Have you ever taken a trip abroad and were left unsatisfied? Are you tired of the safe but boring organized tours? How about dealing with annoying friends and being forced to compromise your travel experience as a result? Well my friend, I know exactly how you feel! Back in the day I took an organized trip to the middle east and the entire time I was crawling out of my skin because all I wanted to do was explore the area, visit attractions my own way and meet locals.
The tour guides, however had a schedule to keep.
Another time I went to Russia with a friend who had local connections.
Experiencing another country with someone who knows the local scene sounds great doesn't it? Well, it would have been great if only I didn't have to fight with him every step of the way about where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do! Both experiences were true disappointments because I felt like I missed out on what travel is truly all about: Freedom and Adventure! Afterward I vowed never to take another organized tour or be subjected to a friend's itinerary ever again! In my vision, travel abroad is meant to be adventurous, exciting and spur-of-the-moment.
You must have the freedom to go anywhere you want, live how you want and be free to take advantage of incredible opportunities should they present themselves! In order to make this a reality, there are three simple rules that must be followed no matter where in the world you decide to go.
The first is to make the unconscionably scary decision to go at it solo.
The second is to have faith that your trip will be amazing no matter what and refrain from making an itinerary.
The third and final rule is to decide on a hostel in your first destination.
Whether you're a guy or girl, young or old, I promise you that if you follow these three rules, you will have the time of your life! I have a friend who is a lady, 38 years old and loves the idea of travel.
After many sub-par experiences, she asked how to do it right because mine seemed incredible to her! I told her exactly what I am telling you - don't make an itinerary, don't take any friends and make sure to stay at a hostel.
She listened, booked a ticket to Argentina and told herself "let the cards fall where they may!" A month later, she returned and had the most incredible glow about! She told me that I was absolutely right not to make an itinerary.
She met people along the way, at the hostel and other places, who helped her whenever she needed it.
She found adventures she never thought possible and returned with a clear idea about which direction to go in her life.
The fact is while you are thinking about doing this, there are thousands of people all over the world pondering the same issues.
What you don't know is when you take that leap of faith and actually arrive to your first hostel without a plan and by yourself, you will meet people in the exact same situation.
You will connect with these people and you will travel in a way you never even dreamed possible.
Outside of Europe, hostels have a somewhat unjust reputation.
In many cases hostels are not cheaper than budget hotels and provide you with all the travel services you'd expect from a full service hotel.
But even these are not the main reasons people stay in them.
People stay in hostels purely because they are the best way to meet adventurous like-minded, open and friendly people who are in the exact same position as you! A few years back, I was planning a trip to Brazil with a couple of friends.
At the eleventh hour, they decided to forgo the opportunity and I was left with the decision to go at it alone.
I pondered the decision for several days and on a whim, closed my eyes and pushed the "reserve" button for the airline ticket.
On the airplane, I was more scared then I have ever been in my life.
When I arrived, standing in customs, I was telling a lady about my decision to go at it alone and she asked "do you even speak Portuguese?" I said "no.
" She chuckled and replied "good luck!" But somehow I knew everything would be alright.
When I arrived to the hostel, the first person I met was a Swiss guy who had never traveled like this before and said he was a bit apprehensive about going to Brazil by himself, but he did it anyways.
We became friends instantly! Over the next three weeks, we formed a group with 4 other guys and girls who were in the exact same situation.
Together we had incredible parties in Rio, experience the full flavor of the Iguazu falls and together laid on the beaches of Florianopolis.
To end the trip that had been the time of all our lives, we went skydiving on our last day together.
These are people I still keep in touch with to this day after several years have passed.
Since that trip, I have been to dozens of countries on almost every continent on the globe.
And every time I start preparing myself for another adventure, I simply follow the three rules mentioned above and set sail.
To this day, myself and the many friends I have turned onto these three rules have yet to be disappointed.
Happy Travels my Friend!
The tour guides, however had a schedule to keep.
Another time I went to Russia with a friend who had local connections.
Experiencing another country with someone who knows the local scene sounds great doesn't it? Well, it would have been great if only I didn't have to fight with him every step of the way about where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do! Both experiences were true disappointments because I felt like I missed out on what travel is truly all about: Freedom and Adventure! Afterward I vowed never to take another organized tour or be subjected to a friend's itinerary ever again! In my vision, travel abroad is meant to be adventurous, exciting and spur-of-the-moment.
You must have the freedom to go anywhere you want, live how you want and be free to take advantage of incredible opportunities should they present themselves! In order to make this a reality, there are three simple rules that must be followed no matter where in the world you decide to go.
The first is to make the unconscionably scary decision to go at it solo.
The second is to have faith that your trip will be amazing no matter what and refrain from making an itinerary.
The third and final rule is to decide on a hostel in your first destination.
Whether you're a guy or girl, young or old, I promise you that if you follow these three rules, you will have the time of your life! I have a friend who is a lady, 38 years old and loves the idea of travel.
After many sub-par experiences, she asked how to do it right because mine seemed incredible to her! I told her exactly what I am telling you - don't make an itinerary, don't take any friends and make sure to stay at a hostel.
She listened, booked a ticket to Argentina and told herself "let the cards fall where they may!" A month later, she returned and had the most incredible glow about! She told me that I was absolutely right not to make an itinerary.
She met people along the way, at the hostel and other places, who helped her whenever she needed it.
She found adventures she never thought possible and returned with a clear idea about which direction to go in her life.
The fact is while you are thinking about doing this, there are thousands of people all over the world pondering the same issues.
What you don't know is when you take that leap of faith and actually arrive to your first hostel without a plan and by yourself, you will meet people in the exact same situation.
You will connect with these people and you will travel in a way you never even dreamed possible.
Outside of Europe, hostels have a somewhat unjust reputation.
In many cases hostels are not cheaper than budget hotels and provide you with all the travel services you'd expect from a full service hotel.
But even these are not the main reasons people stay in them.
People stay in hostels purely because they are the best way to meet adventurous like-minded, open and friendly people who are in the exact same position as you! A few years back, I was planning a trip to Brazil with a couple of friends.
At the eleventh hour, they decided to forgo the opportunity and I was left with the decision to go at it alone.
I pondered the decision for several days and on a whim, closed my eyes and pushed the "reserve" button for the airline ticket.
On the airplane, I was more scared then I have ever been in my life.
When I arrived, standing in customs, I was telling a lady about my decision to go at it alone and she asked "do you even speak Portuguese?" I said "no.
" She chuckled and replied "good luck!" But somehow I knew everything would be alright.
When I arrived to the hostel, the first person I met was a Swiss guy who had never traveled like this before and said he was a bit apprehensive about going to Brazil by himself, but he did it anyways.
We became friends instantly! Over the next three weeks, we formed a group with 4 other guys and girls who were in the exact same situation.
Together we had incredible parties in Rio, experience the full flavor of the Iguazu falls and together laid on the beaches of Florianopolis.
To end the trip that had been the time of all our lives, we went skydiving on our last day together.
These are people I still keep in touch with to this day after several years have passed.
Since that trip, I have been to dozens of countries on almost every continent on the globe.
And every time I start preparing myself for another adventure, I simply follow the three rules mentioned above and set sail.
To this day, myself and the many friends I have turned onto these three rules have yet to be disappointed.
Happy Travels my Friend!
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