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I Want to Travel the World—Where Do I Start?

by Jhasmine Wade - Last updated on November 3, 2021

• Before You Go

Have you ever said to yourself, "I want to travel the world, but where do I start?" Well, believe it or not, simply by having the desire to travel and asking questions, you are already off to a great start! We’ll share international travel tips, inspiration to travel the world , and insight on how to make money while traveling around the world.

Where will you begin your international adventure?

There is no right or wrong way regarding how you travel as long as you have done your research and a little planning. The idea of traveling around the world may seem overwhelming at first, but once you start to put things into perspective, you'll begin to ask yourself why you do this years ago!

Is it possible to travel the world and make money?

Yes, it is possible to travel the world and make money. Nomads have been doing it for years, and there are endless opportunities to earn income while you travel the world. Take some time to develop your skill set, identify your interests, then determine your niche.

Research what services are in high demand worldwide or gain an online certification that can allow you to make money from anywhere in the world. The opportunities are endless once you identify all that you have to offer and how to make it work to your advantage.

Believe it or not, you may find that making money abroad is easier than working a regular job in the United States! Nomads are said to have more flexibility, affordable costs of living, and better work-life balance once they finally take the leap to travel the world and find ways to earn an income.

READ MORE: Leave the Office Behind: 12 Best Places for Digital Nomads

Where to start if you want to travel around the world.

An easy solution when asking how to travel is just to get started! Spend less time fantasizing about travel and more time planning out your trip . That doesn't mean run out and start shopping for the cutest travel outfits and matching luggage sets. Although that part is exciting, there are more essential things to arrange first.

For example: Figuring out how you’ll actually *get* there.

1. Obtain proper documentation

Your passport is your first step to getting around the world, but in addition to your passport, you may need to obtain a visa depending on the country you visit and how long you plan to be there. Visas must be applied for and have various application requirements. You can obtain a visa by making an appointment at the embassy of your desired country.

READ MORE: International Visas: What You Need to Know

2. research the culture.

It's a good rule of thumb to understand the social norms and familiarize yourself with the language of the country you plan to visit. The last thing you want to do is accidentally offend a native person by not understanding their customs. Learn as much as you can to avoid culture shock .

For example, hot water may be a standard expectation where you're from, but that may not be the same in the country you're visiting. You'll also want to know how public transportation works, the currency difference, and the country's cost of living.

Lastly, determine the best time of year to travel to your destination. Planning a trip during the hottest time of year or the rainy season can impact your travel experience.

3. Create your budget

Dreams are great to have—but you’ll need a budget to make them a reality!

Believe it or not, you don't have to have thousands of dollars saved up to travel the world! Some people left their home country with less money than you and are thriving abroad. Consider starting a GoFundMe or FundMyTravel account to create a fundraiser to support your travel expenses.

Budget your flight, accommodation, transportation around your destination, and general spending, then start your saving and funding plan. Don't allow costs or a lack of funds to discourage you! There will always be a way to make it work with what you have if you want it bad enough.

READ MORE: 10 Cheapest Countries to Live and Work

4. book your flight.

Flight costs can be expensive, but you can potentially cut costs by purchasing your flight far in advance. Also, keep a lookout for advertised flight deals. There are even apps that help you find the lowest flight price possible, such as Skiplagged and Hopper. If you have a friend who works for an airline, ask them for a buddy pass. A buddy pass is not a confirmed seat, but it is a cost-effective way to get to your destination.

5. Find accommodations

Finding accommodation is an essential part of travel. You'll need a safe place to lay your head at night. Need a few international travel tips for finding accommodations around the world? Facebook Marketplace has countless rentals listing. You're able to filter your search to the exact area you want to stay in, your price range, and the type of rental.

Hostel? Hotel? Airbnb? Choose the right accommodation for you.

It isn't wise to pay for anything online until you have arrived and set eyes on the property if you go this route. Depending on your length of stay, Airbnb can be a cost-effective option. They even offer monthly stays if that fits into your budget.

Lastly, as a solo traveler, hostels provide a sense of community where travelers from all over the world reside during their travels. Hostels can be very affordable, and some even offer private rooms.

6. Understand credit cards and cell phones

Before you take flight, it's a good idea to review your bank policies on foreign transactions. Most banks charge international fees when using a foreign ATM or making a transaction abroad. However, other banks offer lower or no transaction fees abroad. Some Credit Unions provide low rates and even rebates for ATM fees.

Also, check with your cellphone provider for international travel plans. You may consider getting an unlocked phone and purchasing a local SIM card so you can have access to a working network throughout your travels. WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger are great ways to keep in touch with family and friends if you only have wifi access.

7. Utilize social media

The great thing about social media is that it connects people from all over the world. You can use Facebook groups to find travelers just like you who have been where you are going and who are willing to give you free advice on how to travel.

The online travel community is an excellent resource for all aspiring travelers. Speaking directly to people living out your dreams can help you gain first-hand knowledge and excitement for the experience!

Ready to take the next step? Talk to our FREE Online Advisor and get 5 personalized travel program matches

Learn how to travel the world—and make it a lifestyle.

Did we mention to pack appropriately for the weather?

Have you ever heard the quote, "Your mind must arrive at the destination before your life does”? Believe it or not, having the right mindset can take your travel experience from a constant daydream to a reality.

The best way to get started traveling around the world is to surround yourself with those who can keep you motivated to achieve your goal. Traveling the world is a lifestyle for many individuals and families.

As you get closer to your travel goals, you'll learn so much and develop your own way of doing things. One thing is for sure—you can apply your knowledge anywhere in the world, even if you never traveled abroad before.

Be confident in your abilities and knowledge. Your purpose should be to find what you need and thrive while walking your path.

Sign Up for GoAbroad.com’s 20 Days of Travel Inspo for a Daily Dose of Positivity

This article was contributed by Jhasmine Wade . Jhasmine is a travel and lifestyle blogger promoting personal growth and development through travel. She has traveled extensively and shares her experience on her travel & lifestyle blog, Sincerely J. Wade. In her stories, Jhasmine highlights alternative ways of living and shows the world that the lines between travel, living, and working are no longer blurred. As an HBCU graduate, Jhasmine proudly holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications, where she discovered her passion for writing and travel.

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How to Plan a Trip When You Don’t Know Where to Go

When people find out about all the places I’ve been, many times I get the question: “How did you even know where to start?” Other times, people will say something like: “So I’ve decided I want to go traveling somewhere, now what?” When I’ve been asked these sorts of questions, I know they are usually really asking me how to plan a trip. Or, maybe more precisely I should say, they’re asking me how to figure out where to go when on a trip.

At a high level, “how to plan a trip” might sound like “how do I get a passport” and “how do I book a hotel in a foreign language” kind of stuff. But typically in my experience, it’s not a question of “how do I start traveling?” but more of a question of “I’m not sure where to go when I’m traveling.” These are very different questions. If you’ve ever wondered how to figure out where to go on a trip, whether around the world or just a short getaway, I’ve got you covered.

Now, if you’re asking yourself these questions, you will eventually need to answer the “how do I start traveling?” question. And trust me, it’s a huge question to ask and figure out. But, if you don’t have a destination in mind yet, there’s no point in figuring out how to get there .

Start Reading

Maybe you know you want to travel in Europe, but you’re not sure what destinations you want to visit. This is normal. Any experienced traveler started in this same position and then started doing lots of research. The best way to plan your trip is to look at travel guides for the areas you want to visit. I highly recommend the Lonely Planet series of guide books. That’s because they’re easy to parse, contain the maps you need, and are loaded with useful information.

Every country in the Lonely Planet series is presented with major sights to see and possible itineraries for that area. Then, for each city, it contains sights, recommended eats, hotel info, nightlife, shopping, and transportation info. To begin, I recommend you first look at the sights for the major cities in potential countries you want to visit. See what inspires you. Look at pictures on the internet. What are you curious to know more about or experience in person? For those places, write down the city name and some quick notes. If a country really speaks to you, then look at some of the smaller cities and more remote sights in that location. Start out big and work towards the small.

Once you have a list of places, you may find that it’s easy to start seeing a path or plan to put these notes together into a trip itinerary. Once you plan your first trip like this, it gets easier and easier for every trip that follows.

For the Explorers and Wanderers

For those of you who feel as though you want to see the whole world, and don’t mind doing over a couple of big trips or even lots of little ones, you might find that you want to start even more generalized. If this sounds like it may be interesting to you, Lonely Planet does a great job of including large areas in some of their guides. For people like yourselves, I recommend looking into at:

With just these few books, you’ve already covered a huge portion of the planet’s surface. You may even find that you want to explore places you never even considered. I should also note that I have heavily preferred the physical copies of the books to their ebook versions. In my opinion, they are easier to read and the maps are easier to use on the go.

With this information in hand, go start researching! Once you know which cities and locations you want to visit, you’ve already answered a lot of where to go and how to plan your trip itinerary. In future posts, I’ll talk more about how to execute your travel plans in the real world.

• Posted: April 12, 2020
• Category: How To Travel
• Tags: first time travel , how to , lonely planet , research , travel , where to start

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I Want to Travel Around the World: Getting Started

You have a travel bucket list. You made the decision to finally go and dive in.

Well done, that’s one of the hardest parts: taking the leap and getting started. but hold on.

To make sure you won’t end up halfway through your trip before calling your parents for an emergency ticket back home, it’s very important to prepare your travels around the world smartly.

Jeff and I saved for months in order to prepare for our 6-month around the world trip, and while it is important to stay spontaneous and carefree to fully enjoy it, it is even more important to be ready for anything.

If you are starting with a list of countries or cities you’d like to visit and have no idea how to start budgeting for them, here’s how to get started if you’re thinking “I want to travel around the world.”

I Want to Travel Around the World: Budget

Step 1: budget.

Budgeting is sometimes a scary word, but all you need to do is list money in VS money out on an Excel sheet or Google Sheet. Jeff is terrible at budgeting so I handle it all, or we’d have been broke before we left DXB.

Assuming you will travel without earning money on the road, money in will be zero, which looks scary but ignore that for now, you’ve prepared for this!

If you are planning to earn money, take in to account the time you will need to get paid - i.e. work for October might get paid mid-November so that money will only be available then. ALWAYS have a comfortable cushion!

Money out will be determined by breaking down the countries and cities you would like to visit with an estimation of how much it will cost for:

Accommodation

Food and Drinks (remember, booze is the number one easiest way to waste money while traveling)

Visas (check wikipedia for visa rules per country, they make it super clear and easy to understand)

Transport (taxis, motorcycle rental, car rental, fuel, parking)

Entertainment (tours, activities)

Based on the above, and adding whatever you think is necessary, you will reach an approximate budget needed for your travel around the world. Make sure to research thoroughly online with people’s past experiences, and don’t be afraid to round up these numbers as you will usually end up spending a little more than planned. Some even suggest making sure to leave with 30% more than you’ve budgeted.

I Want to Travel Around the World: Saving Money

Step 2: save.

Now that you’ve got your ideal budget for your travels around the world, it’s time to come up with the money! This will mean saving over a certain period of time, sometimes months or years.

See what you can save monthly at home, and extrapolate that number until you reach your goal budget. Voila, you have a date of escape! Now start the countdown!

It’s now time to cut out those daily Starbucks coffee runs and other little luxuries that add up over the months. For Jeff, it was protein bars at the office mini mart, and for me it was office lunches. They add up fast! You can do it :)

During the time it takes you to save, you can research a lot on your upcoming travels to make it easier. A few things we like to research are short travel guides, tipping policies and a few words in the language.

I Want to Travel Around the World: Booking those Flights!

Step 3: book.

Depending on how complicated your itinerary is, you will want to either go through a travel agent, or book things yourself.

For our simpler bookings, we always go through Skyscanner to get the best prices on plane tickets, and try to book with a credit card for insurance purposes.

For this trip, we used a travel agent (I know, they still exist in 2018?) who helped us SO much with complicated routes, odd layovers which saved us tons and generally gave us ideas for added or alternative routes to save money and time. If you’re flexible, this is a great option. If you want our guys info, just shoot us an email!

When it comes to accommodation, we usually go to Airbnb first, for 3 reasons:

It’s (in general) cheaper than most hotels

Having a kitchen means cooking in and less going out for food, which saved us a TON of money

You usually get to meet the local landlord, and get a lot of recommendations, which is always nice!

Tip: Sign up on Airbnb using this link to save $25 on your first trip!

If Airbnb isn’t the best option, we will always search budget hotels on Booking.com to compare hotels and B&Bs in a particular city.  

Once you have flights and accommodations sorted (at least the first few), you’re good to go! Make sure to double check visa and vaccination requirements in advance too.

I Want to Travel Around the World: Downsizing

Step 4: downsize.

Downsizing is only valid if you are traveling for months at a time, and are not keeping your current accommodation for example, but regardless it is a great exercise, I can’t believe all the crap we got rid of that had no value to us! If you are keeping your place, you can still take this time to get rid of the things you don’t need or donate them. A lovely Sri Lankan family now has our entire set of bedroom furniture :)

Jeff and I left Dubai after 4 and 6 years living there respectively, so needless to say we accumulated a lot of things and clothes we didn’t really need.

After having had a close look at our belongings, and the size of our (carry on!) travel bags, we decided to just get rid of things and start fresh wherever we end up next.

The weather in the countries you will visit is a decisive factor of course, but if like us you will encounter different weathers and seasons, layering is key! Also consider buying clothes on site - for example we will buy hiking shoes and trekking gear directly in Nepal, saving us a lot of space in our bags.

Donate the clothes you don’t wear anymore, sell your furniture, send the valuables back home or to a storage unit, and feel the freedom that comes with only owning very little!

I Want to Travel Around the World: Packing

Step 5: what to pack.

The budget is set and saved, your belongings fit in a suitcase or bag - next is what the hell to pack! This can be a pretty daunting task, but take what you’ve worn every day for the last week and you’ll realize you most likely only wear a tiny portion of what you own as it is, so just pick your favorites, think layers, and you’re good to go. Forget that flower dress for Instagram or those heels you may wear once, you won’t, and they’ll just take valuable space.

We travel with our Eastpak gear and only need a bag, backpack and a bum bag - remember, less is more!

Read more about how we pack to travel around the world in our duffel bags and backpacks .

A few tips to pack for a trip around the world:

Carry-on if you can! This will save you so much time at the airport, worry, and money if you are traveling low cost.

Roll your clothes! Try it, you will see, rolling your clothes will help you save so much space.

Don’t forget about laundry! No need to pack for a month worth of clothes. There are laundries in a lot of Airbnb, and we haven't had a problem finding a laundry anywhere we went, from Bolivia to Bali! Make sure to bring a laundry bag.

Adopt soap and shampoo bars! Shampoo bars take way less space, are very ecological AND can be used for up to 80 shampoos - win! Steal them from every hotel you go to :)

I Want to Travel Around the World: You’re Done!

Step 6: go be free.

You did it!

You’re all packed and ready to take on your travel around the world - not many can say that.

Enjoy every minute and document it if you like, but remember to take in the moment and not live through a lens!

Any questions, just shout below! Good luck.

Here’s Everything You Need to Travel the World

F iguring out how to travel the world is no easy feat, especially when you’re trying to do it on a budget or planning world travel with a family.

There are many factors to keep in mind when evaluating your trip, including what to do before leaving and your budget. To help you get started, we’ve put together a guide on how to travel the world, including everything from how to start looking into your trip to how to save money once you’re abroad.

1. Get prepared

If you want to travel the world, there are some planning measures you want to take first to ensure you have durable luggage and the proper documents — a passport and possibly visas — and figuring out how much time off you’ll need.

Get your documents in order

Those in the U.S. will want an up-to-date driver’s license because by Oct. 1, 2020, all U.S. residents traveling domestically must have identification compliant with the Real-ID Act , which increased security requirements for state drivers licenses and ID cards.

Residents in 24 states including Alaska, California, Idaho, Maine, Oregon and Washington have until Oct. 10, 2018 get a Real-ID compliant card, though states have the option to apply for exemptions through Oct. 1, 2020 when the last phase of the Real-ID Act is enforced, meaning residents in those states should regularly check the status of their IDs before flying.

For travel outside of the U.S., passport cards or trusted traveler cards can serve as documents at certain land and sea crossings. But you’ll want to make sure you have a passport book if there’s any chance you might leave or enter another country via plane, where passport cards won’t work.

Already have a passport? You’ll want check if it’s valid for at least six months after planned trips. That’s because some countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Russia make this a requirement for entering their countries. Renewing a passport takes at least six to eight weeks through the mail, but those with proof of international travel (like a flight itinerary) can get an expedited passport renewal for an additional $60 to the $110 fee and by visiting a passport center in person.

International travel could also require a visa depending on the location and duration of your trip. Some countries have agreements in place that allow travelers to enter and leave visa free. For example, the U.S. and Canada don’t require visas for travel ( except in certain circumstances ), and Europe’s 26 Schengen States have a system where a visa issued by one of the 26 states typically allows travel throughout the others for up to 90 days.

To find out if your trip requires a visa, check your destination’s embassy or consulate website. Some countries will allow you to travel visa-free for a short stay. Others, like Lebanon , also allow citizens from destinations like the U.S. to get a visa upon arrival.

Get your vacation dates in order

Working while traveling can be tricky, but there are a few steps you can take that don’t involve quitting your job to travel the world.

Start by saving vacation days if you work at a company that pays out for these dates. Those looking to trade in vacation days can also check out companies like PTO Exchange , which lets companies buy back unused vacation days so employees can convert these days into travel, health benefits or charity credits.

Speed up security wait times

Signing up for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry can help save you time when moving in and out of airports.

TSA PreCheck , which costs $85 for a five-year membership, allows you to speed through domestic airport security without having to remove your shoes, belt, laptop, liquids or light jackets. The service is currently available in 200 airports in the U.S. across 47 participating airlines .

Global Entry , which costs $100 for a five-year membership will get you the same expedited screening through airport security as TSAPreCheck does, while also giving you the added benefit of expedited U.S. customs screenings through automated airport kiosks when arriving from an international destination.

Look for work on the road

Even if you leave your job to travel the world, there are some ways you can make money while abroad .

Companies like Upwork allow people to find work almost anywhere, even while traveling, since it’s open to freelancers across a wide range of fields that include video production, translation, programming, designing, writing, and mobile development. Income will vary on the type of position and number of hours worked, but freelancers can often rack up hourly rates that go as high as $200 per hour, according to Upwork representatives.

You could also find a place to stay through companies like the Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms ( WOOF ), which offers housing at organic farms around the world in exchange for volunteering on the farm, doing everything from feeding livestock and watering gardens to harvesting fruit trees.

Get the right credit card

Having the best travel credit card for your trip can not only prevent foreign transaction fees, but also help you reap rewards and perks during your trip.

A few cards with travel benefits include the Chase Sapphire Reserve ($450 annual fee), which offers $300 toward travel costs, $100 toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, access to thousands of airport lounges, zero foreign transaction fees, and a 1:1 point transfer program towards top airline and hotel loyalty programs. The Bank of America Travel Rewards no-fee card lets you easily cash points to use toward airline tickets, baggage, hotel stays, car rentals and cruise packages. The card offers unlimited points, with up to 1.5 points for every $1 spent and 20,000 bonus points if you make at least $1,000 in purchases the first three months of opening your account.

When it comes to savings on hotels, the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card lets you earn five points for every dollar you spend at one of the company’s hotels, and two points at participating Marriott Rewards hotels.

Read More: What Is Travel Insurance? And How Much Is It?

2. Book travel far in advance

After all that preparation, you’re ready to book your trip around the world, which will likely be a round-the-world plane ticket, a journey by sea, or a combination of flights and ground transportation.

Below is a breakdown of how different travel options work:

Consider a round-the-world ticket

Round-the-world tickets allow you to buy a ticket and fly with various airlines under one alliance. But there are some regulations to keep in mind. Tickets are usually valid for up to one year, though flyers are required to start and end their trip in the same country through the following major alliances:

• Star Alliance (including Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, Austrian, United, and Lufthansa) bases its round-the-world tickets on the number of miles, with levels of passes you can choose from based on mile increments. You can take up to 15 stopovers, but you’ll need to keep moving in the same direction as how you started your trip.
• OneWorld (including American Airlines , British Airways , Cathay Pacific , and Qantas) has two different round-the-world ticket options. Its Global Explorer ticket is a mile-based option with four different mile increments to choose from, while the One World Explorer is based on the number of continents you visit, with up to four segments (flights) you can take in each of the six continents the alliance flies into.
• Skyteam’s (including Delta, Air France, Korean Air, AeroMexico) round-the-world option requires a minimum of two stops and runs for a year, with the alliance even offering theme-based trips, like beach or history, to make planning your ticket a little easier.

Round-The-World tickets can cost around $2,000 , and Dave Grossman, author or MilesTalk: Live Your Wildest Travel Dreams Using Miles and Points , recommends checking whether it’s cheaper to book a round-the-world trip or individual legs by entering itinerary into Google Flights and comparing the overall price to those offered when building an itinerary out on the alliance websites.

You can also book round-the-world tickets through a travel agent or third-party sites like AirTreks of Flight Centre . These sites can be cheaper because they often pull together individual airline tickets based on the lowest fares to create a round-the-world itinerary.

However, round-the-world ticket travelers should note: missing one leg of your ticket could cancel the rest of your trip, making it best for travelers who feel comfortable planning out a lengthy trip well in advance.

Take a world cruise

If you’re looking to travel the world by sea, a world cruise can provide the flexibility to explore multiple continents, traveling from the U.S. to Europe for example, or to hone in on one continent. Itineraries vary by cruise, and world cruises can be great for families, retirees or those who can be at sea for around three months.

Sometimes, cruise lines will offer the option to book only a segment of world cruise, which can range from two weeks to a month. To book a segment, prospective travelers will also have to add a one-way trip to or from the start or end of their journey.

The costs of world cruises can be anywhere from $13,000 to upwards of $40,000 per person, as Cruise Critic points out.

Take a repositioning cruise

If you’re looking to travel the world for cheap, consider a repositioning cruise, which take place when ships need to relocate from one region to another. The cruises can cost up to $50 less per day than classic cruises and typically take place during shifting seasons like the fall and the spring. Cruise lines often sell repositioning tickets as one-way routes.

Consider train travel

If you plan on using trains throughout your world travel, there are a few options. For example, select companies like Great Rail Journeys now offer around the world rail journeys as well as a variety of rail passes.

Amtrak offers U.S. rail passes with 15-day ($459 for adults), 30-day ($689 for adults), and 45-day ($899 for adults) pass options that let you travel across eight segments (stops), 12 segments (stops), and 18 segments (stops).

Rail passes are a popular way to explore multiple stops within continents like Europe on the cheap. The Eurail Global Pass is the only rail pass that lets international travelers visit all of Europe , with unlimited travel offered in 28 countries. Eurail sells its global passes directly through its official website with a variety of prices and time options, starting at $600 per person for six days of travel within a month.

Those looking for the cheapest ways to travel, which can involve buses or ferries, can check out Rome2Rio , which lets you see all the transportation you can take between two locations and what route will be the cheapest. There are also lower-cost options like Berlinbus (a low cost bus operator in Germany) and the Student Agency Bus , which will give you discounted prices on coach lines in Europe. Swiss Federal Railways, often called SBB , also provides travelers with a wide variety of overnight train options, allowing you to save on overnight hotel fees to travel instead.

Know when to book

Unfortunately, there’s no magic set of days before your trip that will get you the best deal on flights. But travel seekers can keep an eye out for regular flight sales on social media, where airlines will often announce flash sales. And there are certain travel apps that will alert you when the price has gone down on flights you’re interested in.

3. Avoid hidden travel and communication fees

Once you’ve started your trip, there are tips and tricks to help you travel each destination across the world on a budget. Here are some ways to cut costs during your travel around the world:

Grab a city pass

City-pass offerings vary by location, but many will give you free or discounted admission to top attractions in a city, as well as fast-track options to cut lines. Some passes, like the Paris Pass , also include free transport throughout the city as well as admission to attractions. If you’re traveling in the U.S., you can check out the CityPASS network , which provides discounts on attractions across 12 North American cities.

Eliminate hidden hotel fees

To reduce hidden hotel fees (that is, after checking what hidden fees the hotel charges before you book), you can ask the hotel whether they can forego additional fees for amenities you don’t use, like the gym or in-room safe. The hotel may be able to remove these charges from your bill before you arrive.

If you’re staying at an all-inclusive property, you’ll want to look into the fine print and the “terms and conditions” of your stay. The reason for this is that some properties will charge more for items like champagne, high-end liquor or some activities. The easiest way to spot these is by keeping your eye out for asterisks in promotions and advertisements.

Communicate for free

Communicating with friends and family while traveling is important, but roaming charges and international calling fees can add up quickly.

Apps like WhatsApp, Viber and Skype, which allow messaging and calling for free over Wi-Fi if you have an Android phone. You can also grab a local SIM card, which you can purchase at airport vending machines and convenience stores. The Local SIM app can pinpoint the best local cellular carrier to grab your SIM card.

Choose Restaurants Wisely

While eating food from around the world is often one of the best parts of traveling, dining out for every meal can become expensive. To save some money: stay away from restaurants located near tourist attractions, which generally have higher prices and lower quality . Some travel experts recommend making lunch your biggest meal, when prices can be half that of dinner, according to CheapOAir.

Ask about free amenities on flights and at hotels

Some airlines and hotels have free perks available to guests who know to ask for them. On flights, for example, travelers can request everything from ukuleles on some Hawaiian Airlines flights to hot chocolate on Southwest Airlines. Some hotels also offer free amenities that range from night lights, chargers and curling irons at Kimpton Hotels to complimentary yoga sessions at select Hyatt properties.

Now, if all you need is travel inspiration, check out the 20 best and affordable places to travel in 2018 .

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I Want To Travel, But Have No Friends To Travel With

You found this article because you want to travel, but have no one to go with. I know exactly how it feels because I spent YEARS thinking: “ I want to travel, but I have no friends to travel with .”

I felt stuck just repeating over and over again how I want to travel, but not alone! Why none of my friends want to travel?

Turns out, there are so many different ways to travel when your friends are not really into it, and going solo is not the only option!

In this solo female travel guide, I will show you exactly how to travel when your friends do not want to travel. 

Keep reading to find out what to do when you want to travel, but no one to go with.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. I hope you find the information here helpful!

You Want To Travel but have no one to travel with

1. think about how to find friends to travel with.

If your friends don’t want to travel, think about whether you’re in the right friend group. If the answer is no, where can you find people who want to travel?

Your friend group might be great, despite them not wanting to travel. This does not mean that you need to get rid of all of your friends and find new ones. You just need to enrich your social circle.

If you stay in the same friend group and never step outside of your comfort zone you are missing out on potential friendships with people who share your interests. 

2. Try making new friends in your town

If you are still in high school or the early years of university, this is your sign to be yourself .

Join the clubs that interest you without thinking about what other people would say. That way you can meet people who share your interests, including travel. 

Try to expand your friend group.

Be open to making connections with people you do not usually talk to at school or university. These are the most effortless years to make friends because lots of people constantly surround you.

Do not be embarrassed to start talking about your interests with other people. That way you can see if somebody will agree with you, and you can find out that people share your interests, but they were uncomfortable talking about them! 

3. Sign up for a study abroad semester

Study abroad programs are an amazing opportunity to find travel friends!

Do you know why? Because all of the people you’ll meet already stepped out of their comfort zone and traveled to a new country to spend one semester, or a year, at their exchange university!

Again, people from different backgrounds have different opinions on traveling.

While people in your home country might find it interesting, others will!

When went backpacking Thailand for 2 months, I met just one other Croatian traveler and hundreds and hundreds of British and Dutch travelers!

If you are still in University, inquire about your study abroad options!

European students can apply for study abroad with Erasmus +. The program also covers traineeships!

American universities probably have a similar program as well, but from my understanding, it depends on your university.

I studied for 5 months in Leuven, Belgium on the Erasmus+ exchange program. And that is exactly where I found my future travel buddy! So this one comes from personal experience.

4. Join a work exchange program

If you are no longer in school and studying abroad is not an option, working abroad might be!

There are so many different work abroad programs out there!

Work and Travel USA is a hugely popular way to visit the United States, and actually earn some money to enjoy your trip along the way.

If you are lucky enough that your country is eligible for a Work and Holiday Visa in Australia , it allows you to work and travel Australia for 12 months.

If you’re not eligible for none of the above-mentioned programs (hello friends with weak passports) you can look into work exchange programs!

Worldpackers is one of the best platforms out there to find reliable volunteer abroad opportunities.

Browse their offers, read the reviews, and apply for the ones that accept multiple volunteers so you make some friends along the way!

5. Join Group Tours If You Have No Friends To Travel With

If it is your first time traveling, and you are scared to go alone or overwhelmed by having to plan the whole trip – How about somebody else who does all the hard work for you?

That is what group tours are for!

They connect solo travelers from all over the world who want to visit the same destination and give them an organized trip and instant friends.

Group tours came a long way from bus tours rushing retirees from one hot spot to another.

Nowadays, many group travel companies are geared toward young travelers looking for active adventures!

You can find almost every destination you would be interested in visiting as a group tour. You can even travel with your favorite Instagram Content Creators!

There are many advantages to booking a group tour !

• Your trip will be organized, and all you have to do is enjoy it.
• You do not need to worry about the logistics.
• You do not need to worry about missing out on important landmarks or creating your travel itinerary
• Finally, the biggest advantage is that you will not be alone!

You will be grouped with like-minded people who love traveling and want to explore the world.

It is a fantastic opportunity to make great friendships with people that you can later plan solo trips with!

What tour company to pick as a solo traveler?

Some of the best Group tour companies for young people that I found are:

• Contiki – They specialize in social travel for 18-35-year-olds, and they have tour options worldwide. 
• Trutravels – They take pride in creating life-changing experiences. And that is exactly what their trips look like! They have options for different types of travellers, while all share the same social adventure vibe.
• G Adventures – They have tour options for all types of travelers. They have a wide selection of trips for people under 30 years old and others geared towards travelers looking for Wellness and relaxation, trekking, and family tours. 

Whichever company you choose to go for, read through reviews and pick a trip for your style of travel.

There are fantastic tour companies, and there are bad companies.

If you have had a bad experience before, do not let that deter you from trying one of the companies recommended above! 

6. Look For Travel Buddies Online

If you can’t find a group tour suited to your needs, or you’re trying to stay on a budget – you can look for a travel buddy online!

There are a lot of sites online to look for travel buddies, and they are excellent places to meet people to travel with!

You can join female travel buddies’ Facebook groups, or there might be a local website that connects travelers in your region. I met some wonderful girls in France using Facebook expat and travel groups!

For example, in Croatia, we have a website Putoholicari which has a travel buddies section that works pretty well! There is probably a similar concept in your country as well.

What you need to do is post that you’re looking for friends to travel with , and see who answers your query.

As far as Facebook groups go, I saw a lot of success stories in Host a sister and Female travel buddies groups. But there are many others!

You can look for the groups in your region. That way you can meet up with your new travel buddy before the trip. 

Please be safe and use common sense when using these options. I like to be positive, but the world is a scary place.

Make sure that you are confident about who you are talking to, and Facetime your potential travel buddy.

7. Try Solo Travel

Finally, the best thing you can do when your friends are not interested in traveling is to travel alone!

Solo traveling might seem intimidating at first. However, just because you are starting solo does not mean that you will be alone all the time! 

There are some challenges you will face as a solo traveler. You will be the only one responsible for your trip, and you will have to learn to depend on yourself and take responsibility for yourself.

At the same time, there will be so many advantages!

You are the one who decides what are you going to do and when. Because you are alone, you can easily join other people you meet if you like their plans.

Also, if you do not like what your new friends are doing, there will be no hard feelings if you decide to leave.

You do not have to wait on other people or visit sights you are not interested in, you are in complete control of your whole trip. 

• If you are planning your first solo trip, check out my Solo female travel guide for an in-depth step-by-step approach to planning your first solo trip.

How to make friends on the road?

If you want to make friends when traveling , first research if your destination is a popular backpacking destination.

Because many people backpacking are solo travelers, and usually there is a beaten path to follow!

If you are backpacking in Europe, there are many different backpacking Europe routes . On the other hand, most people backpacking SE Asia, follow the same route!

When everybody around you is also a solo traveler it is easy to make friends. Especially once you notice you keep running into the same people.

One of the best things about solo travel is all the people you will meet along the way! Some people you meet might become your future travel buddies.

The easiest way to make new friends is to stay in hostels and join the activities they organize.

Making friends in hostels is the most common way people make friends when traveling solo.

Most hostels also have private rooms if sharing a dorm room does not appeal to you. That way you can still enjoy the social aspect of a hostel while keeping your privacy.

Staying in hostels is also a great way to save money on your trip as well!

Summary: Want to travel but no one to go with

And that is it, girls! I felt like I had no one to travel with for years.

However, once I left my hometown and made friends with similar interests I finally found my travel buddies.

Also, I found out I love solo travel. You can compare solo travel and travel with friends , and see which one is for you!

Even as a complete introvert, I made so many friends traveling solo who I could travel with.

Now that you know exactly what steps to take to find people who want to travel , here are the best winter experiences in Europe to add to your Europe travel bucket list to inspire your next adventure!

Natali is the founder of She's Abroad Again. She is a solo female travel and backpacking expert who traveled to more than 30 country over 3 continents, mostly solo and on a budget! She is a lawyer turned travel blogger as she traded long office hours in Croatia for a digital nomad life and currenly calls France her home.

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Ask Me Anything: I Want to Travel The World, How Do You Travel So Much?

Home » Ask Me Anything » Ask Me Anything: I Want to Travel The World, How Do You Travel So Much?

I have a series on my blog called Ask Me Anything  and I keep track of reader questions that I get over and over and slowly answer them with a full blog post. So, many of you email saying something like, “I want to travel the world! You’re so lucky! How do you get to travel so much?” I want to break it down here and start with how I get to travel so much plus how you can too.

I want to travel the world!

It seems weird to say this, but travel is the “it thing”. Everything online is about cool hotels to see, great places to travel, and Instagram is full of “travel-inspo” getting you pumped for your next trip. In fact, Forbes says the following are true:

• Seventy percent of millennials identified travel as their primary reason to work.
• 5% of millennials identified themselves as digital nomads.

Not only are young people saying “I want to travel the world”, but they are saying “I want to travel the world for a living”.

There are even viral articles about how us millennials are traveling too much and wasting money rather than buying houses that we can’t afford. A study showed that travel was more important to millennials than buying a house, a car, or even paying off debt. Many of the travelers I’ve met are in huge debt from college still. The same survey also looked into how millennials choose their location for the next trip and 75% of those surveyed said social media made their decision.

Many people see travel bloggers like myself on Instagram and Facebook traveling the world for a living and they think:  I want to travel the world for a living, where do I start?

How I Get to Travel So Much

I’ll start with how I get to travel so much and how I got “lucky” enough to have this job as a travel blogger/influencer.

I started this blog four years ago on a whim, with no background knowledge of what a blog was. Now, I have over 1 million page views each month on my blog. Travel blogging wasn’t new when I started, but it wasn’t as saturated as it is now. Please check out this article which explains how exactly I got started with travel blogging personally.

I didn’t just become successful overnight and my parents/boyfriend aren’t paying for it (as so many people comment to tell me they think is the case!). It’s competitive and you have to work really hard . After I left nursing and moved to India, I was a masseuse for some time and sold candles on the side while my blog grew into a career. After six months, I made it into a list of top 50 bloggers and I felt like “wow this was easier than I thought” but shortly after that, travel blogging became HUGE and there were millions of travel blogs created – I dropped off the list (and eventually got back on it, currently at #7). They say one is created every half-second! Bloggers were offering retreats to come learn how to travel like them, and people were eating it all up – not that it was bad, but things changed. Travel blogging became a lot more saturated and it was a question of how to stand out. I worked my butt off on the blog and social media, learning everything I could about SEO, Pinterest marketing, photography, you name it! Now, four years later, I make a lot more money than I did as a nurse and finally feel at ease. I don’t work in a hospital anymore and can pick up and travel at any time, while earning money online. I know what people want to know and that is  how I make money online , so just click that link and you can read the exact streams of income that I have.

Do I travel for free? Sometimes. I could travel for free all the time if I put the effort into pitching airlines, hotels, and tourism boards or took every press trip offered to me. I don’t, though. I don’t like to be constantly traveling. I’m actually a homebody! I take trips I want to take on my own dime and I go places I hadn’t really considered when I’m invited, like Finland where I got to dogsled with Huskeys ! As a blogger, I work with brands to promote them on my travels and not only do I then get to travel for free, but I often get paid for it. That is because I have readers, like you, and followers on social media.

So, the short of it is that travel blogging is my job, and that is how I get to travel so much. It wasn’t handed to me and I didn’t have a background in tech. I learned everything from YouTube videos and had my boyfriend help me set up my website. I love my job  but with my work all being online and based on the fact that people are obsessed with travel and social media later, I know that blogging might not be forever, so I always keep a backup plan .

If you think that starting a travel blog is something you’d like to do, then go for it. You can start a blog in 10 minutes for as little as $2.95 per month. Here’s a blog post on exactly how to do that , step by step, with screenshots so you can’t mess it up!

Option #1: “I want to travel for free too!”

Well, the way I do it is blogging, and like I linked above you could blog so that you earn money while you travel. That’s one way! You can read this article on how to start a blog (step by step) for $2.95 per month.

Another way is if you are super hot you can be an Instagram celebrity lol, they travel for free everywhere and don’t even have to make websites! Kind of joking on that one, but not really.

I have a blog post with 14 ways you can  work abroad  and earn money while you travel, and they aren’t all online jobs, so check that out.

In general, you have to hustle pretty hard to travel for free or you have to have a skillset or job you can do while you travel which can offset costs.

Option #2: “I want to travel the world, but accept I have to pay for it.”

This is a more achievable statement..

I know that you see me traveling for free or getting paid, so therefore you want to do that same thing, and you CAN if you start a travel blog but try to keep in mind that it doesn’t come easy and I pinch myself sometimes to see if it’s all real. It really is amazing.

If you want to travel the world but accept the fact that you have to PAY FOR IT then let’s talk about the steps you can take and options to consider

• Choose a job/major in college that allows travel
• Study abroad if you are in school
• Consider a new career if you feel stuck (that’s what I did)
• Photography
• Graphic design
• Video Editing
• WordPress Design
• Making a product: candles, clothing, crafts
• See if there are options in your current career to travel more
• Look into volunteer projects that offer free housing and food
• Become a yoga teacher
• Become a masseuse
• Become a fitness/pilates instructor
• Think about moving abroad and starting as an expat somewhere
• Start taking weekend trips
• Start traveling in your own country first
• Use sites like Next Vacay or the Anywhere Tool with Kiwi.com to fly somewhere really really cheap
• It’s important to cut expenses while you start out. Check out these tips  from some of the top travel bloggers out there, about how to save money while you travel.

Those are just some ideas off the top of my head, but basically, you should think about what’s holding you back from traveling. Is it your job? How can you fix that? Is it that you have a pet or child? Can you take them with you? Is it lack of money? How can you earn more?

Think about the obstacles in your way and how you can overcome them.

It’s not easy. It looks easy on Instagram, but it’s not easy to give up whatever you are doing and start traveling. So, you can do it two ways: you can start small by doing weekend trips and build on that momentum or you can do it big, quit your job, move abroad, find work in a restaurant. It’s possible. I meet travelers every week here in Goa who are broke and working random jobs to keep traveling.

You have to think about what works for you and if you actually feel the calling to travel or consider if it’s just FOMO because you on Instagram and see others doing it. Travel isn’t always roses, so don’t base it on Instagram!

I hope that you do start traveling and wish you the best of luck! Leave a comment if you are going to start a new journey.

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Share this story, choose your platform, about the author: rachel jones.

Love this! Passing it along to my niece who is currently in the Navy but her ultimate dream is to travel the world! I may take a tip or two for myself! ;)

Love everything about this!!!! I’m obsessed with travel and would love to take the leap. i meet people who were able to take the risk and I’m always intrigued to hear how they did it. For me, what holds me back is the thought of not having steady income. And, I think my age plays a part too. I am youthful at heart but worry about retirement, etc.

Basically, the longevity options mixed with my passion for travel. I hope to bring it all to fruition. I imagine the first step is to pay down the bills and save!!! I so enjoy your blog, hopefully I’ll visit Infia soon, thanks.

wow, you made it look so doable… thanks a lot for this blog. loved every bit of it :) surely gonna meet you when me and my wifey visit goa next :) would love to do something about my passion for travelling sooner than later!!

I just broke up with my bf because I’ve felt the travel itch for a long time and it hadn’t gone away. It’s not much of a shared interest and I feel I need to pursue it. I am a paralegal but would like a career change eventually. Former journalist so writing perhaps? I feel excited but also lost… I’m not sure how to meet people when I travel or how to plan for it. Advice??

Hi Marie, ever think of becoming a Travel Advisor? Only requirement I suggest is to TRAVEL and specialize in a few destinations that you know like the back of your hand. Making six figures and loving what you do (granted it takes many hours and hard work to this goal $) is totally achievable.

Meet anyone out there that is making it traveling with a kiddo?? Mine is about 8. Selling the house now and getting ready to make the leap.

Aloha! I loved your article! I went to school for travel right out of high school and planned to work for Carnival Cruise Lines… shortly after, i found out I was pregnant, so much to my dismay, my dreams were put on hold. Traveling has always been the one constant in my life! Now my children are grown and I’m ready to travel the world, but Im not sure how I would make a living at it now. Im determined to find out, though! I was so excited to read your tips! Thank you for sharing!

Sincerely, Erika

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The Psychology of Why You Feel Empty Traveling (and How to Change It)

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10 Min Read

Have you ever been on a long travel vacation having the time of your life and in the flick of a switch feel home-sick and ready to leave? It turns out, you’re not alone.

Whether we are traveling alone sipping a latte in Paris, France or with some friends on the beach touching our toes to the turquoise waters of Thailand, we have all felt this unexplained and slow moving feeling of crumminess.

What makes it so strange is that we’re happy and having fun but… something is just off. After traveling abroad and speaking to hundreds of others who have experienced these exact feelings, I’ve come to call this phenomenon “the mid-trip crisis.”

Why do we feel “the mid-trip crisis?”

A mid-trip crisis arises because the fundamental design of travel does not support a sense of belonging or a sense of purpose, which studies have shown are the two most impactful factors when measuring a meaningful life.

In the book, The Power of Meaning  by University of Pennsylvania Professor Emily Smith, evidence is shown that people who rate their lives with the most satisfaction are people with intense feelings of belonging and purpose: two things that are fundamentally missing in 95% of travel excursions.

Why Does Traveling Lack Belonging and Purpose?

As Smith describes belonging she says; “we need to feel understood, recognized and affirmed, ” and really, we just need to feel heard, by someone.

It’s no secret that traveling can be isolating.

A stereotypical getaway lasts one or two weeks and is jam packed with activities even up until the last hour. Not only does our vacation turn from relaxing to stressful but the transient nature of our vacation gives us no sense of belonging.

We stay in new places and make friendships that last for no more than a dinner or a day until we off to our next, pre-planned activity. Traveling like this guarantees our vacation to be full of surface level relationships, which subconsciously starts to eat at us.

Worse off, we likely can’t keep in touch with anyone back home be it timezone or data troubles. So there we are. Living the life on our travels until day five our brain is like, “Hey bud I want to talk to someone.”

Why hostels don’t fulfill our desire for belonging

The absence of belonging within travel isn’t anything new. This is why hostels exist, this why group travel programs exist, this is why people travel with friends. These alternatives help a lot. But, there are still fundamental flaws to all of these approaches that leave us wanting something else.

Smith’s findings cite that the greatest driver of belonging for humans is when we experience ‘close relationships. ’ Supported by world-class psychologist Roy Baumeister, Smith explains that close relationships are fulfilled through consistent and non-negative interactions.

This is where hostels just do not deliver.

In a hostel, nine out of ten people we meet will be gone in five days giving no hope for consistent intimacy. While hostels are a great place to have some connection, our mind desires consistency and something deeper.

Travel programs are one of the best alternatives but not ideal for many people. Traveling in a group will help fulfill our sense of belonging through close relationships, it makes traveling extremely limited. The fundamental flaw with traveling in groups is it generally contradicts one of the greatest desires of the modern day traveler: to wander.

The definition of wander is “to walk or move in a casual or aimless way.” There is nothing about having your itinerary pre-planned for the next four weeks that fulfills a person’s desire to “wander.”

This is also why traveling with a significant other is called the marriage test … because it’s really freakin’ hard when you both want to aimlessly wander, but in different directions.

In travel, we want the freedom to wander alone, but we also need to experience close relationships to make it past day five.

What do we do?

Let’s first investigate the lack of purpose in traveling, then we’ll tackle solutions for both.

Lacking a sense of purpose while traveling won’t be a surprise to many people, either. While the loss of belonging may be mitigated by sacrificing freedom to travel in a group or staying in a hostel, finding a sense of purpose is much more difficult.

Americans know travel lacks a sense of purpose. This is why we have a travel deficiency . A week in the islands without time spent on our career? Sounds terrifying and purposeless, so we don’t do it.

The problem begins because traveling, at its core, is just an extended weekend. Yes, even if you’re ‘growing your mind’ in southeast Asia. While travel is more socially accepted, it’s basically the same as watching television.

When broken down, travel is just a long period without any sort of work and lots of time spent as the most egregious of consumers. At the end of the day, we are in a tensionless state where all of our time and effort is spent being selfish.

I don’t say selfish in a bad way. But travel and consumption are usually about our fun, our needs, and our wants. And deep down we crave impact and service.

As Smith describes, when others count on us, we feel purposeful. Smith cites research that shows when people begin engaging in lifestyles where no one is counting on us, be it family, co-workers or strangers, our quality of life starts to drop. 

And this is exactly what happens when we travel. We consume and slowly, just as with belonging, our subconscious mind starts to say, “Hey, dude, I am over these temples here in Asia.”

Belonging & Purpose together

As discussed earlier, studies show belonging and purpose are the most influential factors when measuring quality of life. And ironically, when we go on vacation in pursuit of living a life of high quality, we lose those things.

It takes a few days or whole week but our mind picks up on the absence of these things and that’s when the mid-trip crisis will hit and suddenly you start thinking, “okay… I am ready to go home.”

How Do We Solve the Mid-Trip Crisis?

First off, I am not hating on travel. Traveling, or just taking vacation days is well-documented to be beneficial and pretty necessary to a healthy life .

But here’s the thing. The type of travel I just described above is incredibly lopsided and it is massively weighted towards self-indulgence and consumption. Which is also fine.

One of the studies Smith cites in her work actually shows that self-indulgence is critical to enjoying a life of the highest quality. However, they also found people who invest strictly into self-indulgence rated themselves as really happy… for about five days, then their quality of life dropped to the lowest of anyone in the study.

Consider this when we think about “the mid-trip crisis.” When we travel and 90% of our energy is spent self-indulging, life is great, but then after a week or so we start to feel really crappy.

So what’s missing?

In this cited study, the people who ended up having the highest quality of life were those who had both self-indulgence and some sort of purpose in their day.

If you’ve ever heard the term “work hard, play hard,” you now have evidence to support your claim.

Applying this to traveling means: have a ton of fun and do something you care about.

Let’s see what that actually looks like in practice. Below, we have put together a few sample ideas on how you can weave both purpose and belonging into your trip.

Solutions to “the Mid-Trip Crisis”

To solve the issue of the mid-trip crisis and to ensure your travels are infinitely awesome, a few things need to happen. 

First, make sure your trip allows for consistent time for building relationships (belonging). Second, make sure you schedule time for one or two activities that feel purposeful and third, have lots of fun.

As long as you deliver on these three things, you will have an unbeatable travel experience every time, whether it is two weeks or six months.

Having lots of fun while traveling isn’t hard, so I won’t really cover that. Let’s focus on belonging and purpose.

Below, I have accumulated some solutions to both purpose and belonging. Mix and match some of the ideas. Some of them can work together. Each solution delivers on purpose or belonging in a different way, it is your choice on how you want to approach this.

The Solutions:

When traveling in a group, have a defined experience planned:

Traveling in a group helps create a sense of belonging with consistent interaction. However, we lose our sense of freedom. It is shown that a lot of happiness and life satisfaction is based on our expectation of experiences. If you are traveling in a group, book a defined and controlled experience like a safari. This clearly places the expectation for traveling wandering isn’t going to happen.

Do your normal morning routine:

Having our normal morning run, breakfast or reading gives us a sense of normalcy that enables a sense of productivity and purpose for the entire day.

Work remote:

Working remote is a good way to support purpose and maybe belonging. A remote job is going to have limited interaction with coworkers, being in a new country and talking TPS Sheets with Sharon from accounting isn’t going to drive a sense of belonging. However, if you work for a company who lets you work remote for an infinite runway, this can help as you immerse into your travel locations and make friends with locals.

Volunteering is a special type of travel. It can be done on a long-term basis or short-term basis. Volunteering is going to be done in a group so a sense of belonging will arise. Putting in the elbow-grease towards a cause will also support a sense of purpose. And your volunteering doesn’t have to be something altruistic. Volunteer at a winery, restaurant or bar. Putting in hours on anything will help.

Travel for five days only:

Traveling for a shorter amount of time doesn’t really solve a sense of belonging or purpose, but completely avoids needing one. 5-day travel allows you to self-indulge like crazy and come back home before your body realizes it was missing either of the two. 

Travel for six months in 2-3 locations:

Conversely to the above solution, by traveling for long periods of time, we are able to fulfill both belonging and purpose. Traveling long-periods of time helps us feel a sense of belonging as we are able to make friends with locals. Delivering on purpose here is very doable as you will have to adopt some sort of a normal life. Having a routine, picking up a side job, volunteering or working remote will help you feel productive, impactful and purposeful.

The mid-trip crisis won’t apply to everyone. But for a lot of us, it’s a thing and hopefully today these writings are able to supply you with an understanding of why, giving you the power to create travel that fits your needs.

The solutions above are samples and suggestions, there are probably infinite ways to create the travel you want and the travel you need.

Get creative. We’d love to hear what you came up with.

As a Certified Travel Associate, I take pride in learning about destinations. These are my most common requests:

• United Kingdom (London specialist)

According to my Ancestry DNA results, I am 6% Irish, 38% Scottish, and 33% English, which explains my love for the UK and Ireland!

• Partner with you to develop the perfect itinerary for your party
• Look for the best value for your travels
• Provide a daily itinerary of activities
• Complimentary itinerary app
• Flight monitoring
• Available during travel
• Provide recommendations (restaurants, hidden gems)
• Cruising, from large oceanliners to intimate river cruises - there is something for everyone
• Flexible Independent Travel (FIT), customized just for you
• Escorted travel, large and small groups available
• "Come along" - join yours truly and others for an adventure

May 8-19, 2024

Join us on two back-to-back cruises, departing from Southampton, UK (1.5 hours south of London). Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas is a beautiful Quantum-class ship that will delight all ages!

The first cruise option is a 3-day, 2-night cruise to Le Havre, France. Excursion options include a day in Paris!

After this, it's time for our show-stopper cruise to the Norwegian Fjords! May 12-19, this 8-day, 7-night cruise will visit the ports of Bergen, Olden, Geiranger, and Haugesund.

Don't have that much vacation time? Skip the first and join us for Norway!

December 6-10, 2024

Make your way to your five-star cruise ship moored in historic Cologne, whose skyline is dominated by the spires of its magnificent cathedral. The dedicated English-speaking crew welcomes you on board and helps you to your cabin. After settling into your spacious and tastefully furnished accommodation, there’s time to familiarise yourself with this splendid ship. Luggage may be dropped at any time, and official boarding time is usually between 4:00-5:00pm.

Discover the magical ambience of Germany's traditional Christmas markets with their host of unique, inspired gift ideas, plus the stunning Rhineland on this splendid winter river cruise. Cruise through the world famous and dramatic Rhine Gorge before arriving in the renowned wine town of Rüdesheim and spending the afternoon wandering this charming spot. Explore Koblenz, dramatically situated at the confluence of the Rhine & Moselle Rivers, on a guided tour with free time to browse its lovely Christmas market. Discover Bonn on a guided tour of Germany’s historic former capital before arriving back in Cologne, where the rest of the day is free to discover one (or all) of its seven Christmas markets.

April 11-20, 2025

Tiptoe through the tulips, tread through famous battlegrounds, and sprint to the irresistible bonbons on this aromatic tour. Three nights in Amsterdam, two nights each in Luxembourg and Brussels, plus one night in the medieval town of Bruges is the perfect introduction to the sights and delights of the Benelux countries. Springtime departures include the exploding kaleidoscope of Holland’s famous bulb fields and the extraordinary Keukenhof Gardens. With intricate canals flowing as freely as the lager from lively Amsterdam to perfectly preserved Bruges, get ready to float up to some of Europe’s most impressive museums, markets, palaces, cathedrals-and confectionaries!

This is a Globus coach tour, but adding additional days will give you some independent travel time if desired.

• Life gets busy and you may not have the time (or interest) to properly plan a trip. Do you really want to spend your hard earned funds on a poorly planned vacation? Do you trust that an online booking engine or big box store has your best interest at heart and will be there for you during travel? Will those agents give you their mobile numbers to use during travel?
• I am certified with The Travel Institute's Certified Travel Associate program and am also a member of the American Society of Travel Advisors.
• When I book your travels, I treat your trip as if it was for my own family.
• My customer service will exceed your expectations.
• Read my reviews on Google and Travel Leaders .
• Hey Wanna Go Travel has been owned and by Cheryl Ogle since 2016 and operates out of Lubbock, Texas.
• What started as a part-time side job to feed Cheryl’s passion for helping people create memories through travel soon grew beyond her expectations. Hey Wanna Go specializes in travel to Europe and the UK, as well as river and ocean cruises.
• Ready to connect? [email protected] or 805-399-2662

The best plans can be made and the unexpected can happen and cause you to cancel or change your plans.

I highly recommend purchasing travel protection. Price varies, based on length and value of trip, plus dates of birth of travelers.

Interested in generating a quote? Click here !

Need some activity ideas for your travels? The following links allow you to self-book excursions and activities.

• Tours by Locals
• Project Expedition
• Shore Excursions Group

What about cruising? Viking is a top name in the cruising world. Take a look here and let's talk about the best choice for YOU!

• Viking River Cruises
• Viking Ocean Cruises

Some of my favorite Amazon travel items (may contain affiliate links):

• Brita Water Bottle
• Plug Adapters for Europe
• Plus Adapters for UK
• Under Eye Patches - great after a redeye flight!
• Packing cubes
• Backpack Travel Bag - I LOVE my Lovevook!
• Lovevook Carry-on Backpack - holds a TON!
• Jewelry Organizer
• Travel Slippers
• Luggage Lock - TSA approved

Easily my favorite city: London! For those who prefer to book their own flights and accommodations, I offer itinerary planning services for a flat fee. This includes organizing the ideas you provide, or offering activity suggestions based on your interests. All plans will be included in an itinerary app. I also include London tips I have gathered over the years: how to ride the tube, the easiest way to get to Central London from Heathrow, favorite restaurants, London gems, and much more.

Scared To Travel Alone: How 22 Globetrotters Overcame Their Solo Travel Anxiety

By Jessie Festa. This guide to overcoming fears of traveling alone contains affiliate links to trusted partners!

Scared to travel alone? You’re not the only one.

We asked 22 globetrotters to share their top solo travel fears — and how they overcame them.

The truth: Solo vacations can be extremely rewarding , as you’ll grow your relationship with yourself and learn what you’re truly capable of.

Keep reading for a serious dose of solo travel empowerment.

Need help deciding where to go solo? My free and fun travel personality quiz will help you uncover your perfect type of trip — with unique experience suggestions included — based on your responses to 10 visual questions. 

Psst! Don’t forget to pin this post for later!

Table of Contents

Solo Travel Packing List

Along with your usual trip essentials, solo travelers shouldn’t leave home without:

• Clever Travel Companion Pickpocket-Proof Garments.  These hidden-pocket garments ensure thieves never even know you’re carrying cash, cards, and valuables.
• She’s Birdie Personal Safety Alarm . Simply press a button and this small device will blare as loud as a fire truck to scare potential attackers — and animals!
• Speakeasy Hidden Pocket Scarves . These fashionable handmade scarves come in variety of patterns and styles for all seasons. Best of all, they feature hidden pockets for carrying valuables (including your passport!).

My Favorite Solo Female Travel Destinations

Is solo travel fun ? It absolutely can be, especially if you choose solo-friendly places tailored to your interests. With that in mind, I wanted to quickly share some of my favorite solo female travel destinations :

Watch the one-minute video above to learn nine of them. All of these I felt were safe to explore on my own. Along with international destinations, the video showcases some of the best solo trips in the US .

Afterward, please share in the comments below what solo travel destinations you’d add to the list.

Afraid To Travel Alone: How To Travel By Yourself (& Feel Confident)

Here is what 22 female travelers and one male traveler had to share about being scared to travel alone — as well as overcoming that fear, including essential solo female travel tips .

It’s normal for anxiety to creep in as you weigh the various solo travel advantages and disadvantages , though hopefully the following short travel stories help you see it’s possible to overcome — so that you can experience the ultimate feedom of traveling alone.

1. A Previous Scary Experience Held Me Back

I’ve always enjoyed traveling solo, but when I went to India in 2016, I had a scary experience while alone in Varanasi that made me feel fearful about traveling alone in the future.

For a little while afterwards, I had solo travel anxiety.

I tried to avoid booking solo trips and ended up traveling less as I had to wait for a convenient time for my friends to travel with me.

Eventually, I decided to pluck up the courage to take another solo trip.

I reminded myself how much fun I’d had on my other solo trips to-date.

In fact, even when I was in India , I didn’t let that one bad experience ruin my entire trip.

And as many of my friends pointed out, I stayed calm and handled the experience in a positive way.

This helped me realize that I’m actually more than capable of having a successful and enjoyable solo trip.

-Kacie from The Rare Welsh Bit

2. Hostel Dorms Freaked Me Out

At the young age of 51 — after 15 years of traveling the globe extensively as a couple — I found myself single and planning a solo trip to Paris and London.

I quickly realized that staying in hostel dorms was the wisest lodging option for my limited solo travel budget ; however, it was those dorms that I so desperately dreaded.

Let’s just say it had been a while since I shared my bedroom with strangers.

My head was filled with  tales of smelly dorms and rowdy inconsiderate backpackers .

In addition, I wondered if I’d get any sleep at all in a hostel dorm.

So I pushed my concerns aside and went through all the booking sites reviews, reading as many travel blogs from other female solo travelers as I could find.

My hope was to find encouragement and motivation.

Tips and tricks from fellow midlife solo travelers inspired me, putting my discomforting thoughts to rest.

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone, right?

“If other mature female travelers can do this so can I,” said that little voice in my head, as I reserved my first dorm bed in a Paris hostel.

-Nathalie from Marquestra

3. Potential Scary Encounters Abroad Made Me Nervous

My biggest fear when traveling is scary encounters abroad.

I’m terrified of being that girl that goes missing or who is attacked on a trip, especially since on my very first solo adventure I was jumped on by a man in a park.

Here’s what happened:

I was sitting in a public park in Munich.

There was a pond with some ducks, which seems like the perfect spot to rest my legs and catch up on my travel journal.

Then, this French man came to talk to me.

He sat next to me, and we had this normal conversation about travel.

He seemed nice.

Then things got weird.

After he was done with small talk, he put his hands on me and got on top of me.

I rolled out from under him, grabbed my bag and looked around.

Did anyone see this?

Why wasn’t anyone coming to my aid?

I became really aware of my surroundings at that moment.

The park was full of men, and they were all standing around watching this happen.

I was in my second city. and had a lot more travel ahead of me before meeting up with my friends in Amsterdam.

In survival mode now, I ran to the busiest street in the city.

For the rest of that trip, I made sure to stay in busy public spaces.

I could have ended my solo trip; but instead, I learned from it.

Now when I travel to a new city on my own, I have a list of smart things to do/not do.

A few items:

• Don’t find yourself alone on a path, in an alley or a large park
• Don’t be too distracted on my phone or in my notebook to see what’s going on around me

I also use anti-theft purses and bags ( like these ) with the locks clasped to protect my things.

For me, it’s about traveling smart and staying very aware of my surroundings at all times.

-Sharon from Daily Dream 360

4. A Fear Of Flying Held Me Back

I am afraid of flying.

People are often surprised to hear that from someone who travels as much as I do, but it’s not as uncommon as you’d think.

It’s especially bad when I fly solo, since I don’t have anyone’s hand to hold.

I can’t say I’ve really conquered my fear, but I’ve learned to deal with it, even when I’m alone. Over the years, I’ve become conscious of which elements of flying trigger my fear, and I’m better at heading off the adrenaline jolt of panic before it happens.

One method that works for me:

Wearing noise-reduction headphones and watching videos at high volume, which prevents me from hearing many of the sounds that used to scare me.

Or if my neighbors are amenable, I chat with them, which distracts me from whatever the plane is doing.

I still tense up in turbulence, but I have a better understanding of what it is and how it works, which helps me stay calm.

My advice if you suffer from this fear as well and are considering solo travel is to study up:

Read about how planes work.

There are plenty of apps and books for fearful flyers , and knowing what’s going on around you really helps.

Another tip:

Practice in-flight relaxation techniques, and purchase gear that can help you sleep better on a plane .

-Rachel from Rachel’s Ruminations

5. Speaking A Foreign Language Made Me Nervous

My fear when I first starting traveling internationally was speaking to people in foreign countries.

I remember going into a store in Brussels and not saying a word to the cashier because I was afraid to speak.

I didn’t even say “Thank you” in English!

I think I was afraid they wouldn’t know English and I was going to sound really dumb in their language.

As I’ve traveled more, the fear has diminished.

Now, I regularly try to learn how to say “Hello”, “Good Morning” and “Thank you” in the local language.

Learning a few words helps me overcome my fear.

I also learned that some people in foreign countries are just as afraid to speak English so that also helped.

If you just try, many people will be so grateful that you even attempted to speak their language and will be more friendly towards you.

Plus, there are a number of two-way voice translators ( like this one ), and even online language learning classes over Skype , that can help make communicating easier.

-Tiffany from A Girl and Her Passport

6. My First Day Solo In Europe Was Awful

On my first journey overseas at the age of 17, I was so nervous that I threw up multiple times.

Even worse, I got on the wrong train and ended up stranded for hours in a train station in Switzerland.

I was alone, sick, scare, and had no idea how to contact my family in Canada or my host family that was supposed to pick me up.

Hey, these were the pre-cell phone days.

When I tearfully asked a lady at the ticket counter for help, she slammed the window in my face.

As the sun set, I felt terrified that I would have to spend the night in this grungy train station, where people were getting drunk on the bench beside me.

This was not something I was looking forward to.

That said, I harvested my inner stubbornness — the same trait that allowed me to convince my family to let me go abroad alone in the first place — and marched around the station one last time.

Finally, I found a man at a desk who was willing to help me.

He called my host family in France and within an hour I was in their car on my way to their home.

Suffice to say, this was a pretty horrible first day in Europe.

And I had another three months ahead of me!

I could have let my anxiety get the best of me and go home; but instead, I took a deep breath and told myself that if my first day in Europe was this awful, it could only get better.

And it did.

Staying positive, reminding myself that I am resourceful, and remembering that most people are good and helpful are all techniques I’ve used to successfully navigate solo trips.

Since that bad day in Europe, I’ve flown to Haiti alone to volunteer after the devastation 2010 earthquake as well as to Mali to work with an NGO and live with a local family.

If I had let fear win, I never would have been able to have these experiences.

More importantly, I also wouldn’t have met amazing people while traveling alone.

That is perhaps the most important thing to remember about traveling solo:

Even if you start out alone, you never will be alone for long.

-Thea from Zen Travellers

7. i imagined all the things that could go wrong.

As a landscape photography fanatic, I’ve always wanted to visit Iceland for its incredible scenery.

However, it’s also somewhere I figured I’d wait and visit with “Mr Right”.

Well, I got fed up waiting for him, and booked a solo Iceland road trip in September.

After I’d booked it — and again on the way to the airport — I had a little panic attack.

I’d barely heard of anyone road tripping in Iceland alone.

Was it because it was so remote?

Would anyone find me if I got lost?

Or if I broke down, how would I get help if there was no signal on my phone?

I turned to one of the extremely supportive female travel networks I’m a member of on Facebook.

Within seconds of posting, I had a barrage of “you’ve got this, you are a strong independent woman” messages, along with “I did the same thing and I was just fine.”

Most of my home friends are married with kids, so very few understand my solo travel mentality.

These Facebook girls, however, get it. They said exactly what I needed to hear.

And you know what?

I was just fine.

Iceland is not quite as remote as I’d imagined.

Actually, it’s far too popular with tourists!

The roads were clearly marked and the phone signal absolutely fine.

I never felt unsafe or vulnerable, and had the best time.

I’d recommend if you’re nervous about traveling solo, reach out to others like you and you’ll realize you’re not really alone.

-Leanne from The Globetrotter GP

8. Getting Sick Abroad Scared Me

My biggest fear when traveling alone is getting seriously ill or injured, especially in a developing country far from home.

While not all health emergencies can be avoided, I prepare by:

• Getting any necessary vaccinations
• Stocking a good first-aid kit
• Protecting myself from mosquito bites
• Buying travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage

I also always have contact information of reliable hospitals and doctors on hand; any good travel guidebook will provide a list of reputable local English-speaking facilities.”

-Ingrid from Second-Half Travels

9. Unwanted Attention From Men Made Me Nervous

I’ve traveled to over 100 countries — most of them solo — but I still remember my first trip abroad alone and how I felt.

What was I going to do all day?

What would happen if I got lost?

One thing I wasn’t ready for was the amount of male attention I would get.

I think one of the things you need to be aware of is that you will often receive a lot of unwanted attention in some of the male dominated countries.

My suggestion:

Dress locally ( scarf shawls come in handy !), be confident and do not focus on who is right and wrong.

Nothing is foolproof, but you should research the destination to understand their culture.

Here’s an example:

When I visited Morocco solo , I received a lot of unwanted male attention.

I remained polite and just kept walking to my destination.

I always knew where I was going next; and if not, I could discreetly look at my app maps.me, which allows you to use maps offline, to find my next destination.

I refuse to allow it to ruin my travels.

-Nicole from Nicole La Barge

10. I Was Nervous To Dine Alone

One of the biggest fears I used to have about traveling alone was the loneliness I would feel at meal times.

More than that, I thought I’d look ridiculous dining alone at a restaurant, when everyone else around me would be enjoying the company of friends, family and a special one.

It didn’t take long during my first solo trip to realize I actually quite enjoy sitting by myself, not trying to make small talk as I eat, and properly savoring every bite.

I’ve also realized that there are many more people eating alone than I would have thought.

In fact, quite often I end up striking up a conversation with others around me.

The best way to do this:

Sitting at the bar rather than at a table — it looks like people sitting at the bar are always more open to conversation.

I have done this in several places in Cape Town — like Knysna Oysters at the V&A Waterfront — and it really works!

If I feel particularly lonely and homesick, which hardly happens, I take out my smartphone and chat to my family and friends while I eat.

There are even times when I want to completely isolate myself and take out my book.

I enjoy eating by myself so much that I now do it at home, too!

-Claudia from My Adventures Across the World

11. I Had A Fear Of Being Judged

When I was 19, I desperately wanted to travel abroad, but I was afraid to do it alone.

My main fear:

That people would judge me.

I thought they’d think I was a loser for being by myself, and wouldn’t want to talk to me.   

To help with my fears I started doing small activities in my hometown by myself, like going for walks in the parks, browsing shops and eating out.

This allowed me to become more comfortable spending time with myself, and over time I realized much of my fear was just inside my head.  

Eventually, I gained enough courage and bought a one-way ticket to Ireland.    Of course, the first day abroad I was scared. I wanted to hide inside my room, but instead I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and went down to the common room of my hostel.

As a result, my eyes were opened to the wonderful possibilities of solo travel .

As I began to meet many other solo travelers while traveling alone in Ireland , I realized that it’s not strange to explore the world on your own.

In fact, it’s more common than not.

Now, almost a decade later, solo is the way I prefer to travel.   

It has helped me develop so much confidence in myself.

It has opened my eyes to endless possibilities, and has helped me form incredible friendships with strangers from all over the world.

If you want to travel, but are afraid to do it alone, I encourage you to try it.

If you aren’t ready for a big trip, start with a small one to build your confidence.

Trust me, you are not the only one out there traveling alone. I know it can be scary to make that first step, but I guarantee the rewards will be worth it.”

-Lora from Explore with Lora

12. I Was Scared Of Not Being Understood

My main fear about traveling alone is not being understood.

I live in the Philippines, and most people in my country can speak conversational English.

So in my naivety I held the same expectation in other countries.

When I moved to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, I found out that locals can speak English in main tourist areas; but in local neighborhoods some people don’t understand a word.

I once ate out and ordered a rice meal and water and instead got noodles and iced milo.

I dealt with this issue by learning local words to get by — numbers from 1-10, items I would normally buy in groceries or order in restaurants, phrases to use when asking for directions.

My advice for other solo female travelers is to bring with you a few local words.

It’s also smart to bring a phone with data in case you need to translate phrases.

Also, whenever you’re afraid to approach someone, just do what I do:

Take a deep breath and go for it!

-Katherine from Tara Lets Anywhere

13. i was afraid of the burden i’d put on my family if something bad happened.

As the oldest child and a single mother, I have long been the leader and guiding force in my family.

I help everyone through difficult times, and often ease the financial burdens of siblings and children.

Traveling alone has never been a fear in the typical sense, as I am confident in my ability to get through almost any situation; but it brings anxiety, because of my role in the family.

The idea that if something were to happen to me there may be an extreme burden upon my family is unacceptable.

To address this, I’ve established a system that ensures they would have the information and assistance needed if something happened to me.

First, my home and affairs are in order before departure:

The house is clean and organized, the bills are paid.

Second, I have prepared a set of documents that includes my will, financial institutions and account information, as well as directions and passwords.

Those documents are mailed to one of my sons in “the envelope,” upon each departure. It is never opened, and given back to me upon my return.

Lastly, I have set up a support system of trusted friends to assume certain tasks, including closing online applications, retrieving my affects and contacting my children to initiate insurance claims.

Knowing these actions are all in place to help my family has freed me to travel with much less worry, and I believe it would help others in my position.

-Roxanna from Gypsy with a Day Job

14. I’d Been The Victim Of Theft Abroad Before

As female travelers, we are often the “easy” target for shady people.

Well, that’s what they think at least.

Anyway, I was scared to travel solo in Paris with my DSLR, because that’s a costly item and I’d had my previous camera stolen.

But then I woke up to the reality that it can happen anywhere, even in my hometown, and if I just take a few precautions, I’d feel much safer.

So, what I do now is I…

• Always purchase travel insurance
• Never leave my belongings unattended
• Watch my surroundings

If the place seems dodgy, I just leave my camera in my bag.

These simple measures make me feel much better and considerably less anxious.

And even if it happens again, I can tell you this:

It won’t stop me from traveling the world!

-Bruna from Maps ‘N Bags

15. I Had Nobody To Talk Me Out Of My “Loneliness” Fear

My biggest fear before traveling alone was that I would be lonely all the time.

I figured that I would be so bored because I would always be doing things completely by myself, and that I would be the only solo traveler out there.

The people around me mirrored this belief back to me, because nobody I knew had traveled solo.

Once I started traveling in Southeast Asia  — my first stop — I realized that I was completely wrong about how many other solo travelers there would be.

I was far from the only one!

Just by staying in hostels, which are social by nature, I would have a built-in network of friends pretty much immediately everywhere I went.

It turned out that I was almost never alone, and certainly never bored.

-Kristin from Be My Travel Muse

16. I Feared I Wouldn’t Fit In On The Road Solo

I had great solo travel anxiety over whether I’d be able to fit in, make friends and get to know locals.

I travel long term, so it’s essential not to be isolated; but even on a short trip, I think we all want to be tourists who can relax and get to know locals.

What’s worked for me has been actively reaching out in online spaces where travelers connect.

Couchsurfing operates hang outs in most cities where travelers go to relax and make a friends.

Meetup has language exchange groups.

Or just search “expats in [insert destination]” in Google and make a forum post asking to hang out with other locals or solo travelers.

Be brave, plan ahead and it will make all the difference. 

-Danielle from Live In 10 Countries

17. I Didn’t Know If Being An Introvert Would Ruin My Solo Trip

Before heading out on my first solo trip many years ago, I was worried about all of the unknowns that come with travel.

Would I get bored and lonely traveling alone?

Would I feel safe?

Would I become less adventurous on my own?

As an introvert, would I keep too much to myself ?

I had many fears but I decided to face each one.

These days when I travel solo, I choose places where I’ll feel comfortable and safe, even if it costs a bit more.

Each morning, I text my husband or my mom to let them know what my general plans are, especially if I’m planning a day trip.

And I make an effort to talk with people when I’m out and about, often signing up for day tours with other people or looking for places to eat where people share tables.

Now that I know what works for me, I relish traveling solo.

If you’re thinking about traveling alone, it’s okay to be nervous.

Just don’t let fear stop you from seeing the world!

-Cate from International Desserts Blog

18. standing out due to physical appearance was a challenge.

Traveling solo as a woman can be such a joy, but with it comes challenges.

During my travels in Asia, I’ve encountered the challenge of standing out due to my height, race and hair.

I am a 5’6″ white woman with blonde, curly hair.

Needless to say, I don’t look like the locals; and as a result, I attract stares, and sometimes unwanted attention from men.

Over time I’ve adopted a strategy to respond with cautious friendliness while still being aware of my surroundings and safety.

Here’s a story:

On my first full day in Seoul, South Korea, I was sitting on a bench waiting for a temple to open nearby.

An older Korean gentleman saw me and began to walk very quickly in my direction.

I was a bit concerned, but decided that I was in a safe setting surrounded by many people and stayed in place.

In English, he asked if I was American or Canadian. I replied American.

Then he asked what city and I responded Los Angeles.

A huge smile spread across his face and he told me about the time he lived in Los Angeles, many years ago.

We chatted for a few minutes and then he left.

My first connection with a local had been lovely.

A few days later I was in a Dunkin Donuts enjoying breakfast when a young man nearby began to ask me questions.

We began to chat, but quickly his questions became intrusive and inappropriate.

We were the only patrons, and the clerk had disappeared into the back.

I stood, excused myself, tossed the remains of my meal, and walked quickly back towards my hotel.

When I’m traveling solo, I try to be open to meeting local residents while never losing sight of my safety.

My advice to other women:

Always assess the environment.

• Are there others around?
• Can you find an exit if needed?
• Can you retreat to a safer setting if you are feeling uncomfortable?

Solo travel can be exciting and liberating, so I hope all women will be open to the experience while still guarding their safety.

-Wendy from Empty Nesters

19. I Thought The Waiters Would Pity Me

I used to hate dining alone.

I thought people would stare at me, and that waiters would pity me.

That awful moment of asking for a table for one, and the look of surprise on the waiter’s face.

Sitting down and them bringing two menus automatically, so I’d have to explain I was alone.

The reality, though, is that waiters are often friendlier to me when I’m alone.

They make an extra effort to chat, or to give me a large glass of wine.

Perhaps that is pity, but I think now that I’m more confident dining alone there is no need to feel sorry for me.

If I feel uncomfortable alone, I sometimes take a book or journal, or take photos like I’m a food critic who’ll be reviewing the restaurant.

But mostly, I just sit and enjoy.

I love dining alone now as I can choose exactly what I want to eat; no guilt, no compromise.

Whether I want to gorge on street food or treat myself to a three-course meal, I just do it and enjoy it.

I like to savor everything I eat, and love to people watch, too.

I wonder what people are thinking while they’re eating — who they are with, and why.

Is it a first date perhaps?

A shady business meeting?

Friends who haven’t seen each other for years?

That usually keeps me busy between courses!

The best tip for women dining alone though is to just enjoy the experience. Relish it!

-Claire from Tales of a Backpacker

20. Encountering Insects Alone Freaks Me Out

My greatest fear when traveling solo is encountering insects.

For me, there’s nothing that sends me over the edge faster when I’m alone in my hotel room than seeing a huge cockroach or tarantula scurry under my bed.

The fact that I got dengue fever from a mosquito bite doesn’t help.

I’ve now got a bug-busting “travel toolkit” that has helped me overcome my fears.

My toolkit includes:

• Tips on how to choose a room with fewer insects
• Why you should always travel with duct tape (to seal gaps in windows and doors)
• Why long-sleeved clothing is best for the tropics
• The best DEET repellent
• Many other inexpensive but indispensable strategies for avoiding insects and bugs

While I’m still not a fan of discovering a scorpion in my shoe or a giant cockroach in my bed, at least I’m able to control my anxiety and function, and not scream hysterically or call security.

-Michele from A Taste for Travel

21. Going Out Alone At Night

I love taking pictures.

I love it so much that many times, as it happens, I keep doing it for so long without minding anything else.

It’s sort of like meditation.

This has led to a few strange situations, especially after heading somewhere to catch the sunset and its golden light.

For instance:

There was a time in India when I realized it was dark and I was alone in a long, narrow alley.

No other women were in sight, and there were random men daring wild-eyed at me.

Another time a policeman in the Dominican Republic asked why I was still at a particular square, and where exactly I was staying.

He demanded he and his partner take me back to my hotel, as the spot was apparently dangerous at night, especially for solo female travelers.

Long story short:

If you also get easily absorbed in your surroundings, be kind to yourself and either:

• Choose sunrises
• Leave the pretty spot right after sunset, before it gets too dark
• Get a trustworthy companion to wander with at night

These solo female travel tips have helped me a lot.

-Inma from A World to Travel

22. Social Anxiety Kept Solo Vacations From Happening

Social anxiety was my major obstacle to solo travel from when I was old enough to do it, right through to my early thirties.

I traveled with my ex-wife in my twenties, and got glimpses of solo travel when I left her at the accommodation to go out and experience the nightlife in various South American cities; but I never thought I’d really experience proper solo travel.

It wasn’t until my divorce at 30 that I realized outside of my comfort zone was where all the best things started to happen.

Once you hit 30 it can be hard to find friends to travel with, since everyone is partnered up and starting to have kids, so there was little other choice than to embrace my new-found freedom.

I quickly realized that traveling solo rarely meant actually being alone, and I had the time of my life traveling like never before.

-Neil from Bushwalking Blog

Solo travel tips.

New to solo travel ?

I made so many mistakes when planning my first trip solo — like booking out every second of my itinerary so that I had no room for adventure.

That’s not what I want for you.

To help you plan a meaningful and memorable trip, I’m sharing my top tips for planning the perfect solo trip — with confidence!

Are you scared to travel alone? Have tips for overcoming solo travel anxiety?

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Thank you so much for putting this article together, and sharing these experiences – you really don;t know how much it means to me, and I can empathise with every single story. This is something that stops people from travelling, something that stopped me from travelling for many years, and it’s heartbreaking. I regret every year that I didn’t travel because I was afraid to.

Seeing these stories from people who’ve been there and overcome it is such a massive boost, a huge inspiration, and I’ll be sharing this as much as possible!

I love this post. I have so much anxiety about travelling alone, but everyone’s stories have made me think I really really need to give it a go! Thank you!

This is a wonderful post and a very comprehensive guide. I had to deal also with some sort of travel anxiety and I’m glad that I could handle it; I’m now almost 15 years into traveling solo and the best part is that I enjoy it! Safe travels 🙂

Thank you so much for the post it was really truly helpful ! I appreciated it!

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I Want to Travel but I’m in a Relationship

‘I want to travel but I’m in a relationship’ – ah, what a dilemma. It’s something that I’ve dealt with myself, with my current partner, who is about as opposite to a backpacker as you can be. ‘ I want to travel but my partner doesn’t ,’ I’d say to my friends, hoping that they could somehow magically come up with a solution. But what is the solution if you want to travel but you’re in a relationship? How do you know if you’re making the right decision? I am a member of several Facebook groups about travel, specifically solo female travel . While most of the posts in the groups are about whether a destination is safe or what the best things to do there are, questions that I see time and time again are:

• How do you choose between a relationship and travel?
• What do I do if I want to travel but I’m in a relationship?
• My boyfriend doesn’t want to travel WITH me but ALSO, said boyfriend doesn’t want me to travel WITHOUT him – what do I do?

Usually these posts come from people slightly younger than myself who are finishing up with school and have been yearning to travel for as long as they can remember, but their high school sweetheart (or someone they just started dating) just point blank refuses. And it’s a real dilemma. As someone who grew up dreaming of travel, where my travel dreams bordered on obsession, I totally get how, for some people, travel is a need and not simply a want. I’m also a hopeless romantic, and so I also understand the desire to find that one perfect person who you spend the rest of your life with, and not wanting to end things with somebody in case they are that person and you end up regretting it. So, what do you do? Well, there is no one-size-fits-all answer I’m afraid. Every relationship is different, every set of circumstances are different, and I can’t sit here and make your decisions for you. With that being said, I can give you some possible solutions, compromises, and the kind of advice that I am much more able to give at age 29 then I would have been at 18 or 19.

Table of Contents

I Want to Travel but I’m in a Relationship – What Should I Do?

One of the first things to address is whether you travelled before you met your partner, whether you have always dreamed about travel, or whether your wanderlust is a more recent thing. The reason I say this is because I believe that these three scenarios are all very different. For example, I have been travelling for over 4 years. I have not spent longer than a couple of months in my home country since I was a student, and have been what you would call ‘nomadic’ for most of my adult life. When I met my current boyfriend, I was upfront right from the beginning.

I wanted him to know exactly what he was getting into and be aware of the fact that I have no intention of changing my lifestyle anytime soon. I told him that I understood if this was a deal breaker for him but that this is me and he can take it or leave it. The point that I am making is that if you are already travelling and you meet somebody that wants you to stop for them, then you are entitled to politely tell them to F off and not to let the door hit them on the way out. If, however, your travel dreams have always been just that – dreams – then unfortunately you do have to take your partner’s feelings into consideration. It’s only polite after all.

What does travel mean to you?

The first thing you need to do is establish exactly what you mean by ‘travel.’ Do you want to embark on a 3 month backpacking trip around Southeast Asia and then return home to focus on your career? Do you want to move to China for 12 months to teach English ? Do you want to buy a camper van and drive around Europe indefinitely? Do you want to do multiple short trips that will allow you to balance work and travel? Do you want to move to Italy and build a life as an expat? All of these ways of travel are completely different and some of them will definitely have more of an effect on your relationship than others. If you want to embark on one single backpacking trip somewhere, from anywhere between 3 – 6 months, then I don’t see why it has to spell the end of your relationship.

If you are planning to spend your entire life with this person then a few months should not matter. Many, many people take a few months out of their ‘real lives’ to travel while their partner continues on as normal back at home. With the ever-improving technology that we have, long distance relationships are becoming easier and easier, and if your relationship is strong then it should be able to survive a few months apart. If you’re sitting here reading this and thinking ‘ but my boyfriend doesn’t want me to travel without him!’ then I’m sorry to break it to you, but you have bigger issues in your relationship then whether you should go travelling or not. Anyone in a healthy, secure, non-controlling relationship should be able to go and travel for a couple of months without the relationship falling apart. If your partner doesn’t want you to travel without him, I’d wager that this won’t be the last control issue that you’ll have in your relationship.

If you want to do long-term travel then this may post more of a challenge. If, like me, you want to backpack indefinitely and without restrictions, then having a partner who doesn’t want to travel at all will be an issue. If the two of you can’t come to a compromise (you travelling in shorter bursts or him coming with you for some of the time), then it might be time to end things. If you want to actually move to another country and create a life there then your partner has the choice to either come with you, be long distance indefinitely (not what I would recommend), or part ways.

If your idea of travel is going on short city breaks whenever you have the free time, but remaining based in the same city as your partner, then there is no issue at all! If your partner doesn’t want to join you then you can go alone or with friends. If your partner won’t ‘allow’ you to go on travel without him then as I mentioned earlier, you need to get another partner.

Travel vs. relationship – why not have both?

As I have tried to show, you don’t necessarily have to choose between travel and your relationship. Travel and relationships are not mutually exclusive things. You can have both. It’s a hell of a cliché, but relationships really are about compromise, and if you partner is the one for you then they will be more than happy to discuss the ways in which you can still achieve your dreams without turning your back on the relationship. It might not be an ideal situation, but ultimately you should be able to come to an agreement whereby both of you are happy. If your partner is the one for you then you will manage to make it work.

This may mean long distance. It may mean being flexible. It may mean you staying put a little longer than you’d like, and your partner travelling a little more often than they would like. But somehow it will work. Alternatively, perhaps you are the right people who met at the wrong time. There is nothing wrong with putting the relationship on hold for a little while and then coming back to each other in the future to try and make it work. Maybe too much time has passed and you no longer feel a connection, or maybe you will be able to be together fully with nobody having to adjust their life to make the other happy. If your partner is not supportive of your dreams at all, or even gives you an ultimatum and asks you to choose between travel and the relationship, is that really someone that you want to be with? I would say no.

Hell, if your partner sees themselves living a completely different lifestyle to you, is it not better to end things now? From my experience, travellers (and people that want to travel) have similar traits. People who don’t like to travel also have similar traits. While they like comfort and routine, you like adventure and unpredictability. While they like security, you like the unknown. While they prioritise their career, you prioritise travel. While they may be more financially motivated, you are all about creating memories. None of the qualities that I have just mentioned are bad. In fact, you could definitely argue that the qualities a person without wanderlust has are ‘better’ than those that an avid traveller has!

However, while differences in a relationship are a given, if you are fundamentally different in so many ways, then perhaps you are not meant to be in the long run. Perhaps the person for you is currently camping in the Sahara desert or teaching people to dive in Malaysia . Perhaps the person for your partner is actually in an office right now, or curled up on the sofa with a takeaway and a good Netflix series. There are more than 7 billion people on the planet . There is a good chance that there is somebody out there whose lifestyle is more compatible with yours who is just waiting for you to find them and fall in love with them.

How my boyfriend and I worked it out

When I met my boyfriend, he was working an office job in Manchester and I was visiting home from where I’d been living in Sicily . I told him, upfront, that I would not stop travelling for anyone, and so, after a few months together during lockdown in rainy Manchester, he said that he would give Sicily a go. We went there, but he hated it more or less right away. Palermo is not for everyone, and I understand that. We then spent about 6 weeks backpacking, but he wasn’t keen on that either. I won’t lie, I worried a LOT about what this would mean for our relationship. However, we eventually reached a compromise. He wanted to base ourselves somewhere for at least a year, and I agreed, but said that wherever we were had to be outside of the UK, and with great weather. Enter, Valencia .

We are now 7 months into our 12 month lease and we are both super happy here in Spain. He feels better having a base, and now that restrictions are loosening, he is enjoying flying back home frequently to see his family and work in the office from time to time. We’ve spoken about what happens if I want to go travelling, and he said that if I wanted to go off travelling for a month at a time, it’s fine by him (as long as I still pay my share of the rent!). We’ve also talked about weekend trips and short city breaks that we can do together. It might not be the usual way of doing things (he is currently in Ireland for a month working, and I am here alone), but it works for us, and at the end of the day, that’s all that matters. I’m compromising by having a base and giving up my nomadic lifestyle, and he’s compromising by settling down in a place that he never imagined he would. It works.

If you DO have to choose, choose travel

With all that being said, I know that for some couples, a compromise just can’t be reached. I am a travel addict. I know that wanderlust is a hunger that will grow and grow until you feed it. I know that your yearning for travel will not cease to exist if you try and repress it. It will do the opposite. It will get to the point where you look at your partner with resentment. You will blame them for you deciding not to travel and become bitter about your life together. You will feel as though you are a character in their life rather than the protagonist of your own. And that’s if you stay together.

What if you break up after a few years and you now have commitments that don’t allow you to travel? You have a car, a pet and a mortgage. You can’t just up and leave like you could have done 10 years ago when you initially wanted to travel. You will have to live with the regret of having not travelled when you were as free as a bird, when life wasn’t so complicated. Unfortunately, the odds of you and your partner staying together forever are slim. This isn’t me being a pessimist – I meant it when I said I’m a hopeless romantic – this is me being real with you. While you might think that you and Brad from college are soulmates, you probably aren’t.

I thought my college boyfriend was my soulmate. We were crazy about each other and I couldn’t imagine my life without him. He told me that he felt the same and that we would get married and grow old together. Needless to say, I was single before I turned 19 and my GOD am I thankful for that. Mr College Boyfriend was not the one for me, and I would have missed out on SO much life experience if I’d stayed with him. I wouldn’t have lived on a beach in Cambodia or backpacked through the Balkans. I wouldn’t have worked in hostels and met some of my best friends in the world. I wouldn’t have had travel romances that have been exciting and magical and fun.

“But won’t I be single forever if I travel?”

I think one of the main reasons people are afraid to travel is that they fear being single. They worry that a life on the road will prevent them from creating and maintaining fulfilling relationships and figure that staying with their current partner and missing out on travel is better than being perpetually single. First of all, F. THAT. Being single is the BEST. Everybody should be single for a prolonged period at some point in their life. Being single and travelling is even better. You can choose where to go, how long to spend there, what to do when you’re there and if you want to kiss a cute boy on a pub crawl then you can bloody well do so.

You don’t have to rush back to the hostel to call your boyfriend before he goes to bed, or fight about that dude that tagged you in an Instagram picture. You can be truly selfish in the best possible way, and trust me when I say that your heartbreak over Brad will disappear quicker than a bottle of Bintang on Khao San Road. That being said, travel doesn’t prevent you from finding love. I would go so far as to say that you are more likely to find somebody compatible with you when you’re travelling verses when you’re not. First of all, they are living the same lifestyle as you, so that’s a start. Second, travel romances are so pure and beautiful. You know the butterflies and excitement that you used to get in high school before ghosting and mind games and situationships took over?

Welcome to the world of travel romance. I know plenty of people who have fallen in love and formed successful relationships on the road. My best friend met a guy travelling and dated him for 3 years . I know people in Cambodia that met while backpacking and proceeded to open businesses, get married and have babies together (while still travelling!). I know other couples that embrace ‘van life’ culture and see the entire world together. Travelling does not mean singledom. Travelling has never affected my romantic relationships. Romances that have fizzled due to distance are romances that were never going to work anyway. Travel just helped me find that out quicker.

I Want to Travel but I’m in a Relationship | Final thoughts

Ultimately, I can’t tell you what to do. I’m just a stranger on the internet who is incredibly biased towards travel. That said, I think the fact that you are thinking about this in the first place answers your question – if this person was truly the one for you, it would be a non-issue. You would either forget about travelling entirely because you’ve found something that matters more to you, or you would make it work. If you are already trying to decide between travel and your relationship, then unfortunately I think that says it all. What do you think? Do you agree with me or do you think that saving the relationship is more important? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments below! xoxo

If you liked this article and would like to support my work, please click the button above to donate a couple of bucks and buy me a coffee. The ad revenue that I receive on this website is minimal, so support from my readers enables me to keep creating content that you (hopefully!) love to read.

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6 thoughts on “i want to travel but i’m in a relationship”.

This is exactly what I needed (and wanted) to hear, thank you for the inspiration I needed to pursue my dreams! Great blog.

This makes me so happy! 🙂

Love this blog!

I think my boyfriend would be up for travelling though thank god but even then if he didn’t this blog was quite inspiring ! I would be away and he wouldn’t have a say! Deffo you should always do what you want to do in life! It is yours for the taking! xD

I really want to travel after I graduate but I’ve always wondered about career stability/ finances if I was to take a year out though I shouldn’t let this hold me back! I would then just be worried if my boyfriend couldn’t afford it but wanted to come travelling. then I would have to decide whether to go without him which would be mean or have patience till he can pay or I could help him pay! Or maybe working holiday visas would be the way to go in this situation. 🙂

Ever heard of a situation like this?

Can’t wait to spend my first proper wages on travelling when I can!

Thanks so much!

I don’t think that you should be worried that taking a year out would impact your career too much. If anything, jobs LOVE knowing that you have travelled, especially if you have done bits of volunteer work along the way or have other cool stories to tell about skills that you’ve picked up (like sailing around Europe or helping out an an elephant sanctuary or taking a cooking class in Italy!).

As for your boyfriend and his finances, I personally wouldn’t advise that you help him out, unless you’ve been together for years and years and you KNOW that he could (and would!) pay you back. Even then, I wouldn’t advise it. If he really wanted to go but needed a few extra months to save up, then wait for him for sure 🙂 if he doesn’t take saving up the money seriously and you end up waiting longer and longer – screw it, go without him! If your relationship is strong enough then a few months apart won’t be the be all and end all, and maybe he could even meet you out there after a couple of months! Volunteering in exchange for bed and board is also a great option – I have a long article all about working in hostels which you might find interesting!

Working holiday visas are also a great idea, so many people have that experience in Australia and love it 🙂

Hi Jez, I know I’m the wrong age group for this blog, but I’ve been that person who grew up traveling (around the world twice by age 10, in 1967, when this was not done), was bitten by the bug, and wanted it for the rest of my life. I only did small spurts because I couldn’t manage my own life until after college. 3 weeks in Ecuador at 15, 8 weeks in Greece at 22, then trying to figure things out with grad school and early jobs. I married my husband chiefly because I thought he was a good traveler. He was in Russia for a semester when we were first engaged, met me in Italy when I had a Fulbright for a summer. But ultimately, he wasn’t a good traveler for me. Now I’m planning retirement; my kids are grown. [I’ve helped them become brilliant travelers, by the way!] I figure I will rent my house out and go. As a 65-year-old woman alone, I want to do the “harder” trips now, and the easier trips (Europe again) when I’m old. I am a little worried about being a woman alone, but I’ve never had problems I couldn’t handle. At least not yet.

Amazing! I’m sure you have so many wonderful adventures to come!

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These are the top 20 travel destinations for summer 2024, according to google flight searches.

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It’s time to start thinking about your summer travel plans.

Whether you want to go across the globe or stay within the county, Google Flights has something for everyone on its list of the top destinations for summer 2024.

The list — which is based on the destinations most searched for by travelers within the U.S. on Google Flights for travel between June 1 and Aug. 31, according to The Points Guy — shows a lot of the trendy, expected locations, but it has some surprising outliers as well.

The most popular destination for summer 2024 is London while, perhaps surprisingly, Paris — which will host the upcoming Summer Olympics — only landed in the second-place spot.

Tokyo came in third, a jump from its eighth-place ranking in 2023.

Rounding out the top five is Rome at No. 4, and the first destination in the U.S. at No. 5 — New York.

Cancun might have been in second place last year, but it’s not as popular in 2024, dropping into sixth place.

Seventh, eighth and ninth place were all within the U.S. as well, with lots of travelers searching for Orlando, Las Vegas and Seattle, respectively.

Finishing up the top 10 is Athens — but not the one in Georgia: Greece is a hot travel destination for this summer.

Other popular U.S. destinations in the hotter months include Los Angeles, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Honolulu, Denver and Boston.

Madrid and San Juan, Puerto Rico, both broke into the top 20 for the first time in spots 18 and 20, respectively.

Top summer 2024 destinations, according to Google Flights

• Athens, Greece
• Los Angeles
• Fort Lauderdale
• San Juan, Puerto Rico

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See what’s fueling the return of supersonic passenger flights

More than two decades after the concorde’s last flight, several private companies are competing to bring supersonic travel to the masses.

In January, more than 100 people gathered at an airplane hangar in California to watch NASA unveil its X-59 demonstrator jet — a futuristic aircraft designed to travel faster than the speed of sound that has helped revive excitement for supersonic travel.

There hasn’t been a commercial supersonic passenger jet since the Concorde stopped flying in 2003. Since then, supersonic jets — which travel faster than the speed of sound — have been used primarily by the military. But the space agency’s unveiling of the X-59, designed and built in partnership with Lockheed Martin, comes as a growing number of private companies are vying to bring back supersonic travel for the commercial market.

Boom, Exosonic and Spike are among the companies promising modern supersonic travel that will be quieter, greener and more affordable than in the past. And at least one company — Hermeus — is exploring hypersonic flights, which would whisk passengers from New York to London in 90 minutes. But there are questions about whether these companies can make good on their claims given the economics of air travel and growing concerns about the impact of commercial aviation on the environment.

Here are five things to know about the effort to revive supersonic travel.

1. The sonic ‘boom’ could become a ‘soft thump’

NASA’s goal in developing the X-59 is to reduce the sonic boom — the thunder clap that resonates far and wide when an aircraft crosses the sound barrier. NASA scientists hope the demonstrator jet can prove that travel at supersonic speeds is possible without such earsplitting noise.

One key to quieting the boom comes from the plane’s design. The engine is mounted on top. The plane has a long, narrow nose and sculpted wing to help ensure the shock waves it creates as it speeds through the air are similar in strength and evenly spaced along the aircraft to create a gradual increase in pressure instead of the rapid jump that creates the loud bang, said Peter Coen, mission integration manager for the Quesst mission.

The sonic boom is around 105 PLdB, or perceived level of decibels, similar to that of the sound of a balloon popping next to you. In comparison, NASA says the X-59’s will sound closer to a car door slamming 20 feet away.

Turning the boom into a “soft thump,” as NASA hopes, could also improve the economics for commercial supersonic flights. It could mean an end to the U.S. ban on supersonic travel over land, which was enacted over noise concerns. That in turn could make commercial supersonic travel financially viable because airlines would be able to fly supersonic planes to more destinations.

Designing and building the X-59 took roughly five years. Testing is underway, and other phases of the project are expected to take another four. The total projected cost is $839 million, according to NASA.

2. There’s a flurry of interest from private companies

Nearly a half a dozen companies are competing to be the first to offer supersonic travel to the public — a curious interest at a time when much investment and innovation in transportation is focused on developing cleaner, more climate-friendly options that consume less fuel or alternative propulsion technologies such as batteries or hydrogen.

Denver-based Boom Supersonic is eyeing 2029 for the debut of its supersonic passenger jet, called Overture. The aircraft is expected to seat 64 to 80 passengers, according to Blake Scholl, the company’s chief executive. It will travel at Mach 1.7, or 1.7 times the speed of sound — more than twice as fast as a regular passenger airplane .

One company, Aerion — which had backing from major players in the industry including Boeing and Lockheed Martin to build a supersonic business jet — has already bowed out of the race. It shut down in 2021, unable to secure the funding to continue it work.

Industry analysts say venture capital and the mind-set that commercial supersonic sounds like a good idea has largely fueled the revival.

“It’s that Silicon Valley mentality that you put money down on 20 things for one that does well,” said Richard Aboulafia, managing director at AeroDynamic Advisory. “Again, it sounds like a good idea. There’s a good market for air transport and people want to fly fast. We had Concorde in the past so it sounds right — so let’s put some money there.”

Bruce McClelland, a senior contributing analyst at aerospace and defense industry analysis firm the Teal Group, added, “A lot of projects attract money whether they’re completely viable or not.”

3. It promises sustainability

Companies say their new generation of supersonic jets will have a smaller carbon footprint, mostly because they will be fueled by sustainable aviation fuel. This is fuel is made from agricultural products including soybeans and animal fat.

But critics say that pledge ignores some significant realities. For instance, there isn’t enough sustainable aviation fuel for planes that exist today. The sustainable aviation fuel that does exist is more expensive — by some estimates two to four times the cost of fossil fuel.

And no matter the fuel, the reality is supersonic jets will always use more of it. According to a 2022 study by International Council on Clean Transportation, supersonic jets could use seven to nine times as much fuel as regular commercial aircraft while carrying fewer passengers. But NASA’s Coen contends that supersonic travel at least initially will be a very small part of overall CO2 emissions and a very small part of commercial aviation.

Even so, with airlines pledging to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, some say it’s hard to understand how supersonic jets fit into that framework.

4. It could be affordable for more people

The Concorde ended service because only a small slice of the flying public could ever afford a ticket, among other reasons, including a 2000 crash that killed 113 people and grounded Concorde’s supersonic planes for a year. But today’s entrepreneurs say supersonic travel can be affordable — though maybe not at first.

They point to Tesla and the burgeoning space tourism sector as an example of new modes of transportation that have and could eventually become accessible to a growing segment of the population.

Analysts have their doubts, though, given how difficult it is for commercial airlines to stay afloat. Supersonic jets will carry fewer passengers and consume greater quantities of fuel. If that fuel is sustainable aviation fuel, those costs increase even more.

“Essentially, the faster you fly, the more fuel you are burning per mile,” said Iain Boyd, director of the Center for National Security Initiatives at the University of Colorado at Boulder. “Supersonic is always going to be more expensive.”

5. It could get even faster

Hermeus, based in Atlanta is just one of the companies exploring the possibility of an even faster, hypersonic commercial passenger jet. While supersonic aircraft travel faster than the speed of sound, hypersonic aircraft travel at speeds five times faster or more.

Translated: that would make a flight between New York and London — a 90-minute trip — about the same as flying from New York to D.C. on today’s commercial aircraft.

The company’s Halcyon jet would travel at Mach 5 — or five times the speed of sound. A.J. Piplica, the company’s chief executive, said the company is laying the groundwork for Halcyon by building hypersonic drones that could be used for defense and national security purposes.

But the company is open about the technological challenges it faces developing such a fast aircraft. Today, there’s a less than 50 percent chance of getting Halcyon in the air, Piplica says — but he expects the odds to improve over time.

Even then, Hermeus — and all the start-ups — will have to convince the public to buy in and will have to grapple with growing concern about the impact of air travel on the environment. It could be a tall order.

Deion Sanders responds to story about his unique recruiting style: 'I'm Coach Prime'

The colorado football coach explained why he doesn't go on the road to recruit players..

Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders on Wednesday responded to a USA TODAY Sports story last week that documented his highly unusual recruiting style of not making a single home visit or off-campus contact with recruits since his hiring in Boulder in early December 2022.

“Coach Prime” brought it up at the end of his first news conference in Boulder since his team finished 4-8 in his first season on the job. He didn’t dispute the story, which detailed another way Sanders has approached his job differently than others in the changing game of college football . But he did explain why he does it that way and instead relies on recruits and their families coming to campus to see him instead of him going to see them at their homes as well.

USA TODAY Sports attempted to get his explanation of it nearly a week before publication but didn't hear back from the university. On Wednesday, he gave a short speech about it that he said he wanted to get “off my chest.”

“There was an article that came out that said I don’t go on visits,” Sanders said at a news conference about spring football practice. “OK, my approach is totally different than many coaches’ approach. I’m a businessman as well, so I try to save our university money every darn chance I get.”

Why does Deion Sanders not recruit on the road?

By contrast, many other coaches bring recruits to campus while also going on the road to their high schools or homes. Former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh made 145 off-campus contacts with recruits or their families since Dec. 1, 2022. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian made 128 and former UCLA head coach Chip Kelly made 55 during that time, according to records obtained by USA TODAY Sports from public-records requests.

The University of Colorado confirmed Sanders hasn't made any recruiting visits since his hiring.

“The parents, I love ‘em, and I want to show them Boulder," he said. “I want them to see this and how beautiful it is and why I’m so eager and how much I love this city and this state and this team. I want them to see that, because guess what? That’s why the kid is comin.’

"The kid comin’ here. Going there is just showcasing for me. That’s just blowing money. It’s blowing a bag, don’t make sense. I can’t do things other coaches can do. You know why? I’m Coach Prime. And I didn’t stutter when I said it.”

Why he doesn't use his $200,000 travel budget

The university previously confirmed to USA TODAY Sports that Sanders and his staff have not used a private air-travel service for recruiting despite the fact that the university budgeted $200,000 annually for it in his employment contract.

Sanders, 56, suggested that one reason he hasn’t used it is that his fame would cause too much of a stir at a recruit's home or school. He also noted he has relied heavily on recruiting transfer players out of the transfer portal instead of high school players. As the previous USA TODAY Sports story noted, transfer recruits are older players who have moved out of home and don’t necessarily need to be wooed by a home visit from another prospective coach.

“We target mostly guys that’s in the portal,” he said. “When do you make visits to portal guys’ homes? Anybody do that? Do they do that? Anybody? Have you guys heard of that?”

It does happen, though likely not as often as with high school recruits. Earlier this year, Ohio State coaches went to see Alabama safety Caleb Downs before he transferred to Ohio State, among other examples.

What are his results in recruiting?

Either way, his approach works for him, according to several metrics. His class of transfer recruits last year ranked No. 1 in the nation. His recruiting class for 2024 ranks No. 22 overall, including only seven high school recruits, according to 247Sports.

“I think when a guy is in his 20s and he has one or two more shots, he don’t give a darn about the picture," Sanders said. "He don’t give a darn about the parade that you want to take him on. He wants to know, 'OK, how you want to use me? How can you help me get to the league (NFL)? And what am I gotta get paid?’ That’s it. That’s the world we live in now. And I have never heard one guy say, 'I chose this college because this coach came by my crib.’ Have you? It’s different now.”

The fame factor for Deion Sanders

His fame as a Pro Football Hall of Famer and celebrity pitchman sets him apart from other coaches on the recruiting trail, allowing him to become known to more potential recruits while also making it harder to travel in certain respects.

“Let’s just say I’m going to Florida and I’m visiting whatever school, IMG (Academy),” Sanders said. “You don’t think the coaches are gonna be a little upset if I don’t come by the school down the street? You don’t think it’s gonna be pandemonium? … Or I’m gonna get naysayed if I don’t go another 45 minutes? Then if I go to that one then (they) go, 'Why didn’t I come to that school?’ Now the coach is mad so he’s not gonna let the kid come because he’s mad because I chose to go to that school over that school.

“Other coaches, they can do that, but I can’t,” he said. “I can’t. And I’ve really almost done a personal survey. I really, truly in all my heart believe that parents don’t want me at that house. They want to come see my house. They want to see how I live, how I get down. They want to see what I’ve got going on, what God has done in my life.”

Deion Sanders didn't want a home visit as a player

Sanders recalled his own recruitment as a player in the 1980s before he landed at Florida State under head coach Bobby Bowden.

"I know when I was in college, I did not want Bobby Bowden in my house, because I knew after 7 o'clock, it was gonna be rats and roaches on parade, doing their thang," he said with a laugh. "That was just straight … honestly, I didn’t. So that never transpired. That never happened for me."

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: [email protected]

2024 solar eclipse: Here are 3 places to drive from south-central Pa. to see full event

A solar eclipse this spring will offer a lifetime memory for viewers who see it − especially if they are in a location where the moon's shadow fully blocks the sun.

To see the full event, observers must be in an area known as the path of totality, which will include 13 states from Texas to Maine.

South-central Pennsylvania lies outside of the path of totality, but a sliver of the northwestern part of the state, including Erie, will be in it, said Brian Lada, meteorologist with AccuWeather.com.

For those who want to witness a total solar eclipse, this spring is the time to hit the road.

The next big total solar eclipse in the United States will occur on Aug. 12, 2045.

Anyone living in south-central Pennsylvania at that time will need to travel to a long distance, such as going to Florida, to see it, Lada said.

Booking a trip: What's the best place to see the April 2024 solar eclipse? One state is the easy answer.

Plan a road trip to reach a location in the path of totality

Hotels and vacation rentals already are booked in many places along the path of totality.

At this point, planning a trip to see the total solar eclipse likely will involve a long day on the road, Lada said.

He suggest packing a cooler with food and drinks. It will reduce the worry of getting to a busy restaurant.

Be prepared for traffic jams after the event is over, he said. Millions of people will be traveling to the path of totality. Viewers might want to hang out in the area for a period of time before heading for home.

"I wouldn't be surprised if it takes twice as long to get home because there's going to be so many people on the highway, going in the same direction," he said. "It takes one fender bender to turn that into a gridlock."

Three places to go from south-central Pa. to see the total solar eclipse

South-central Pennsylvania residents who are looking for the closest locations in the path of totality have the option of staying in the state or heading to New York or Ohio.

Here are three cities to go to be in the path of totality:

Erie, Pennsylvania: The city in the northwestern part of the state has been gearing up for the big event. Lectures, parties and other activities are planned. It will take about 5 hours and 15 minutes to get there from York.

Rochester, New York: Numerous watch parties are planned in the area . It would take about 4 hours and 45 minutes to reach the city from York.

Cleveland, Ohio: Heading west on the Pennsylvania Turnpike to the Buckeye state is another option, and Cleveland is in the path of totality . It takes about five hours and 25 minutes to get there from York.

Travelers also could head to smaller communities, such as Titusville, Pa., which is on the edge of the path of totality. A trip there is under 4 hours and 30 minutes. The Drake Well Museum and Park , the birthplace of the modern petroleum industry, will be celebrating the solar eclipse that day. Admission will be buy one, get one free.

Be aware that the duration of totality will vary depending upon the location within the path. For example, the length of time will be 3:42 in Erie while it will be 0:47 in Titusville.

Prevent eye injuries: Everything you need to know about solar eclipse glasses, including where to get them

Why viewers should head to a location in the path of totality

Not everyone will be able to make a trip to see the total solar eclipse, but for those who can, it comes highly recommended from those who have witnessed one in the past.

"The difference between what's happening in York and what's happening in this path of totality is literally the difference between night and day," Lada said.

It's going to turn to nighttime for a few minutes in the path of totality, he said.

During totality, viewers will be able to see the atmosphere of the sun around the moon, and planets and bright stars will be visible. Observers might even see a comet, said Todd Ullery, planetarium director for the York County Astronomical Society and solar system ambassador for NASA.

Ullery said he saw his first total solar eclipse in 2017. Others advised him to sit back and enjoy the experience and to not worry about taking photographs because they will not turn out.

It's amazing how much the eye can see, Ullery said. Photographs are not good representations.

"There's just nothing like it in the world," Lada said.

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