Travel seems to have become a big aspiration for a lot of people. More and more, it seems that people are always looking forward to that next trip, saving, planning, and booking time off work. It also seems to have become increasingly popular to organize trips away for family, friends, and partners instead of giving Christmas and birthday presents.
So why so much emphasis on travel? Why do people love it so much? And should we all aspire to travel more? The short answer is YES. In my opinion, travel is one of the best things you can spend your hard-earned money on. There are so many benefits to traveling, it changes you both physically and mentally.
Many people claim they don’t have enough time or money to travel – but there is always a way to get around this, you just have to do it! And it will be so worth it. Here are some of the main benefits to booking that trip away:
1. Traveling makes you fitter
At work, you can find yourself sitting at your desk all day long. Booking that trip away is guaranteed to get you moving. Once the trip is booked, you’ll be motivated to get planning and get organized. You’ll have a goal to work towards and once you arrive at your destination, the best way to explore a new place is on foot.
If you’re exploring a new place on foot, you’ll be surprised at how far you’ll walk – and you probably won’t even notice! You’ll be so busy taking everything in, it won’t feel like you’ve actually done a LOT of exercises.
You may even want to schedule in some other fun physical activities like hiking, snorkeling, swimming, bike riding, and more! Exercise will no longer feel like a chore, and you’ll make some great memories while doing it!
Click here for more tips on how you can stay fit while you travel.
2. It will allow you to disconnect from your daily life
We can all get a little too caught up in our daily lives. Work tends to take over, and you can forget to take some time out for yourself. You can forget to do things that you really want to do when every day feels the same and you’ve got your boss breathing down your neck or deadlines you need to meet.
Especially if you also have other responsibilities like children or parents to look after. It can become too much if you don’t take care of yourself. Sometimes, the best thing to do is take a step back, take a deep breath, and put yourself first for a little while. You can’t take care of others if you don’t take care of yourself first! So book a trip
YOU really want to go on. I can guarantee disconnecting for a while will help you to return fresher, calmer and more ready than ever to handle whatever life throws at you. Check out our previous blog for tips on how you can escape the office more often!
3. It gives your brain a workout
If you’re going abroad, why not try to learn a bit of the local language before you go? It has been shown that learning a new language can improve your brain capacity – plus it will be really useful if you can understand the locals, even just a little bit! Check out duolingo to get you started.
Not only in terms of languages, but even just how you think when planning a trip away will help to exercise your brain. Planning and organizing the trip will force you to think differently and you might run into some challenges that will require you to be resourceful. All of this will help you to develop a new set of skills that will definitely benefit you in the future!
4. It improves your understanding of other cultures
The world is full of many different cultures and ways of life. If you never experience anything outside of your own way of life, you’ll never understand how differently other people can live . Developing empathy and understanding of other cultures is part of being smarter.
I truly believe that there is no one ‘right’ way to live and that each culture has something unique to offer and there is so much that we can learn from each other. Traveling is bound to open your mind and broaden your horizons, you’ll learn new things and maybe even start questioning things you never even thought about before.
For inspiration and stories about some amazing cultures check out ‘No Reservations’ by Anthony Bourdain.
5. It allows you to try amazing food
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – food is one of the best parts of traveling. Discovering new and exciting dishes is one of my favorite things to do when I go away. Be sure to try the local cuisine and don’t just stick to what you know.
You might even discover your new favorite thing! Food often reflects the culture and history of a place, so it’s also a great way to get to the heart of the place you are visiting.
And it’s delicious! Check out our foodie tours in Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh and Bali.
6. It gets you comfortable with the unknown
The great thing about traveling is that you never fully know what is going to happen. Sure, you can plan what you’re going to do on your trip, but even if you’ve done your research, if you’ve never been to a place you don’t actually know what it’s like.
Plus, circumstances are bound to change and it’s unlikely you’ll be able to stick to your plan completely. Now, this might sound a little scary but trust me, it’s one of my favorite things about traveling. Learning to think on your feet is a great skill and not knowing exactly what is going to happen is exciting!
So get out of your comfort zone and visit somewhere you’ve never been before, you’ll see it will be one of the best decisions you’ve ever made!
7. You’ll meet people you never would’ve met if you’d stayed at home
Some of my best friends are people that I met when I was traveling. It’s amazing to think that if I hadn’t taken certain trips, I never would have met them as they’re now such big parts of my life!
When you’re immersed in your daily life, it can be easy to just see the same people every day – and I’m sure they’re great people! But meeting new people that you never would have come across if you’d stayed at home is truly amazing.
People from different countries, cultures and backgrounds. You will definitely learn some new things and you might even make a connection for life!
8. Create amazing memories
I really believe that experiences are worth so much more than material things. When you travel, you will create memories that will last a lifetime and stories that you might even tell your grandchildren! Some of my favorite and most vivid memories are from trips I’ve taken.
When you’re traveling even the smallest things can have a big effect on you. No matter how insignificant it may seem, the fact that you’ve had an experience abroad, something that was out of the ordinary, creates a memory that you will remember for a long time.
And if you take a trip with someone else – a partner, a friend, your family – you’ll be making memories together. This is such an amazing experience to have together and it is bound to bring you closer.
9. It makes you appreciate your home
As amazing as going to a brand new place is, there will undoubtedly be some things you miss about being at home. And traveling will make you appreciate those things even more.
It’s easy to take things for granted when you are wrapped up in your daily life. A change of scenery will give you a bit of perspective and you’ll be so grateful when you get to return home.
10. It teaches you about yourself and allows you to grow
Travel takes you out of your comfort zone, and you will have to learn to adapt to change and uncertainty. Finding out how you deal with certain situations will teach you a lot about yourself and allow you to change for the better.
You will come to understand your strengths and weaknesses and get to test your limits. You’ll also learn about what you like and what you don’t.
Travel allows you to learn and grow in ways you never would by staying in the same place. It can be a truly life-changing experience and you will develop as a person from it!
Some final words on why traveling is good for your soul
To me, there is no better feeling than being sat on a bus or a train or a plane, heading towards the unknown. The excitement of discovering a new place and seeing something you’ve never seen before is amazing.
A new landscape that is completely different to your home, delicious food you never even knew existed and beautiful people that change your way of thinking – there is so much about traveling to love and there really is nothing else like it.
Traveling will bring you closer to who you truly are. I hope this article has inspired you to travel more, as soon as you can.
For more inspiration and ideas about where to go and what to do check out our previous blogs: The Ultimate Travel Bucket List and Top 10 Travel Photos From Around The World plus heaps more on The Vacationer! Also have a look at all of our destinations and the amazing tours we offer!
“Travel far enough, you meet yourself” – David Mitchell.
1 comment
Comment by Suyash Sharma
Suyash Sharma October 14, 2021 at 7:58 pm
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