Traveling always has been a dream for so many people including me and maybe you too. The more I get to see the more I want to see more. Don't get fooled by nice influences photos on social platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, etc. Every lifestyle comes at a price and here I will tell you the main pros and cons of traveling.
At this moment I've visited 21 countries and I'm not going to stop. Every year brings something new, even unexpected about this lifestyle, as well does every country. Now, it's time to dive into what you should know if you're thinking of becoming a full-time traveler.
Riga, Latvia airport, 2019
Bangkok water taxi, 2019
Outside Denpasar, Bali airport 2019
Right before COVID-19 hit the world I moved across the globe and even visited Thailand and Bali for the 1st time. As I mentioned, every country teaches me a lesson and these ones introduced me to different type of hot weather and people. To make it nice and sweet let's move straight to pros of traveling!
Pros of traveling
Meet new people - there are way more different people than you can imagine. for some reason, before starting to travel I thought that everyone should be like me and that probably they will like the same things. You already know, that's not the truth. Leaving your home country will lead you to meet a lot of great people.
Learn about different cultures - this one, wow! My favorite part of visiting a new country is trying their local food, chatting with older people (because they always hold the best stories), and understanding what they value. Latvians love their culture but so do others. Make sure to ask around just so you know how to respect their environment as much as they do.
Enjoy adventures - every single country will have its own "regular activity". For them it might be but not for a traveler. Every location has a different scenery even if you're going for a hike/walk around the block. For extreme sports lovers, New Zealand is a perfect location because, for example, Queenstown offers it all: paragliding, canyoning, sky diving, water rafting, bungee, 4 WD tours, helicopter flights, etc. The main thing - find what you like and enjoy!
Change environment! Some of us can be so handed up in our daily life that we stop growing and end up giving up on our dreams. Environment change which traveling can offer 100% will give you the option to feel uncomfortable again and remind - you can dream big. If you're feeling stuck and maybe even a bit scared of the unknown, make sure to watch this video featuring 6 exact steps I took before starting going for a full-time traveler lifestyle.
Gain experience - when someone asks me: "How did you make it so far and how do you know all of this?" It's simple. the more you travel, the more experience you gain, and eventually you become more and more open-minded. You start to see people for who they are. Don't get me wrong, not only people come with traveling. Experience in all the aspects (or most of them) - traveling tricks, common sense (which by the way not all of us have as I've learned while traveling), work ethic, and so much more. Not questioning why lots of successful people give this advice - go and travel as much as you can in your 20's!
Cons of traveling
Be ready to leave - clearly one of the hardest things! Imagine, all those times you have to say goodbye to your family? It's doesn't stop there, it's also quite hard to make good friends in the 1st place while moving a lot. A new location always comes and then again you have to move on. Thankfully we have internet. :)
Live out of a suitcase - there is a saying that if you have time to pack out your luggage and even use a closet at the hotel then it's a high chance, you are staying for way too long in one spot. Now it's just a common thing but packing has become a valuable skill. You want to use all the space, but not have too many items - while having most clothes for cold and hot weather. It's not easy for sure.
Long-distance. New Zealand has learned me a lot, also the fact that visa restrictions can be a big thing. Therefore I haven't seen my family in person for more than 2 years. You will be losing some friends too, it's just a part of the traveling lifestyle and it's not for everyone.
Time difference - imagine waking up when your loved ones are already in beds and done with their days. No secret time difference exists and sometimes it just makes things more complicated to plan but hey, if I can get it done - so can you!
Traveling will change your life but that doesn't mean you can't be ready for what's coming. For some time I've been thing about creating travel guides and diving deeper into traveling space. What questions do you have about the universe of traveling?
Leave your question below and I might surprise you with an answer.
Don't be afraid of countries or people, you don't know. The world is a magical place and I hope you will find this article not only useful but helpful for upcoming trips.
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