I’ve personally never understood it, but people are afraid to venture out into the world. Some of those fears are irrational, but some of them are founded on real life. Below are what I’ve personally heard are reasons why people are afraid to travel, or think that maybe they can’t because of these roadblocks. Here are some common fears when it comes to travel:
1.Unexpected expenses
What happens if the expenses start to pile up? Things we weren’t expecting?
The best way to do that is to budget it in. It sounds so simple, and I’m sure most of you are shaking your heads “Alli what does that mean?”. What that means is, go into your trip with extra cash set aside for exactly that. A few hundred dollars if you can because if you haven’t prepared well enough, it absolutely can add up. Bus/train tickets, luggage fees, hotel parking, wifi, souvenirs, etc… It also means do your research to make sure that you can predict these extra fees before they appear.
2.Childcare
We want some time away from the kids but who’s going to watch them?
Who is going to watch out for your kids is probably the most important issue here. They’re your world and you want to make sure they’ll be ok. This is where you need to lean on your tribe. Your parents, your kids’ aunts and uncles, and your closest friends are going to be your best bet when it comes to your kids’ care. It might be difficult to let go a little but if you trust the people you love with your children you gotta let them have them. Take time for you!
3.Safety
How do I know I’ll be safe? How do I make sure I don’t get mugged or pick-pocketed?
The truth is, you don’t know. What you do know, is that if you do your research and take the necessary precautions you will be fine. The first thing I’d say is that if getting robbed is rampant, it might not be the safest place to go anyway. Pick-pocketing is a different story. There are plenty of ways to prevent that in products and where you keep your cards and funds on your person while out and about. Check out my blog post on pick-pocketing HERE
4.Not knowing what to do when you get there
Where do I go, what do I do when I get there? – You’ve always wanted to go to Italy, but you don’t really know how to organize a trip for 5 days. What cities do I pass on, which excursions are worth it, what local experiences are interesting enough to invest the time in?
Research. The internet is your best friend. Check guides, travel websites, ask your friends who travel, or….you know… ask your local travel agent! It’s literally their job to know about those things. If this is your fear, your travel agent will help, just call em and talk through it. They’ll put your mind at ease and even if they don’t know the answer, they’ll do the research for you and get you the information you need. Again part of their job is to make sure you have a good time.
5.Cost
How do I afford to travel where I want to go? – Travel at an average level is expensive. It costs money if you want a middle class trip. We’re talking about a decent hotel, a couple of excursions, eating out, flights, and souvenirs etc… This stuff costs money. It can be difficult for some people or families to save the money to do it.
HAVE A BUDGET. By keeping a close eye on your expenses and how much you have to spend per month, you can more accurately figure out how much money you can save, or how many things you can cut out of your spending to save money to travel. Just looking at how you spend your money can do wonders for your travel savings account.
6.Taking time off
How do I know that taking the time off will be worth the experience? Or the time it takes to travel where I want to go? Will it be a waste of time?
99% of the time I swear it’s worth it. Just getting out of your little box is worth it. New experiences always teach you something. Traveling can teach you history, it can teach you more about yourself, it can teach you about the relationship you have with your travel mates, etc… Just those things make taking time off to travel worth it. Never mind the fact that it can help you hit the reset button and leave the monotony, even for just a little while.
7.The Unknown
What if I don’t know what’s going to happen next? – You don’t know what’s going to happen and you’re more comfortable with the thought of travel instead of actually doing it. However, you’re interested enough to read this right?
The unknown is a scary thing, but it doesn’t have to be. Not knowing what to expect can be freeing instead of debilitating. Going somewhere new can offer fun and excitement. Trying new things can bring you to your new favorite cuisine, or your new favorite vacation spot. For me, the fear of missing out (or as we know it as FOMO) is worse than not knowing what will happen when you leave your little apartment or small town in the middle of nowhere. There’s so much more out there than what you’ve created for yourself as your safe space. I promise the rest of the world is worth seeing.
I hope I helped abate some of your fears of traveling! Now… do you need a travel agent? Click HERE and fill out the form so we can chat about your next travel adventure!
Until next time Sea Babes <3
