7 Common Travel Myths That are Completely WRONG

Years in the past, the web site Earth Porm reposted my article “The Ultimate Guide to Traveling When You’re Broke.” As I went by way of the feedback on the put up, I used to be dismayed by the imply and dismissive feedback folks shared as properly their misconceptions about journey.

These feedback made me understand that, regardless of all of the detailed web sites and books on how one can make journey reasonably priced and accessible, too many individuals nonetheless consider the notion that journey is pricey, unsafe, and unimaginable until you might be wealthy.

Too many say, “I can’t. It’s unimaginable” and become cynical about travel. The notion that journey is pricey couldn’t be farther from the reality (I wrote an entire book proving that very point.)

But folks nonetheless have all types of misconceptions about funds journey and staying secure overseas.

So, at this time, I need to debunk 7 of the commonest journey myths I’ve encountered over time:
 

Fable #1: Journey is Costly

Every part prices some cash — and that features journey. However the concept that journey is barely about fancy excursions, beach-side resorts, and luxurious villas is outdated. Historically, refined advertising language made everybody consider that “a enjoyable trip is an costly trip.” After many years of being bombarded by these insidious advert campaigns, our collective consciousness nonetheless equates journey with luxurious. Heck, I used to consider this too.

However the actual fact of the matter is you don’t want a belief fund or a high-paying job to have a tremendous journey.

You’ll need to learn how to plan a trip.

You’ll need to save money.

However you don’t should be wealthy to journey. You simply should be inventive and have the best priorities.

And it can even be done on minimum wage. Positive, it could take longer to save lots of on your journey, and you could must make sacrifices, however if you wish to journey — whether or not for 2 weeks or two years — you could find a approach to make it occur. Listed here are some beginning factors that may provide help to decrease your prices and journey on a funds:

Fable #2: Journey Credit score Playing cards Will Destroy Your Credit score

Amassing factors and miles is the artwork of utilizing journey bank cards to realize free journey through the use of your common spending. No further purchases. No leaping by way of loopholes. Simply incomes free journey by placing your date nights, groceries, gasoline, and different common bills on a journey card.

I can’t rely the variety of free flights and resort stays I’ve had over time. By gathering factors and miles, I’ve been in a position to journey for a fraction of the worth it might have value in any other case, opening up tons of potentialities for funds journey.

Whereas making use of for bank cards will trigger a short lived dip in your credit score rating, that dip will get corrected inside two months in the event you maintain paying off your payments. Until you’re trying to make an enormous buy (like shopping for a home) within the close to future, that minor dip is not going to have an effect on you. Over time, having extra accessible credit score will truly enhance your credit score rating. And I imply what’s the purpose of increase a credit score rating in the event you don’t use it? You’re employed to construct an excellent credit score rating for the aim of doing issues with it.

I’ve over a dozen bank cards (although I solely actively use three) and a credit score rating of 797 out of 850. So long as you pay your card off every month, you don’t want to fret.

Listed here are some sources that will help you get began:

Fable #3: Couchsurfing is Unsafe

Couchsurfing is a sharing financial system app that facilitates cultural trade. Locals supply a free area of their residence (typically only a sofa) which vacationers can use to then go to the town and study in regards to the vacation spot.

Whereas staying in a stranger’s home won’t be for everybody, it’s however a secure and enjoyable approach to journey (to not point out an reasonably priced one). Very like Airbnb, Couchsurfing hosts have critiques and profiles you possibly can learn to ensure you’re staying with somebody you are feeling you’d get together with. It’s actually not a lot completely different than Airbnb (besides it’s free!).

In fact, in the event you’re not prepared to stick with a stranger it’s also possible to use to app to fulfill folks for actions as an alternative, corresponding to a meal, espresso, or a museum go to. It’s a good way to profit from the app with out having to stick with somebody.

So long as you utilize widespread sense, learn critiques, and belief your intestine, you’ll have the ability to use the app safely whereas saving cash and having enjoyable. There are households who host folks, solo feminine hosts who solely host ladies, in addition to expats trying to join with fellow foreigners.

Couchsurfing and web sites prefer it have vibrant communities. As a result of, opposite to what the information and media prefer to report, not everybody out there’s a secret assassin on the lookout for their subsequent sufferer. Most individuals are good, variety folks simply trying to make mates and study new issues. Don’t let concern restrict your alternatives.
 

Fable #4: Hitchhiking Will Get You Killed

Hitchhiking is a comparatively widespread approach to journey in lots of nations world wide. It was additionally a standard (and secure) approach to journey the US and Canada for a protracted whereas too.

The concept that hitchhiking is harmful dates again to the Nineteen Fifties when the FBI led a scare marketing campaign to get folks to cease the follow, partially as a result of civil rights activists have been hitchhiking to rallies. The FBI’s marketing campaign completely embedded within the thoughts of people who hitchhiking is harmful by claiming that almost all hitchhikers have been murderers.

Mixed with a story pushed by the media that the world is unsafe, hitchhiking continues to be perceived as a harmful exercise — even when it’s not.

My friend hitchhiked solo around the US.

Kristin from Be My Journey Muse hitchhiked around China

I’ve hitchhiked in Europe, the Caribbean, and Central America and met great, fascinating folks within the course of.

Hitchhiking, like Couchsurfing, is about utilizing widespread sense. Make a remark of license plates, have a cellphone in case of an emergency, and journey with a good friend in the event you’re not snug going solo. And bear in mind, you don’t must get into any automobile that stops. Use your judgment and observe your instincts and also you’ll have the ability to meet a lot of fascinating folks whereas nonetheless staying secure.
 

Fable #5: Journey is Harmful for Ladies

Whereas each women and men face dangers on the highway, ladies usually encounter further hazards that require warning and consciousness. However that doesn’t imply ladies want to remain residence or solely go to super-safe locations.

The “if it bleeds, it leads” method to reporting over time has highlighted solely the unfavorable tales of feminine vacationers. This fashion of reporting bolsters the perceptions that the world is so scary that solo female travel may be very, very unsafe and needs to be averted.

Luckily, that’s not true in any respect. You may have a better likelihood of getting hit by a bus than you do of ending up like within the film Taken.

However don’t simply take my phrase for it. Right here’s an excerpt from a post on women’s safety:

If I look again on the instances when folks have informed me “Don’t go there!” or “You may die!” it’s principally recommendation from individuals who have by no means been to these locations and have by no means carried out any analysis on them. The press is massively influential. I can’t inform you what number of instances I’ve learn worldwide press protection that’s flat-out mistaken. You must discover reliable sources and recommendation from individuals who know what they’re speaking about. I as soon as talked about to my mother and father that I had plans to go to Rwanda. My involved father informed me, “You’re not going.” He was clearly fearful about Rwanda’s tumultuous previous. Had he carried out his analysis, he would have recognized that Rwanda is the most secure nation in East Africa. As soon as he researched it, I by no means heard one other phrase about it. The crime charges in your yard will be simply as dangerous because the vacation spot you’re headed to, if not worse.

Today, there are tons of highly effective, unbiased feminine creators touring to all corners of the world — together with off-the-beaten-path nations. Heck, a lot of them are extra adventurous than I’m! Listed here are some to observe for inspiration:

Fable 6: Funds Journey is Solely Attainable if You might be Younger and Single

Too many individuals consider journey is one thing you are able to do provided that you’re younger or single. That couldn’t be farther from the reality. I perceive that if you end up older, you might have considered trying extra luxurious than a funds backpacker. And I do know that household journey requires extra planning than solo journey. B

ut journey shouldn’t be solely the purview of the younger.

On the finish of the day, age doesn’t matter. I’ve seen families and seniors backpacking world wide, staying in hostels, or driving RVs.

You don’t should be restricted by age or your relationship standing. Listed here are some articles that show each households and seniors can journey on a funds:

Fable #7: You Can’t Work Abroad.

We regularly consider working overseas as an difficult course of not well worth the effort. It’s one thing that requires interviews, visas, and a elegant résumé. However, for the form of jobs that you just’ll get as a traveler, that’s not true.

If you wish to work and are versatile about what you’re keen to do, you could find employment nearly anyplace. You will get a working vacation in nations like Australia or New Zealand, turn into an au pair, train English, and even volunteer in trade for room and board.

Positive, you won’t get a flowery or well-paying job. But when your precedence is journey then what does that matter?

Farms, colleges, bars, eating places, cafes, and the tourism business are nearly at all times on the lookout for employees — particularly in areas with a seasonal inflow of vacationers. You gained’t get wealthy, however you’ll get to see the world. If you wish to study extra about your choices, listed below are some weblog posts to get you began:

These journey myths come from years of being indoctrinated with the assumption that journey must be costly and the world is frightening.

That couldn’t be farther from the reality.

With a little analysis, you’ll uncover that touring the world is way safer — and far more reasonably priced — than most individuals assume.

Find out how to Journey the World on $75 a Day

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