Traveling the world is a dream for many Americans who wish to experience a new culture, eat different cuisine, see amazing landmarks and meet people they have never dreamed of meeting before. Thanks to technological advances in transportation and communication, traveling the globe is easier now than ever before. It is significantly cheaper too, so people do not have to wait until retirement anymore to catch a flight to a new exotic location. Becoming a world traveler does require a bit of preparation beforehand, however. Learning tips from other world travelers is key to a successful journey.
Decrease your posessions. This step serves a number of reasons. Sell items you own which you infrequently use to save up money for some of your travel. Pare down the number of possessions you have so that you will be ready to go at a moment's notice when a trip opportunity arrives. Stop buying more possessions that will go unused in your travels; this wastes money you can be spending on travel. Rid your life of unnecessary clutter which keeps you from feeling free enough to travel. This step will empower you to take the steps you need to step out of your comfort zone and into the world.
Save up your money. Put change jars in several rooms of your house where you can deposit coins and dollar bills that you will eventually spend on travel. Designate a portion of your paycheck to go into a savings fund for travel specifically. Consider making purchases more carefully before frivolously spending money on unnecessary wanted items instead of needed items.
Travel frequently by starting with small trips. Many people think it is a good idea to save up as much as possible and travel the entire world after retirement, but there are many flaws to this plan. You may not have enough time after retirement to see all you want to see. You may not have the health and vitality you have when you are young. You may spend more money on travel luxuries, and therefore see less as a result. Choose a destination, save up the money required, and spend it on your trip.
Bring a friend on your trips. There are many cruise companies that will offer very low rates for a trip including several countries instead of just one, and you can get great deals on these trips if you book more rooms. Also, traveling alone is significantly less fun than when you bring a friend along.
Utilize your connections. Save money on hotels by bunking with old roommates, high school or college friends, and relatives. Find friends who love to host other travelers on social travel sites like Couch Surfers. You can significantly reduce the cost of a trip this way. Always offer them a small monetary sum in return for their kindness.
Research your destination thoroughly before travel. There are a significant number of logistical matters that will need to be learned before embarking on your travels, such as local cuisine names, passport and visa regulations, monetary systems and more. Always create a sheet of commonly used words in the native language in your destination country, such as directional words, bathroom words and illness words.
Keep your passport updated. Visa regulations in other countries often require that a passport needs to be valid for at least six months after the date of departure from a foreign country. Begin the application for a new passport at least one year before it expires.
Travel lightly. Most items you need to truly survive can be purchased at your destination.
