Sometimes there's stigmas around traveling that we feel bad about breaking and make us feel like we're not true travelers. We'll we're going to stop letting those stigmas dictate what type of traveler we are once and for all.
There are some things I do or have done when I’ve traveled that I always feel bad about doing and I’m sure I’m not the only one that feels this way about certain things. So I’m here to give you a list of 5 travel stigmas that I want to say sayonara to and I hope you join me in waving these stigmas goodbye.
1. It’s OK To Have A Lazy Day
As someone who has traveled quite a bit and for extended periods of time I can say that traveling can be exhausting. One thing I personally struggle with is feeling like I have to be out and about experiencing a new city/country/culture from sunrise to sunset and feel like I’ve failed in my experience if I haven’t done that. Yet if I were home and didn’t have to go into work there’s no way I’d be able to keep myself busy roaming around a town for 12 plus hours a day in my hometown! So why do I have that expectation of myself when I travel?
While I do try to make the most of wherever it is I am visiting sometimes I just need half a day or a full day to just lay in bed and watch Netflix. That doesn’t make me or anyone else any less of a traveler, it just makes us human! Even traveling if you try to do too much you can get burnt out, so it’s ok to take a break! Just because you’re somewhere new doesn’t mean you should stop taking care of yourself!
2. It’s OK To Splurge If You’re A Budget Traveler
One way I’m able to travel so much is I’m always searching for the best deals. I’m trying to stretch my money and my points as far as I can in order to extend my trips. However, even as a budget traveler it’s ok to splurge on nicer things every once in a while. If you’re used to staying in hostels it’s ok to spend a night or two in a hotel so you get some much needed personal space. If you’re always chasing the cheapest meal it’s ok to do a nice sit down restaurant. Don’t let your desire to stretch your money and points as far as you can keep you from experiencing nicer things every once in a while.
3. It’s OK To Not Have A Plan
When traveling sometimes we can get so wrapped up in the sights and checking everything off a list that if we don’t make a list it can seem like we’re selling ourselves short. While it can be a good idea to know what you want to see and do while you travel in order to ensure you get to everything you want, some of my best travel experiences have come from not having a plan.
When I randomly decided to go up to the Parthenon right before closing one night I didn’t expect to see a flag removal ceremony with guards in traditional outfits. When I was roaming around the streets of London right around King Charles’ coronation, I wasn’t expecting Prince William and Kate to be a few hundred feet away greeting people in anticipation of the coronation. Sometimes the coolest travel experiences come from just letting things be.
4. It’s OK To Lie For Your Safety
As someone who prides myself on being an honest person I normally don’t condone lying; however, when it comes to my safety while traveling all bets are off. If something doesn’t feel right to you, I’m here to tell you it’s 100% ok to lie if it means maintaining your safety. I have had boyfriends, I have had husbands, I have had girlfriends, I have had friends waiting on me, I have forgotten the name of my hotel, I have taken phone calls, I have done whatever I felt was necessary to maintain my safety in that moment and I’m here to tell you it’s ok to lie if it means you will be kept safe.
5. It’s OK To Disengage From The Culture
As much as I love traveling and do it because I love meeting new people, trying new things, and experiencing new cultures, sometimes I just miss the small comforts of home. Sometimes I just want a morning coffee from Starbucks or a quick dinner from McDonalds and that’s completely ok! It doesn’t mean you’re not appreciative of where you are. No! It just means you want that brief taste of home, whatever that means to you. For me it’s grabbing a quick meal from Starbucks or McDonalds, for you it could be something different, but embracing your home culture while you’re abroad is completely ok!
So there you have it! Five travel stigmas I want to say sayonara to. Do you have any travel stigmas you want to get rid of in the future?
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