from all over the world and ship them home. This flies in the face of the traveling minimalists who huff at the notion of souvenirs and “stuff.” I think it’s a question of acquiring the right stuff. My paintings are all in storage right now, and I don’t know when or where I may eventually settle, but they are treasured possessions. I also ship home thoughtful gifts to the people in my life who matter. My dad receives coffee from all over the world, we bond over this and it has made him feel a part of it (see number 13). One friend loves collecting jewelry from new places, another is a fan of scarves. My mother loves nothing more than those super touristy t-shirts, you know, the ones with an embroidered Eiffel Tower and the name “Paris” in cursive just below it; I send these to her from new places. They’re little tokens, and some people don’t get it, but to me, these things matter.

15. Take your mom’s advice: Count to 10 when you’re frustrated.

Traveling in developing regions of the world could try the patience of a saint. There’s the constant bargaining. The swarm of people who surround you when you leave a train stations. The touts and tuk-tuks vying for your attention. It’s overwhelming if it’s you’re not accustomed to the chaos. There are moments when I desperately need space and I feel like everyone’s ripping me off. This is when it’s time to count to 10 and take a deep breath. Learning how to control yourself in the most stressful of situations. Step away from the situation and gain a little head space to take stock of the situation. Find a bench, find a bathroom, find some way to back off from the overwhelm and find some perspective. You are in a new, foreign culture and that takes adjustment. It’s not your place to yell and create a scene, it’s your place to find the way to progress forward in a way that respects the local culture while keeping yourself safe.

16. Spend money when it’s warranted.

While there are times to be frugal and keep to a budget, a once-in-a-lifetime trip should be memorable. Always convert local currencies back into the US dollar before you nix a new experience. It’s easy to freak out over that 120,000 kip day-trip in Laos, but it’s really only $15 USD and that’s not quite so alarming a figure, is it? This is also true when it means splurging on a central guesthouse, or taking the taxi home if it’s safer or if it’ll make your life a bit easier. As with everything, keep perspective. It’s also more polite and respectful of the local culture to maintain perspective that haggling vendors down to their last nickel discount makes little difference in your travel budget, but is a huge difference in local salaries. Travel is only humbling and perspective-shifting when you make a conscious effort to make informed choices and learn from each new experience.

17. Never leave your luggage unattended.

Airports make the luggage announcement every 15 minutes. Never leave your luggage unattended. It’s wise advice when you’re about to face TSA, and it’s also sage travel advice. In many places, take your hand off your purse and it may be the last time you see that purse. Be conscious of your belongings when you’re in public, and spread your valuables among your bags. To whip out another cliche, don’t keep all your eggs in one basket. Maintain a consciousness of your possessions at all times, this is one of those “hard-learned” lessons every traveler learns at some point.

18. Pack light, you really can it buy it there.

When I sat in that airport terminal five years ago, I had completely over-packed . I ditched heaps of the things that I thought I would need. And I also lugged a year’s-worth of some items that were easily replaceable. You really can find: tampons, shampoo, new clothes, safety pins, and all the other myriad things you think you might not exist outside the US. The one thing you can’t find? Solid deodorant. I don’t like roll-on deodorant, and it’s difficult to find solid deodorant in many places. Now, I pack my Diva Cup , I replace shampoo in each new place, and I pack an extra stick of solid deodorant. For all things non-deodorant related, however, you can likely find it there.

19. Great things lie on the other side of fear.

The idea of traveling solo terrified me when I first left. Over the years though, it’s at the very moment that I am most afraid to move forward with an idea—when fears paralyze me—that I know I need to push through. I don’t mean fears like a physical danger, but rather the fears that box us in and prevent us from reaching our goals. Travel taught me that when you feel resistance, it’s that very thing that you will like find most rewarding on the other side. Understand yourself first and foremost so that you can make know how to make the big choices that best reflect your life goals and aspirations.

20. Smile often. :-)

Smiling is a gift that transcends cultures. It is the universal communicator. You should learn the basic “thank yous” and “hellos” in the local language too. But smiling replaces either of these gestures, and it should always accompany them. Not only can you express gratitude with a smile, but a simple smile has been the start of many amazing conversations over the years. Only take caution in parts of the world where a smile from a woman is seen as forward or promiscuous. In the bulk of the world, however, one small gesture of curiosity and kindness from me opened the door to reciprocal offers of kindness. Smiling makes you approachable to foreigners and locals alike. Really, you can’t go wrong if you approach your travels with smiles, patience, and gratitude.

It’s been a wild ride these past five years. I had no idea I would find a way to continue working from the road and traveling this great big planet. I have the deepest thanks and gratitude for the support of my readers. Throughout this journey, connecting with A Little Adrift readers has long been one of the best parts. If I can ever help you shoot me an email. If you’re keen to meetup, sign up for event notifications on the Facebook page, and safe travels wherever you next find yourself!

112 thoughts on “A Little Adrift… 20 Powerful Life Lessons You Learn from Solo World Travel”

All these tips can be very beneficiary!!! Will try to refer them for sure!!! Thanks for sharing.

So much wisdom in this post! Thank you for sharing :)

So glad it resonated!

Dear Shannon, your story and travel tips are inspirational! I am taking a gap year between high school and college to travel around the United States and Europe by myself and it makes me smile to read such a wonderful blog and be reminded that there are still people who travel the world with an open heart and an open mind. Right now I find myself in Oregon and I plan to hitchhike out east into Montana and Wyoming in the weeks to come- I was wondering if you have any personal tips on hitchhiking? Thanks for sharing your travel experiences with everybody! You are amazing! :)

Hi Hayden! I am so glad that you have found inspiration here. And congrats on the upcoming gap year — that will be such an incredible adventure. As for hitch-hiking, it’s not something that I have done in the U.S. I did a small bit in Scotland, but I wish I had better advice. The biggest safety tip I have about most travel that puts you at the will of others in that manner is to trust your gut. If you’re ever in a situation where you are feel pressured to act a certain way, or to do something that feels off, don’t fall back on being polite. It took me a long time to believe that it was OK to be “rude” by saying no thank you if the situation felt off. People who wish you harm will often use against you social norms and an inherent need to be polite. Just stay aware and trust yourself. You will have a lot of kindnesses offered along the way, and it will take experience to learn how to trust your gut. Accepting offered kindnesses have created some of my favorite travel memories, but I also have given very firm “nos” in situations where I just wasn’t fully sure or comfortable. I hope that helps! Happy travels. :)

Hi Shannon, my family is travelling the world for 1 1/2 years. Even though I am with my family, I still miss my friends. I know it isn’t very long, but sometimes I can’t focus on learning about the fascinating cultures. I also have to stay on top of my schoolwork, as I am only thirteen. I think your posts are wonderful and inspire me to get more out of the places I am in. They teach me and help me see the marvelous places you have gone, and I will soon go.

Hi Natalie! I am so glad that you wrote. What an adventure you have in front of you. But it’s also a huge and a very long time. It’s completely OK that you will miss your friends, of course you will! I don’t know how much you are allowed to be on social media, but when my niece and I traveled it was a good way for her to feel connected to her friends. There will be times in that you just want to curl up with a pizza and not see anything cultural or cool, you’ll just want to chat and be at home. I have had so many moments like that when I am traveling for a long time. You should never feel guilty, just do reconnect with friends, take a break and then it always passes. It doesn’t go away, but it passes. It’s only in taking a break that you will enjoy all of the cultures and places you are going to see. Stay curious Natalie, that will take you so far on these adventures. And keep me posted! I’d love to know how it goes as you’re traveling. :)

Five years of experience in travelling, Your lessons are more effective I follow those lessons. Always i want to go for a travel for whole world but there is no companion for me. I think i will get my travel pleasure as soon as possible.

Thank you, so glad it resonated. I hope you are able to hit the road soon.

I am planning a trip around the world but I would like to get 1 or more people on this trip. If you have an interest in travelling around the world let me know. Thanks email me at [email protected] or facebook me at ovidiu ciortan

hi shannon , i just doing my research on travel tips and things you should know while travelling solo its a part of my school project . I have to collect all the info and pictures to complete my book , i am a current student of graphic design in Christchurch New zealand , belong to north india , i need your permission and help if you have time . i am still confused between you and “benny lewis 29 lesions learned” as i found your writing very neat and clean and its very straight forward…

Hi Saurav, I am happy to help however I can with your project. Do you need just photos, or questions as well? My email is on the contact page. :)

well now i am almost done .. i will send a pdf today to you and some pics of the book . you can suggest me that what can be improved my deadline is on thursday.

I love this, I’ve been reading through your blogs past and present, (I stumbled upon them doing my research for my own trip) and haven’t laughed and felt so inspired in ages. I love your energy and passion towards life and travel, you’ve opened up my eyes to some options and made me feel it’s possible to do, so thank you!

Your comment made my day Bekki, I am so happy you found both inspiration and help on the site, please keep me posted if there is anything I can help you do to plan your travels! :)

Wow, well where would I start?! I’m still narrowing down countries to visit and trying to think of experiences I don’t want to miss, you’re volunteering and vipasanna in Nepal, confirmed to me that’s where I’d love to go. I’ll definitely keep in touch and if you’re doing any talks in England at all I’d love to come along and pick you brains about the whole working to maintain travel saga!

Nepal is beautiful and has a wonderful vibe, so I love that it’s made it onto your list. I have no England plans at this point, but I would love to speak in that area and will keep you posted if I do! :)

I love it, we all geek out on different things and its okay if it makes us happy, too goo and such great life lessons especially great things lie on the other side of fear. Just as they say “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone”

Glad the piece resonated Jaryd, sometimes even now I find myself resting in the complacency of safe, and I have to remember that having left to travel is but one step, it’s a continual facing of my fears and comfort zones to live a full life. Safe travels and thanks for reading! :)

This is Awesome, Shannon. I guess things seem so scary and foreign when you are sitting on your couch at home. It is good to get the message out that travel doesn’t need to be dangerous or expensive or lonely. I like the smile part, I always say, “Be humble and smile. People will want to help you.”

Glad the piece resonated with you — I think the humble part is a good piece of the phrase. In addition to smiling, if you approach travel with the right mindset, people will help you. :)

This is inspiring stuff. I have dreams of doing this and using my skills to serve as a physical therapist. Did you pre plan destinations or wing it. I would love to chat with you about this. You are inspiring. I have the will to do this yet need to work on the feasibility.

Thanks so much, glad the piece resonated. I planned the first year out with a rough route but. One of the particulars. Would be happy to help you however I can!

Hello Shannon, are you able to do a Skype chat or phone call this month? Thanks much!

Right now I am in Africa, so this isn’t ideal for connecting on the phone, but if you have time we can either chat this summer when I am stateside, or you can shoot me a quick email with your top question. :)

I just found your blog by chance and have read a couple of your posts. First being the one on Thailand (because I am considering ESL teaching abroad opportunities) and then your Mexico cost post (because I can’t help but feel terrified by the financial side of things). I think it’s amazing what you have accomplished and I feel very much like I need to mirror some of your international experiences. I am 22 and almost finished with my undergrad. I can’t decide between graduate school (likely MFA in creative writing) or trying my shot at abroad for a while. I guess I am writing for your opinion, based on the fact you are one of the few “qualified” to advise in these realms. Did you finish an undergrad and grad school before making these abroad choices? Or how would you do it again if you were your pre-abroad self at 22 trying to make these huge decisions. Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope all is well, -Brenden (from St.pete, Florida)

Hi Brenden! Always great to hear from others from the Tampa Bay area, and boy do I know what it’s like to juggle the drive for education with work and then the beyond. For myself, I finished undergrad and then moved to LA for two years before hitting the road. I have never regretted those choices because they led me here. For grad school versus traveling — only you know if that is a good fit, but know that there are other options too.

A friend of mine lived and worked as a teacher in Thailand for two years while completing an online masters in Education. She just had to return stateside a couple times a year for testing, but other than that juggled the two. I say this not because you should do it too, but to say that there is middleground and you can blend things into the life that feels right for you. That being said — make travel happen sooner rather than later as it helps shape your career and give perspective to later decisions.

And lastly, if anyone tells you just to push through or you’ll never get back to you degree — tune it out. If you want it, you’ll come back for it. I am right now looking over grad schools as an option for once I return and settle somewhere stateside. :)

Well thought out. I think the pack light got me. I didnt pack light for my year around the world but I definitely do it from now on. Smile though is the most important. Gets you past so many problems.

Glad it resonated with you; that first year I also totally over packed too! :)

PPS. ,,,I WAS BORN IN ST. PETE ,,,LIVED ALL OVER AND NOW BASE IN BRADENTON , FL!!!!!!! Heidi

Hi there !! Thank u sooooo much for your positive and courageous attitude!! And of course all the info ,,what a lucky woman you are ,,it’s fabulous! I’m a traveller too and will be celebrating my “”””BIG 60″””” ,,,solo,,,,,in UBUD,and all around Bali ,, leave early march ,,it’s amazing when you open up to the universe who pours into your life !!! I haven’t even left my area yet ,,but a BALANISE ,,whose working here,,, ,a woman whose building in UBUD , another whose been living there for ten years ,,,and so on ,,, like 5 more people,,,, have popped into my life and have made my newest ,,,trip,,,, already a ,,,trip,,,!!!! Hahahahah!!!!! SOOO, you never know what the life of travel has in store for your own going ,,,and growing!!!! I’m working on an Internet program that’s about travel ,,,and doing something that matters too,,, You just never know ,,,where you’ll be led ,,,and I just love that!! Happy travels!!!!!! Light , Heidi lane ,,photographer Ps ,,I live in Florida too!!!!!!!

Thank you for the wonderful comment Heidi — it sounds like your big birthday is going to be amazing and that you are on the right path if all these happy people are coming into your life right now! Travel is amazing and I wish you the safest of travels! Bradenton is just down the road a bit, so we’re nearly neighbors in this big world. :)

I love this post! I’m heading out for a big two month trip in March completely solo and I’ve had a lot of mixed reactions from people about being a woman heading out on her own to travel around Asia. I totally fear being lonely, and I also fear that even though this something I’ve dreamt about my whole life, I may not like it in the end. These tips (and the rest of your blog for that matter) really have put my mind at ease, given me lots to look forward to and made me start to consider the possibility that I may want to stay on the road longer….maybe indefinitely!

Congrats on heading out soon! You know, no matter if you love the solo aspect or not, it’s an epic adventure you are about to take. I have met some travelers who thought they wanted to travel a year and then decided three months felt better, then some time home, then out again. Do what feels comfortable to you, and have an amazing trip!! :)

I really loved your article. Unfortunately, I don’t think that I could ever have the courage to simply pack my bag and go on a “solo” trip.

Thank you Julie! And perhaps not solo, but the trick is to go to the edge of your dreams and comfort zone — that may be traveling long-term, but with a friend or family in tow! :)

#15 is spot on, especially in India. It’s easy to let the swarm of touts rattle you if you don’t prepare mentally for the onslaught that awaits when stepping off a train or bus.

Glad that one resonated with you! There were a few times, especially in the early days of traveling, when I just didn’t see it coming and boy did it rattle me to be swarmed like that! :)

So glad I found your page. I am a fellow Floridian and left St Pete in August to see the world! My only regret thus far…that I didn’t pack light!! Now we are trying to figure out how to get all of this stuff we don’t need back to our parents ;-) Love this post – great lessons learned!

Another St Pete native out there traveling — that is RARE. I love it. Perhaps if we’re back home visiting at the same time then we can meet up for coffee! Glad to hear you’re lightening the load — I think most travelers start out a bit heavier in the stuff department, so shipping back the expensive items and ditching the rest is the best bet for sure. Safe travels! :)

Love the paint festival photo! We can’t wait to follow your foot steps and get travelling!

Thanks and best of luck planning your travels! Let me know if I can ever help :)

Thanks! :-)

One of my favorite posts of all time, and definitely of late. LOVE

Oooh thanks lady! It was one of my favs to write and look back on the past few years. :)

Aww lovely post! And agree with every one of them. It’s really reminds me of how good people really are in the midst of hearing all of the terrible things on the news when you go to a new country and are greeted with nothing but a huge warm welcome.

So glad you have also had positive experiences on your travels! I love thinking of the smiles and welcome coming anytime I have an upcoming trip! :)

Great article Shannon! Frank (bbqboy)

Hi Shannon, Number 1 is spot on. I travelled for 4 years and I can count on 1 hand the people that have’nt welcomed us into their country

So glad you found the same kindnesses — so many people fear this aspect of travel, but the welcome is what I too remember so much about travel. :)

Number 19 kind of made me emotional. Fear has kept me away from doing so many things that I still want to do, especially travel. I’m still trying to cope with it. Anymore advice on it?

Thanks, I pray you many more journeys to come!

Hmm, think of what you want and set goals that get you closer to it, slowly stretching your comfort zone. If traveling across the ocean solo makes you nervous, perhaps try a solo trip in your country. Get the hang of it and increase your confidence. So much good luck! :)

Its really inspirational article. Glad to read your experiences… :)

Thanks for reading! Appreciate you stopping in, happy travels :)

Great blog Shannon. Thanks. Maybe you can get rid of your solid deodorants…I find that a chunk of fresh lemon works even better!

Thanks! I do try to use rock salt deodorant in the cooler months but I unfortunately am in the poor habit of using regular deodorant in the tropics when I travel. Thanks for the reminder though, and safe travels. :)

I so agree with all of this! We’ve been travelling for awhile now too and we’ve learned a lot of these tips along the way. The best part is meeting so many different people around the world who continuously surprise you! Travel certainly isn’t lonely. Great post, thanks for sharing :-)

It’s funny how loneliness is one of the big fears people have before travel, but the reality is that new friendships are waiting in so many people and places. Safe travels and thanks for reading! :)

11, 13 and 15 are so true!! No matter if a person travels solo or in a couple :) Many happy and inspiring moments in 2014, Shannon!

Three of my favorites as well. I hope you have a wonderful New Year ahead as well, safe and happy travels! :)

Congratulations on 5 years of travel! I agree with all of these but #5 and #16 stood out to me. No travel style is the right way, and how you travel is SO personal. With spending money I always advise spending according to your priorities and in the way that aligns with your personal travel style. Heres to 5 more years!

Thank you so much Laura! And I agree, I never try to tell people how to travel, but instead to look at the things they value — be in food, adventure activities, etc — and be willing to spend some money for the parts that make a trip memorable for you. Safe and happy travels to you! :)

I tried to pick one lesson I have learned more than the others, but that are all so true. However the day I learned that all people are good, it changed my travels forever.

Well done Shannon and keep the post coming!

Thanks so much for the support Stephen. I could have never whittled it down to one lesson, but I too find the one I most often mention is that people are good and kind. Safe travels! :)

#4 could not be more true. My friends have no idea how I can afford it. I also like to eat as much as possible :).

I think most people assume that long-term travel is the price of a vacation times the number of days on the road, but the flight is the biggest expense in many cases, so it’s actually way more affordable! Let’s keep spreading that message and get more of our friends out there with us :)

Its such a great list. The five year experience is so impressive. Thanks for sharing the experiences and its a great post

Nice list, it reminds me that travel rules are not set in stone and things are personal. Others tell you how to do it, but it’s ok to do it your way, I mean come on it’s your trip and it’s personal. By small souviniers, they look cool on the fridge at home or on the wall :)

Always lovely to see a little reminder souvenir at home later! Thank for reading and weighing in– any favorite souvenirs you’ve bought on the road?

What you accomplished in your 5 year travel experience is quite impressive. Actually another blog post headed me to your blog, and I’m glad to see the rest of your adventures and lessons you share here.

Thank you Rachel, so glad they pointed you this way. Do you have any upcoming travel plans? :)

Nope, I’m staying with family for the holiday. I’m planning to visit Turkey though some time in March.. to visit a friend and to celebrate my birthday. :)

Turkey seems to be getting a lot of buzz these days, I really want to go there too. A friend and a birthday are a good reason to visit! :)

Great tips. On packing light – it felt so free to only carry one duffel bag on our last trip (an Africa safari). Unfortunately we’ll probably fall back on our old routine of dragging heavy suitcases. And great photos. Especially the pink colorful faces :-).

Like you, I love it when I’m super mobile with light stuff, but I always manage to come home stuffed to the gills and carrying extra stuff! The pink faces was in India for their Holi festival — it was so fun! :)

I absolutely adore this post, Shannon. It’s been a pleasure traveling with you through this blog not for five years but probably pretty close to that. I’ve always admired your genuine travel style. Thank you for sharing this.

Thank you for your continued support JoAnna, it’s been a while since we’ve crossed paths, but I hope we do again soon for some in person chats. :)

An awesome bunch of lessons all of us can use in our lives. One of the reasons I travel is to remind myself of the beauty and kindness of others, especially when I am faced with small town prejudice. Congratulations on 5 years, I hope to be travelling long term from 2015.

Thank you Naomi! Travel is a great reminder of kindness, sometimes as you said, even more than be found in our own hometowns sometimes. Safe and happy travels and thank you for sharing your thoughts here :)

Great list! I am only two years in and know there are many lessons to come. My favorite one is that you should “trust your cape”, that is, things will work out.

Two years is no small feat! Congrats on your time on the road. I think in the coming years it’ll be more perspective on those experiences as you see more and look back on the early days — at least, that’s how it was for me! :)

I love how you blend practical advice with spiritual wisdom. My favorite is #3 – it’s so true that being alone doesn’t have to mean lonely. Congrats on 5 years!

Thank you Rashad! Number #3 is one of my favorites too because I was so scared before I left that I would be overwhelmingly lonely.

And it comes and goes, right? I try to tell myself that if I’m feeling lonely today, it doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll feel lonely tomorrow. One day at a time.

Absolutely one day at a time. I think more than anything travel has also reminded me that so many emotions are fleeting if we can get through hem for the day. :)

Dear Shannon, Lovely!! Thanks for sharing your experiences. These insights that you discuss through your experiences prove that travel makes you grow and these wise pearls cannot be taught in any university or schools. You deserve a PhD for this! Only if I was a chancellor of a university :)

I’d take a PhD if you were! Thank you so much for reading and sharing here, I truly do think travel is one of the few ways to really form a deep perspective of global citizenship. The idea can be planted in the classroom, but must be expanded on out there in the world. :)

I love your blog!!!!! I am new at this but would love to feature you on my blog….perhaps?

Thanks! Appreciate the sentiment, and just shoot me an email if you’d like to talk more! :)

Oh the joys of #18. Def made that same mistake in a big, big way…!! I brought a friggin sleeping back to Europe. In June.

http://blog.ohheyworld.com/rookie-backpacker-mistake/

Hah! That’s terrible! But you live and learn and you’ve done a lot of miles since then. :)

These are wonderful lessons, and I’ve learned many of the same during my two years of living in China. (Tampons are not available there, by the way.) Skyping with friends and family back home, staying connected through email and Facebook – it’s so important not to neglect the relationships that were important to you before you left. And now that I’m living in the States for a few months before moving overseas again, I’ve made spending time with them a priority. I also brought home a lot of fun souvenirs to give out so they feel like they’ve shared in my adventures :-)

I’ll have to update the post as you’re not the only one to say that about tampons. I use a menstrual cup so only saw anecdotally that they were in many places! Hope they love the souvenirs you brought, I love handing them out and seeing what my friends think. :)

I love #19…but sometimes, really dangerous things lie on the other side of fear. Like spiders. Dark alleyways in a bad neighborhood. The smell of expired milk. Those are just a few things. But in general, #19 is almost always correct :)

I laughed so hard at your comment about expired milk. So true, proceed with caution when sniffing that jug! Thanks for reading and sharing Wade :)

Yep, eating street food is a must. It might not always be the safest, but it is some of the tastiest!

Definitely the tastiest! Some of my favorite dishes I have tried to recreate I first tasted on a tiny plastic chair somewhere in the world. Thanks for stopping in and reading. :)

beautiful article! Love the The World is Inherently Kind, since I have always relied on the kindness of strangers!! stay fabulous!

Congrats Shannon, on five years of life experience that equates many more of a regular life. Your “Eat street food” and “always carry travel medication especially if you eat the street food” brings a smile to my face. The dichotomy of the two tells how we approach the broader life – be aware and prepared for the unlikely, and remain adventurous and optimistic about place, things and people.

Since returned, my every day thought of “Dear Life, Thank You For..” in the context of daily routine with some day much harder than the others. Thank you for #20 reminder and the smile.

Lovely post! Have to agree on the people are inherently nice thing. So often I hear that people from such and such country are cold, or not friendly… People just have different ideas about personal space and the like, and they abide by cultural norms. I think people are generally nice, and what is sometimes seen as “distant” or “cold” is actually an inherent respect for other people’s privacy. When you talk to people from these countries, you generally find them more than willing to help/open up.

Your 20 lessons are very real! I can relate to all of them! The language barrier is my favourite and something that can either be tiring or extremely entertaining! Great post!

Amazingly put! Do have even more fun on the road :)

That’s very nice. I really agree with one of your points: that people really are nice. Yeah, there’s jerks out there, but there’s a whole lot more nice people.

Love it Shannon! Thanks so much for sharing your hard and joy-fulling earned wisdom!

Your perspective on travel is so refreshingly down-to-earth. Love it.

Kindness and warm heart is what I have found in your post :) Thanks a lot for sharing and suggestions, Shannon. Take care and safe steps on the road for you too

It’s amazing that you left for perpetual travel at the end of 2008, at the time of tremendous economic peril. That must have taken a lot of courage–and of course it was the best decision. Very inspiring–thanks.

#12. I am still learning #12. I tell all I know about the kindness I see around the world but the cynic in me still has trouble letting it in. I am working on it though and plan to reap the rewards not only of accepting kindness but also of being more kind. Congrats on 5 years Shannon!

Beautiful observations, Shannon! Congrats on this big milestone and everything you’ve accomplished!

What a beautiful way to mark 5 years! Congratulations. Also, I agree with 99% of what you said…but… there are no tampons here on Roatan :) For real!

Shannon…thanks for this : ) My husband and I are 24 days away from the start of our 16 month adventure around the world and are riding the roller coaster of emotions…in a big, BIG way!

This is so great, Shannon. Congratulations on FIVE YEARS of travel! I’m about to hit my one-year anniversary and have definitely experienced some of these lessons.

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6 essential ways travel promotes learning and education

Is travel the purest form of education? A trip abroad expands your worldview, connects you to your global community, and empowers you to be your most authentic, forward-thinking self.

Nov 10, 2023

A few years back, I left my comfortable home and job in the United States for a year of international travel, country-hopping, and experiential learning.

I have always considered myself a lifetime student, and enjoy the experience of learning in a classroom and investing my time in school. Some of my greatest mentors have been school teachers and college professors, and many people from my formal student years have played major roles in shaping my character and supporting me on my path toward becoming my truest and most authentic self.

After many years of school and classroom-based learning in a top American college of education, I was surprised to discover the seemingly infinite ways that travel as a form of education is a game-changer . From volunteer projects in Central America and the Middle East to learning new languages by living in communities of native speakers, the educational impact of my experiences abroad has been unparalleled. 

So much has happened since my initial take-off — now a few years back — and aside from the countless ideas, projects, ventures and experiences, I have truly learned to live and inhabit my senses in so many new and exciting ways.  Life has never been better, or more interesting.

As someone who never thought of travel beyond vacations and short trips organized by travel agents to now living location-independent and making the world my classroom , this is why I believe in the power of travel; as education and opportunity, and a greater means to community and empowerment.

1. It broadens your horizons through cultural immersion

Nothing compares to the experience of being fully immersed in a country and its culture. 

International travel should be about more than tourism and site-seeing. A trip abroad is an opportunity to witness and participate in life in another country; to connect with local people and learn about the ways in which they experience the world. Thus, when you travel, the world becomes about more than you or your country of origin. 

When I travel to a new country or place, I like to give myself time to truly dive into the layers that constitute history, language, belief systems, and everyday life. There is much to be learned by venturing outside the classroom.

2. It motivates you to participate on a local level

Whether visiting the great pyramids and astounding temple complexes of Egypt, strolling the streets of Paris, or adventuring in the Brazilian Amazon, a trip abroad asks you to participate . When you experience distant people and cultures firsthand, you'll naturally feel more inclined to engage.

Whether it's by practicing the local language  or simply observing your surroundings, travel leads to a more open and global-minded viewpoint where you understand how people and places are interconnected. Immersing yourself in different cultures will help you adopt a sense of empathy for others who live differently than you. 

As you learn about other political, economic, and social structures, you'll become more motivated to participate on a local level.  Opportunities for participation are boundless and range from volunteer efforts  and work exchanges  to language groups and  eco programs  and home-stays with host families. Participating in a country's daily rhythms is an educational experience rich in hands-on and active learning, and demands that you step out of your comfort zone  and  lead with curiosity and an open mind .

3. It challenges you to grow

Traveling will make you more adaptable. Leaving your comfort zone helps you become more independent, responsible and confident. You'll become better at thinking on your feet, and you'll be a better problem solver, planner, negotiator, and more. My time spent volunteering, working and living in other countries has allowed me to discover strengths, skills, and passions  that otherwise may have remained hidden. 

While traveling tends to be seen for its glamorous side, the reality is often far from. Life on the road has its own challenges and quickly breaks down the superfluous and extravagant to the essential — patience, an open mind, tolerance, resilience.

Beyond the discovery of new places and breathtaking sights and monuments is the discovery of self, of the layers and fabric you are made of, and what it means to be true to yourself and live well.

3. It helps you connect better with others

Regardless if you are in your own country or abroad, it's easy to connect when we focus on the things we share. Every country has something to offer and teach you. 

One of my guiding intentions as an international full-time traveler is to give every country a chance.  More often than not, this means being a witness to the positivity of misunderstood and negatively perceived places, and finding a way to learn and connect with people in spite of dissimilar beliefs or attitudes .  

Differences exist in lifestyle and etiquettes across cultures, and part of the experience of traveling is finding the commonalities and being humble enough to acknowledge and appreciate the differences as much as the similarities.

Connecting with people in different places around the globe provides you with a whole new perspective and insight about a culture or way of life that previously may have seemed too foreign or alien to understand. It's humbling and eye-opening to see how others live.

Nothing beats the feeling of breaking a preconceived stereotype or seeing past the influence and bias of media and connecting with a country and its people in real time. When you travel abroad, you gain a better understanding of people and their actions. It is inspiring to listen to the stories of people around the world, and this human connection can help you become a more compassionate and empathetic person. 

Over time, these cross-cultural experiences pull you out of your cultural bubble and help you empathize and connect with people from backgrounds different than your own.

4. It promotes a deeper sense of understanding

Travel not only teaches you about the world as it is today, but also about the history behind the current complexities of social, political, and economic structures.

Everyone studies history in school, but traveling brings history to life. In addition to seeing some of the world's greatest monuments and museums, you also feel the energy of the people and countries you visit. 

What was once a standard school history lesson becomes an ongoing process of experiential learning ; you become absorbed by the play of life happening in front of and all around you, and begin to understand the underlying reasons and forces behind why societies and cultures are shaped in a particular way and differ from one another. 

The more you travel and engage, your understanding of history grows, and your understanding of the world broadens . Ultimately, this understanding extends inward as well; you learn about yourself and your true potential and become better equipped to be proactive about your goals and dreams. 

You feel that you belong to many places, and your sense of "home" expands.

5. It builds community

From cultural immersion to participation to discovery to connection to understanding, travel builds and strengthens community . Whether you go somewhere as part of a university exchange program via student travel or join a volunteer effort, whether you travel solo or go on a weekend trip and end up bonding with a local over shared cuisine or an activity, your idea of community grows. 

I used to think of my community as exclusive to my home, or the place I physically inhabit, but my understanding has evolved to include my global community, the people and efforts that exist beyond my own borders. Community is greater than something physical, something tangible; it is created, sustained, and amplified by connection, participation, and understanding. 

Traveling — if done with the right intention — can lead to a deeper understanding of global dynamics and power structures, and a heightened  sense of responsibility to the greater community .

Seeing yourself as part of the global community is essential to remembering that we are all connected, we are all in so many ways more similar than we are different. The mark of a global citizen is acceptance, tolerance and appreciation, and above all, an awareness of the ways in which countries and people are interconnected and part of an emerging powerful and dynamic world community.

6. It leads to empowerment

The more you travel and expand your worldview, the more you are empowered to embody your authentic self and take action that supports sustainable global development and a collaborative world community . 

You become more independent, and cultivate a propensity for self-study and self-improvement . The skills gained through travel experiences are more than worth the effort, and have an impact that reaches beyond life and community as you once knew it .

No matter how many years you study in formal school or your number of university degrees, travel has so much to offer you . 

You gain a deeper and more nuanced understanding of history, and you rethink everything you once knew about how to study and understand the world today. By putting yourself in unfamiliar territory, you learn how to adapt to new environments, and in the process, discover more about yourself. 

Travel has the capacity to change your life . My travel experiences have been integral in shaping who I am — a brave, forward-thinking world citizen.  When I began my journey, leaving home for my first long trip meant letting go of everything I spent my entire life trying to gain. And while I closed the door on my perceived stability and comfort, I opened another to so many incredible opportunities, all of which would have been impossible to foresee. 

The world seems fragile and scary during these complicated times of hatred, radicalization, and conflict. Nonetheless, there is so much to learn from adventuring beyond the familiar places where we feel safe and stable . Don't hesitate to let experience be your teacher.

So, to anyone who is dreaming of traveling, I dare you to go for it. It will never seem like the "right" time or the "right" amount of savings, it will never be simple, or easy.

But, if you are dreaming of taking that leap of faith, as terrifying as it may seem: take it. You won't regret it.

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Janaína Colomba

Janaina Colomba is a writer, traveler, and creative inspired by the beauty and wisdom of people and places. Her personal mission is to bridge cultural gaps and ignite community and understanding. Janaina is currently based in Cairo, Egypt and can be found on Instagram.

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• THE BIG IDEA

Why travel should be considered an essential human activity

Travel is not rational, but it’s in our genes. Here’s why you should start planning a trip now.

In 1961, legendary National Geographic photographer Volkmar Wentzel captured two women gazing at the surf off Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia. This and all the other images in this story come from the National Geographic image collection.

I’ve been putting my passport to good use lately. I use it as a coaster and to level wobbly table legs. It makes an excellent cat toy.

Welcome to the pandemic of disappointments. Canceled trips, or ones never planned lest they be canceled. Family reunions, study-abroad years, lazy beach vacations. Poof. Gone. Obliterated by a tiny virus, and the long list of countries where United States passports are not welcome.

Only a third of Americans say they have traveled overnight for leisure since March, and only slightly more, 38 percent, say they are likely to do so by the end of the year, according to one report. Only a quarter of us plan on leaving home for Thanksgiving, typically the busiest travel time. The numbers paint a grim picture of our stilled lives.

It is not natural for us to be this sedentary. Travel is in our genes. For most of the time our species has existed, “we’ve lived as nomadic hunter-gatherers moving about in small bands of 150 or fewer people,” writes Christopher Ryan in Civilized to Death . This nomadic life was no accident. It was useful. “Moving to a neighboring band is always an option to avoid brewing conflict or just for a change in social scenery,” says Ryan. Robert Louis Stevenson put it more succinctly: “The great affair is to move.”

What if we can’t move, though? What if we’re unable to hunt or gather? What’s a traveler to do? There are many ways to answer that question. “Despair,” though, is not one of them.

In this aerial view from 1967, wall-to-wall seaside sunbathers relax under umbrellas or on beach towels in Ocean City, Maryland .

A 1967 fall festival in Guadalajara, Mexico , starred traditionally costumed musicians and dancers.

We are an adaptive species. We can tolerate brief periods of forced sedentariness. A dash of self-delusion helps. We’re not grounded, we tell ourselves. We’re merely between trips, like the unemployed salesman in between opportunities. We pass the days thumbing though old travel journals and Instagram feeds. We gaze at souvenirs. All this helps. For a while.

We put on brave faces. “Staycation Nation,” the cover of the current issue of Canadian Traveller magazine declares cheerfully, as if it were a choice, not a consolation.

Today, the U.S. Travel Association, the industry trade organization, is launching a national recovery campaign called “ Let’s Go There .” Backed by a coalition of businesses related to tourism—hotels, convention and visitor bureaus, airlines—the initiative’s goal is to encourage Americans to turn idle wanderlust into actual itineraries.

The travel industry is hurting. So are travelers. “I dwelled so much on my disappointment that it almost physically hurt,” Paris -based journalist Joelle Diderich told me recently, after canceling five trips last spring.

(Related: How hard has the coronavirus hit the travel industry? These charts tell us.)

My friend James Hopkins is a Buddhist living in Kathmandu . You’d think he’d thrive during the lockdown, a sort-of mandatory meditation retreat. For a while he did.

But during a recent Skype call, James looked haggard and dejected. He was growing restless, he confessed, and longed “for the old 10-countries-a-year schedule.” Nothing seemed to help, he told me. “No matter how many candles I lit, or how much incense I burned, and in spite of living in one of the most sacred places in South Asia, I just couldn’t change my habits.”

When we ended our call, I felt relieved, my grumpiness validated. It’s not me; it’s the pandemic. But I also worried. If a Buddhist in Kathmandu is going nuts, what hope do the rest of us stilled souls have?

I think hope lies in the very nature of travel. Travel entails wishful thinking. It demands a leap of faith, and of imagination, to board a plane for some faraway land, hoping, wishing, for a taste of the ineffable. Travel is one of the few activities we engage in not knowing the outcome and reveling in that uncertainty. Nothing is more forgettable than the trip that goes exactly as planned.

Related: Vintage photos of the glamour of travel

Travel is not a rational activity. It makes no sense to squeeze yourself into an alleged seat only to be hurled at frightening speed to a distant place where you don’t speak the language or know the customs. All at great expense. If we stopped to do the cost-benefit analysis, we’d never go anywhere. Yet we do.

That’s one reason why I’m bullish on travel’s future. In fact, I’d argue travel is an essential industry, an essential activity. It’s not essential the way hospitals and grocery stores are essential. Travel is essential the way books and hugs are essential. Food for the soul. Right now, we’re between courses, savoring where we’ve been, anticipating where we’ll go. Maybe it’s Zanzibar and maybe it’s the campground down the road that you’ve always wanted to visit.

(Related: Going camping this fall? Here’s how to get started.)

James Oglethorpe, a seasoned traveler, is happy to sit still for a while, and gaze at “the slow change of light and clouds on the Blue Ridge Mountains” in Virginia, where he lives. “My mind can take me the rest of the way around this world and beyond it.”

It’s not the place that is special but what we bring to it and, crucially, how we interact with it. Travel is not about the destination, or the journey. It is about stumbling across “a new way of looking at things,” as writer Henry Miller observed. We need not travel far to gain a fresh perspective.

No one knew this better than Henry David Thoreau , who lived nearly all of his too-short life in Concord, Massachusetts. There he observed Walden Pond from every conceivable vantage point: from a hilltop, on its shores, underwater. Sometimes he’d even bend over and peer through his legs, marveling at the inverted world. “From the right point of view, every storm and every drop in it is a rainbow,” he wrote.

Thoreau never tired of gazing at his beloved pond, nor have we outgrown the quiet beauty of our frumpy, analog world. If anything, the pandemic has rekindled our affection for it. We’ve seen what an atomized, digital existence looks like, and we (most of us anyway) don’t care for it. The bleachers at Chicago ’s Wrigley Field; the orchestra section at New York City ’s Lincoln Center; the alleyways of Tokyo . We miss these places. We are creatures of place, and always will be.

After the attacks of September 11, many predicted the end of air travel, or at least a dramatic reduction. Yet the airlines rebounded steadily and by 2017 flew a record four billion passengers. Briefly deprived of the miracle of flight, we appreciated it more and today tolerate the inconvenience of body scans and pat-downs for the privilege of transporting our flesh-and-bone selves to far-flung locations, where we break bread with other incarnate beings.

Landscape architects work in their Rio de Janeiro, Brazil , studio in 1955.

A tourist photographs a towering century plant in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, in 1956.

In our rush to return to the world, we should be mindful of the impact of mass tourism on the planet. Now is the time to embrace the fundamental values of sustainable tourism and let them guide your future journeys. Go off the beaten path. Linger longer in destinations. Travel in the off-season. Connect with communities and spend your money in ways that support locals. Consider purchasing carbon offsets. And remember that the whole point of getting out there is to embrace the differences that make the world so colorful.

“One of the great benefits of travel is meeting new people and coming into contact with different points of view,” says Pauline Frommer, travel expert and radio host.

So go ahead and plan that trip. It’s good for you, scientists say . Plotting a trip is nearly as enjoyable as actually taking one. Merely thinking about a pleasurable experience is itself pleasurable. Anticipation is its own reward.

I’ve witnessed first-hand the frisson of anticipatory travel. My wife, not usually a fan of travel photography, now spends hours on Instagram, gazing longingly at photos of Alpine lodges and Balinese rice fields. “What’s going on?” I asked one day. “They’re just absolutely captivating,” she replied. “They make me remember that there is a big, beautiful world out there.”

Many of us, myself included, have taken travel for granted. We grew lazy and entitled, and that is never good. Tom Swick, a friend and travel writer, tells me he used to view travel as a given. Now, he says, “I look forward to experiencing it as a gift.”

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Key travel tips you need to know — whether you’re a first-time or frequent traveler

The holiday travel season is fully upon us. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen a record number of passengers this Christmas, and the TSA already broke a daily record. They screened a whopping 2.9 million travelers on Nov. 26, 2023, alone ... the most passengers ever screened in a single day.

As millions of travelers take trips by plane , cruise ship or road , we've gathered some essential travel tips on how best to book and enjoy your journeys.

Whether you're an occasional road-tripper or a frequent globe-trotter, these TPG-backed top travel tips can help you avoid unnecessary headaches when you spend time away from home.

How to find travel deals

Flexibility is key when it comes to finding cheap airfare any time of year.

Changing your arrival or departure date by a single day can save you hundreds of dollars on airfare. If you don't mind altering your family's plans slightly, consider booking travel directly on major holidays like the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas for cheaper prices and thinner airport crowds.

One of our favorite tools at TPG for finding deals is Google Flights . You can use the search field to find the cheapest (or best) flights. Google will also give you a historical view of how prices have ranged and will even send you email alerts if fares jump or drop on specific routes you've selected.

It also has some fun tools you can use to find a cheap destination. By clicking the "Explore" button on the sidebar and putting your departure airport, Google will give you a map or list view of the most wallet-friendly destinations.

However, Google isn't the only place to find deals: TPG publishes regular deal alerts. You can sign up for Twitter alerts and subscribe to our daily newsletter for the latest deals news.

Don't sleep on mileage awards, either. If you've been hoarding miles during the pandemic, it's time to spend them. Cash prices are high, so it can be a good time to burn those miles.

No matter how much you think you know about redeeming miles for flights , there are always new tips and tricks for turning those earnings into dream trips. Turn to TPG for guidance on sweet spots for redemptions. Sites like ExpertFlyer (part of Red Ventures, like TPG) supply additional redemption ideas or even business class upgrade inventory.

You may even want to consult a travel agent to get access to special deals that aren't available anywhere else. Travel agents can sometimes get you extra perks at hotels or even cheaper business-class airfare to your dream destination.

Be your own best advocate

Since there are still air traffic controller shortages and little room for error in the system these days, travelers have to be their own best advocates.

There are ways to get ahead of any possible travel nightmares.

First, be smart when booking. Try to find a nonstop flight rather than one with connections, even if it costs a little more. You'll eliminate the risk of missing connections and lessen the chance of having your luggage go in a different direction than you during a transfer.

You could also take one of the first flights of the day, as those are least likely to face afternoon thunderstorms and most likely to depart on time. Read our article 5 reasons to book the first flight of the day for all the data.

Related: Your flight is canceled or delayed – here's what you should do next

Download your airline's mobile app to keep track of potential flight delays in real time. The airline app is a secret weapon in case things go wrong. Not only will you know when boarding starts, but you'll also learn of any delays first. Some airlines allow you to even rebook yourself in the app.

If your flight is canceled, you'll want to beat everyone else on your flight who is also looking to get rebooked.

We recommend heading for the customer service desk (or lounge desk if you have access). You could also get on the phone with the airline or contact them via social media if there's a delay . Sometimes, an airline's Twitter representative will help you faster than a phone or in-person agent can. You have to use every tool at your disposal when things go south.

Many airlines also now have live chat capabilities to help navigate delays and cancellations.

I always have an alternate plan (or two) in the back of my mind in case a flight gets canceled or delayed. I also look to see what other airlines are flying the route I'm booked in case something goes awry. This way, I'll know what to ask for if I need to be rebooked.

Also, save all the receipts for the expenses you incur during delays or cancellations. You'll want excellent documentation in the case of meltdowns like the one Southwest passengers experienced during the holidays .

If you're stuck at an airport for an extended period, seek out your airport's secret quiet spaces for a brief escape from the travel chaos.

Get Global Entry and/or TSA PreCheck

One of our favorite ways to speed through the airport and avoid those summertime mega lines is via Trusted Traveler programs like TSA PreCheck and Global Entry .

Essentially, the government pre-screens you for security and thus you save a bit of time during your travels. You'll need to apply ahead of time and pay a fee. The great news, however, is that many credit cards will give you a statement credit for these fees. TSA PreCheck is a $78 application fee for five years, and Global Entry is $100.

Related: 7 ways to get Global Entry, TSA PreCheck and/or Clear for free

TSA PreCheck allows you to speed through airport security without removing your shoes, laptops or liquids. With Global Entry , you can breeze through customs when you return from an international trip.

If you have the time, going for Global Entry rather than simply TSA PreCheck makes sense. Global Entry requires an interview with Customs and Border Patrol ahead of time, but once you're approved, TSA PreCheck will be included.

Get Clear for the ultimate security trifecta

The other security tool we recommend you have in your travel toolbelt is Clear .

Related: Why you should get TSA PreCheck and Clear

The expedited security program allows you to bypass long security lines by using a separate lane at many airports. You'll approach a kiosk where your identity is confirmed via an iris scan or fingerprint. A Clear employee will then escort you to the front of the security screening line.

A Clear membership combined with TSA PreCheck will enable you to go to even shorter lines at some airports with designated Clear/PreCheck lines. Clear isn't perfect at all airports where it's so popular, and there are now long lines (cough, Atlanta). However, it will still generally lead to shorter lines overall.

Related: Guide to using the Amex Platinum Clear benefit

Make copies of your important documents

Make digital and hard copies of all your important travel-related documents. Start by photographing your driver's license, your state ID and/or your passport.

You should have copies of your IDs in your phone's library in case you get separated from the actual document. Sometimes, it also helps in a pinch if you are asked for ID, and you didn't bring the hard copy. For example, I was recently asked for my ID to enter One Vanderbilt to have dinner at the new American Express Centurion Lounge in New York. The receptionist would have accepted a photograph of the ID if I didn't have the physical document.

TPG also recommends having an actual photocopy in a separate place. Editor Kristy Tolley says she stores a hard copy in a separate place from where she keeps her passport in case she loses a bag. "I also leave a copy of it at home if I'm traveling alone," she said.

Check expiration dates

If you aren't 100% certain of the expiration date of your passport and other travel documents, go check them now. Renewing passports takes time, and some countries require six months of future passport validity to allow entry. Remember that child passports expire every five years, which can sneak up on you.

Related: How and when to renew your passport

Double-checking the expiration dates for your driver's licenses and state IDs is also a good idea. Remember that TSA checks the expiration dates on your documents when they screen you for security. Don't forget to check the expiration dates for your Trusted Traveler programs like Global Entry, Clear and TSA PreCheck, too. It can take a while to get a Global Entry interview appointment if you need one to renew.

Few things are worse than getting to the front of the security line and realizing the PreCheck mark is gone from your boarding pass.

Finally, check the entry requirements if you are traveling internationally. Some countries require visas that you must acquire before arrival.

Consider travel protection

When booking your travel, try to use a credit card that offers some built-in travel protection . Many credit cards, including TPG favorites like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or The Platinum Card® from American Express , offer this when you use those cards to purchase your airfare and similar.

Related: Best credit cards for trip delays and cancellations

If the coverage offered by your credit card isn't enough, you might also want to purchase travel insurance . These policies can sometimes go beyond trip cancellations to cover things like medical evacuations. Warning: Read the fine print on any extra policies very carefully to ensure it covers the situations that matter the most to you.

Those who frequently travel abroad may want to consider purchasing an annual travel insurance policy instead of buying one on a trip-by-trip basis. Some TPG staffers purchase annual policies because of the cost savings for multiple trips. Some will find having an annual policy is easier than juggling separate policies or various credit card coverage terms and conditions.

Tips for your luggage

TPG has a ton of tips when it comes to luggage.

First and foremost, try to be on "team carry-on" whenever possible. If you don't check baggage, you are much less likely to become separated from it. Many of us at TPG refuse to check luggage except under extreme circumstances.

Of course, other folks with families or those embarking on long journeys may still want to check bags. If that's the case for you, you can still do many things to lessen the chance you get separated from your stuff. For example, make sure your luggage is in good working order, your contact info is attached, the bag is within the weight limits, you get to the airport early (but not too early) to check it and confirm your luggage is tagged to the right destination or connection.

Related: 7 tips to keep the airline from losing your luggage

After last year's baggage delays and luggage disasters , we strongly suggest you put Apple AirTags (or the Android equivalent ) into your luggage so you can track your items if they go missing .

If you check a bag, keep extra medicine or medical supplies in your carry-on bag in case your luggage goes missing or gets delayed. "As a diabetic, I keep a tiny emergency kit in my backpack with enough supplies to keep me going in an emergency," TPG writer Tanner Saunders said.

Former TPG credit card writer Ryan Smith also offered words of advice regarding luggage. "The last items you pack in your carry-on will be most accessible, so use this for your passport, ID, ticket, headphones or whatever else you need during the trip," he said. By making sure those items you'll use most are easiest to reach, you'll save yourself the hassle of having to dig around (or partially unpack) your bag to grab what you need.

Finally, be sure and get compensated if your bags are late or lost. Many airlines will give you points or even cash for delayed bags, and the government has rules on compensation if your bags are lost.

Staying safe on your journeys

From potentially getting robbed while on the road to experiencing bad weather or natural disasters while traveling, there are many scenarios that could arise when you're away from home.

To mitigate those risks, pay attention to U.S. Department of State warnings about a destination you plan to visit and check local sources for the latest news from that country or region for additional context. Although the State Department tends to err on the side of caution with its warnings, it's still best to be aware of what you may face during your trip.

Also, know the local number in case of emergencies. In many places, including Mexico and much of Europe, if you dial 9-1-1 on your cellphone, you will be connected to emergency services just like in the U.S. However, you should know the local emergency numbers of whichever country you visit.

Let people at home know your itinerary and stay in touch with them throughout your trip. If something goes amiss, at least someone will know where you're supposed to be or the last place you visited.

If you're arriving at night, contact your hotel or home-share host to ask about the best way to get there at the time you're arriving and the safest ways to travel at night in that area.

Also, be strategic about how you check into a hotel. Some solo travelers request two keycards to imply someone else is on the trip. Giving thought to the hotel room's security swing bar can also make sense, with some taking steps like placing a hand towel over it to make it harder to dislodge from the outside.

Some final tips

• For cruisers, TPG principal cruise writer Gene Sloan suggests arriving in port at least a day in advance (if not several days ahead of time). This will eliminate the risk of missing your ship's departure time and help you get acclimated to the local time zone.
• When taking road trips to out-of-the-way destinations, go old school and bring paper maps with you or download offline maps from Google. Using a paper map or an offline version means you always have a way to navigate around your chosen destination, even if you lose cellular service.
• One other note, you should reserve airport parking ahead of time during peak travel times. Some airport parking areas fill up fast around holidays, so reserving your spot ahead of time will save you from wasting time looking for a space when you need to catch a flight. You can also sometimes save by booking online in advance, too.

Bottom line

Whether you're fresh to the world of traveling or a seasoned expert, you can always learn new tips to maximize your time away from home. The more research and preparation you do before your trip, the better your experience will be — especially if things go wrong, as they sometimes do.

Some of our favorite tools are deal alerts, Google Flights , sign-up bonuses and credit card rewards . Learn those tools and use them for better travel every time.

Remember that these days when things go wrong, you have to be your own best advocate. For more travel tips and tricks, read the stories below.

Related reading:

• Your flight is delayed or canceled: Here's what to do next
• The best travel credit cards
• The 18 best places to travel in 2023
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
• Here's how to get through airport security faster

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• MIDDLE EAST
• US & CANADA

The Complete Beginner’s Guide to International Travel

So you’ve decided to travel internationally, have you? Traveling to another country is something I wish for everyone to experience at least once in a lifetime.

Unfortunately, not everyone has the privilege to do so. But for those of us with passports that allow us such opportunity, it’d be a shame to never explore an international destination in our great, big, beautiful world !

It might seem a bit scary to take your first international trip, but I promise it’s not that bad. To help you, I’ve put together this thorough guide on everything you need to know in order to have a successful international trip ! Let’s get straight to it.

Before You Depart for Your Trip

There’s quite a bit to get ready before your international trip. But, don’t worry. It’s all doable, and it’ll all be worth it!

Apply for a Passport

First things first. In order to travel internationally, you’ll need to have a valid, unexpired passport . On top of that, many countries require you to also have at least three or even six months validity left on your passport from your date of travel. So, if you don’t have a valid, unexpired passport or your passport is expiring in three to six months, it’s time to get a new passport before your trip. This process can take a couple months! So plan ahead, and submit your passport request early to save yourself stress and/or expediting fees closer to your departure date.

If this is your very first passport, your last passport was from when you were under 16 years old, your previous passport was lost, stolen, or damaged, or your last passport was from 15 or more years ago, you will need to apply for your passport in person. Here are the official steps for the new passport process .

If the above doesn’t apply to you, you simply have to renew your passport. You can do this via mail. Here are the official steps for the renewal process .

Choose Your International Destination

Yipee! Now that you’ve either already got your passport or have applied for a new one, you can choose your international travel destination. This is largely based on your own interests. But as this is your first trip internationally, keep in mind things like language, similarity in culture to back home, and ease of travel-related infrastructures (like trains or buses).

Apply for Any Visa(s)

Once you have chosen your destination(s), check whether you need visas or not . A visa is basically permission from a foreign government for you to be in their country. Some countries may grant you a free visa upon arrival with a simple stamp on your passport. Some countries simply require you to fill out a form online and pay a small fee before you can board your flight. And some countries require expensive visas which you must apply for months in advance. It all depends on that country you are visiting, your passport country, and how long you plan to stay. I love using Travisa ‘s free search tool to quickly and easily check what requirements exist for me before I book a flight. 

Get Any Necessary Vaccines

Before confirming your destination, you should check if any vaccines are necessary for that place. Some vaccines are simply recommended for your own health, while others are requirements before you will be allowed into the country , or even allowed into other countries afterwards (like yellow fever). The CDC website is an easy way to check this. Some vaccines, like yellow fever, are low in supply and hard to get last minute. Others, like malaria pills, require a doctor’s prescription. So don’t leave this step until the last minute !

Check Travel Restrictions

Lastly, make sure there are no travel restrictions or decision-altering political tensions for your destination. Do this by checking the Travel Department site . Simply type in your destination country’s name into the search bar on the left hand side of the screen. 

Preparing Your Finances

Now that your passport is on its way and you’ve settled on your international travel destination(s), it’s time to start thinking about finances.

Some destinations are very credit card friendly. Others operate on only cash and debit cards. And some don’t even have ATM machines! So you’ll need to do a bit of planning before departure to make sure you’re not stressing during your trip, and to save yourself transaction fees.

Get a No Fees Credit Card

Most banks charge a 3% fee every time you use your credit card to pay for a foreign transaction. As you can imagine, this adds up to a lot over the course of even a one week international trip. The good news is, many banks offer credit cards without foreign transaction fees . Do a quick internet search to see if your bank offers such a card. 

Get a No Fees Debit Card

Most banks charge a 3% fee and $5 each time you withdraw foreign currency from an ATM. Especially if you are traveling to a mostly-cash destination, this is a surefire way to rack up unnecessary travel costs. To avoid this, consider opening a free brokerage account with Charles Schwab to also receive their debit card with zero transaction fees . I first heard about this card when moving to London to study abroad, and I have to say it’s served me well. 

Get Foreign Currency Beforehand

Sometimes, but not often, it’s necessary to have cash in your destination’s currency either before you depart home or right when landing . This might be because your destination does not have ATMs, or because you just want to feel prepared.

If you need foreign cash before leaving home, head to your local bank and exchange currencies. (Just FYI, you’ll get a bad conversion rate doing this, since the bank needs to make commission.) If the currency you need isn’t a common one, your bank won’t have it on hand. In that case, you’ll have to request the exchange online with your bank. 

Many countries that don’t have ATMs also don’t allow their currency to be taken outside their country (like Cuba). In this case, you’ll need to bring enough cash with you in a common currency (like USD, GBP, or Euro). Then, when you arrive at your destination’s airport, you can exchange your cash from home for the local currency.

Sign Up for Airline Rewards Programs

You might already know this if you fly domestically, but most airlines have rewards programs. These allow you to accumulate “miles” in your rewards account each time you fly. Eventually, you might rack up enough to redeem those miles in exchange for a flight !

Consider Travel Hacking

Now, some people use airlines rewards programs and racking up miles on steroids, and this is called travel hacking. Many airlines and banks offer huge amounts of miles when you sign up for a card, or offer miles every time you use that card for a purchase. This allows you to rack up enough miles for a free flight or hotel stay more quickly (or sometimes immediately!). I personally have no energy for travel hacking, as I’m not convinced the miles rewards are worth more in dollars than my current card’s cash reward system. But I would be amiss to not mention travel hacking in a guide to international travel.

Planning Your International Trip

Phew! Now that you’ve got all the annoying administrative work out of the way, it’s time for the fun stuff; planning your trip .

I have a whole ten-step guide to planning a trip , so I won’t go into too much detail here. But this can be broken down into planning out your travel itinerary, booking your flight, and booking your accommodation.

Create Your Dream Itinerary

Decide everything you want to see in that destination. I love using Pinterest , Instagram , and travel blogs for inspiration. This is my favorite part of planning a trip , because it gets me so excited about what’s to come! Then, figure out how many days each spot deserves if you are moving around, and figure out how to get from point A to point B (train, cab, ferry?). 

Book Your Flight

After you’ve decided how many days you need, you can decide what your travel dates are and start looking for a flight. You can sometimes find good deals really close to the date, but that isn’t guaranteed. I recommend not leaving this until the last minute! I go into more detail how I search for cheap flights in my trip planning guide .

Book Your Housing

Once you have your flight booked, all that’s left is your housing. I love using Booking.com because of its interface, but any hotel search engine will suffice. Also consider AirBnB if you like the idea of staying in a local apartment, or Hostelworld if you’re looking for a social (and often budget-friendly) option. I go into more detail on different types of travel accommodation in my trip planning guide .

Here are some discounts if it’s your first time using AirBnB or Booking.com:

• Save 15% off your first booking by using this link  to sign up for AirBnB for the first time.
• Get  10% back  from your first booking when you use this link  for your first time using Booking.com.

Preparing for Departure

Woohoo! You’ve got your passport, your trip is planned, and all that’s left is to depart. There are a couple things you should do to best prepare for your upcoming international trip.

Scan the Front Page of Your Passport

Before leaving home, make a copy of the front page of your passport (the page with your picture). Either print it out or send it to yourself via email. In case your passport gets lost, stolen, or damaged during your international trip, this makes it easier to have your passport replaced abroad at an embassy.

Expect Cultural Differences

Every country or region has its own culture and norms, and that’s what makes traveling so great. In some places, like the US, it’s common to greet strangers “hello,” or for shop associates and waiters to be extra doting. In other places, like much of Europe, the slower cafe and restaurant culture means your waiter might not come to you unless beckoned. It’s almost seen as if the waiter is rushing you! Similarly, in Japan, it’s offensive to tip waiters, as it suggests their only incentive to do their job well is receiving your pocket change. No culture is right or wrong, but keep an open mind as you travel, and don’t assume something means the same as it does back home .

Prepare for Language Barriers

Many popular travel destinations have adopted English as a common language due to how many international tourists they receive. So, if you know English, chances are you’ll be fine getting around many travel destinations around the world. But it still doesn’t hurt to learn some basic words in your destination’s language .

Saying “hello” or “thank you” in a person’s mother tongue can go a long way in warming them up towards you. Learning common menu items or words on train station signs will also likely make your life easier and give you more confidence abroad. I love using the free version of Duolingo’s mobile app ( iOS and Android ) for a few weeks before I head somewhere new to learn a language’s basics. Alternatively, you could simply head to Google translate and jot down key words on a small piece of paper before you depart. Then, keep this paper handy while you’re out exploring for easy access.

What to Expect on an International Flight

Even if you’ve flown domestically before, flying internationally can be a whole different experience . Here are my top tips for flying internationally.

What to Pack in Your Carry On

Packing carry on luggage for an international trip is similar in many ways to for a domestic trip. The same rules apply with regards to liquid sizes and electronics. However, as international flights tend to naturally be longer than domestic flights, there are a few extra considerations.

Make sure you are comfortable. Bring your own favorite headphones instead of using the uncomfortable free or for sale ones on board the flight. Also bring an eye mask (and a neck pillow if you need that) so that you can try to sleep a bit. You’ll also want to pack clothing items like one pair of pajamas and one or two proper outfits, in case your luggage is lost or delayed . It would be super inconvenient to buy these things right after you land in a foreign country!

Common Flight Etiquette

No one likes flying. So to make it easier on everyone, here are some best practices for being polite while in the airport and on the plane.

• While in the airport, don’t stand up and crowd around the gate way before your boarding group is called. Everyone will get their chance to board.
• Once on the plane, the middle seat person gets dibs on the inner arm rests .
• Right after the plane lands, don’t rush to pull your luggage from the overhead before the plane doors have even opened (especially if you’re in the back of the plane!). If you’re in a rush to catch a connection you think you might miss, ask the flight attendants before landing if they can help you get off first. Sometimes they’ll make an announcement that everyone should stay seated until those about to miss a connection exit first!

Staying Healthy While Flying

The last thing you want is to get off your flight and feel unwell the first days of your epic trip! Here are precautions you should take to ensure you land in tip-top shape.

• Stay hydrated . Airplane air has less humidity (only about 10 – 20%!), so make sure you are drinking enough water, especially on long haul flights. I always bring a large, refillable water bottle when I fly. I fill it up at an airport water fountain right after passing security and finish it all before boarding. Then, I refill it again to have a full supply while on board. This is important not only for headaches and such, but also to prevent skin breakouts in the days after landing.
• Keep the blood flowing . Not only are you not moving for hours upon hours when flying internationally, but your feet are flat on the floor the entire time, too. This isn’t great for blood circulation, and can cause swelling in your ankles and feet the days after your land. (It’s also just not good for your health to not move!) So, make it a point to get up and walk around the plane. Since you’ll be drinking a lot of water anyways, maybe walk up and down the aisles for some minutes each time you finish using the toilets. Do some stretches , like pulling your feet up to your booty one at a time and holding, or lifting each knee up and holding. If you have a layover with enough time, walk around the terminal for some time before boarding your second flight.
• Stay clean . Even pre-Covid-19, planes and airports have never been the cleanest places to be. Wash your hands frequently with soap, use hand sanitizer , and consider disinfecting your food tray, screen, and arm rests right after getting on board. Make sure not to touch or pick your face too much, especially since it’s already dealing with the dehydrating air!

Flying with Dietary Restrictions

Airplane food is pretty much never great, especially if you aren’t flying first class. But if you’re on a particular diet or have dietary restrictions, you’ll need to plan ahead of time. Consider packing some of your favorite nutritious snacks instead of relying on the salty pretzels you can expect on board. If you have a specific need, like vegan meals, call the airline 24 hours before your flight to put in your request for a special meal . You might also want to double-check the meal request before take off at the gate.

Staying Safe While Traveling Internationally

While the world isn’t the big, bad, scary place we’re often made to believe, that doesn’t mean travel is free of risks.

A lot of the safety precautions and considerations you should take while traveling abroad are similar to those you take at home. But a few aren’t. Here are my main safety tips for international travel.

Solo Travel

By its very nature, traveling alone is more risky than traveling with a companion. Is it significantly more risky? I think not. But that’s not to say you shouldn’t take any extra precautions when traveling alone.

One precaution I take is to always let someone know where I am . If I have a full itinerary planned, I send my mom a summary of each city and accommodation I plan to stay at. If I’m doing something like a hike without any new friends I’ve met, I’ll let the front desk know my plans before I head out. I also try to be confident . Even if I don’t know where I’m going, I try to look like I do! If I need to look directions up on my phone, I might do it before leaving the hotel or shop or restaurant.

Another thing to remember is that traveling solo is not traveling alone . Especially if staying in hostels, you’ll meet other people traveling solo like you are, and you can do activities with them.

Solo Female Travel

Something my loved ones tell me often is how it’s so unsafe to travel alone as a woman. But the truth is, is it perfectly safe to be a woman anywhere in the world? Even when I’m in in the comfort of my home country, I rush to my car when in public garages at night, receive uncomfortable comments from strangers on the street, and face the potential of sexual harassment or even assault. Sexism exists everywhere, not just abroad. Of course, I do take extra precautions as a solo female traveler compared to a male solo traveler. But I also take extra precautions as a female in my home country, too.

These are some of the precautions I take while traveling as a woman, in addition to the precautions I take for traveling solo in general:

• I never walk alone past dark . Ever, ever. Even if I “feel” safe in a place (which is most of the time), it’s just something I’ve promised myself I wouldn’t do.
• I try to dress conservatively in certain destinations. Especially as a Californian, I’m used to super short shorts and low-cut shirts being totally normal. While these are still often acceptable abroad, they definitely cause a lot of stares that I personally have decided I’d rather avoid if I can. So, I’ll wear looser, longer shorts instead of tight short-shorts, or midi skirts and dresses instead of what I consider normal length. This isn’t so much because I feel unsafe, but because I’ve realized it decreases bothersome male comments and advances immensely.
• I haven’t actually done this yet, but it’s a trick I have in my back pocket. Bring a fake wedding ring . Depending on the destination, this can help ward off some comments (and even playful marriage proposals!).

Traveling as a Person of Color

Similar to the solar female travel issue, a lot of my family fear that I’ll stand out like a sore thumb as a black woman. Also similar to the solo female travel issue, racism is simply something that exists everywhere, not just abroad . Of course, I do take extra precautions as a black solo traveler compared to a white solo traveler. But I also take extra precautions as a black person in my home country, too.

The main extra consideration I take while traveling as a person of color is to research the experiences of other black people or black women in destinations I know less about , or that I know have few black people or tourists. I recommend you do the same for whatever race or ethnicity you might identify with, as destinations might be used to one group but not a different group. This, of course, can be difficult, as the voices in the travel sphere are mostly white men, and next white women. (This is why it’s important to have better representation.) If you can’t find the insight you need online, consider directly emailing or messaging any travel writers or influences whose experiences you’d like to hear.

Traveling with Cash and Valuables

Like you would in certain areas of your home country, don’t flash valuables while traveling. Be cognizant as you withdraw or exchange any cash . Being a tourist can make you a target already, so don’t give pickpockets any extra incentive!

Be careful not to carry all your cash and cards in one place. If you can, take some with you as you explore, and then leave back up cards, unneeded cash, and your passport back in a safe in your accommodation . That way, if anything gets stolen or lost while out exploring, you have back ups to hold you over.

Bring Locks for Hostels

If you are planning on staying in hostels, definitely purchase a lock before your trip. Hostels usually have lockers, but charge a couple bucks to rent a lock. It’s much more economical to purchase once and not pay each time.

Register with Your Country’s Embassy

This is a step I never usually did before, but one I’ll be doing every time in the future! I was “one of those” people who got stranded abroad in a foreign country when the world started closing borders in response to Covid-19. I always thought registering with the local embassy for my country was a waste of time, but this turned out to be the best way to get up-to-date information on the situation. After missing out on crucial info once, I signed up. And it’s thanks to that I was able to eventually get home!

You never know what could happen when you are abroad, whether that is a pandemic, weather-related disaster, local protests, or political tensions. It’s near-impossible to keep up with your foreign destination’s news while traveling. So registering with your embassy is an easy way to get a simple email for key things you should know . For Americans, this program to register is called the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) , but other countries have pretty much the same thing.

Get Travel Insurance

I’m not sure I believe “everyone” should “always” get travel insurance. But for a first trip abroad, it’s worth considering. I typically never purchased it when I traveled places I knew well. But these days, as I’m no longer on my parents’ good insurance, and as I travel mostly solo, I do purchase travel insurance. It often only costs a couple dollars a day , and usually covers lost baggage, medical visits for accidents or illnesses, theft, and more. Especially if you are planning adrenaline activities or traveling somewhere distant, you should consider it! 

What Do You Think About My International Travel Guide?

And there ya have it, folks! Are you feeling prepared for your international trip! I hope this guide was helpful. If you still have more questions before your trip abroad, definitely comment below and I’ll answer. Or, if you have any advice you think I missed that others should know, please also comment below!

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Further Reading...

The Beginner’s Guide to Staying in Hostels

How to Plan the Perfect Vacation: 10 Step Guide

How to Travel Cheaper: A Beginner’s Guide to Budget Travel

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16+ Best Languages to Learn for Travel, Plus How to Study on the Go

Travel and language were made for each other.

If you need reasons to learn a foreign language , travel is definitely a good one.

In fact, travelers have more reason than just about anyone else to learn a new language!

If you dream of going to far-off lands and speaking with the locals like it’s nothing, then this post is for you.

Keep reading for the best languages to learn for travel, why you should learn one and how to do it.

3. Mandarin Chinese

8. portuguese, 9. cantonese, 11. indo-malay, 12. hindustani, 13. bengali, 15. swahili, other world languages to learn for travel, why travelers should study languages, how to learn a language for travel, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Most useful in: Every continent, but North America and Europe in particular

As you’re probably well aware, English is the modern world’s lingua franca .

Throughout the last century, English has grown in international importance. Though it stemmed from Britain’s colonial conquests, it also owes much of its global prominence to American imperialism.

English is less varied throughout North America , and most speakers should understand just about everything they hear from the most remote parts of Canada to either coast of the U.S., though English could also be called “the European traveler’s best friend.”

Thanks to high levels of education and a decidedly global outlook, English is particularly handy in Europe. You shouldn’t expect to get into deep philosophical debates in Italian coffee shops or Russian bars, but you can count on finding enough English speakers to at least give you basic assistance and a little company in nearly every large city throughout the continent.

In fact, throughout most parts of the world frequented by tourists , people understand at least a few basic English travel phrases .

Most useful in: South and Central America, Europe

Spanish is another handy world language for travelers in Europe. Outside Spain, its commonalities with Portuguese and Italian will help you get through its southern European neighbors as well.

Where Spanish really shines, however, is in Latin America —it’s the unifying force from the Rio Grande to Patagonia and beyond. Additionally, most Spanish-speaking travelers will find Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, California and South Florida all relatively easy to navigate in Spanish; most large North American cities have sizable Hispanic populations, as well.

Don’t get discouraged if you learn the language and can’t understand it in some regions. Parts of the Caribbean and the Southern Cone of South America are notoriously difficult for non-natives and even some native Spanish speakers to understand.

One should also be forewarned that remote areas of the Americas, especially in southern Mexico and Andean countries, may lack Spanish speakers entirely and instead have large populations who speak an indigenous language as their first (and possibly only) language.

Some pre-trip classes or just a few important Spanish phrases will be majorly helpful in these parts of the world.

Most useful in: East Asia

As not only the language with the most speakers in the world but also the official state language of the largest country in Asia, Mandarin Chinese is an obvious big name on this list.

Many visitors to China arrange to take organized tours, often led by Mandarin-speaking officials. While English tours are certainly available, speaking a bit of Chinese will almost certainly ingratiate you to your guide and any locals you get a chance to meet.

For the even more adventurous, a sturdy level of Mandarin will help you navigate the enormous country of China more independently, although you’ll find there are a vast amount of dialects with varying degrees of mutual intelligibility.

Mandarin is also the official language of Taiwan , a radical travel alternative to Mainland China. Although the island nation doesn’t technically exist according to most of the world, knowing some Chinese will help you better enjoy its tropical weather, high level of development and relatively cheap cost of travel and living.

Most useful in: Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, North Africa

French isn’t only a good choice for France, but it’s also still popularly learned by educated people throughout Europe .

Further, large parts of North Africa and the Middle East were parts of the French Empire before World War II, and the French language remains prominent and even official in many of the former colonies . The vast majority of middle-class people in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Lebanon still speak fluent French.

French will also serve well in Quebec, French Guiana and the Caribbean Islands, and might open up some interesting chats in southern Louisiana, where Cajun French still runs strong. Throughout mainland Southeast Asia as well, older, educated citizens of the former French colonies of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos are likely to speak some of the colonial language.

There’s a high likelihood that many people you meet in cities will be fluent in French, and you may find that many are happy to chat with a curious traveler, if you have the must-know French travel phrases under your belt.

Most useful in: The Middle East, Northern Africa

Modern Standard Arabic is a good starting point for anyone interested in this multifaceted language, but you can choose a specific variety of Arabic if you have a certain destination in mind.

Egyptian Arabic is a common choice. This isn’t just because of its relative economic and political power, or the fact that Egypt is the most populous Arab country, but because the Hollywood of the Arab World is in Cairo, the heart of both Arab cinema and the place where most foreign films are dubbed.

Another option is  Gulf Arabic , one of the widest-reaching dialects. This version is used and understood throughout the Gulf States and in large swaths of Saudi Arabia.

In general, Arabic is an increasingly popular choice for language learners because of its up-and-coming economic potential .

Most useful in: Europe

German  is your all-access pass to central Europe and beyond.

Germany is close to the geographic, political and financial centers of Europe , so it makes sense that this powerful country’s equally powerful language penetrates far and wide. Native-speaking countries include Switzerland , parts of Belgium and Luxembourg, Austria and mother Germany herself.

The German language will come in handy far beyond these borders , however. Young people throughout the Netherlands, the UK and Central Europe are learning German more and more as its namesake country increasingly offers jobs and opportunities to young Europeans.

The youths aren’t the only ones who know a bit of Deutsch , though. Huge guest worker populations from Eastern Europe and the Balkans have now spent several decades working in Austria and Germany, leaving many members of the middle generation of these countries fairly proficient German speakers.

A few common phrases will be sure to make your Central European tour sehr gut  (very good).

Most useful in: Europe, Asia

The official language of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan will see you from the Baltic Sea all the way to the Bering Strait.

While the Soviet Union never existed in many young travelers’ lifetimes, one of its convenient legacies is the widespread use of the Russian language it left behind.

Aside from the countries in which it’s an official state language, there’s a long list of other Eastern European and West Asian countries that formally recognize Russian as a minority language, including Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Moldova, Georgia, Romania and Norway.

And, while not official, its important role as a significant minority language or inter-ethnic language will assure Russian-speaking travelers easy communication in part or most of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Mongolia and Uzbekistan, as well.

Most useful in: Africa, South America, Europe

Portuguese is of course the language of Portugal , though Brazilian Portuguese is just as (if not more) popular than its European counterpart .

It could be just the language you want to learn for travel through South America, in fact. While it’s limited to one country of the continent, Brazil happens to be the fifth-largest country in the world , full of some of the most appealing tourist destinations in the world.

But Portuguese, as a result of many years of colonialism, is also spoken in a geographically scattered collection of African countries : Mozambique, Angola, Guinea-Bissau and the island nation of São Tome and Principe.

Angola is notoriously stingy with its tourist visas, making it nearly impossible for Western travelers to get in, and thus making it something of an internationally undiscovered gem. Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau aren’t as difficult to travel to, but you’ll find their infrastructure reflects the fact that all three are among the least developed countries in the world.

Most useful in: Southern China

Sometimes forgotten in the shadow of big brother Mandarin, Cantonese is another enormous world language spoken both in China and beyond its borders.

As the most prestigious variety of the Yue language, Cantonese (along with other languages with which it’s mutually intelligible) is used by 60 million speakers spread across southern China, Hong Kong and Macau .

Cantonese has a bit more geographic reach than Mandarin, as the vast majority of Chinese expat communities in East and Southeast Asia—and in most of the world—are Cantonese speakers. From the Yokohama Chinatown on Tokyo’s south side to the capitals of Southeast Asia, in almost any big Asian city, you’ll find at least a small community of Cantonese speakers.

Most useful in: Southeast Asia

This is a language that’s practically begging travelers to become expats.

Thailand is currently one of the most popular destinations for “digital nomads,” people who work remotely from their laptops (particularly Westerners, it seems).

If you’re looking to go location independent or just want to spend a few months in one of the cheapest expat-friendly countries in the world, then some Thai lessons would help you get a deeper and more authentic experience of the country.

Beyond Thailand’s borders, some Thai speakers will also understand Laotian , spoken in its even cheaper but less developed neighboring country, making a Laotian vacation an excellent option for Thai-speaking expats based in popular cities like Chiang Mai or Bangkok.

Most useful in: Southeast Asia, Oceania

The fuzzy boundary between the Indonesian and Malaysian languages coincides with the fuzzy geographic boundary between what’s conventionally known as Southeast Asia and Oceania.

Largely because of those fuzzy boundaries, learning the language referred to in Malaysia as “Malay” and in Indonesia as “Indonesian” will put you in touch with about a quarter of a billion locals scattered across these thousands of islands.

Also helpful is the fact that it’s incredibly easy to learn : Indo-Malay’s lack of verb tenses and simple grammar means a couple weeks of intensive courses at the beginning of your trip should leave you reasonably prepared for everyday basic communication—and if you stick to it, your skills will only improve as you hop from island to island.

Most useful in: Asia

Hindustani is the super-language of India and Pakistan. India is already a hot backpacking and luxury travel destination, and Pakistan is steadily climbing its way up as it improves its security and infrastructure.

Between these two giant countries, four hundred million native and second language speakers use Hindi or Urdu, two standard dialects of the giant language linguists call Hindustani.

Throughout northern India and most of Pakistan, Hindi or Urdu will be spoken by nearly everyone you meet , and for many people this will be their native language (the English they learned in school takes a back seat as a third or fourth language for most).

A few well-placed phrases in Hindi or Urdu are your best shot at charming your way into the hospitality and natural beauty of India and Pakistan.

Sandwiched between giants like India and China, plus the tourist attractions of Southeast Asia, Bengali is still a great language for travelers, especially those looking to be on the cutting edge.

There are 200 million speakers in Bangladesh and India’s Bengal province . Bangladesh and the neighboring Indian province are densely populated parts of the Bay of Bengal, with some of the most beautiful and undiscovered wildlife in the world.

Bangladesh hasn’t really reached mainstream travel itineraries yet, but its tourism industry is growing . If you want to get there before it gets cool, brush up on your Bengali and book a flight!

Most useful in: The Middle East

This is the official language of Iran . Americans may still have more trouble getting visas than others, but this country is a rapidly up-and-coming travel destination.

Ask any backpacker who’s been there and they’ll rave about hospitality, openness and well-educated people. Imagine how much more of that you could soak up with some basic Farsi!

The same language, under various different national names, is spoken in Afghanistan and parts of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan . While that first name probably won’t be a popular vacation destination any time soon, the latter two are becoming more and more common legs of Central Asian tours.

Most useful in: East Africa

Swahili is East Africa’s own lingua franca. While native to only a small population of five million or so, it’s spoken and understood by 150 million people , stretching from eastern parts of the Congo to the Indian Ocean shores of Tanzania and Kenya.

The majority of the most spectacular safari countries are situated in the Swahili language area, so speaking the language might allow you to take a more authentic safari or another tour that’s more geared towards locals.

Most useful in: Southeast Africa

Though among the poorest regions on earth, Southeast Africa is also raved about by visitors as one of the friendliest and most welcoming .

From the hippo-filled Okavango Delta of Botswana, throughout Zimbabwe and to the remote northern beaches of Mozambique, Shona is the mother tongue of most locals you’ll meet.

Learn a few words of Shona and visit the nature of the Zimbabwean countryside, or enjoy the well-maintained roads and highly developed cities of Botswana. Even simple phrases like “thank you” or “your country is beautiful” are sure to endear you to everyone you meet.

Depending on where you plan on going, you may want to make your language learning even more niche than some of the options above.

Here are a few additional languages you might choose to learn to make your global travels a bit smoother, or at least a bit friendlier:

• Japanese is spoken by a large population, with 125 million speakers, but its limitation to travelers is that it doesn’t go very far outside Japan.
• Korean is spoken by about 75 million people, although a good number of them are in North Korea (still not very tourist friendly) and the rest are mostly in South Korea, so it’s also a relatively location-specific tongue as well.
• Dutch is the national language of Suriname and six Caribbean Islands, and it’s an official language in Belgium and the Netherlands in Europe, too.
• Quechua is one of the biggest indigenous languages of the Andes, and will get you far in more remote areas of South America.
• The Serbo-Croatian dialects of the Balkans are all mutually intelligible, and will give you a priceless opportunity to ditch the resorts and explore natural beauty that can’t be beat in the rest of Europe.
• Turkish will help you not only in Turkey but also in regions that speak similar Turkic languages in Central Asia.
• Hausa in West Africa is a large Bantu language with many millions of speakers and lots of mutually intelligible dialects.
• Amharic is spoken by nearly 22 million people in Ethiopia, which is arguably the African continent’s most culturally distinct country due to its unique history.
• Telugu can be handy in South Asia, specifically in India, as it’s spoken and understood throughout several of the southern states.
• Tibetan will give you priceless access to cultural opportunities if you want to trek into the remote regions of Tibet and northern China in Asia.
• Tagalog is the official language of the Philippines in Southeast Asia, and Spanish speakers will find it easy and even familiar.

Of course, there are plenty of factors to consider when deciding which language to learn . Perhaps the most important aspect, however, is your interest in said language.

If you’re planning to travel to a place that speaks a foreign tongue, that likely means you’re interested in the culture and the way of life in that place. This is great motivation for when language learning seems a bit more challenging than you expected.

So, if you really don’t know what language to learn for your travels, pick the one that captures your attention the most !

Language learning takes time and effort. If you’re on the fence about whether it’s really worth learning a language for your travels, let me argue in favor of it with these points:

• The local language can help you during your travels. You may be able to haggle and get discounts. You can ask for directions and assistance. It might even save your life (or at least some money) in case of emergencies.
• You’ll have a more authentic travel experience . Language is the key to a treasure chest full of history, authentic cultural experiences and new friends. You’ll be able to find out what a place is really like by chatting with locals, who can usually offer advice, tips and/or company on your excursions.
• The right language(s) can take you many places. You may have noticed that many languages on the list above are spoken in more than one country, and often (thanks to colonialism) on more than one continent, too. By knowing more than one or two languages, you greatly increase your ability to communicate anywhere in the world.

There are many resources and blogs out there for learning a language that will help you prepare for your journey.

To get ready for a trip abroad, you can start by reading travel guides and phrasebooks—you’ll arrive knowing about the destinations, local language, culture, etiquette and customs. Lonely Planet has travel guides and phrasebooks for virtually every region and language under the sun, so it’s a great place to start learning.

Apps are also an option if you prefer pocket-sized language guides. Dictionaries and flashcard apps are super handy for immediate translations and language practice, while programs like FluentU are helpful for authentic language immersion whenever you have time to spare.

Anything you can do to prepare yourself before traveling makes a difference. But if you want to continue learning while you’re on the go, you have additional options:

• Teach English in your destination country. If you’re reading this, chances are you speak English. Use this skill by teaching as you travel. The best part is that you generally don’t need previous experience to start . Teaching English will also offer you a way to earn money as you travel.
• Live with a host family. This is a great way to learn a language. Living with people who speak your target language means you’ll hear and use it every day out of sheer necessity. In fact, immersion language learning  is one of the most effective and natural ways to learn a new language.
• Volunteer.  Volunteering with a local non-profit or humanitarian organization is also a great way to learn new languages while traveling—with the bonus that you’ll be helping people in need at the same time.
• Ask lots of questions. Actually using the language is perhaps the fastest way to learn it. Ask locals about their favorite restaurants or places to visit, or ask for directions (even if you already know where you’re going!). Remember: When it comes to learning a language, the focus isn’t the destination but the people you’ll learn from along the way!

We know there are a ton of benefits for learning a language, but no one benefits from it as much as a world traveler.

If you’re planning a big trip in the near future or dreaming of traveling the world one day, you can start brushing up on your language skills today!

If you dig the idea of learning on your own time from the comfort of your smart device with real-life authentic language content, you'll love using FluentU .

With FluentU, you'll learn real languages—as they're spoken by native speakers. FluentU has a wide variety of videos as you can see here:

FluentU App Browse Screen.

FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.

Didn't catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.

Interactive, dual-language subtitles.

You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentU's "learn mode." Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you’re learning.

FluentU Has Quizzes for Every Video

And FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It gives you extra practice with difficult words—and reminds you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. You get a truly personalized experience.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

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How to Travel

Last Updated: December 8, 2023 References

This article was co-authored by Carmela Resuma, MPP . Carmela is the Executive Director of FLYTE, a non-profit organization headquartered in Georgetown, Texas that empowers students living in underserved communities through transformative travel experiences. Carmela has a Masters in Public Policy Analysis from New York University and is passionate about youth empowerment, social impact, and traveling. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 147,020 times.

You know you're ready to hit the road and see the world, but you need a little help getting out the door. With some thought and careful planning, you can be headed for adventure sooner than you think. Start planning your escape!

Deciding Where and When to Go

• Remember that in addition to any travel expenses, you still have to pay rent and bills at home. Make sure you have enough to cover these essentials before you spend money traveling.
• Be savvy and cut out small, unnecessary purchases where you can. Eating in, avoiding ATM fees and skipping the $4 lattes are all quick, easy changes you can make to save extra cash for traveling.
• If you can't afford to jet to a distant location but you're itching to explore, research where you can go that is within a day's drive of home. Search for national parks, weird roadside attractions, or even look at a travel guide for your area. If you don't have wheels you can rent a car or take a bus to get away for the day.

• Don't forget to factor in travel time--if you only have a long weekend, it might be best to stick relatively close to home. You can determine the percentage of your vacation you will spend traveling by dividing the total number of hours you spend on the road by the total number of hours you plan to spend at your destination. [1] X Research source

• High season is when there are the biggest crowds, the best weather, attractions selling out, and the highest prices.
• Low season usually means great deals, fewer tourists, the possibility of terrible weather, and the risk of some attractions being closed. You may also find that locals are a little more welcoming.
• Shoulder season is considered the best time to travel. You get the best of both worlds--you will miss the crowds, snag the good deals, and still have good weather. Book right before or right after high season to take advantage of shoulder season. [3] X Research source

• Many travel websites will include inspiration and ideas for different types of trips: family, ecotourism, road trips, and more. Try a website like Triptuner that will give you suggestions based on your preferences.
• Ask friends and family about places they've been. They may have some great recommendations and insights on what to do, where to stay, and what to eat.

Preparing for Your Trip

• Research the cost of the activities that interest you--look up the admission fee to the Musée d'Orsay or the price of a ticket to a Broadway show. The more accurate you can be with costs, the better you can plan your trip.
• Many cities offer some kind of tourism pass, which, for a flat fee, grants free or discounted entry into popular attractions like museums, tours, and historical sites. [5] X Research source
• If your plans exceed your budget, you may need to make a few sacrifices. Stay at a hostel instead of a hotel or skip the four star restaurant. Being flexible will make it easier to stick to your budget.
• Don't forget to look up the money conversion rate if you're going abroad and work that into your budget.

• Be sure you have plenty of time to switch planes if you have a layover in another city.
• Studies have shown the best time to buy a ticket for a domestic flight is between 100-50 days (3.3-1.5 months) before to your departure date. Tickets for international flights are usually lowest between 171-50 days (5-1.5 months) before travel. [6] X Research source
• If you're not sure how you want to get to your destination, a website like Rome2Rio will give you estimated cost and travel times for just about every mode of transportation.
• Train travel is big in Europe, and websites like Seat61 can help you plan a route and look for deals.

• There are even ways to arrange for a free place to stay--sign up at couchsurfers.com to crash with someone local, or try WWOOFing (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) to exchange work for room and board.
• Make reservations ahead of time. It may decrease the spontaneity of your trip, but it's no fun to arrive and find every hostel in town is booked for the night and you have nowhere to sleep.

• Researching the transportation system will make it easier to plan and budget your time. Learn how the metro works before you visit Paris, or find out which train lines will take you to Pisa from Florence and how long the trip will take. [8] X Research source
• Add the addresses and contact numbers of any hotels, car rental agencies, so you have them in one place and can reference them quickly.
• Share your itinerary with your family, and include all your travel information. It's important someone knows where you are and how to reach you in case of an emergency.
• Email your itinerary to yourself so it's easily accessible.

Carmela Resuma, MPP

Try to make the first 24 hours as stress-free as possible. Make sure you have very reliable transport from the airport to wherever you're going and a nice place to stay, even if it costs a little more. Having that first day planned out will help reduce your stress.

• Pack light. Pick basic clothes that coordinate so you can mix and match over the course of your trip.
• If you are flying, remember the safety restrictions, including the 3-1-1 rule: each passenger can have one 1-gallon bag of liquids, gels, or creams, each in a 3.4oz container. Most drug stores sell travel-sized shampoos and moisturizers you can pack.
• Make sure you pack any medications you take and that you have enough for your entire trip, plus a little extra.
• Other must-haves: a light rain jacket, a back-up battery for your phone or other electronics, something to read or pass the time on flights and bus rides.
• Consider the weather. It might be snowing outside, raining cats and dogs, windy, or it might be as hot as the desert sun. Well, it all depends on the weather, and so the type of weather is the type of weather activity you'll be doing.
• Roll your clothes up when packing. Don't fold your clothes-roll them up! You'll have tons more space in your bag. To make things even easier, roll up each outfit into one big roll. That way, you can grab the whole thing at once, no search required.

International Travel

• It is possible to expedite the process and get your passport sooner than 4-6 weeks (even as quickly as 24-hours in an emergency), but you will have to pay an extra fee.
• If you are renewing your passport, you can skip the lines and submit by mail.
• When you receive your passport, scan a copy and email it to yourself. You may also want to make a photocopy and keep it in your suitcase. These copies will be very helpful if your passport is lost or stolen while you're out of the country.
• Keep your passport somewhere safe while you are traveling--a jacket with an inside pocket or a money belt that goes under your shirt can keep you from losing your passport or having it stolen.

• You may need to arrange your hotel accommodations before applying for a visa and be asked to present the address and contact information when you apply.

• Vaccines can take several weeks to start working, or you may need multiple doses, so don't wait until the last minute. See your doctor 4-6 weeks before travel. [10] X Research source
• You can also visit a travel clinic for vaccines--the staff specializes in travel medicine and will be well-versed in what precautions you should take while abroad. [11] X Research source

• English is common as a second language in many countries, but you should never assume everyone will be fluent.

• Pay attention to things like how locals typically dress (some countries are more modest than others and you may get unwanted attention by showing skin), if tipping is expected, and how much "personal space" is normal (you may find people stand and talk much closer than you're used to).
• Check for travel warnings or alerts for the country you plan to visit. You may learn that certain areas are experiencing conflict or are considered unsafe to visit and decide to alter your plans.

• Ask your bank if they have any international partners or branches you can visit. The fees for ATM withdraws in foreign countries are fairly high and can add up quickly. [12] X Research source
• Using your ATM card for withdraws will almost always get you the best exchange rate. Just watch for those fees. [13] X Research source

Community Q&A

• Keep a journal. You may think you'll remember every amazing moment of your trip, but chances are you'll be having so many new experiences it may be hard to keep track of it all. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• Take lots of pictures. You can always delete bad ones later, but you won't have another chance to snap a shot of that monkey sitting on your friend's head. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• Protect your devices. If your device has a camera, write down a parent's cell number or e-mail address (ask permission first) and take a picture of it, along with a polite note asking the finder to get in touch. Set your home screen to that image so that if your device is lost you might get it back. Then find a small crossbody bag with a zipper top, and use it to carry your device and sunscreen. When you don't have your bag, pick a spot where you will always place your device when it's not in your hand - in the inside pocket of a beach bag, for example. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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• ↑ https://traveltips.usatoday.com/decide-vacation-12765.html
• ↑ https://www.smartertravel.com/low-season-low-cost-five-tips-for-off-peak-travel/
• ↑ https://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/shoulder-season-travel-secrets
• ↑ https://traveltips.usatoday.com/set-budget-travel-14231.html
• ↑ https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/how-to-quit-your-job-and-travel-tips-on-making-your-money-go-further
• ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/grantmartin/2014/12/09/best-days-to-book-flights-are-tuesdays-50-100-days-before-travel-expedia-study-concludes/
• ↑ https://www.yahoo.com/travel/the-smartest-ways-to-avoid-travel-burnout-116278797137.html
• ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/yf/
• ↑ https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/find-clinic
• ↑ https://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/money-and-insurance/atms-abroad

About This Article

If you want to travel, start by choosing a destination and deciding how much time you can spend there. Take into consideration factors like your travel time, paid time off, and any obligations you have at home. If you are flying, book your flight early since they are usually cheapest 50-100 days in advance. Then, search online for activities you'd like to do and the cost of food so you can make a budget. To save money, consider cooking your own meals and staying at campgrounds or hostels instead of at resorts. To learn how to prepare for an international trip, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Conquering the World of Travel: the Importance of English Language Learning

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Why is learning English crucial for a trave­l-themed website­? Buckle up because this article­ provides all the answers. It re­veals how mastering the language­ can open doors to exciting opportunities and e­levate your travel e­xperiences. Ge­t ready to embark on an incredible­ journey of wanderlust and discovery!

The world language of travel

English isn’t just another language – it’s the global language of business and culture. No matter where you go, chances are you’ll find someone who speaks English, making it incredibly handy for communication. Some platforms, have special courses about travel dictionaries for those who want to dive deeper into the language, and not just be able to introduce yourself in english .

Thanks to English , getting around in a foreign land becomes a breeze. You can strike up conversations with locals, get a glimpse into their stories and traditions, and even score some fantastic insider tips on must-visit places and mouth watering food spots. Knowing English is like having an all-access pass to make the most of your adventure! Rest assured, english learning online is here to provide­ unparalleled convenie­nce like neve­r before.

Browse information and content

You know, travel websites are a treasure trove of amazing content about different destinations. They dish out all the juicy details about countries, cities, and their must-see attractions. The only thing is – most of these sites are in English . Here’s the deal: if you learn English, you gain access to this massive vault of information that might not be available in other languages. It’s like having a VIP pass to soak up everything these sites have to offer! You’ll be able to dive into all those resources they provide and truly relish reading articles written in their original language. So buckle up and let the adventure begin!

Communication and safety

Traveling, my friend, is all about embracing new experiences and connecting with people from all walks of life. And let’s be honest, knowing English can really come in handy in these situations. From talking to the friendly locals or chatting with your travel buddies to seeking help in unexpected emergencies – having a good grasp of English makes it a whole lot easier.

Just think about those moments when you find yourself needing medical assistance or facing flight delays – trust me, they happen more often than we’d like. But if you can communicate effectively in English, navigating through those challenges will be a breeze. You’ll have the confidence to explain your needs clearly and get the support you require without any hiccups along the way.

So our advice? Embrace the power of language and equip yourself with some solid English skills before embarking on your next adventure. It might just save the day!

Expanding job opportunities

If you’re looking for a thrilling career path, the travel and tourism industry could be the perfect fit for you. And guess what? Knowing English will give you that extra edge in the job market and unlock loads of opportunities to work abroad! See, many international companies and tour operators are on the hunt for employees who can speak English fluently. So why not make yourself stand out from the crowd with your English skills.

Final Thoughts

The importance­ of learning English is more crucial now than eve­r, particularly for travel enthusiasts. It’s akin to possessing a ke­y that unlocks countless possibilities! When one­ can communicate in this universal language, the­ir travel experie­nces become significantly more­ enriching, enjoyable, and e­ven safer.

Imagine the­ ability to engage in meaningful conve­rsations with locals wherever you ve­nture, forging genuine conne­ctions and fully immersing yourself in their rich cultural he­ritage. Moreover, this invaluable­ skill simplifies your navigation across diverse countrie­s, eliminating any anxieties associate­d with getting lost or encountering communication barrie­rs.

If one de­sires to elevate­ their travel expe­riences and embark on e­xtraordinary journeys filled with cultural reve­lations, it is essential to recognize­ the significance of learning English. Re­st assured, mastering this language will se­rve as an indispensable tool that guarante­es unforgettable adve­ntures throughout every trip.

This post is also available in: English

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One response to “Conquering the World of Travel: the Importance of English Language Learning”

Thanks for a great post, Kevin Erickson! Your insights really resonated with me, especially your point about _____ . Isn’t it fascinating how ____ can dynamically affect our daily experiences? From personal experiences, I’ve noticed _____ (here, sharing 1st personal experience and observations). But didn’t ever include ______ (mention another angle or aspect valuable for readers)? Could you delve into a bit more detail about this yyyy? Back in _____ (mention some past.year.exp), I encountered zzz phenomenon (share a personal, unique experience 2nd ) which changed my entire perspective.

I believe opening up about these experiences could provoke a vibrant discussion. Does anyone else have a similar engagement ☺️? Looking forward to your future writings, Kevin! 🔮

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The Golden Rules of Retirement Travel

By Stacey Lastoe

This is part of a collection of stories celebrating the many shapes retirement travel can take. Read more here.

Bonni and Bob Gumport travel regularly in their retirement. Not beholden to one short vacation a year (they average seven big ones), their compounding experience has allowed them to develop a code of rules by which they abide— tips and tricks to use wherever they go. After one too many of the small rooms common in boutique hotels, for example, they’ve cut them out entirely. Also out of the question are walking tours within two days of arrival in a new destination, as they prefer to settle in. Their daughter Lauren describes them as “pros on retiree travel,” but they are not the only ones with advice to give.

There are former museum curators who have learned not to overbook themselves; solo travelers who always learn a little of the local language. Adherence to anyone’s rules will never ensure a vacation free of hiccups, where no flight is ever delayed , every tour is worth the hours put in, and every meal sublime . But learning from others may improve your chances of a good time—even when things inevitably go sideways. We’ve spoken to over 20 retired travelers to hear how their Golden Years have informed the way that they travel. Below, find some of their savviest secrets for better trips.

1. Take a ride on the hop-on, hop-off bus tour

If she’s traveling in a city that offers one of those double-decker hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tours, Denver -based Heidi Burtoni, 65, who goes on multiple trips per year, is definitely stepping aboard. Burtoni says it’s a great way to figure out the rest of her itinerary, get tips from other travelers and the tour guide, and get a feel for the new city. “It’s the first thing I do to get the lay of the land,” says Burtoni. Her previous career in sales means the frequent solo traveler will “talk to anybody,” so these tours also open the door for socializing and making connections.

Know what to skip—“whether that means avoiding tourist traps, the most sweltering hours at fairs, or not putting yourself in danger by flagging a taxi when it's unsafe," says Lynn Zelevansky.

2. Figure out what to avoid

For Paul and Lynn Zelevansky (77 and 76, respectively), travel is less about hitting all the top spots and more about learning where not to go, “whether that means avoiding tourist traps, the most sweltering hours at fairs, or not putting yourself in danger by flagging a taxi when it’s unsafe.” They visit the Venice Biennale in fall, now, rather than at the opening, to avoid the worst of the crushes—it also helps them more effectively skirt the city's infamous pickpockets (Lynn's wallet was stolen on a crowded vaporetto ferry in 2022).

3. BYOTP (Bring Your Own Toilet Paper)

“Toilet paper in Europe is very scratchy … not good for sensitive parts,” says Florida native Karen Butera, an avid pickleball player who often travels with the sport in mind. Whenever overseas, she always travels with her own toilet paper. Butera, 66, is taking her granddaughter to see Taylor Swift in Paris this summer, and, yes, she will be packing TP—creature comforts are even more crucial on the road than they are at home.

4. Don’t overschedule

Packed-to-the-brim itineraries used to be J. Patrice Marandel’s MO, but these days, the former chief curator at Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is more keen on scheduling “plenty of time for the unexpected.” Gone are the nonstop days with planned breakfasts, lunches, and dinners; instead, Marandel, 79, leaves room for the possibility of something unexpected and “exciting.” It often pays off.

5. Pack light

Buffalo, New York-based Lisa LaLonde, 74, and her travel companion Antoinette Judelsohn, 70, whom she’s been traveling with for over a decade, are pros at packing light . The pals can manage for a month on very little, relying on the versatility of black leggings and black tops, says LaLonde. The trick? Develop a travel uniform, bring just a few versions, and wash undergarments as necessary, says Judelsohn. Big suitcases stuffed to the brim with a ton of different outfits are more of a hassle than a luxury. “They’re a pain in the neck if you’re getting on a train or off a train … or moving from one city to another,” says LaLonde.

“Anybody and their brother with an RV travels on Sunday,” warns Jenelle Jones.

6. Don't get (too) excited

Judelsohn, a former teacher who met LaLonde when they worked together at the same school in Buffalo, has another travel rule that’s served her well: Letting go of expectations. “I never get excited about a trip,” says Judelsohn. Instead, the savvy traveler lets the excitement emerge based on what's in front of her in the moment.

7. Avoid traveling on Sundays

RVer Jenelle Jones, 64, is against traveling on Sundays. As she puts it, “anybody and their brother with an RV travels on Sunday.” Long weekend RVers who have to get back for work on Monday use Sundays to head home, so retired Jones, 64, simply avoids the day altogether. It's also, according to her, the “biggest day to get in an RV wreck”— yet another reason to sit back and relax. You have nowhere you need to be, after all. Take advantage.

8. Learn a few words of the local language

Charlotte Simpson , whose blog Traveling Black Widow documents her travels (100 countries and counting so far), says her number one travel rule is to learn a few key phrases—hello, goodbye, please, thank you—in the dominant language of the places she visits. Simpson says her efforts are always well received. “I just find, inevitably, it sort of stuns people when I even just say good morning.” Simpson, who prefers not to reveal her age, says she gets a lot out of bridging the language gap with just a few words: “It just makes people so friendly and so happy that you took this moment to learn [their language].”

9. Travel slower

When you cram too much into a single trip, “the whole experience just kind of becomes a blur,” say Gillian Batt, 43, and Stephanie Myers, 51, whose blog Our Freedom Years documents their early retirement and subsequent travels. The couple, who hail from Ontario, Canada, say staying in one place for an extended period of time helps them avoid travel burnout, keep costs low, and enjoy the whole experience more. All that rushing around on limited PTO? Well behind them.

For RVers like Norm, keeping things flexible is key.

10. Go your own way

The pandemic crystallized things for Kim Kelly Stamp , 65, and her wife Liz Schick, 62, who left it all behind and decided to travel around the country in a red 21-foot teardrop trailer. They’ve since gotten really good at going with the flow. “We know where we’re going to stay along the way, but we hold that really loosely and give ourselves the opportunity to make something else happen,” explains Stamp. This approach led them to Laurel, Mississippi, where the HGTV show Hometown —of which Stamp and Schick are big fans of, is based. Instead of following a regimented schedule, they followed their passion when the road forked, literally.

11. Keep an open heart and mind

In spite of being seasoned travelers, John and Bev Martin, 60, who started the RetirementTravelers site to share their journey with others, admit they still need to remind themselves that they can’t control everything. “We have to be patient and receptive to the lessons the world is trying to teach,” says the couple. One that keeps coming up? “Retirement is not the time to stop dreaming about new and different routes in life.”

12. Do your research

The Gumports appreciate getting a taste of the local culture wherever they are traveling, and they’re not opposed to tours or experiences that deliver on this front. But Bonni has a few words of advice: “If you’re looking at purchasing something that uses words such as ‘bespoke, artisanal, farm-to-table’ and more fluffy adjectives, make sure these experiences are as authentic as they sound.” Read reviews thoroughly and take the time to research before you buy, advises Bonni. It's fun to be spontaneous, but it's easy to be misled by clever marketing and buzzwords.

13. It’s a marathon—not a sprint

It wasn’t long before Brenda Huyhn adopted—and adapted— a popular van-lifer rule: Don’t travel more than 3 hours, get in by 3 p.m., and stay at least 3 nights. Huyhn, who at 47 retired earlier than many, is adamant about not trying to do too much in one day to avoid burnout. She and her husband take their time, prioritizing “quality over quantity” with their stops and stays. It makes the entire experience all the richer.

14. You can always head home

Diana Petterson is on track to hit the 100-country mark just in time for her 70th birthday in 2026. But as much as the Black solo traveler loves seeing the world, she’s not afraid to ditch a trip if something isn’t working out. “Wherever I am in the world, if for whatever reason I am uncomfortable, or I don't feel well … I’m going to plop down that credit card , and get home.”

15. Start the day early to avoid the crowds

Artist Simma Liebman, 76, enjoys going to museums while visiting new cities and places. But since the retiree is immunocompromised, she plans these outings a little differently. Now Liebman hits the museums “as early in the day as possible” and masks up while taking in the art "unless there are very few people inside.” Whatever your motivation, rising early is something you can be sure the hordes of 20-something backpackers won't be doing. Beat them to all the best spots.

“I like a very good hotel, but not necessarily the best,” says Betty. Focus on getting the right location.

16. Base yourself strategically

Betty, 80, an art collector who declined to share her last name, has found that mid-sized hotels (meaning about 200 rooms) in central locations, with just enough of the services she wants and needs, do the job. “I like a very good hotel, but not necessarily the best,” says Betty. As long as you have the basics covered, it's really about location, location, location.

17. Don’t wait for tomorrow

Instead of putting off travel for a later date, Chicago -based Ruthie Maldonado-Delwiche advises those interested in exploring the world to get out there and “do it now.” Because “tomorrow isn’t promised,” Maldonado-Delwiche, who’s been traveling since she retired in 2017, says. Don't wait if there’s something you want to do or a place you want to visit.

Former psychiatrist Ann Heaslett, 60, who aims to run the six major world marathons in her retirement, feels exactly the same way. “There’s no time like the present.”

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Nurse explains why she’s not afraid of dying, and why you shouldn’t be either.

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A hospice nurse has revealed why you shouldn’t be scared of dying by detailing everything that happens to you in the lead-up to your death.

Julie McFadden, 41, is a registered nurse based in LA who has built a social media following of millions by sharing insights to help destigmatize the end-of-life process.

In a recent YouTube video titled “why you shouldn’t be afraid of dying”, the health expert – who specializes in hospice care – explained the body has built-in mechanisms that “shut off” when you’re about to die to make the process “peaceful.”

“I’m not afraid of death and here’s the science behind it, our body biologically helps us die, so here is what I’ve seen and learned as a hospice nurse over the years – our body is literally built to die,” she said.

The hospice nurse revealed that bodies began to slowly shut down in the six months leading up to death, stating a person nearing death would start “eating less, drinking less, and sleeping more.”

“Why is that happening? Because calcium levels in the body are going up and because calcium levels are going up the person is getting sleepier,” she clarified.

“Biologically, when the body knows it’s getting towards the end of life those mechanisms shut off, so the person does not usually feel hungry and does not usually feel thirsty, which is helping the body slowly shut down.”

She then explained the reason death seems so confronting to loved ones is because our perception is skewed to that of a healthy person, when in reality, the dying one is not usually suffering.

“You’re seeing what they’re going through and because we’re not in a dying body, it can feel really scary, and you think ‘that must feel bad’.

“But when someone is in that dying body, it is a different shift, because not eating, not drinking feels natural.”

Nurse McFadden added that death caused by certain diseases or injuries were different, as it could make death more uncomfortable, the dying in itself wasn’t painful.

“There are times when the disease that the person is experiencing can cause symptoms and it’s more difficult because they’re dying from a certain disease, but the actual process that the body is going through to help it die is actually helping that person,” she shared.

She went on to state that many times during her care of a dying patient she’s not had to administer pain meds because “they were perfectly comfortable”, adding that death itself was even “comforting” because when you’re about to take your last breath, your body releases endorphins.

“The body slowly goes into something called ketosis, which releases endorphins. In that person’s body those endorphins dull pain, dull nerves, and they also give that person a euphoric sense, so they feel good,” she said.

“There are many reasons why I don’t fear death… [including] biological, metabolical, and physiological things that happen in the body that truly, truly comforted me.”

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