Travel Myth • “I Can’t Afford to Travel”
It’s true — travel isn’t always cheap. Sometimes there’s just no way to make a particular trip affordable. Or maybe your budget is especially tight right now so you’re not sure whether you can afford travel of any sort. When this happens, whether it’s a mindset or just your current reality, you don’t have to feel trapped. Instead, do what you can to explore in a budget-friendly way — and take small steps to save for that bigger trip you want to take down the road.
I’m not here to give you tips about how to make travel happen, no matter what. Sometimes you just have to put it on the back burner while you straighten out other aspects of your life — and that’s okay! But I am here to make travel feel less intimidating and to encourage you to think outside the box when it comes to exploring the world.
Explore within Your Budget
When travel planning, it’s always smart to stick to a budget. When you want to get out and explore but find yourself on a tight budget, you don’t have to stay stuck and bored at home. Instead, look for ways to explore without splurging — or stay motivated by preparing for a trip further down the line.
Stay Close to Home
One option? Explore the city where you live. If you’ve lived there a while (or even your whole life), you may still not have gone to the “touristy” spots. Play tourist in your home town. Look up sights to see or head to that attraction you’ve had on your list but haven’t yet visited. Then try out a new restaurant, brewery, or bar to wrap it all up.
Another option to explore without breaking the bank is to choose a day trip. Skip the accommodation expense while still getting to take in a change of scenery for the day. No matter where you live, it’s likely there’s someplace just an hour or two away for you to explore.
Think Outside the Box
Sometimes, a proper trip just isn’t in the cards. If it’s going to be a while before you can travel someplace new again — or even if you do have a trip coming up — you can still explore different places from home. Bide your time by trying different foods or reading about someplace you’d like to visit. You can still escape the everyday, even if you’re taking it easy with travel for a while.
Try Cooking a New Recipe
If you’re like me, part of what’s so exciting about visiting new places is trying new food and drinks. Whether it’s Kona coffee on the Big Island or pasta in Italy, many places are associated with their most famous consumables.
Rather than waiting until you can visit another place for real, try finding a local recipe to cook for dinner. Or if you’re not into cooking, head to an international grocery store or look around online for different meals, snacks, drinks, or desserts from other countries or regions to taste test.
It’s not quite the same as being there in person, but it can be a fun way to explore with your taste buds.
Pick Up a Book About a Faraway Place
Book lovers often use books as a way to escape the everyday. If you’re feeling down about a lack of travel in your life, look up books about a place on your bucket list, choose one to start with, and settle in for a long reading session.
Not only can this help inspire you again, but it can also help enrich that trip when you’re finally able to take it. You’ll be able to learn more about that place’s history, culture, and people.
Avoid Letting Yourself Feel Trapped By Big-Budget Travel
Often, I hear people claiming that travel just isn’t for them because it’s too expensive, intimidating, overwhelming to plan, or any number of other reasons. The fact is, while travel can sometimes cost money you don’t have, there are also often ways to make it fit into your budget. There are more options for accommodations, flights, and other aspects of travel than ever before — and these options make it easier than every to make most any trip fit your needs, from comfort level to budget.
