Making the Decision to Travel Now

Often people make excuses not to travel rather than reasons to actually go traveling. Here are some of the more common excuses and the reality of it.

I'll do it when I'm older and retired.
Many believe that they will travel the world when they are older. This is a great thought, but who says you will ever be older? I hate to put it in such dreary terms, but nothing in life is guaranteed, especially that you will have one.

While working on cruise ships, I was able to see many of the people who did decide to wait until they were older to travel. Seeing them line up like cattle for their third buffet of the afternoon was enough encouragement for me to start my traveling now. Many were gray haired, slow, and didn't always understand what it was they were supposed to be appreciating. They had walkers and canes and were not as ambulatory as they were 'back in the day'.

When you are retired and traveling you may not be able to hike 12 miles into the Grand Canyon. You also can't work abroad as easily. By then you have family and have created more reasons not to travel. There is an unlimited list of reasons to go now and do it while you still can.

One phrase that stuck with me in my early twenties while explaining what I do and my penchant to travel, the older folks always said,"I wish I had done that when I was younger". Now that's encouraging.

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do
than by the ones you did do." - Mark Twain

The world is a dangerous place.
Yes, perhaps, but if a dangerous world is holding you back, then it is time to stop watching cable news and bad horror movies. The likes of Hostel, Touristas and Taken, to name a few .

Everywhere in the world has its own types of crime. Pickpockets, theft, carjacking's and murders, and these happen in the US just the same as international tourist destinations. The key here is to avoid being a victim by smart preparation and also knowing what to do in that unlikely event.

If you are concerned about safety, take a look at some figures from nationmaster.com and see what countries have major crime problems. Then look at how the US ranks compared to other countries and consider starting with any of the dozens "safer" places.

The U.S. government puts out a list of countries with their current travel warnings. Next you should read National Geographic's Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World's Greatest Trips. Which list would you rather concern yourself with?

"To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries."
- Aldous Huxley

Its going to be expensive to travel.
Yes it does take money to travel, but many people in western countries are fortunate enough to have the resources to work and save over time. Too often when people say they don't have enough money to travel, it is because they have chosen to spend their money on material items that they consider more important.

Your monthly car payments could take you to Australia and back. That big screen TV was enough for a week of luxury in India. And those new shoes were exactly the amount a side trip to Iguazo falls goes for. If having material things is what drives you, then by all means be happy in a comfortable life of Lazy Boys and surround sound. If you desire experiences and knowledge of the world beyond your Lazy Boy, then consider the benefits of travel.

After analyzing personal priorities, you may need to make better spending decisions and start budgeting your trip. Go through your past years bank statements and see where the bulk of your savings have gone. Later we will discuss ways to cut back on life's not-so-necessary things and how much you can save.

"No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and
rests his head on his old, familiar pillow." - Lin Yutang

What will happen if you lose your job?
Simple: get a new job. After traveling around the world for any prolonged period of time, you will find yourself filled with new ideas as to how people work and live. At that point you may not want to work at your old job anymore.

If you do find travel to be your new goal in life, then grab a job that is travel intensive. There is always room for high quality employees. With your recent traveling experience you are already a great candidate.
Travel is opportunity.

There are plenty of jobs that will send you around the world and back. Check out our ever growing list of ways you can get paid to travel.
Teaching in China, Cruise Ship Jobs, Work in Australia, Work in New Zealand, Work in Singapore, Antarctica Jobs, Busking, Crew on sailboats, Crew on Yachts, Be a corporate stiff, Day trade online , Become a Roadie

Traveling can inspire people to make new decisions and take a new direction in life. Now is the time to take that leap. The only guarantee is that nothing will happen if you don't do anything.

Travel is more than a vacation: it is a way to learn about other cultures and about yourself. By making the decision to travel you are deciding to learn, thus growing as a person and creating new opportunities, both personal and professional.

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step."
- Lao Tzu