Let’s be honest. You don’t take enough vacations. You’ve got a bucketful of excuses and you’re not afraid to use them. You go through life wishing that you would travel more, but don’t do anything about it. You’ve already accepted that you just won’t do it until later, or never.
Traveling while you’re young is the best time to travel. The experiences that you have early in life will carry with you for the rest of your life. Whether you’re visiting holy sites like Jerusalem, Mecca, Palmyra, or the Vatican or hiking the Himalayas, the Andes, or the Alps it is all worth it. I’ve never regretted a trip that I’ve taken to date and I’ve visited 30 countries before 30. You can do it. Take courage from the smashed excuses below. Open your eyes and make it happen: Travel while you’re young.
Banff Canada
Travel strengthens your relationship with your spouse
When was the last time you spent a week straight with your spouse? It’s probably been……never. Imagine how you could re-ignite the flame by spending more time together. No children to stop your intimate encounters. You’ll remember the time that you spent when you were dating and couldn’t get enough of each other. Now you just want to avoid each other. Leave the computer at your desk, turn down the thermostat at your house, and go.
In the daily grind it becomes really easy to neglect your spouse whether it be with quality time, physical touch, or whatever the love language. Too many people get to retirement, where they now are spending all day with their spouse and they end up in divorce after 40 years of marriage. Don’t let that happen. Book a trip together so you can keep the fire burning like the first time you set eyes upon him or her.
Loving Hikers
I don’t have very much vacation time
You’re probably right. America feels like the No-Vacation Nation as we are cheated on our vacation time. You’ll just have to look at the time that you do have and make the best of it.
We don’t have the money
(Used Car Salesman Voice) Oh man, do we have the deal for you. JK. That is why we created this blog. We’re just ordinary guys who don’t make millions. Our objective is to teach guys and girls like you to do what you think is out of reach, because it’s not.
If you haven’t been following our site, now is the time. Be sure to follow us on Facebook. We’ll give you the travel tips and tricks that will lower the overall cost of your vacation by at least 50%. In some cases we’ve been able to save 80% on our vacations from the normal costs.
Your children will survive with a babysitter
A little time away from the children is healthy. It’s good for them, and it’s good for you. Start with a weekend away to test the waters if you need to start with something small. Work your way up to a longer trip.
Asking family to watch your kids is the most affordable way, but sometimes you might have to hire a nanny. Imagine if you’ve got a parent who lives far away, there couldn’t be a better time for them to bond. Use some frequent flyer miles to fly them out to your house (which won’t cost you anything) and they’ll love it. Most grandparents I know would be more than willing to do this. The best part is…it’s cheap!
Your health might not last
Let’s be honest. Taking a backpacking trip through Southeast Asia at 75 doesn’t sound like reality. Nor does taking the Eurorail and couchsurfing across Europe work for most people who are 72. It’s not because their hearts are too young. Their bodies are simply too old. Some medical conditions don’t allow for the flexibility that travel requires.
I’ve got a friend whose husband is on dialysis. They have a hard time going anywhere that is over an hour away. You just never know medically what might happen to you. For that reason it’s important to go when you know your health is good–right now!
If you don’t take your spouse traveling now, someone else might later
I know a lady whose husband worked hard his whole life. He was approaching 65 and getting prepared for retirement. They had worked and saved their entire lives for their retirement, and they were looking forward to the trips they would take as a couple and all the time they would spend together. Everything seemed like it was going perfect.
About six months before he turned 65 she woke up morning next to her husband who had passed away in his sleep. They never took those vacations they had always dreamed about. All their preparation for the “twilight” of their life had been flushed down the toilet.
Just Do it
Take a deep breath. Close your eyes. Imagine that place you’ve always wanted to go. Whether it’s the beach in Hawaii, the ruins of Machu Picchu, or the beauty of the Alps, it doesn’t matter. Now tell yourself that you really can travel now. If you’re not smiling, you’re not human.
Great post. My husband and I are [young] noobs but we are just getting into the groove of traveling as a pastime. We’ve already been to some great places like Hawaii and Vancouver but we’re stepping it up and going to France in May (for our belated honeymoon)! We’ve decided this is the lifestyle we want to live and we know the pros and cons of it all. I suppose we’re both just naturally curious about other cultures and lands and crave different experiences, which makes it easy for us. I used to have a bit of anxiety when it came to travel, but now it’s almost all gone and even turned into excitement (and a rather impatient anticipation). However, what I don’t get is how my middle-aged parents can continually refuse to join us. My whole life with them I’d never been anywhere outside of the Western US. Perhaps they simply lack the same level of interest that I do, to travel. Or at least, the interest dissipated over time. Anyway, yes I agree – start young and go often, because you never know what will happen!
@Whitney- You’re right on the money. My wife and I feel the exact same way that you and your husband do. Hopefully your teaching and example can show them over time how it will benefit them. My parents were a bit skeptical when we first started doing this (traveling and blogging). They’ve seen it for long enough that they’re beginning to participate. So let the example speak and keep on traveling!
There are a million excuses about not traveling.
Among my favorites is the career or grad school excuse. This is nothing more than confining yourself using other people’s thinking. My reply: blow them off. I’m not one to be irresponsible, but you’ll find a way to make things work. Travel is as much about the places you visit as it is creating your own reality and having a determination to accomplish what you want on your own terms. A world of opportunity awaits those who seek it. Yet most are content to remain on the couch in the same place they were born, never finding it. That which is the best career, school, or lifestyle for you may be thousands of miles away. You have to find it.
@Nomad – Absolutely the truth. There is just nothing like travel. Better than the education you got at the university!