Hey ConvenienceBigs,
One of the things I've been thinking about lately is why more people don't travel long term. After all, there are plenty of ways to travel cheap (and there are plenty of people who have the time to travel but don't).
Money and time can't explain it all.
My theory: it's fear.
It's scary jumping headfirst into the unknown and leaving your entire life behind, with nothing but a backpack and a dream.
Our comfort zones may make us unhappy or bored at times, but more often than not, they keep us just happy enough to resist change. We may hate our routine, we may complain, we may daydream — but we don't often change. It's the devil we know. It's where we feel safe.
Our DNA tells us to favor safety over risk. Why leave the cave to venture where the monsters live when we can stay safe inside our shelter and live another day? To go out into the night is to court danger and death. Our primitive brain screams to us: Stay here! This is safety! This is life!
As I faced the daunting task of turning my travel dreams into a reality back in 2006, I too worried about this. While trudging through the seemingly endless preparations, I discovered a new daily mantra: "F*ck, what am I getting myself into?"
I thought about this post a lot and would love for you to leave a comment and let me know what you think too.
Community Reminders
1. Want to connect with other travelers in your community? Check out The Nomadic Network! We're hosting meet-ups in city's all around the world so check out the announcement to see how you can take part and connect with awesome travelers near you!
2. If you're looking to get into the travel media space, we recently updated and expanded our courses on blogging, writing, photography, and vlogging. Let me and some other travel experts help you navigate today's landscape, avoid rookie mistakes, and make money doing something you love.
(Or, if you're new to blogging and not ready to commit to a course, start with our free PDF on how to start a travel blog.)
3. If you want to learn how to get free flights and accommodation, check out my free primer on travel hacking and learn the secret art! It will show you how to collect points and miles and help you save thousands per year! Free travel is the best travel!
Latest from the Blog
Why Don't More People Travel Long Term?
What keeps people from going on an extended trip? While long-term travel is much more popular today than it was when I started, it's still outside the mainstream. In this post, I dive into why I think people are still not embracing long-term travel.
TravelCon: Speakers, Talks, and More News!
TravelCon is less than 6 months away and we've got lots of new updates to share, from speakers to topics to changes in next year's event. This conference is going to be the best one yet and it's already almost 40% sold out. Check out our latest announcement and get your tickets today!
Is Asia a fun and safe destination for gay travelers? In this guest post, Natalie and Charlotte share their tips and advice to help you stay safe, have fun, and meet locals as a gay traveler in Asia!
The Best Tour Companies in Israel
Israel is one of the most popular destinations in the Middle East. If you're thinking of visiting but would prefer to go as part of a tour, here is my list of the best tour companies in the country to help you have an epic and safe trip.
****
As always, if you have any questions or need advice, tips, or guidance, send me an e-mail! I'm here to help!
P.S. - Leaving soon? Use these helpful links to book your trip:
- GUIDEBOOK REMINDER: If you're traveling soon, be sure to check out our destination guides and get your copy today!
- Book your travel insurance with World Nomads (Under 70) or Insure My Trip (Over 70)
- Book your flight with Momondo or Skyscanner
- Book your accommodation with Booking.com or Hostelworld
- Book a tour with Intrepid Travel (Nomadic Matt readers get special discounts!)
- Looking for a new rewards card? Here's a list of my current favs! (U.S. only)
- Need something else? Check out my list of favorite companies on my resources page and book with confidence.
I personally use all these companies listed (here or on the resource page) and, by booking through these links, the small commission we earn helps us keep the content up to date, run events, create new guides, and keep the website going!
Unsubscribe | Update your profile | 407 W University Ave, Georgetown, Texas 78626
No comments:
Post a Comment