So, you’re going on a trip – or at least thinking about it. Perhaps you haven’t traveled much, or are going abroad for the first time, and you aren’t sure where to start. Then this book is for you.
I traveled a lot within the U.S. as a child, and became hooked. In my late 20’s, I started traveling overseas. Now I make frequent trips abroad, having visited about 25 countries, with many more on my wish list. My sincere hope is that you also develop a love of travel. It really is a wide, wonderful world out there. You owe it to yourself to see some of it. Life, after all, is just a series of individual experiences strung together. What those experiences are is up to you!
This book aims to help novices ease into traveling, but hopefully even seasoned travelers will pick up some valuable tips. Because there is no way to know where you may ultimately be heading, advice must necessarily be general. This book’s focus is on adventure travel abroad, which is my passion, but much of the advice applies to travel of any type. Regardless of your intended destination or activities, I hope to nudge you into taking that first step toward expanding your world.
Before you jump right into making arrangements, it’s worth taking a minute to examine why, exactly, you want to travel, your particular motivation. Some honest self-examination here will help you in choosing a destination and style of travel right for you.
Travel, especially foreign travel, isn’t for everyone. (My Aunt Sue springs to mind.) However, most people can enjoy and benefit from it. The benefits of travel are many. Travel can be rejuvenating. Sometimes a change of scenery – and a bit of distance from home – helps us shake off our cares and gain a bit of perspective. Travel, without a doubt, is educational. It can make history come to life, and help us to understand and appreciate other cultures. It’s a great opportunity to buy unique items, often very cheaply. It’s an opportunity to take great pictures, and collect interesting stories to tell the folks back home – and who’s to know if you embellish them a bit? Travel is a great way to meet people – maybe even that someone special. Americans in particular can sometimes forget that the world does not begin at New York City and end at Los Angeles. There are natural wonders, manmade wonders, and wonderful people all around our planet.
When selecting a potential destination, consider the degree of change you think you can tolerate. Be as honest with yourself as possible. If you haven’t been camping in years, maybe a trip to Australia would be a better first exploration abroad than a backpacking trek through the Andes. Despite the increasing homogenization of our planet, there are still great cultural differences between countries and peoples, and huge differences in infrastructures. If you aren’t comfortable with change or surprises, consider carefully which destinations are best suited to your needs.
Before going any farther, let’s address the question of whether it is safe to travel. I believe that the answer to that question is “Yes.” Years after September 11th, many people are still hesitant to travel. Yes, you need to use some discretion in choosing a destination, and on the road you need to exercise common sense, just as you would at home. But millions of people travel each year without significant incident.
If you have concerns about a possible destination, do your research. If you still have doubts, you can always choose another destination. Don’t let a vague, generalized fear keep you from experiencing all that travel has to offer. I firmly believe that I am often safer when traveling abroad than I am at home. Consider that many countries have lower violent crime rates than the U.S., most have much tighter gun control, and in many other countries the threat of a terrorist attack is probably less than it is in the U.S.
That said, there are certainly places that you would not want to venture, and you should feel comfortable with your destination, or choose another. You can read more about traveling safely in the Safety section of this book.
You may already have a specific destination in mind. If so, feel free to skip ahead!
However, you may have an itch to travel, but aren’t sure where just yet. If so, ask yourself a few questions. What is in your heart? Where have you always wanted to go? Did you once see the Greek isles in a Rick Steves travelogue and yearn to walk on the rocky shores of Mykonos? Did you see Body Heat years ago and wonder where that beautiful beach was that Kathleen Turner’s character escaped to in the end? (It was Brazil.) Do you want to visit the county in Ireland where your great grandfather came from? Do you have a pen pal in Thailand or the Ukraine that you’d like to actually meet? Are you an amateur photographer dying to get to New Zealand? Have you always wanted to run with the bulls in Pamplona, or visit your second cousins in Budapest?
If you don’t have a firm destination in mind, here are some resources:
- Read http://AdventurousEscapes.blogspot.com, my blog, which covers in words and pictures some of the places I’ve been, including Brazil, Thailand, and Ecuador.
- Look at some travel magazines. My absolute favorite travel magazine is Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel. I picked up a copy of this wonderful magazine a few years ago in the waiting room at my dentist’s office, and immediately subscribed. It focuses on value-priced travel, both domestic and foreign. Each issue lists the “40 Best” hand-picked packages and deals to destinations all over the world, grouped by geography. Through Budget Travel I’ve found some great deals on trips to Costa Rica, Italy, and Indonesia. Other magazines you might want to flip through include National Geographic, and its sister publications, National Geographic Explorer and National Geographic Adventure. If the Caribbean is calling, try Islands or Caribbean Travel & Life. If you like to be pampered, Travel + Leisure features more upscale destinations – not my style (or budget!), but it might be yours. You don’t have to subscribe to a bunch of magazines yet. Go to your local bookstore or library and browse to find the ones that you like best. Then, if you’d like to price subscriptions, check out www.Magazines.com, www.MagazineCity.com, and www.Magazania.com.
- Go to your local library, locate the travel guide section, and dive in. While the guides are likely to be a bit dated and may be of limited use for selecting lodgings and restaurants, they should certainly give you plenty of ideas to start your destinations list.
- Check out the websites of airlines. If you happen to be a frequent flyer (and you should be – it costs nothing to sign up), you can generally subscribe to receive online newsletters and alerts which often will list fare and vacation specials.
- Likewise, check out sites such as www.Shermanstravel.com and www.Travelzoo.com, which search for deals and post the ones they consider the best. You can also sign up to receive weekly e-mail notification of hot deals.
- Talk to people. Easy enough. But I do suggest talking to people who have traveled extensively, and are likely to share your travel “style.” Ask detailed questions. Don’t just ask “What was your favorite vacation?” but follow up with “Why?” “What time of year did you go?” “What did you do there?” “What did you especially like about it?”
Soon you will find the problem is not deciding where to go, but where to go first.
Too often our travel is dictated by our summer vacations. While there is certainly nothing wrong with traveling in the summer months, try not to limit yourself to traveling only then. If you do, you’ll miss many great experiences, such as Mardi Gras and Carnaval, which typically occur in late February. Also, if you travel only in the summer, you are going to be traveling at the same time as millions of other folks, which can mean more expensive flights, greater difficulty booking accommodations, and longer lines everywhere you go.
Once you’ve selected a destination, find out: When is the best time to visit there? What is the weather like throughout the year? Are the seasons the same as where you live, or reversed? Are there pronounced wet and dry seasons? I almost booked a visit to the Pantanal in Brazil in March before discovering that this was the rainy season and most roads would be impassable. I also went to Italy in July, and while I enjoyed the trip immensely, I would have enjoyed it more with smaller crowds and cooler temperatures in May or September. Be careful about making assumptions. A quick scan of any guide book or a little Googling should tell you what you need. You can also visit www.weather.com and www.state.gov.
Often you will find that the so-called “shoulder season” is the best time to travel. The shoulder season is the time just before or after peak season. For many locales, this equates to spring or fall months. During these times, the weather may still be good (perhaps even optimal for walking), but the number of tourists is down. Hence you are more apt to find better prices and shorter lines.
By “your travel style” I mean:
- What sort of accommodations would be acceptable to you? Do you like to be pampered? Do you need to stay in an American-style hotel to be comfortable? Do you require a private bath? Would an encounter with a squat toilet be appalling, or a source of humorous anecdotes? Would camping out for a couple of nights be an adventure, or unthinkable?
- Do you want to go hard and see all you can, or kick back and let things come to you? Do you like the nightlife, sports, drinking, hiking, hanging on the beach, museums, the arts, shopping for bargains, or what?
- Do you prefer cities, small towns, or really getting off the beaten path?
- Are you ok with just hitting the highlights, or would you like to see how the locals live?
There are not right or wrong answers. Personally, I like to rub elbows with the locals, and often enjoy roughing it, but my style isn’t right for everyone, and in fact I change my mode of travel with my mood and on how comfortable I feel in a given country.
Traveling solo, with friends, or with a tour group
Consider for a minute whether you intend to travel solo, with a partner, or in a group, as your answer to this question will greatly affect your travel plans.
To a great extent, whether you choose to travel alone or with others will depend on 1) your budget and 2) your personality. For many folks, traveling alone would be unthinkable. Others enjoy the freedom that solo travel affords.
Benefits of traveling with others:
- You can share expenses, notably lodging. This can be a major factor, especially if your budget is limited or you are traveling in a more expensive part of the world. Most special offers are priced assuming double occupancy, and single supplements can add significantly to the price.
- You have someone there to share experiences with.
- You can share the carrying of some items.
- Should you fall ill or encounter other difficulties, you will have someone to look out for you.
- You may feel safer.
Drawbacks include:
- You will have to make compromises on many things, including the itinerary and budget. Discuss frankly how much each of you can afford to spend, so that no one is a drag on others, or is left out of activities.
- On a related note, your travel flexibility may be reduced. For example, it may be harder to change plans on short notice. (Does your travel partner want to detour? Are two seats available?)
- Personality issues may arise. Traveling together can test even the strongest of friendships. If you are less than neat and take-it-as-it-comes, and your friend is fastidious and likes to plan out each day, you may not make the best travel buddies.
- Traveling with someone can hamper your ability to meet locals and other travelers. Locals and other travelers often invite single travelers to join them, I’ve found.
If you are new to traveling, or are heading to an unfamiliar destination, you may feel more comfortable traveling with someone else, particularly a more seasoned traveler, or with a tour group. You can always try a solo trip next time.
If you plan to travel with friends, I suggest you not make the total number of travelers three. When you have three people, it is too easy for situations to become two against one. Also, accommodations and seating are often set up for two, so three can become an awkward number.
If you plan to travel with a friend or friends, discuss what specifically you hope to do and see – and be specific. Don’t just agree, “Let’s go to Paris!” Decide if that means dancing in the clubs until 4:00, or rising early to get in line at the Louvre. Also discuss candidly how much you can spend.
A third option is to travel as part of a group. You shouldn’t immediately turn up your nose at the idea of a tour group – as I used to. These days, tours aren’t all of the “If this is Tuesday, this must be Brussels” variety. Many established companies provide itineraries geared toward adventure, or getting off the beaten path, with a focus on responsible, sustainable ecotourism. See the box at the end of this chapter for information on a few of the more established companies in this market.
While you may not envision a tour as right for you, tours do offer some advantages. First, the logistics are simplified tremendously, because hotels, domestic transport and transfers, admissions, and often many meals are included in the price and handled by the tour company and your guide. Also, you can expect to meet like-minded travelers on these tours. Tours can also be a good option if you don’t have a ready travel buddy but aren’t keen on going alone to some more remote locale. Adventure and eco-tours have become increasingly popular with younger women, who may want to see the world, but may not always feel comfortable traveling alone.
If the idea of an adventure tour sounds interesting but, like me, you enjoy a bit of solo traveling, you can always book a tour and allow a few days on the front or back to strike out on your own. I did just that last year when I visited Machu Picchu and the Amazon basin on a GAP Adventures tour, then took off to visit the Nazca Lines on my own.
Another travel option to consider is participating in a volunteer program. Volunteering is a great way not only to help those in need, but to grow as a person – and to grow close to the community you are helping. Many volunteer programs, of varying durations, are available. In most cases, you will be expected to pay for your own expenses. There may also be a small fee to cover administrative costs, insurance, etc. Be aware that you may be working in a remote location, and certainly won’t be staying at the Ritz. But what you get in return may be priceless: memories to last a lifetime, and the knowledge that you have done something truly worthwhile.
Here are a few organizations that sponsor or administer volunteer programs.
Ok, you’ve decided on a destination. You know when you want to go and have a friend lined up to go with you (or you’ve decided to fly solo). Now it’s time to search for a good deal!
To subscribe to travel magazines (again, Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel is an excellent source of travel tips and great deals), check out www.Magazines.com, www.MagazineCity.com, and www.Magazania.com.
If, like me, you are into maps, a great source is, you guessed it, www.Maps.com. From them I bought maps of both the U.S. and the world, and I mark the places I’ve visited.
You can purchase just about any book, including travelogues and guide books, from www.Amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com. I highly recommend picking up a copy of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die: A Traveler's Life List.
Check out www.TripAdvisor.com, www.ShermansTravel.com, and www.TravelZoo.com for current deals and travel ideas. You can also find last-minute deals, including packages, at sites such as www.Hotwire.com, www.Kayak.com, www.LastMinuteTravel.com, www.EasyClickTravel.com, and even www.Overstock.com and www.ebay.com.
To learn more about a particular country, including whether there are any travel advisories, visit the U.S. State Department’s official site, www.state.gov. Note that the State Department is going to err on the side of caution. Also read more in the chapter on Safety.
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel was founded in 1989 with the idea that as a traveler, you should become a part of the country - not just a tourist looking in. From its first trips in Asia, Intrepid has grown to provide over 300 itineraries, covering every continent. While Intrepid now offers a variety of travel styles, all embrace the idea of Responsible Travel. That means traveling in a way that both respects and benefits local people, their culture and the environment.
G.A.P. Adventures
G.A.P. Adventures began in 1990, offering a handful of trips in Latin America. Today, G.A.P. offers hundreds of adventures on all 7 continents. Over 40,000 travelers experience the real world with G.A.P. every year! What hasn't changed is G.A.P.'s passion for making sure you get behind the scenes to experience the real world in an authentic and sustainable manner.
The World Outdoors
For 18 years, The World Outdoors has focused on providing safe and enjoyable adventure trips throughout North America and the rest of the world. The World Outdoors offers the best in off-the-beaten path hiking, biking, and multi-sport vacations, with an excellent safety record. Create a customized trip for your group! To book, call toll-free 800-488-8483. Mention Adventurous Escapes to receive a discount of $25 per person.
Adventure Center
For 30 years, Adventure Center’s philosophy has remained the same: To provide you with world-class adventure travel experiences at affordable prices. Choose from over 1,000 adventure vacations which include activities like hiking, biking, cultural tours, safaris, expedition cruises, and much more – all in small groups with like-minded travelers from many English-speaking countries. Adventure Center – the Adventure Travel Specialists.