Travel and Vacation Information

Traveling the world doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, you can travel around the world really cheap if you are creative and don’t do the typical things most tourists do. If you find free accommodation, eat local, and don’t take expensive flights, you can travel around the world on a limited budget. Here are some ways to travel without spending a fortune.

One cheap way to travel around the world is using discount airlines. These airlines don’t offer you anything more than a sit on the plane but they are cheap. They often have lots of sales where you can fly and only pay the tax. Be careful with fees though. Many of these airlines charge a lot of fees and if you aren’t careful, these can add up. Read more…

There’s an old adage that when you travel you should pack half as much as you need but double the amount of money you bring. After backpacking around the world twice, I couldn’t agree more. It’s very important to pack very little on your adventure. Packing light helps you save space, and gives you less stuff, and more freedom.

When we go on vacation, we plan for every little accident that may occur. We pack everything just in case even if we know deep down we will never wear them. We only end up wearing half our stuff anyways so we should learn how to only pack half as much as we think we need. Packing light is an art.

When I travel, all of my possessions can go into tiny daypack and a larger backpack or duffel bag. I traveled without ever needing anything more. In fact, I often find I still take too much!! When friends come and visit me, I am amazed that they packed so much stuff. They ask me my tips on packing light. Here’s how I pack light and how you can too:

First, create of list of everything you think you might need. Everything and anything. From clothes, to toiletries, to electronics, to jackets, and everything in between. This packing list usually ends up pretty long. But that’s ok, we’ll get it down quickly.

Now, look at your list. Do you really need all of that stuff? Probably not. Think about your list in relation to where you are going. If you are going in mid summer, you don’t need a jacket. If it gets really cold, buy one there. It will make for a good souvenir anyways. Eliminate all that is not absolutely necessary.

Next, you should have reduced your packing list down a lot by eliminating those items that didn’t really have much to do with your trip. Now, let’s take a gander at your toiletry list. Why are you packing so much? In this age of over caution, people tend to pack every medicine known to man just in case. Let’s be realistic- do you ever use most of them? Can’t you buy them at your destination? So go minimal. If you do get sick, you can always by Tylenol or diarrhea medicine there. Take only the bare essentials.

What about the non-medical supplies your packing? Soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, razor, and shaving cream is all you need. If you are staying at a hotel, you don’t even need soap or shampoo since it is provided for you. You’re going on holiday, not to a corporate function so ditch the cosmetics and facial products.

Now, look at your packing list. What can you buy there if you really need it? Probably lots. Toss the bug spray, the suntan lotion, and whatever else you are bringing. You won’t be able to carry it on a plane.

Thee final step is to just cut out another half of your list- the stuff we didn’t cut. You are holiday, relaxing and your clothes won’t get that dirty unless you spill something on them or sweat a lot. Take half as many clothes. You can wear them for more than one day. Most people do anyways. If you are just sitting in the sun, you won’t even be wearing a shirt. Juts get rid of it- you never wear it anyways.

That is the secret to packing light when you travel- cut, cut, and cut some more. Most people just throw things in a bag but you must be organized if you are to know where you can cut because you need to know what you are taking and what you will need. Be realistic about packing and don’t be tied to what ifs. Anything can happen on the road and if you have an emergency, you can simply buy what you need.

Everyone dreams of traveling but most people don’t do it. Fear keeps most people from traveling. When I first went away in 2006, people always wished they could do what I was doing. For some people it is easy to just jump ship and travel. We have it in us all along and we just need a gentle nudge. For me, all it took was a trip to Thailand and jealousy before I was quitting my job and telling my friends I was going to travel. For others it is a lot harder. They are more tied down, more afraid, more uncertain. They want to do it but, instead the nudge I needed, they need a full on push.

Looking for reasons? Well here are some good reasons why you should travel the world and why now is the best time:

The economy is bad. With the world economy in a tailspin, there is a lot of economic uncertainty in the world. Will you be fired or are you going to stay? What about your investments? Stop worrying. Avoid it all. Go travel. If you quit your job, sell your stuff and travel, you won’t have to worry how the economy does. Let others worry and go have fun. Come back to the workforce when things get better.

You meet a lot of people. There is not a day that doesn’t go by where you don’t meet people from all over the world doing the same thing you are. You’ll meet locals who will take you around and open their homes and city to you. What more can you ask for in life than meeting wonderful people and creating a network of friends that encompasses the globe.

It’s better than working. Nobody likes to work- that is why we call it work and not fun. Sitting behind a desk under fluorescent lights all day takes the fun out of life. Nobody wants to spend their existence doing that. Take a break from that and go out and recharge your batteries.

It’s not as expensive as you think. Everyone thinks that traveling is expensive but it’s not. You can travel quiet cheaply by flying low cost airlines, staying in hostels, or with locals who offer you their home to stay in. It brings the cost down and saves you money.

You learn about other cultures. We always see foreign places in the news but they are out there and away from us. Travel helps brings those places closer to us and allows us to experience what it really means to be from those places on the news as they are not as TV makes them look like.

You’ll make everyone jealous. Everyone wants to travel the world but few people do. Do it and make everyone at home jealous of you, your stories, and your photos. While they work all day, you explore the the globe. Maybe you will inspire them to join you!!

Traveling around the world is a life changing experience. There’s no reason not to go. There is no big secret on why to go. Just go. Even if it’s for a week, or a month, or a year. See the world. You only get one chance. Make it worthwhile.