5 Myths About Traveling That You Must Stop Believing ASAP
Many people who don’t often travel assume that traveling is the hardest thing in the world. After only a month backpacking around the world, I quickly realized that the majority of my attitudes and beliefs about traveling were based on popular misconceptions generated by people who knew very little about traveling the world.
Not only were they completely wrong, but I realized that these ideas were preventing me from booking the trip of my dreams, leaving me frustrated, confused, and stagnant. I realized that my success as a world traveler would only depend on me opening my mind and developing a new perspective.
That’s what I did. The more trips I booked and the more trips I went on, the more I realized that the reason why I had barely done some traveling before was that I constantly believed in those myths about what traveling is all about. Then, the more I got rid of those assumptions, the more traveling I was able to do.
Allow me to share with you some of these myths that I think you should stop believing ASAP.
5- Traveling is only for the rich (Or it’s too expensive)
This is definitely the most popular myth we get to hear when it comes to traveling. People often ask me how in the world I can travel so much, and how I can afford all that traveling.
In July 2021, I went on a 25-day trip across the United States stopping by some of the most expensive destinations in the country. People were shocked when I told them about how much money I actually spent. Many of them said I was even lying.
Traveling is not expensive. And it’s definitely not for the rich people only. Of course, some people may have some privileges over others, and that makes traveling a little easier for them than for some other people. For example, comparing myself, who is a single young man, to a parent, would be a little unfair. They have to feed kids, take care of the bills of the house, and do so much stuff that I don’t have to worry about today. But, still, the more I talk to people, the more I realize that they think traveling is too expensive and that they can never afford to go on the trip of their dreams.
And all I have to say about this is that it really depends on what your travel style is. Maybe yes, if you stay at the famous all inclusive beach resort, traveling can certainly be expensive. Maybe it’s not traveling that is expensive. It’s your travel style that is too extravagant.
I wrote an article on how to spend less on a trip. I share 10 simple ways to do that and still be able to explore as much as possible. So, if you want to get rid of the wrong assumptions that say that traveling is too expensive, don’t forget to check this article out.
4- The best trips are the ones you go with friends and family
One of the biggest reasons why most people don’t travel nowadays is because they don’t have a travel buddy. There’s this idea that traveling alone is boring and depressing.
There’s so much fear when it comes to solo travel. People fear feeling lonely, sad, and not being able to enjoy anything. Maybe you are one of these people who fear getting on a plane and flying across the ocean to go visit another country by themselves. I’ve been in those shoes before, so I get it and I respect that.
Traveling with friends and family can be fun, but it’s not the only way to have fun when going on vacation. Plus, sometimes we forget that friends and family have different lifestyles and schedules. They are all going through different phases in life, and that is ok. Some will be in college, others will be working. Many of them will have just become parents. A lot of them will be getting married. You will not always be able to join them and so won’t they. We need to understand that If we start to depend on others so that we can make our dreams come true, we will end up making no dream come true.
So, allow yourself to get rid of this assumption. It is a myth that solo travel is boring and dangerous. It is fun, and to be honest, it is extremely addictive. Once you do it, you won’t want to travel with anyone else anymore.
I also wrote an amazing article on solo travel. I shared why it is a must and how you can find ways to not stay solo even when you’re traveling by yourself. So, don’t forget to check it out as well.
3- English is spoken everywhere
We all know that English is a global language. According to the British Council, over 2 billion people are learning and using English. This makes us think that I can simply book my trip and demand that the local people will assist me while I’m on vacation. However, this is not how it works.
I personally find it rude when native-English speakers visit South America or any other non-English-speaking country and demand the local people to speak English with them. It’s not our native language and if you’re traveling to a certain country where English isn’t the first language, you should know at least the basics of their language. It will not only be more respectful but it will also be easier for you to get by.
Learning how to say “Thank you”, or “Where is this and that place”, “How much is it”, “Excuse me”, and other common sentences will help you have a better travel experience. Plus, the local people will appreciate you being there more and they will feel more eager to assist you whenever you need help getting to places.
2- Hotels are always the best forms of accommodation
This is not true and, honestly, super outdated. There are so many other types of accommodation that can make your travel time as special as it’d be if you stayed in a hotel. Plus, staying at hostels can actually be the reason why your trips are being expensive.
This is one of my favorite things to do when I travel. I love staying at hostels because it can be a very remarkable experience. Hostels are not only cheap, but they are so much fun. They offer free parties, events, walking tours, and so much more for their guests. Some of the best parties I’ve been to while traveling were at the hostels I stayed.
Camping is also a great type of accommodation. Who said that, whenever you travel, you have to stay at a hotel room, Airbnb or hostel? Have you ever thought of the possibility of going camping instead?
When I went on a weekend trip to Niagara Falls with a group of friends, we decided we would go camping instead of renting a room. We bought a large tent that could fit 5 people, and we reserved one of those camping sites/campgrounds. They are super cheap, and so many of them offer amazing facilities, such as showers, bathrooms, and even Wi-Fi.
We put up the tent together and spent the weekend camping. The campground was $30 per night if you brought your own tent. We split that amount evenly for the five of us, and it was super cheap.
1- You need at least 7 days to spend in each place you travel to otherwise you won’t get to see much
And last but not least, the biggest myth that so many people believe is that you need to spend at least 7 days traveling.
My mom finds traveling hard because according to her, a good trip has to be between 7 to 10 days. Who said that? Travel agents? Travel blogs? I personally know of so many people who will prevent themselves from traveling simply because they can’t take seven days off of work. Or because a seven-day trip is “too expensive”. But why can’t you travel for just the weekend? For 4 days only?
It is a great thing to do because you will end up having to do less, and consequently, you will spend less. If you travel for 7 days, you have to book a room for 7 days. If it costs $100 per night that’s $700 we’re talking about. But what if you stay for 3 days only? That’s $400 less than what you’d spend on a room.
People tend to spend a lot of days traveling because they want to see a lot of sights and stuff, but I like to say that the place you want to travel to is never going to go away. If you go to London today, London will still be there next year. You can always go back to make new memories.
The third time I went backpacking in Europe, I only spent 4 days at each destination. I could only take 16 days off of work, so I made sure I’d spend 4 full days in Paris, Rome, Barcelona, and London.
Why would I need to stay 7 days in each city? What’s up with this seven-day trip thing? I don’t get it. Don’t prevent yourself from traveling just because you don’t have “enough days” to travel.
Instead, go on that trip of your dreams, and make the best out of it. If you don’t get to do all the things you wish to do, this can be a strong motivation for you to go back to that place. It doesn’t matter how small or how big a city is. You can never see everything there. Not even the local people have done it. So, go on this weekend trip and make the best out of it. This will be an amazing way to spend less while traveling, and you will still get to enjoy the place.
Thank you so much for reading my article today! It means the whole world to me!
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