I want to travel independently, does that makes sense?
Written
by: Lizandra Jimenez Rodriguez
When traveling becomes a great
passion, you usually keep a bucket list framed at your desk or in the lock
screen of your phone. You never stop planning or deciding when, where, and how
to get to the next place. There are tons of ways to travel, however,
independent travel has been always a popular one for those seeking adventure,
exploring on their own, or simply trying to get away from the traditional and
superficial (for some) tourist routine. A myth we need to forget is that
independent travel is not all about backpacking in Europe
or climbing the Everest; in fact, it can be done in many ways including
different levels of budget and luxury. Also, independent travel can be done
solo or with an affinity group with a particularly crafted itinerary. This
makes it very different from escorted traveling of course. Companies have
understood how escorted traveling is not for everyone and today we see the promotion
of flexible itineraries, where the traveler can customize it almost entirely
and still have the best from both worlds: hand-holding in a foreign place but
total freedom to do things at your own pace. Travel companies are becoming
quite creative with showing travelers the multitude of options out there for
“organized” independent travel, and how they can help. As part of their
campaign A Better Way To Travel, Monograms
(part of Globus family of brands) is one great example of how companies
approach this on social media with original content marketing.
There are perks for traveling
alone though, and it has nothing to do with you being an experienced traveler
or new to this amazing hobby. Here are a couple worthy of mention:
You can focus on what your real interests are.
You choose your own distractions,
your own pace, and your own level of interaction with the destination. This
reduces friction when you decide to open to others, or try exotic culinary
delights. Since you are escaping from your daily routine and do not plan to
have a trip based on a daily routine, traveling solo reduces stress and helps
you to connect with your inner self. Your itinerary becomes an on-and-off the
beaten path journey seeking and finding the extraordinary. In essence, it means
you will unobtrusively dive into your plans and enjoy a silence or a crowd.
You can have a budget as flexible or strict as you would like it to be.
Some destinations are more
expensive than others, but I personally think it’s all about the type of
experience and how pampered you want to be. Furthermore, those two factors will
influence your budget the most. There is a lot to say about creating a budget
such as choosing the best season, scheduling a super detail-oriented budget
like an accountant, or just having the essentials and a ballpark figure to
spend until it is all gone. I usually start with a checklist of the “must
have-see-do” and I put the “maybes” on a separate column. All this, of course,
after you can pragmatically calculate pre-departure expenses, air fare,
accommodation and meals. Finally, it is always safe to leave some room for odds
and ends that include all those miscellaneous things we travelers collect for
ourselves or to share (postcards, souvenirs, extra toiletries, etc.).
However, independent travel takes
a great amount of research to decide where and when to go somewhere. The Internet
is inundated with travel blogs that are usually very helpful for finding information
from fellow travelers that help prepare you in a way of what to expect or how
to start planning. I have found a few of them to be particularly resourceful
and helpful: Independent Traveler,
Across and Abroad, Adventurous Kate, Bunch of Backpackers, among
others.
One of the most common questions
we ask ourselves lately is if we really need to see a travel agent for this,
and the answer is … it depends. Yes, the Internet has lots of information and
one-click online agencies to buy your packages or make tour reservations. But
brick-and-mortar travel agencies still exist for the mere reason that talking
to a specialist can make a difference. It does not mean you need to book from
beginning to end, but a consultation session could help you organize ideas,
learn about how to structure your itinerary, or simply realize there are some lightning
or seasonal deals you can get. In addition, there are remote destinations in
places like Africa , for example, where
coordinating activities or accommodations over the internet might be a bit
difficult. Instead, travel agencies usually work with wholesalers that can
confirm these services ahead of time using their destination management team.
Cons about independent travel usually
have to do with language barriers, interacting with local customs, finding your
own way if you get lost, or planning ahead for contingencies in case something
goes wrong. Yes, some things will go wrong sometimes and you need to be
prepared. That would be one of the greatest pitfalls because if you did not
organize using a backup person/company to call or you didn’t have travel
insurance your trip could become pretty scary and/or end abruptly. Sometimes
intuition, resources, or caution will not be enough while traveling
independently. This is why I mentioned travel insurance. Notably outside your
country you do not usually get covered by your health insurance provider. You
are on an adventure after all, but you want to keep it safe at the same time. Be
sure to choose an insurance company that covers reasons you feel might prevent
you to start, continue or finish your travel once you are booked and ready to
go.
On a final note, remember that
traveling is not always about risks, budget, or the ordinary. Open your
horizons, be safe and have fun. Learn where to indulge and how to save as well
as where to jump and where to retreat. Who knows? You might end up choosing the
life of travel where you can work, volunteer, and make your main income as a
travel blogger or a photographer. Make each part of the world your home,
literally.
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