Viajar seems to have become a “need“.
In fact, there are more and more studies that claim that knowing new destinations helps not only in the society's acculturation, but also to release the stress and develop the so-called soft skills.
Nowadays, knowledge about travel has increased significantly relatively, for example, at the time of our parents.
Most people have flown at least once or visited another country.
However, and with all the information we have today, there are myths that insist on not disappearing.
Shall we unravel these myths?
1 – Traveling is very expensive, that is only for rich people!
This is always that statement that those who travel frequently are already tired of hearing. Like everything there are expensive trips and cheap trips. Travel is not flying. Can be by car or train also. Another point is that usually those who travel frequently have travel as priority, and so they pass on other things such as, high-end mobile phones going out at night every week, buy clothes frequently, etc.
And there are still those who have a travel fund, such as an account where every month is withdrawn a % of the salary and placed there.
To learn more about methods of save to travel have a look at our article Save to travel
To give you an example of how traveling can be cheap, in 2019 I did a ten days tour in Morocco with transportation, lots of visits, accommodations, dinners, lunches, guides, etc by 500 and few euros.
Opportunities exist, you have Search and plan!
2 – Traveling is dangerous!
The world is vast, and obviously, not every place in the world is safer than your own country. However, traveling is just as dangerous as living your daily life. If you avoid risky situations while traveling, just as you do in your daily routine, everything will surely go well. Many people also refrain from traveling due to a lack of company, believing that traveling alone is even more dangerous than traveling with others. Here, I think many people confuse danger with the fear of the unknown.
To know more on how to travel alone, click here
3 – I'm afraid to fly!
Ok! É uma razão totalmente válida. Mas não precisas de andar de avião para viajar. Faz uma roadtrip ou um interraill na Europa, ou até mesmo um cruzeiro. A Europa é imensa e tem viagens de comboio e cruzeiros de sonho. Aliás, já deves ter ouvido na viagem de comboio mais longa do mundo que liga Portugal ao Vietname, certo? Claro que aqui entra a questão do tempo disponível de férias, por isso podes fazer como vários amigos meus que tomam um calmante antes de entrar no avião e vão a dormir todo o voo. 😉
4 – Car riding is boring and is not traveling!
What matters isn’t the destination, but the journey itself. Take, for example, a trip from Guimarães to the Algarve. If you do it straight through, it’s obviously boring. But what if you turn that trip into a road trip, stopping and staying overnight along the way? Don’t you think it becomes much more interesting? So, it’s all a matter of planning, willingness, and, of course, personal preference. Some people prefer to spend their vacation at a resort without ever leaving, while others would rather explore 2 or 3 cities in the same amount of time. Even a weekend 50 km away can turn into an unforgettable journey!
5 – It is difficult and dangerous to travel independently!
This could be valid in the time of our parents, just as at that time, flying was really for those who were rich.
But in an era where the world is referred to as a "Global Village" and all the information is just two or three clicks away, booking trips independently has never been easier. Of course, traveling independently is more labor-intensive and “complicated” than calling a travel agency and saying, “This is the vacation package I want.” Independent travel requires planning.
Do you want to know all the tips to plan your trip in a safe and economical way? Look at this article
6 – Traveling Alone is boring, with companion/a is complicated and in group ...no way!
There’s no ideal way to travel that suits everyone. Each person knows how they feel most comfortable traveling. I, for example, like to travel alone but, I also enjoy travelling in organized group trips..
All forms of travel have advantages and disadvantages.
If you go solo the trip is completely up to you, but you are alone.
If you travel with a companion, the trip needs to suit both of you, and there’s a risk of getting bored since it’s just the two of you. However, you’ll have someone to talk to and share expenses with.
If you travel in a group, expenses can decrease drastically, but creating a plan that pleases everyone can be challenging.
So, the ideal is to try all three and see how you feel better. 😉
7 – I can only travel when everything is too expensive
Most people take their vacation in August. To avoid the exorbitant prices during that time, you should look for less popular destinations. If you have fixed vacation dates, you can plan your holidays a year in advance and take advantage of promotions like Black Friday. Plan short getaways throughout the year by making the most of holidays and weekends.
8 – I have little vacation time to travel
Escolhe destinos mais perto. Por exemplo, se o teu objectivo for apenas fazer praia, precisas mesmo de andar 10 horas de avião? Queres aproveitar um fim de semana prolongado? A maior parte das cidades europeias são perfeitas para 3 ou 4 dias. Queres aproveitar ainda mais? Descobre Portugal 😉
Again, plan your holidays and weekends early in the year.
9 – I can't plan trips
Podes sempre optar por ir a uma agência de viagens. Ou então se fores com alguém deixar essa pessoa planear tudo. Se fores sozinho, vai à descoberta. Uma vez no destino tudo se desenrolará naturalmente😉
10 – I have children and now I can not travel
The arrival of a child in our lives completely changes our routines. So when you travel, don't expect to be diferent.
It is not impossible, and there are also easier children than others. But the truth is, there are a lot of people who travel with their children.
If possible, and if the trip isn't the most suitable for children, you can always leave them with the grandparents or another family member. But from what I've heard, the cure is worse than the disease. Parents start to feel an overwhelming longing for their children and almost can't fully enjoy the trip. Not having children myself, I invite you to read this article escrito pela Joana (mãe de gémeos com 3 aninhos), que continua a viajar e que vos vai dar algumas dicas.
11 - There is no need for travel insurance
Another myth debunked! Travel Insurance is mandatory!First, because everything can change from one day to the next, accidents happen, just like unforeseen events. Second, the cost of travel insurance doesn’t justify not getting it, especially if you're traveling independently. If you want to get travel insurance with a 5% discount, click here. hereIati seguros.
12 - There's Wi-Fi everywhere!
No. Wi-Fi doesn't exist everywhere! So, travel without prepare your data aboard, can cost you top dollar.Unlock your phone, get information about your home plan aboard, check which SIMS are the best on your destination, or buy an E-sim roamings e cartões SIM no destino.
13 - I don't need cash. Card is King!
Again, wrong! It's true that cash is less and less accepted in some of the most evolved countries. However, in many countries (and business) cash is king. Therefore, you should always bring along some cash in small bills. Specially if you plan to buy things at street markets, or small businesses.
14 – I have a friend there. He'll show me arround
The question you should ask yourself is: a friend is coming to the city. Are you going to be their guide for the entire stay? The answer is probably no, so you can’t expect your friend to do the same. Eventually, on one day or another, they might show you a few places, but you should plan the trip as if you don't know anyone at the destination.
15 – Traveling is always fun and it always goes well
This is another myth that needs to be debunked. Most people only talk about the good things that happened during their trip, leading us to believe that nothing ever goes wrong. It’s not quite true. It is practically impossible for a trip to not have any kind of setback or scare. Either the flight was delayed, the museum was under renovation, or the accommodation wasn’t as shown in the pictures. The examples are endless. However, I always focus on the good side, and I can tell you that I remember the bad experiences with much more clarity and a smile on my face than the good ones. It’s part of the journey, and we just have to learn to deal with them. In fact, we also have bad luck in our daily lives, right?
16 – Traveling is for young people!
For me, age has always been just a number. And every time I travel with groups of strangers, I’m even more convinced of this. In my groups, I’ve had people of all ages, including those in their 70s. Age is in the heart and mind. I can say that the best travel companions I’ve had were much older than me. They have incredible stories to share and wise tips. And they say exactly the opposite. In other words, they travel now because everything is paid for, and their children are grown… it’s like being 18 again… but with everything in life sorted.
Don’t let sayings like “You’re old enough to be sensible” or “You’re too old for that” stop you from doing what you want.
Traveling is not about age... it's a state of mind. So, if you love to travel, you should do it whenever you can, because the truth is, money comes back, but time doesn’t.
Finally, take advantage of every opportunity, whether you are new or old, because no one knows tomorrow 😉
