I would like to thank Marky for
publishing this article. His blog is a great place for all things travel: from
tips to his own personal adventures. After reading this article, I highly
recommend you check out his
emotive post on sleeping in the desert in
India!
Long-term travel is a highly sought after pursuit by many. Anyone who’s had a taste of the travel bug has surely dreamed of leaving everything being and jetting off to explore the world indefinitely. There are many good reasons why this a worthwhile and fulfilling dream, but that doesn’t mean it’s completely free of hardships.
The many
pros and many cons that accompany this kind of lifestyle are always good to
consider, as it’s important to get both sides of the story before you make a
big life decision. Here are just a few points to help you get a better idea of
what full-time traveling entails.
Pros
There are
many reasons why people chose to pack up, quit their jobs and go and explore
the world. The benefits it brings to your life are numerable and will always
out weight the negatives. Here are a few of the best reasons to become a
full-time traveler.
1. The Best Geography, History
& Culture Lesson You Will Ever Have
There’s no
better way to learn the geography of a country that to have to navigate your
way from north to south on a mixture of complex and unreliable public transport
systems. It’s impossible to imagine the lives of ancient cultures until you’ve
stood in the midst of the remains of their civilizations. And by far the
greatest insight into any culture or way of life is to immerse yourself within
it for long period of time.
Travel
teaches you more about the world we live in than any textbook every could, so
getting out there and seeing as much of it as you is by far the greatest
education you can give yourself. Alongside the academic knowledge you gain, it
also gives you endless practical training, street smarts and world wisdom that those at home could never
match no matter how hard they try!
2. Living Abroad is Usually Cheaper
Alongside
the experience, there are some practical benefits of long-term travel. One of
these is cost. The general consensus is that traveling is a very financially
draining experience, and while, in some cases, this can be true, once you’ve
been traveling for a while, you find that it’s easy to cut the costs, and living abroad can actually
work out a lot cheaper.
Once
you’ve moved away from tourist-centered areas, you can find accommodation for
as little as $5 a night in some countries and the cost of living is a lot
cheaper once you’re cooking your own food rather than eating in restaurants all
the time. Plus, for those who are willing to give up the comforts of flying for
cheaper, albeit more time consuming, option of coach travel, you’ll be saving
large amounts in no time!
3. You Are As Near As You Can Be To
Being Free
Freedom is
a term that’s difficult to define. Most of the western world believes
themselves to be free, others say that freedom is a state of mind which you can
achieve in any circumstance. But the one thing long-term travel teaches you is
that feeling of freedom comes in unstoppable waves when you’re able to pack
your life up, hop on a plane and head to wherever you feel like without any
further questions.
Short-term
travel plans are always caged inside holiday restrictions from work and
financial constraints, but when you’re always on-the-go, there’s nothing to
stop you or hold you back. It’s this taste of freedom that gives most travelers
the traveling bug, and it defines the wanderlust that so many of us feel within
our hearts.
Cons
Being a
full-time traveler is seen as an exciting and luxurious way to live you life
and even though, in part, this is true, it still requires a large amount of
hard work, dedication and stress. Here are a few of the less-appealing elements
of long-term travel that may not always be considered.
1. You
Miss Your Home Comforts
Although
long-term travel brings uncountable exciting experiences, there are some days
when you want nothing more than to curl up in your pajamas with your duvet and
a favorite film. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible, particularly if
you’re staying in hostels or other cheap accommodation. Although you can go
somewhere to overcome this with a pair of earphones, a blanket and a quick
Netflix session on your phone, tablet or laptop, it’s never gong to be same as
the real deal.
Plus, if
you haven’t installed a Virtual Private Network (VPN) on your device, then it’s
very possible that you’ll be unable to access some of your favorite movies and
shows because lots of Netflix content is blocked when you’re overseas. And, unfortunately, this isn’t
the only home comfort you’ll be without; each traveler has their own list of
the things from home they wish they could bring along with them.
2. You
Miss Friends & Family
Alongside
the physical elements of home, the other thing you miss when you’re traveling
long-term is the people. Sometimes it can be difficult to not have all of your
loved ones in the same place, particularly when you have to overcome some of
the adversities that long-term travel undoubtedly throws at you.
Similarly,
you can regularly find yourself wishing you could share the amazing moments and
experiences that you are having with those close to you back home. Although
it’s possible to connect with those you miss through Skype or other social
networks, this can be made complicated with time differences and busy
schedules. This is why many long-term travelers keep blogs to keep their friends and families
updated on their whereabouts and how they’re doing.
3. Nothing
is Certain
Although traveling
full time is most definitely a dream come true, at times it’s not as glamorous
as it is perceived from the outside. Being constantly on-the-go means you have
to find ways to financially support yourself. Whether it’s working online or
finding a new job in every new place to go to, the financial uncertainty that
this causes is stressful even for the most resilient traveler.
Alongside
this, it’s never possible to plan that far into the future, and even when you
do, it’s very likely that your plans will end up being forced to change.
Although this spontaneity is the reason why many are drawn to this lifestyle,
if you’re the sort of person who needs a concrete plan, then it might not be
the right way of life for you to pursue.
These are
just a few things to think about when considering full-time travel; however,
there’s many more that can be added to the list. If you have any more point
that you think are worth noting, then be sure to comment below.
About the Guest Author:
Jess Signet is a blogger at Tripelio who writes about technology, traveling and technology needed when traveling. Having visited places all over the globe, traveling is both her love and addiction. She does not want to be cured.
