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Subtlety has never been my strong suit. Clearly writing normal-length blog posts also eludes me (this one’s a doozy, sorry in advance).
Little known fact about me, I LOVE pep talks! I hate getting them, but I love giving them. Prepare to be pepped.
There is just something about me that makes people want to spill all their thoughts and feelings. I should have been a therapist that way I could afford to pay my bills on time and not be living with my parents. From break-ups and make-ups to quarter life crises to following your dreams, I got you covered.
But my specialty? Encouraging and inspiring people to move abroad and travel the world. Everyone needs a little pushing and prodding in the right direction. Some people even need a giant kick in the ass to get out the door, even me. It took two awful break ups to stop being a weenie and start following my travel dreams.
Moral of the story: don’t be a weenie.
In all seriousness, think hard, really hard. Do you REALLY want to travel? Is moving abroad on your life to-do list? Do you NOT get to travel as much as you would like for some reason? Is that reason MONEY? What is holding you back from your travel dreams?
75 percent of young Americans say that they wish they could travel more but don’t really mean it (I just made that up). My point is to be honest with yourself first and foremost and think about your priorities. Is travel important enough to you that you are willing to make some other sacrifices in your life to make it happen?
I get way too many messages from people asking travel advice, and I also get way too many backhanded remarks saying the dreaded “I wish I could travel like you do.”
I HATE THAT COMMENT SO MUCH! God, it kills me every time I hear it!
Newsflash people, you totally can!
But don’t say it if you don’t mean it! Have you violated border control and thus have been banned from every country in the world? Are you in the hospital or in jail? Are you trapped in a war-torn country and are physically being detained and cannot leave? Are you indebted to the Mafia and are so poor you can’t even buy ramen? If your answer is E: none of the above, then can it.
Of course there are many smaller reasons that keep people from traveling as much as they would like, like families, relationships and money, but let me tell you, you can work around that IF traveling is a priority for you, IF being the operative word. Let me tell you, there is a big fat difference between CAN’T and WON’T when it comes to traveling.
So here are the 10 most common excuses I hear about why people don’t travel, and my 10 reasons why they are complete BS and why ANYONE can go travel the world if they really want to:
Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
1. “I can’t afford to travel; I don’t have any money.”
Boom, if I had a dime for every time I heard this whopper I would have a lot of dimes. Let’s go back to the priorities question. Is traveling a legitimate priority for you, or just a whim? I’ll fill you in on a big secret: if you really want to travel or live abroad at some point in your life, it’s totally possible, no matter how broke you are IF you make it a priority.
Nothing makes me angrier (exaggeration) than someone wearing $150 furry boots who drives a new car and has the newest iPhone tell me “I wish I could travel more but I can’t afford it.” BS missy! It’s called prioritizing your expenses. How badly do you want to go to Paris? Do you want it more than a shopping spree, a new phone, or dinner and drinks out with your friends?
Most of us aren’t lucky enough to be trust fund babies, and we have to make our own way in the world which means we have to pick and choose our expenditures. Cut out something you don’t care a lot about and save up for the trip of your dreams, whether it takes 1 month of saving or 1 year, it’s all up to you and you can make it happen.
Here are some inspiring money-saving posts:
- Twenty-Something Travel: How I Saved 20K in Less Than 2 Years
- Adventurous Kate: How I saved $13,000 for Travel in Just 7 Months
- Forbes: How I Saved Enough to Travel the World for 5 Years
- Boots n All: 28 Ways to Save Money for Traveling
- Never Ending Voyage: How We Saved 75% of Our Income to Travel
- Nomadic Matt: 20 Ways to Cut Your Expenses, Grow Your Bank Balance, and Have Money for Travel
*See more below*
Ollantaytambo, Peru
2. “I don’t have anyone to travel with, and I am too nervous to travel alone.”
Personally, I love traveling alone. It is pure freedom and you don’t have to worry about the wants and needs of other people; you can do whatever you want without compromise. I’m inherently very selfish so this is perfect for me. But realistically, I know that’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
However, don’t let the fear of going alone keep you from following your travel dreams. Not going somewhere you really want to go to because you can’t find a travel companion is just plain STUPID. All caps.
Grow a pair. Are you really that dependent?
The great thing about traveling is that you meet a ton of people and it’s easy to make friends. Everyone is outside their comfort zones and usually pretty happy, so I find I meet people without even trying. There are great communities for people traveling online too (like couchsurfers, even if you aren’t couchsurfing), and if you want to move abroad, there are usually expat groups around town that schedule meet ups. And don’t forget us bloggers, we are veritable social butterflies. People ask to meet me all the time when they come to Spain, though I usually say no because they are 50 year old men. Use sound judgment, ladies, and always carry a rape whistle (personal motto-patent pending).
Otherwise look into organized tours around the world. That is one of the best ways to travel and not be alone. Companies like G Adventures and Intrepid Travel cater towards a younger, hipper crowd so you won’t be stuck on a bus with a bunch of old people. I guarantee if you book a tour alone, you will come home with a dozen new best friends, not to mention the experience of a lifetime.
Because when you travel alone, you are never really alone.
Timanfaya National Park, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain
3. “I’m afraid my boyfriend will break up with me.”
Newsflash, honey-bun, if your boyfriend (or significant other) will break up with you because you want to travel, it’s not meant to be.
Ouch! I know how hard it is to hear it when people say “I know how you feel, I’ve been there,” but in this case it’s true, I really know how it feels because I’ve been there myself. Twice. In my 24 years I’ve walked, stumbled and roamed my way around the planet, I have had two separate boyfriends tell me they don’t want to be with someone traveling or living abroad. That is something really awful to go through.
How do you make that choice? Love versus travel? Honestly, I believe you shouldn’t even have to make that choice at all. When it’s truly the right person and at the right time in your life, it won’t matter where you are living or where you are going. Either they will come with you or you will make it work long distance. Those are just details. If someone is willing to end a relationship over travel, that’s really shitty, they are not worth being in your life. End of story.
Trust me (again) you will regret it if you give up your dreams for someone else. Maybe not at first but it will turn bitter and sour and probably eventually ruin a relationship. I have seen this happen with several friends. How many people regret NOT traveling? Millions. How many regret traveling? None. Unless you get malaria or something.
In Cappadocia, Turkey. This is not my quote but I can’t figure out who coined it. Help?!
4. “Traveling is so expensive.”
Let me fill you in on a little secret: the world is also not as expensive as you think it is.
There is a prevalent (totally wrong) idea, at least in the US, that travel is a great luxury and is very costly. Don’t get me wrong, it can certainly be expensive but it is nowhere what people believe it to be, especially if you plan right. There are dozens of discount sites to help you plan an affordable vacation, and like with everything in life, there is a huge range of expenses you can incur. Sites I use and love: for sleeping: Couchsurfing, Hostelworld and Booking.com and for flying: Skyscanner and Kayak.
For example, travel blogger Nomadic Matt has recently published a book called How to Travel the World on $50 a Day. That may seem like a lot but it’s actually not if you really think about it. $50 a day = $18,250 for a year’s worth of traveling the world. I am guessing that most people who work full time earn more than this, so for example if you were to squirrel away as much as possible, I bet you could save that amount in two years or less if you were dedicated.
Of course that is if you want to take a year off to travel the world indefinitely. If you want to move abroad and work, it would be much less, and many people just want to plan a trip for 10 days to a month, which is so much less, and depending on where you’re going and what time of the year, it can be incredibly cheap.
5. “I don’t have time to travel.”
Make time to travel then. You have more time than you think.
Easier said than done, I understand. America is a hot mess when it comes to vacation time. We get totally shafted compared to the rest of the world, and there is this perverse mentality that you live to work instead of the other way around. If you are in a job where you are stuck with limited vacation days, do what you can to maximize the time you do get.
I’m in the most white-bread boring cookie cutter corporate job at the moment, and I get 10 days paid vacation plus 10 paid company holidays plus 5 days sick leave a year. I think this is pretty standard. If you really want to travel, try not to use a day here and there, and instead save up and group them together. For example when I went to Turkey, I had a Monday off for President’s Day, then I only had to use 4 days of my own vacation time, I flexed in the week before so I had half a day on Friday for time to catch a red-eye flight to Germany giving me a nice 10 day trip in Turkey with leftover days to spare. Try to arrange your trips around holidays to save on vacation time.
6. “Traveling is dangerous.”
Ha.Ha.Ha. This would be funny if I didn’t hear it so goddamn often (MOM). Of course traveling is dangerous, EVERYTHING is dangerous nowadays. But is traveling MORE dangerous than staying at home? Not really. The world isn’t as scary as we are led to believe.
This idea is really predominant in the United States. For some reason, there persists a strong feeling of xenophobia among Americans, which is incredibly ironic considering we are country made up almost entirely of immigrants! We as a country are afraid of the rest of the world. Why? Someone please enlighten me!
Statistically speaking, we have some of of the highest murder rates in the world, along with Central America. If I weren’t American, I would be afraid to come to America! Personally speaking, I am not afraid traveling around other countries alone as a young women, as when I have to walk to my car at night outside Washington D.C.
Just the other night I was waiting on an empty metro train minding my own business when two SKETCH guys came in and sat down next to me and tried to hit on me and touch my leg. As I am a lady (most of the time) I will not repeat what they said to me here. I mean these dudes were SCARY. They had face tattoos. And not tribal face tattoos either. I listen to Lil’ Wayne, I know a thug when I see one. I was out of that train car faster than a knife fight in a phone booth. Convinced I had narrowly avoided getting shot, mugged, or gangbanged, or all three, I spent the rest of the train ride hyperventilating several cars down with one hand on my pepper spray the other on my cell phone. Sometimes I forget just how sketchy DC can be. But my point is that I just spent 2 years abroad traveling the world, and that moment on the metro was the most scared I’ve felt.
Aswan, Egypt
Pot calling the kettle black, America. You should not be calling other countries “dangerous,” especially when you have several cities on the list of highest murder rates in the world.
For example, when I told people I was traveling to Egypt after the Revolution or Turkey after the bombing of the US Embassy, many of my close friends and family told me I was crazy and urged me to cancel my trips, which of course I didn’t. And I was right. It’s important to realize the difference between “dangerous” destinations and “unlucky” destinations. If you take precautions and are a smart traveler, why should it be considered riskier than anything else?
Just avoid Mexico and Detroit and you should be fine.
7. “I can’t travel because of my student loans.”
Of course we all have unexpected expenses and obligations, but even with them, you can still budget in a trip or two if you really want to. I think I am a pretty good example because I have almost 6 figures in student loan debt (shit, I can’t believe I admitted that publicly. No one is going to want to marry me now). Not to sound like a total douche, but I haven’t met that many people my age who could top that.
Most of my loans are flexible but I have a massive one with Sallie Mae that has been strangling me since 2009, BUT I make it part of my budget. When I first decided to move to Spain, one of the deciding factors was that I would be given the official status of “student” meaning I could defer my loans. Some of them accumulated interest but for me, it was worth it to get to live in Spain, and what was a thousand dollars or so when you already owe $90,000+?
Of course that doesn’t mean that everyone should defer or put their loans in forbearance, but it is an option, and there are ways in which you can still travel, even long term, and deal with heavy loan debt. If you are saving for a big trip over several months or so, you can budget in your monthly loan repayment – that is what I am doing now. Other options include consolidating or lowering your monthly payments. I have a full post dedicated on how to deal with student loans while in Spain. There are options out there, don’t feel trapped or feel like you can’t travel because you have a ton of student loan debt.
8. “I have a food allergy”
Ok, this isn’t the most common excuse, but it’s one I hear quite a lot since I travel with a life-threatening food allergy and I’ve started writing about it; somehow I have become the poster child for food allergies, not exactly what I would like to be known for but meh, fine I guess. Check out my story about how Dublin almost killed me.
Caption contest! At the original Starbucks in Seattle, WA
Many people feel that they can’t travel because of their food allergy or illness, and I get a surprising amount of emails asking for tips and advice, along with even more from angry moms berating me for being a bad influence on their kids.
Even if you have a life-threatening allergy you can still travel if you plan ahead and are smart about it. Research the country you are going to and their foods and don’t eat food you don’t see prepared if you are nervous it might come in contact with what you are allergic to. The rest of the world doesn’t care about lawsuits or food contamination like the US, so when in doubt, say no. Don’t be an idiot like me and make sure you travel with at least two Epi-pens if necessary along with Benadryl. I’ve even started traveling with food allergy translation cards and photos of peanuts to show people in case I can’t communicate properly.
Don’t let a food allergy keep you from traveling.
9. “I have kids.”
Ok you got me there. Not only do I not have kids, but I don’t even think about having for at least 5 years.This personal belief of mine was firmly reaffirmed last weekend when I spent 5 minutes in the family bathroom at Macy’s. Hell. No. Times. A. Billion.
I have met plenty of parents who have told me they wish they could have traveled like me when they were my age but then they had kids. Shaking their heads, they almost always say, “do it while you’re young and you still can.” Honestly, that mentality is not reassuring and is far from convincing me that I want to have a family and grow up any time soon.
Call me naive, but I really hope the day I start popping out kids is NOT the day I throw my passport away. Parents can travel with kids and not be rich, right? It all goes back to priorities and not viewing traveling as a major “luxury.” Travel is as expensive as you make it. I know of plenty of family travel blogs out there, and they make it work somehow. So instead of springing for that fancy summer beach house, why not rent a campervan in New Zealand instead?
I’m determined to be one of those cool moms who takes her kids on adventures every summer, and probably make them go to school abroad. But I will never wear mom pants. Or Tevas. Or fannypacks. Ever.
10. “…”
I’m leaving this one up to you guys. What’s the best, funniest, most innovating excuse you’ve heard for why people don’t travel and why you think it’s crap.
*More inspiring money-saving blog posts:
- How I Financed My Career Break – Katie Going Global
- 20 Tips to Save $1,000 per Month for Your RTW – GloboTreks
- 5 Ways We Saved over $30,000 in 12 Months for Our RTW Trip – Don’t Ever Look Back
- How We Saved Enough Money to Travel the World – Pause the Moment
- 20 Ways to Save Money Now for Your Career Break or Trip Later - Practical Adventurology
- 10 Tips on How to Save for Travel – Ordinary Traveler
Bovec, Slovenia
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youngadventuress
I love this post, and so many of them are true. When we made the decision to leave, we were both turning away from big career moves and a city we loved living in – but we both knew that travelling would be worth every second of that hard decision we had to make. Sure we had to work hard, save and then give up jobs we adored… but the grass is just as green once you’re travelling, just in a very different way.
I would’ve hated it if I had not gone travelling – because I can’t imagine myself ever having a bigger regret. And I guess there is no better time than right now. xx
Exactly! Sounds like you guys made the right decision at the right time, it can be so hard but it’s almost always worth it
We are 100000% on the same wavelength about everything. Even the few dollars short of 6 figures of student loans. I have a heart thing that makes me faint instead of a food allergy, but you get the point. And there is nothing that irks me more than people who always whine about not being able to travel and tend to always make snide or passive-agressive comments about how I’ve traveled a lot, and yet have never made a real effort to travel when they drop hundreds of dollars a month on their paycheck and just bought a new car. This is especially irritating after going to places like Ghana this summer, where some of the friends I made there are dying to travel but either don’t have the financial means, or were denied tourist visas, because so many countries (like the USA) deny them to pretty much anyone who’s not an EU/USA/UK citizen.
The worst excuse (actually not funny at all, and it wasn’t even really an excuse) that I’ve gotten is, when a roommate a few years ago told me flat out, “I really have no interest or don’t really care about other countries. I’ll just go to Epcot.”. Alllllllrighty then…..
oops, incomplete thought! I meant to say “drop hundreds of dollars of their paycheck a month on clothing”
Totally agree! Especially about the part about people in other countries who can’t travel that would like to.
>>Just avoid Mexico and Detroit and you should be fine.<<
Ouch. it really surprises me to hear you categorize the entire country of Mexico as something to avoid.
I've never been to Detroit, so can't speak for it. but I used to live a few miles from Camden, New Jersey and that place was really bad (and think it's only gotten worse). but still, Detroit isn't a reason to avoid Michigan, right? (i have no idea what is in Michigan to see, but that's not the point)
Have you been to Mexico and had a bad experience?
I've been living in Mexico (in the state of Puebla) for almost six months now. I'm from New York, I've lived in Jersey, Philly, Paris, LA, NYC, Florence, Amsterdam, and spent long stretches of time in other random areas.
I've never felt unsafe in Mexico. I'm not saying that there aren't unsafe areas – there are. And you have to take that into consideration when traveling, and everyone who lives here knows that. But most Mexicans that aren’t from those dangerous areas (which are almost totally in the north, ie: ciudad de Juarez) wouldn’t want to go there either.
Most of my Philly friends have a story about being mugged, witnessing a murder, getting their house/car broken into, etc. I can’t say the same for my Mexican friends in Puebla (which is the 4th largest city in Mexico at about 1.5-2 million people). I’ve never been harassed in Puebla the way I used to be in Paris, etc etc. I’ve traveled fairly extensively since I’ve been living here – all through Oaxaca State, over to Veracruz, all over Mexico City, beaches, cities, towns… and nothing has ever happened. Not only that, nothing has ever felt like it would happen. that doesn’t mean I don’t stay alert, I do.
I know people rely on your blog for good advice, and I find a lot of what you write to be entertaining. I don’t think it’s wrong of people to ask “is is safe to travel through Mexico?” before they go. But it isn’t okay to compare the entire country of Mexico to Detroit in the same sentence. as you mentioned above about certain US cities, I feel way safer in Puebla, Mexico City, Querétaro (all big cities in different Mexican states) than I have in Philly, DC, or certain parts of New Jersey and LA.
Ok, now going back to read the rest of your post. Hope one day you can make it to Mexico and explore for yourself!
You’re totally right Tami, but come on, I was being sarcastic
If everyone took what I said literally, everyone would hate me haha
I was simply referring to the fact that they have the highest murder rates in the world, that’s why I linked it. It certainly wouldn’t deter me from going but for other first timers who are concerned about “safe” countries, they might want to start out somewhere “less” dangerous. Statistically speaking, you have a much lower chance of getting shot in Spain than you do in Mexico or the US.
DON’T HATE ME TAMI!
I’m from the D (well, in a nice bubble suburb) but i even tell my students how bad it is! Totally made me laugh
I got robbed in Valencia the first day I went out on my own. I ve NEVER felt unsafe in Mexico. Funny huh?
I lived in Seville and I hope to move back to Spain. I’ve never been robbed anywhere (I’m from the Southside of Chicago, my mom is from Brooklyn and her father was a cop, I feel like I know all the “tricks” to greatly lessen my chances of ever getting robbed), but I admit that Spanish thieves are sneaky at times. I’m naturally quite distrusting of people, so I’m especially cautious as to criminals, but the stories I’ve heard about people who were robbed in Spain are something else. A friend of my sister’s got her Blackberry stolen on a train in Barcelona, someone took it while she was listening to music and left her headphones, so she apparently didn’t notice right away
Highest murder rate in the world recently changed to Honduras! not that it’s something to celebrate…. but yeah, living here you get to stay updated on the latest stats. Ciudad Juarez is now number 2 according to this article: http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/10/15/mexicos-ciudad-juarez-is-no-longer-the-most-violent-city-in-the-world/.
I didn’t get the sarcasm the first time I read it as a *lot* of people think that the entire (huge) country of Mexico is all murders and violence, and it’s a shame. I guess I hear it said so often in seriousness I didn’t pick up on the sarcasm?
anyway, if anyone wants tips on traveling to Mexico (even as a first timer), I’m happy to advise. when I was learning spanish here I met a bizarre amount of quite young (early 20′s) and older people (60+) who were here on their first trip ever out of the US.
I don’t hate you.
I like reading your stuff, it reminds me of being 24 (I’m 33 now) and traveling around. I like the way you live your life and think you set a good example for other young travelers – by the time I got to the end of your post I was more shocked by your student loan debt amount than the mexico comment. 
I’m sure that would bother me too, I hate it when people say things like “Egypt is dangerous” when it’s not really, especially if you have to go around defending. I know people in San Pancho who love it there, and I’m sure most tourists and travelers aren’t going to be going to the places with the most problems, even within those cities they probably will avoid the areas known for having problems.
Having said that, Mexico isn’t entirely innocent, 11 of the top 50 cities with highest murder rates in the entire world are in Mexico, that’s huge, no matter how big the country is, and it can’t be ignored. Juarez might not be number 1 but they are still number 2, and I even though I am a very seasoned traveler, I would really think hard about going there and take a lot of precautions if I did. I’m all about breaking down stereotypes but the stats don’t lie and there’s a also a big difference between crimes like theft and harassment and murder and violence. It’s a toughie, no doubt about it, but I would never tell someone DON’T go to Mexico. I’m just really sarcastic when I write, I hope most of my readers know that about me and take it with a grain of salt.
Do you have a blog? I would love to hear more about your experiences in Mexico!
I have a blog I haven’t updated in years that mostly pertains to living in Amsterdam, but I’m going to be the country curator for Mexico – I start on Sunday. I think here and there about starting a blog again because I find that most mexico blogs are too “everything is great la la la sun beaches people beer food food food food food beauty nature” (ok, the food part is absolutey amazing). and sure, that’s part of Mexico. but just like all the violent stuff, it’s not all there is. I do love the way Angelynia writes about Mexico and other parts of Latin America, I’d recommend her blog to anyone that wants to quit their job and travel around this part of the world.
Another ridiculously good post! Your blog is my favourite travel one – don’t stop it anytime soon
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YAY! Happy dance, thanks so much Anna, you just made my morning
I LAUGHED all of the way through this – so you! So true! My favorite excuse for a friend not taking me up on a flight from Seville-Croatia for $100 r/t? “I have to have lunch with most host mom.” PEACE, chiki, I went myself and had a wonderful five-day trip. People.
that’s crazy, I will never understand some people
I’ve been told. “why would you want to live/go there? I have everything i could want or need here in the US.” possibly so but if you have never visited a place how exactly do you know what they have to offer? Sure you can read about a place but…
I knew living in Florida left something to be desired but I didn’t know what exactly until i came to Spain and visited other places. it’s the walk-ability of a town or city, the slower pace, things not offered at your favorite big box store back home.
EXACTLY!!
I loved the walkability of Seville, I could get essentially anywhere I needed to go with relative ease. Where I live in the U.S., not having a car/access to reliable transportation is pretty torturous.
This was great! I battled with many of these exact excuses for myself for over a year and am finally deciding to make the jump and go teach and live in Spain. I couldn’t be happier either! I hope people who are considering traveling do seriously read this and take it to heart, as I know it will help them make their decision.
Thanks mike! I’m so glad you found the encouragement to go abroad
you will love Spain 
Wow! You are really taking your blog to the next level. Awesome post Liz! Congrats
Thanks Pau
Oh my god. This could not have come at a more perfect time. I was JUST chatting (arguing) with a friend who says he’d “love to travel, but just doesn’t have the money.” That just drives me crazy! You’re so right. It’s all about priorities. I don’t have a lot of “nice things,” and I can’t afford to go to a bar every weekend, but I am MORE than willing to sacrifice those commodities in exchange for putting an extra $20 in my travel fund.
Number 4 really hits home. This past winter, I left DC to backpack through Spain and Brazil for 4 months. Lots of my friends asked how I could afford it, and my response — I can’t afford NOT to go. I work as a tour guide half the year, and thus make my annual income in those 6 months. If I stayed in DC, there is NO WAY I could have financially survived through the winter. I love this city but it is way too expensive. Backpacking, on the other hand, is not. Granted, I’m in all sorts of debt not that my travels are over, but still…it would have been much worse had I stayed here. And only to spend it on what? Happy hours and an overpriced gym membership? I’ll take Brazil over that any day.
Oh and the 10th most common excuse I hear? “I need to focus on my career — such and such company looks down on frivolous travel escapades.”
That one makes me want to shoot myself in the foot.
I hate that! It’s like why should it be either or? SO unfair!
I want your job btw! I’m living in DC at the moment
“Granted, I’m in all sorts of debt not that my travels are over, but still…it would have been much worse had I stayed here. And only to spend it on what? Happy hours and an overpriced gym membership?”
Exactly. I understand that we all need to make a living, but we also should really think about what our priorities are and what we’re spending our money on. A good friend of mine lived in DC for a few years (HATED it) and when she told me what her salary was, and how much her rent was, it’d seemed crazy. I told her it is a shame that someone earning that salary NEEDS to have roommates.
Ten days vacation?! Jesus, I didn’t realise how hard you Americans have it!
I’ve never felt so lucky to be British with our cooshy 4 weeks or whatever of annual leave.
I can’t think of any travel excuses that do my head in, but one thing that annoys me is when friends and family say “oh you’re so lucky to be doing what you’re doing…” luck has bugger all to do with it! OK, I was lucky enough to be born in a day and age where working remotely is possible, and born in a country where I was privileged enough to find those opportunities.
But actually stumbling upon a few ways to make money remotely, and discovering house sitting? That wasn’t lucky, that’s called research. You make your own luck!
Great post, btw.
Guuurl, it SUCKS! I couldn’t agree with you more! Luck doesn’t have anything to do with it except that we are lucky to born into cultures where we can travel the world whenever we want and have freedom! Anything else is the result of hard work!
Excellent EXCELLENT post!
My #10 would be what someone kind of mentioned above in the comments… “Why would I go there… Amurika iz the best!” (like my uncle) Obviously they haven’t been to any other country. But for people as close-minded as that, well, I don’t want you gallivanting around the world preaching America-centricism anyway! Maybe they would change their minds if they saw a different culture, but honestly, probably not.
As for traveling with family/kids, I can’t wait to travel with my future children. So many family travel blogs have convinced me that it’s totally possible and really one of the best options for teaching kids about, well, everything! This is one of my favorites about a family with 5 children and one in a wheelchair! http://www.goinganyway.net
I hate that too! I’m like, America is cool and all but the best? There is so much more out there!
Incredibly inspirational, and covers just about everything I want to tell people when they bring up the excuses mentioned above. I am literally weeks away from heading off on a 6-month backpacking adventure, and you wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve heard exactly what you’ve written up.
Thank you immensely for writing this up, it’s been a pleasure to read!
-Will
thanks Will, so glad we are on the same page!!
Great list.
So true about the significant others! If it’s meant to be, it will be and if not, well heck, just means their is someone EVEN better for you! Can be hard to believe in the moment but one of those things you just have to trust!
It’s so hard in the moment, I know, even now thinking back on it, but ultimately it was the right choice!
Oh, Liz. This post. I want to email this post to all the people I’ve ever encountered that have told me the most frustrating excuse in the world: “I can’t afford to travel.” It’s complete and utter BS. I afford to travel because I sacrifice to travel. I go without. Just like anyone would to, say, buy a new pair of ridiculously expensive shoes. You sacrifice in other areas to afford other areas. That is how you afford, people! As frustrating as it is, I’ve learned that people choose what to spend their money on. Don’t give me some petty excuse that you don’t have the money to travel because you simply choose to spend your money on something else. You can afford it. You want something, you make it happen. Off soapbox now…:-)
Girl you’re on fire. This was my favorite line “Just avoid Mexico and Detroit and you should be fine.” And what kills me the most are the people that just don’t have the desire, period.
I know, i hate that so much! Glad you liked that line. It seems to have resonated with people and they either loved it or hated it haha.
I’ve been following your blog/instagram/etc for over a year now, ever since I applied for the auxiliares program (and I’ve stolen quite a few ideas from you too– can’t wait to bike ride through Giverny in May) and I feel like I should comment finally because I have to agree with you (unfortunately) about Mexico. It seems like a lot of people disagree with your comment, and as much as I want to disagree as well, I can’t.
I wanted to study abroad SO BADLY in Mexico in 2011 for a short summer program. My parents and family freaked out and did everything they could to stop me. I refused, I said “Nope, y’all don’t know what you’re talking about, I’m going.” So I printed and filled out the application from ISA (Study broad company) and brought it to school to submit.
I sat down and told the counselor what I wanted and handed over the application. She looked it over and said, “While we can’t stop you from going, you will have to sign some paperwork stating that you understand the risk of traveling to and within Mexico, releasing the university from any liability or responsibility. We can’t stop you but we strongly recommend picking another country.” When she said that, I realized that coupled with the news articles about Mexico I had been reading that it probably isn’t a good idea right now. I have big dreams about going to Mexico one day, it has been a dream of mine for at least six years, but it will still be there later- and hopefully safer to visit. I went to Peru instead.
Anyway, I love your blog- it’s so full of great suggestions I’d never have thought about it. I’d really like to hot air balloon one day, it never even crossed my mind! I’ll probably e-mail this article to my parents if I end up staying in Spain for another year.
Did any of the people giving you those warnings ever spend time in Mexico? Where were you planning to do your program? Again, I really and truly get the concern from your family and school but Mexico is a huuuuuuuuge country.
If it’s your dream to visit Mexico, I can tell you truly and honestly I have been either traveling and/or living here for over 6 months with zero incidents. I haven’t even seen anything unsettling, really. I did hear of one girl (that used to go to my spanish school) who got her wallet stolen on a bus but so far that’s about it.
Should you decide to ever go to Mexico but are intimated by the size or rumors of unsafe conditions in Mexico City, I would really recommend Puebla. Puebla has everything normal cities have, but it’s a zillion times more relaxed and calm than Mexico City (and it’s only 2 hours away). Mexico isn’t for everyone of course, but it’s a shame to skip over it due to safety reasons if you do really and truly want to go. Feel free to get in touch with me if you ever want tips or advice.
I can tell you my problems with mexico have to do more with the crappy conditions of the roads, the barking dogs, the seedy politics, the lack of anything running on a schedule, the class system and wealth divide between rich and poor, and the very sad situation of seeing homeless kids in the street. but unfortunately what I just described exists throughout all of Latin America.
Thanks for sharing this Jenn! I hope you get to make it to Mexico one day if that’s your dream
Peru can be just as unsafe as Mexico. My parents are terrified of Latin America, but frankly, we’re from Chicago (the Southside, in the suburbs)…we have a higher murder rate now than Mexico City, and my area personally now has some rampant rabid coyote problem. When I lived in Central Illinois to go to college, I know a couple young white men (I’m a young black woman) who were mugged and beaten, so really something horrible can happen to you anywhere, just be cautious.
I had read many of the points you brought up in this post across the blogosphere when I was making the decision to study abroad 2 years a go and to work in Spain last year, but it was great to see them all in one place *and* to be reminded of them, too. Lately I’ve been afraid I’ll have to “enter the workplace” (whatever that means) when my 2 or 3 years in Spain are up…but there are so many places I have left to see! This was a good wake up call to keep my priorities in order.
For #10 I would (in all seriousness) put the language barrier. Traveling throughout Spain has been SO much easier being able to speak Spanish, much much easier than in France. I’m actually really intimidated about Morocco for this reason (yet still going nevertheless!!). I feel like English-speakers probably have it easy since English has become the language of tourism, and you can communicate a lot through gestures, but not being able to communicate, to me, seems like a big hurdle. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic, Liz, especially since you just got back from Turkey, have been to Egypt, and traveled across multilingual Europe.
I should write more about that! I always try to learn a bunch of key words before going somewhere, it makes a world of difference and people are much more willing to help you if you make some semblance of an effort. OF course it backfired in Egypt and Morocco because all the men were like, OMG a western blondie who knows some arabic, my dreams have come true!
seriously, don’t be intimidated! Language barriers shouldn’t keep you from going somewhere, and when in doubt bring a mini picture dictionary!
Seriously, I don’t see how non-Spanish-speaking expats do it, it would have been torturous to not speak Spanish when I lived in Seville. My poor French and Italian helped me when I visited France and Italy too. Quite a few Moroccans are multilingual, I mainly spoke Spanish when I visited there (and some French in a pastry shop) lol.
Preach on. Every expat has heard the phrase, “I wish I could do what you do buuuuuut”… immediately followed by any of numbers 1-9. It’s such BS, it makes me crazy. One of my favorites was, “Well, what would I do with all of my stuff? I have a couch.”
Ummm, sell it? Store it? It’s a couch, not a child. Even if you love that couch, I promise that if you sell yours and travel for 5 years, when you come home, there will be another couch in a store somewhere that you like.
hahahaha what about my couch! That’s the best one I’ve heard!
Ok Young Adventuress … I confess you somewhat motivated me to book my next family vacation in Paris; but I confess, I am still a total homebody at heart. Excellent blog post here … but these 10 reasons aren’t why I don’t travel as much as I might. So why don’t I travel more?
Well, I’ve got excuse #11 (although it’s not really an excuse for me) … and it’s the same lesson Dorothy learned in the The Wizard of Oz …. “If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own back yard. Because if it isn’t there, I never really lost it to begin with! Is that right?” The quest of finding new adventures is not always external and far away places … but sometimes internal within yourself, sometimes a cycling adventure in a new part of the state, sometimes it’s a growth and appreciation of the people and places I already know , and sometimes it really all is in my own backyard.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvj85cOWD54
Or as Lao Tzu apparently said, “If you search everywhere, yet cannot find what you are seeking, it is because what you seek is already in your possession.”
So Dorothy, er…Young Adventuress, what say you to my reason #11 for not travelling so much?
I totally hear you and I know so many people who feel the same way! One of my best friends moved to Switzerland and literally she doesn’t leave ever because she has found her happiness and calling there and basically doesn’t think any country could be better. She is not wrong haha
I think the lessons you learn while traveling and the experiences you gain can only happen once you leave the comfort and happiness of life back home, even if it’s for just a few days. I think challenging yourself is important, especially for families. I know when I have kids I will take them traveling with me, what a great education for them, to see the world and realize that there is so much more than life in the US. People tend to forget that. Also, for me, the most pure feeling of joy comes from when I am traveling, and I always treasure my memories and sharing them with others. Even something different from the routine of normal life is good. it all depends if you have that desire within yourself to travel and see more of the world. Many people have it, few act on it.
I think you’ve made an amazing point and I don’t even know if I’ve begun to answer it haha.
If you don’t mind, can you tell me what she likes about Switzerland and what she is doing there? I’ve contemplated settling down there, and my dream organization to work for is based in Switzerland.
she’s married, otherwise I would be moving there too
I once ate nothing but an apple for breakfast, pb&j for lunch, and plain pasta for dinner… For three months! Just so I could afford to go to Cuba! Totally worth it too!
I convinced my father to meet me in Greece and then travel to Turkey, which he really did just cause I wanted to so badly (great dad). His biggest reasons against traveling in the past were the cost and not realizing what there was to see. Our fourth and final day in Athens changed that. When he got to the Parthenon, he was in awe! Wanted to travel more… Then it came time to pay the bill for the small, but adequate hotel (which for me was quite luxurious compared to some hostels, but I splurged for him), and that’s when he realized it isn’t that expensive to travel if you spend wisely. He’s planning future travel now! (And I’m so proud!)
And about Mexico, I’ve been told by a few people who have spent extensive time living and traveling in Mexico, and they all agree that now is not a good time to go. Of course, I’ve also decided to wait a bit longer before I go to Egypt too…
That’s so amazing! I really want to share my travel with my family but we’re not there yet
Hopefully one day. I loved hearing about your dad in Greece, that sounds so magical!!!
This is a great post and such a great motivator for me to start traveling again. It won’t happen for awhile though. I just started a new job and I’m still figuring my life out so it’s on the back burner for the next year or so.
But I will start traveling again eventually, I have no doubt about that. I will refer back to this post from time to time whenever I start freaking out about my life (which is on a daily basis haha).
However over the years I’ve realized travel is simply not for everyone. Some people may give these excuses because they may simply not want to admit they don’t want to travel. It’s not really considered cool to admit that if you think about it. While it may greatly perplex those of us who love to travel and discover new places, some people are just happy living in familiar surroundings near their family and friends they’ve known all their lives. And you know that, that is okay. Some people are simply afraid or just have no interest or what have you. Different strokes for different folks.
exactly, different strokes for different folks
I loved this – it took me 8 years to realise that I’ve actually already been following my love of travel since I was 18, all while doing what I was “supposed” to be doing… I went to university to do my BA at 18, 2000km from home, did a year of post grad in NZ, and then stayed as an expat and got a “real job” as a teacher, all while exploring a new and exciting part of the world. Started saving a year and a half ago, and now just months away from a big cross-Canada roadtrip and no plans to return to the mundane.
sounds awesome! How was NZ?
Great post – honestly told. I spent nearly two years prevaricating until I eventually took the plunge and started travelling long term. That was 15 months ago and myself and my partner are still travelling. There are a thousand reasons not to travel (physically or just outside your comfort zone) but probably 10,000 more reasons to take the plunge and do it.
Yay! So glad you took the plunge, and excellent use of the word ‘prevaricating’
Oh, the asinine excuses I hear of why people can’t travel. I’d be here writing a novel if I listed them all. If you want to travel, you’ll find a way. End of story.
yes, exactly
Excellent post! I was so so so guilty of numbers 2 and 3. And, as it sounds like you experienced, after one bad breakup, I said eff this and decided to study abroad my senior year in college. BEST DECISION EVER! I couldn’t agree with this list more. Travel really is whatever you make it– be it a long weekend to a new state or a semester-long adventure.
so true!
Well said Liz! This should be mandatory reading for all Americans graduating HS or College. Our whole lives it is beat into our heads – “HS->College->Work->Retire (travel)”. We begin to think this is the only path and it doesn’t help when everyone around us appears to be on it.
It would be great if young Americans knew that their quiet dreams of exploring abroad are not that crazy and are certainly within reach. A quick read of this post would help squash their fears and give them the confidence to temporarily leap off of the beaten path and experience the world!
So much passion in this post. I could feel the slap 10,000 miles away! When we posted our RTW video montage, some people commented, “Man I wish I had money like those Asian kids who must have rich parents. That’s the only way they could afford that.” Can you believe it? It’s not like it’s possible to work hard and save up. GrrRr
That would have pissed me off so much! It’s all about priorities! Great video BTW, that was awesome
You are so spot-on with all of these. I always here “but traveling so dangerous!” whenever I mention I’m going anywhere. My family spent weeks trying to convince to not go to Guatemala because “it’s all drugs and gangs”. Um, is it really? I happened to feel safer there than I do in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh. I also get the “but it’s so expensive!” thing a lot and yes, sometimes it can be but there are so many ways to travel cheaply and sometimes it’s even more affordable than living here.
broken record, people will never learn until they experience for themselves
Speak it sister friend! Unless you’re a trust fund baby, you’re gonna be broke in your mid twenties. Get the hell over it. Your phone bill is $110 per month, cable…probably $150. Rent…let’s go $600 per month…hostel in Thailand…about $6 a night.
You killed it with this one
Thanks Casey <3
While I think this was a great post, I think the reason most people don’t travel was mentioned at the beginning of your post. Because they don’t really want to. Unless they are absolutely poor, you can always travel. But travelling isn’t for everyone, and a lot of people just don’t want to admit that. I met up with a friend in Barce recently after she’d been travelling for 3 months, and she was happy to say she was completely over it. Which is fine, but I think some people are scared to tell themselves that, or think it’s uncool to want to settle down for a job etc instead. Which let’s be honest, there are many travel blogs out there which insinuate that it is uncool.
Exactly, you are definitely spot on. It’s totally fine if it’s not a priority for people. Being home with my family has made me think long and hard about this very topic. This post was more for the naysayers who want to go but just have excuses, or worse, are being fed excuses by others.
“I have met plenty of parents who have told me they wish they could have traveled like me when they were my age but then they had kids. Shaking their heads, they almost always say, “do it while you’re young and you still can.” Honestly, that mentality is not reassuring and is far from convincing me that I want to have a family and grow up any time soon.”
AMEN, sister. I understand that kids hinder your freedom, but damn. My dentist watched her sister’s 4 kids for a week and then their brother watched them for a week so the parents could go to London, a “once in a lifetime” opportunity. They also got some discounts of sorts to be able to go. How sad that a 2ish-week [European] vacation is something that only happens once-in-a-lifetime once you have children?
Honestly though, number one is my biggest hindrance to getting back to Spain and I HATE it because I don’t really need THAT much money. A few thousand dollars (to save up to do the Auxiliar program, most likely in Madrid through the Ministerio (inscrita #870) or possibly Beda) is not a lot when you’re focused on saving it. Right now I’m searching for work JUST to save up that money to hopefully go back this fall.
haha I love that you quoted me <3 It’s so hard to start the saving.
I adore you for this post, and I only just found your blog.
“You’re so lucky, I wish I could…” is just about the most annoying comment in the world. Everyone has their excuse for not traveling. In and of itself, this fine. Though I believe people should go out and see the world for themselves, backpacking, couchsurfing, etc. certainly isn’t for everyone. My biggest thing, however, is that not doing so shouldn’t allow for ignorance. That’s why I blog, to show parts of the world to people that they probably won’t see otherwise. We need to learn more about the world we live in, even if we aren’t willing to go out and see it ourselves.
Wahoooo <3 thanks girly!
I needed this pep talk! I’ve been living in Barcelona for 2.5 months, came here because of my husband’s job and our desire to live a different life for awhile. The initial honeymoon period/excitement of first moving here is over, and now reality is setting in so I’ve been a bit anxious/homesick. Reading this helped reaffirm why we came. Thanks Liz!
Thanks Erin! Yes, try to fall back in love with Barcelona, I know how you feel!
The ‘I have no money to travel’ always gets me! I am not a trust fund baby, either, but my main priority is to see the world. I save and I plan. Traveling has been my main dream since I can remember. I especially hate the excuse, ‘I would love to come visit you but I can’t because x, y, and z,’ that my friends always give me. They always tell me how jealous they are and how much the would love to but c’mon! If I can do it, so can anyone else. Trust me. I have been the the UK two and a half years and only one of my friends has ever come to visit. But the cool thing is, I have visited Uruguay, Honduras, England and lived in Scotland, Wales, and Argentina! Not just visited but actually lived/worked/studied/loved. Now I am going to do the auxiliary program in Spain so I get to add that to my list. I wouldn’t change any of those experiences. You’re right Liz, you just have to make it priority.
Also, people told me how dangerous South America was. Honestly, it was no worse than the U.S. You just have to be on your guard and use common sense. I had the best time of my life in Buenos Aires and would go back in un segundo. You should definitely make a trip to see Argentina. If you like La Rioja, I think Mendoza, Argentina would be up your alley too. Lovely vineyards, gorgeous mountains, etc.
I really want to go to Mendoza! I think I would love it!
So, I haven’t read all of the comments so I hope I’m not totally repeating anyone!
One of my biggest pet peeves is the food allergy excuse too! I have severe fish & seafood allergies. I’ve never let it effect my travelling. Just pack a meal replacement shake or something. That’s what I do. I lug my Vega One shakes everywhere. Yes, it gets annoying sometimes but if surviving on primarily Vega for a few weeks is what allows me to see the Ancient Egyptian temples along the Nile without starving then I’m ok with that. The pros of seeing these site outweighs the cons of a limited menu for sure!
Also, travelling isn’t terribly dangerous imo. No more then in a goodly portion of the larger Canadian cities. I’ve even been in some pretty iffy situations in my relatively safe home city in Alberta. So if you’re really that worried about the danger quotient then never leave your house. I mean, don’t go into active war zones, steer clear of large protests, and if you get that innate gut feeling that something is off or sketchy then listen to that feeling because it probably is off or sketchy. I was in Cairo during the election frenzy in May. When people started gathering at Tahrir square for the odd protest I simply left. No biggie. It’s mostly just common sense to stay outta trouble whether at home or abroad. I’m a 3rd degree black belt and I can honestly say that I’ve had more cause to utilize my self defence skills in my home country then anywhere abroad. That being said, I do recommend taking a self defence course or two for any female travelling solo. Having a cell phone with the local emergency numbers/Canadian embassy wherever I am programmed into it is the one thing I’ve always done too. Again, common sense!
The one excuse I have to admit I’ve used is the not wanting to travel solo. I don’t like travelling alone. Never have. I don’t even like going to the grocery store alone. I’m fairly shy in person so I just like having people around that I’m comfortable with for some odd reason.
Anyways, as you can see, brevity is not my friend when posting comments but I laughed my way through this article as I’ve heard all of these from different friends. I’ve gotten the danger one from my mother and grandparents multiple times, the no money/too expensive excuse from people walking around with Salvatore Ferragamo bags which incites little more then an eye roll from me already.
Lamest travel excuse I’ve heard from way too many people: “I don’t speak the language”
Great article btw!
Nice to hear from a fellow food allergy traveler! Do you have a blog?
Yep! @ http://traveltogruta.com
It’s pretty new so I’m still working really hard to build it up ;P
thanks! I can’t wait to check it out
Great post, and great way to combat the excuses we’re trained to make to not get out there and do something. I never needed any motivation to get out there, but I ask others who do: “how will your life be negatively impacted if you don’t take this step?”
There is so much opportunity waiting to be discovered in the world. Whether you’re an entrepreneur looking to find riches in a foreign land, or an artist looking to find your muse, a change of scenery can be all the motivation you need to get started. And, if you’re like myself and many others, you may just find that the patch of dirt you were born on isn’t the best place for you.
I feel the exact same way!
yeah i have a new excuse I have parents to support
and i still try to fit in getaways or a vaccation whenever i can though i still have to gather courage to do a round the country (India) and take a break from my work but then again maybe i will do it soon. Plus after reading about people travelling with their kids I am quite adamant to travel with mine too… Maybe i cant be on road for rest of my life but i’ll visit it often enough.
I think even if you can escape for a week or so to travel, it’s still worthwhile. Good luck xx
Hi there girl!
I was doing a search on traveling abroad alone and came across your blog, so AWESOME! Currently I reside in Florida and am so bored here. You’ve inspired me to do some more research I’ve never been to London or Paris and thinking about doing both (of course, all on a budget)
Where’s the best places to visit/stay/eat in both? For about ($100 or preferably less a day)?
So far, my travel life consists of, most of the US, Carribean, Puerto Vallerta/Matzalan Mexico, Vancouver, was born in raised on the South side of Chicago, so I’d like to consider myself pretty street smart.
Any of your suggestions would be very helpful! Keep up the great work on blogging
Love it!!!
I would consider doing an apartment rental in Paris, since it’s such an expensive city. Check out sites like AirBNB or deals on booking.com. I am looking up the hotel I stayed in now for you.
Hotel Le Pavillion
I’ve recently heard “I’m afraid of flying” and “is it dangerous?” For some reason she refused to listen to the fact that the US is far more dangerous than most modern countries, or that giving in to your fears is a horrible idea. And the money issue is rather annoying as well. People who go shopping for fancy purses and then complain about having no money are like kids complaining about how their fingernails are ugly after they finish chewing on them.
haha that is one way to look at it!