Traveling can be intimidating and complicated. While we dream of snapping our fingers and appearing in a nice, free-of-charge hotel with a mini-bar and a view of the Eiffel Tower, well, that’s just wishful thinking. Traveling is complicated, but it’s worth it. Here are a few flaws that may crop up in your plans and how to adapt to them.
Expired Passport
America is pretty cool. Just because you don’t have the ability to leave the country doesn’t mean you don’t have the ability to see some cool places and experience new perspectives. Take an opportunity like this to get to know America – it has mountains, rivers, valleys, flatlands, and everything in between. Feeling the palm trees? Want sand between your toes? Steer yourself to Florida. Want to hike, bike, and climb? Head to New England. Wishing to see and experience natural history? Visit parks like Yosemite, Yellowstone, and a number of other great landmarks. Contiki provides offers a number of awesome tours for discovering familiar sights for the first time. Just because you’re confined to one country doesn’t mean you’re confined to one experience!
Traveling Solo
Traveling can be a little nervewracking as it is, so doing it on your own can be especially scary. However, if you prepare yourself well and know what you’re doing, it can actually be pretty relaxing. The upside to traveling on your own is the fact that you’re not responsible for anyone else, just yourself. This way, you can focus on when you need to leave, what you need to pay for, and where you need to go. To ensure that you have safe, smooth travels on your own, prepare yourself beforehand. Pack early, print out your tickets, and create an agenda that you have on your person at all times. Make sure you have plenty of money, forms of identification on hand, and anything you need during your adventures. Prepare yourself well and your travels will be easy and effortless.
Limited Budget
Let’s be real here; traveling is expensive. While prices for flights are pretty straightforward, there are ways to wiggle your way out of expensive lodging and different forms of transportation. Nowadays, there are tons of super-cheap collaborative systems for travelers. Check out Couchsurfing, Airbnb, or even some hostels for a less expensive alternative to the typical fancy hotel. As for transportation, look to use local public transportation instead of renting a car. You can walk from place to place in a lot of major cities, and if not, public transportation like a bus or subway can usually get you there. For international trips, the Eurail system works great when trying to get from country to country in Europe. Always be aware of your options before choosing one way to travel, as there could be cheaper and more effective choices! There are other ways to save money on trips like buying passes in bulk, becoming a member to certain clubs, and traveling in a group, as travel guides – like Contiki – often offer discounts.
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