1) Traveling solo is lonely:
I too worried about this, but couldn't have been more wrong.
I've met so many people while traveling. I cannot even begin to describe all of the amazing, diverse individuals I've encountered. It's truly inspiring and every day comes with a new encounter.
I absolutely love traveling alone, as I call the shots. And if I want to spend the whole day doing nothing but lying in a hammock, petting a dog, and eating nothing but passion fruit and mango, there is no one there to judge me, or to drag me off to a must-see tourist attraction.
At the same time, if I do want to wander off and do some exploring and would like some company, it is quite easy to find like-minded people, especially staying in hostels or even at local bars and cafes.
As a matter of fact, because you're alone, you are much easier approachable, so the chances are much higher that you'll meet new people compared to being in a large group.
Minus having my wisdom teeth cut out and being secluded to my room, I've yet to feel lonely on my trip thus far. There are loads of people you'll meet whether it's on various modes of transportation, at your accommodation, or even just venturing around. The possibilities are endless.. and far from lonely!
2) Traveling alone as a girl is dangerous!
Okay, there is an element of truth to this, in that being a girl you are always going to be subjected to unwanted attention and be at a greater risk for rape, robbery, etc.
However, by taking necessary precautions and making smart choices, you will be just as safe as you are back home. As a matter of fact, of all of my travels I've still been robbed more in the States than I have in foreign countries.
If you're in any city, you should of course be aware of your belongings and keep them safe and out of reach. And don't wander alone at night, especially if you've been out drinking. Stick to groups and if you must be alone, take a reliable (meter) taxi and be sure to go with your gut. Most people can usually tell when something doesn't feel right and if they're in a potentially unsafe environment.. I know I've gotten the uneasy feeling quite a few times, and I'm usually spot on.
So trust yourself, go with your gut, and be aware of your surroundings. You'll be just as safe as you are in any city.
Don't let fear hold you back from amazing adventures. At the same time, be wise and don't let your love for adventure put your life in danger, or even your most valuable possessions.
3) And three! This is perhaps, the most common one I hear: Travel is too expensive! Only rich people can travel!
If I had a nickel for every time I heard excuses and comments such as, "I don't have the money to travel", how do you do it?", "I could never afford that" I could probably buy a plane ticket. Maybe not, though.. they are pretty pricey ;)
It's true that flights are expensive, traveling can be pricey, and it can all add up. But it's really not so impossibly outrageous. If you do your research, take advantage of resources, and shop around- traveling can be quite reasonable, and even cheap.
Here are some tips on traveling without entering into great debt (or even greater debt in many cases!)
- *Find cheap flights: By far, the most expensive part of planning a trip is purchasing the plane ticket. But buying an affordable plane ticket is not impossible. If you do your research you and book far enough in advance you can find a cheap flight anywhere. I always go to search engines such as Kayak, Orbitz, or Student Universe first, and book the cheapest flight I find. I've also been told that 45 days in advance is key for the cheapest flight. Not sure if that's true, but worth a try.
* Live like the locals. This one is simple. 70% of the world lives on less than $1 day. If you’re willing to live like a significant number of the population does everyday, then you wont be spending millions of dollars.
* Shop around:
In terms of Europe, it’s very cheap to travel in Europe depending on your type of trip.. but the key is too do your research, look at all your options, and shop around. You can plan to venture everywhere with a global rail pass or just see a few countries with really cheap flights through Ryanair/Easyjet.. plus there are always buses. Yes it’s long.. but if you don’t have money..it's worth it. Plus they can be quite scenic. Just be easy on the wine, as the restrooms may not be so promising..
AND Southeast Asia. It's so much cheaper than Europe! Like really. A meal out: can be as cheap as $2, accommodation as cheap as $5 a night, and flights with Air Asia can be as cheap as $20. Again, if you do your research, you can make a dollar go a mighty long way.
*Work while abroad: Whether it’s au pairing or Wwoofing. This is an easy way to get free food and accommodation in exchange for teaching English, caretaking, etc. There are opportunities for such things all over the world. You just need to look for them.
* Volunteer while abroad: All of the world is in need of a helping hand. All we need is love right, so find a cause you're passionate about and help out.
But do beware. Try not to fall into organizations such as Cross Cultural Volunteers or I to I that charge unreasonable amounts for volunteering. Volunteering your time should never be that expensive. Most times this money does not even go to the culture and people in need but is rather going elsewhere and it becomes really hard to tell. If you search hard enough (I recommend looking at local based organizations.. or skipping to page 7 or 17 on your google search) you can find organizations that need your help and don’t want to take advantage of you or your money. But again when it comes to money and volunteering, corruption is a reality that you will most likely encounter in one form or another.
*Couchsurfing: Don’t have enough money for accomodation? (not even cheap hostels)- then find a couch to surf on. This is what I’m doing in Bangkok. Free accommodation and a friendly face who knows the culture and can tell you where to go. I'll take it!
* If you’re going to Asia: stay in a monastery. It saves you money and it is so peaceful. Plus you can take some classes while you're there! I'm staying in one in Nepal for a month while taking meditation courses. I couldn't be more excited.
*Stop buying $4 coffees. This might just be me. But really, all of the little small unnecessary indulgences, really start to add up. There are somethings you can really live without. And if you want to travel the world, you might have to make some caffeine sacrifices.
*Make friends. With the locals where you go, people you meet on the train, plane, bus. If you have friends from all over the world, it’s much easier to find a reason to travel.. all over the world. Plus you can get free accommodation/food (although this shouldn't be your primary reason for making friends!) This is what I did through most of Europe, visiting friends and staying with them for a while. Also, since they live in the place your are visiting them, they know the ins and outs and can take you to all the best places!
All in all, It’s really all about desire. If you want it bad enough, you can have it. It just might take some sacrifice. (and some time! I recently met a girl who had been saving the last ten years for a six month trip. She didn't earn a lot of money at all in her job, but had been putting a small amount aside over the years and finally managed to save up) Of course, various circumstances apply, and travel is not for everybody, but I just want to make it known that it's not as financially impossible as it's portrayed to be.
