There are many, many, many different ways in which you can see the world nowadays, and it is no longer exclusive to the elite and the recently-graduated. In fact, anyone can travel the world and experience new, exciting cultures whenever they please.
But what is the best travel experience? Everyone will have their unique opinion, and these people will all swear by their method as the best way to see anything around the world. But of course, we are all different people. We all have different priorities of what makes a travel experience worth it, and so how you travel is entirely up to you.
Whether it be travelling with an organised group, a massive group of friends and others that you pick up along the way, or going it alone and letting life take you where it so desires, having the best experience is not about how you do it all. Instead, it is what you see, where you go, and what you do along the way.
GROUP TRAVEL
Group travel is great. You have a (mostly) reliable network of friends surrounding you every step of the way, and you get to share the amazing, wondrous experiences of the world with some of your nearest and dearest.
However, large groups can lead to indecisiveness, a clash of personalities, and disagreements on what is the best thing to do on any given day. Too many cooks and all that, you know?
That being said, groups can provide you with the kind of diversity that you just don’t get when travelling alone or with one or two other people. As much as you may have been excited to travel the world with your best friend, two people in the same environment, unable to escape from one another’s company for any extended amount of time is bound to inspire boredom here and there.
While this may not ruin the trip, it can undoubtedly sour some experiences that you would otherwise be looking back on fondly when remembering years from now. However, if you have a large group, you get to balance and juggle your options for interaction and socialising, as well as get to know people you are less familiar with, as opposed to those you are closer to.
ALL-INCLUSIVE
The beauty of an all-inclusive holiday is that (pretty much) everything is paid for by the time you get there. You don’t have to worry about accommodation or transport or any of the other issues that arise when choosing the pay-as-you-go approach.
Typically, these all-inclusive holidays are reserved for families, usually those with young children as it streamlines the process and gives parents much fewer headaches. However, recently, the idea of an all-inclusive, or semi all-inclusive, at the least has found its way into the world of travelling. That is, people who sign up for a guided tour of some region of the world – seen most often across Southeast Asia – along with a large group of strangers.
This is ideal for those who do not have as much time as they may like to do it themselves. Often, punters on these sorts of trips will only have a month or so off work but still want to get the closest thing to an authentic globetrotting experience.
During these trips transport, hotels or hostels and activities are all all pre-arranged and so those embarking on their travels will have the opportunity to enjoy their surroundings without having to worry about getting from A to B. This can eliminate a lot of the stress associated with solo, DIY travel and allows you to make the most of your time away from home.
GOING SOLO
The act of going solo (or, at least with a friend, partner or relative) can be an intimidating prospect. However, avoiding the organised tours as mentioned above gives travellers the freedom to do whatever they want, when they want.
Not being tied down to any specific schedule allows you to move at you can stay in any place as long or as little as you please. Furthermore, you don’t feel obligated to do anything that you aren’t 100% enthused about doing, this is especially true if you come down with one of the many illnesses that can plague travellers along their way.
Another benefit of travelling solo is that you have the opportunity to meet a lot of new people. Travellers are naturally friendly, open-minded and welcoming people and so it will be easy to find someone to hang out with if you ever start to feel lonely.
For times like this, staying in hostels is an ideal way of meeting new people, even if it is just for a day or two. While the prospect of sharing a dorm and a toilet and bathroom with a bunch of strangers might seem uncomfortable at first, you soon get used to it, and there are so many people coming in and out on a day-to-day basis that you probably won’t even realise.
WINGING IT
Travel is a lot like life. You can plan and plot and organise and prepare, but there is no guarantee that everything will go as swimmingly as you may have hoped. For this reason, some people embark on travels without a plan at all.
Everyone says that you need to be ultra-prepared when going travelling, and while this is sort of true, you also have to be flexible. Travelling to the far side of the world with a different climate and culture, you are bound to encounter some roadblocks along the way. Having the right sort of attitude towards these roadblocks can mean the difference between making the most of your trip and having the whole experience ruined.
Some countries encourage you to have an exit ticket when entering; this is particularly true in South American countries such as Colombia. If a South American venture is high on your list of Where to Next? Travelsphere has a whole host of offers and information to get you started and prepared.
If you are entering somewhere like that, then knowing the basic immigration laws is a must, as it is everywhere in the world. Other than that though, feel free to just let your travels take you wherever feels natural. It might even make the whole experience that much more special.
Another benefit of not having a set plan is the freedom. This is very similar to planning your own route around the world; only there isn’t as much planning involved. This obviously applies more if you have little to no commitments at home and can travel at your leisure for as long as you need, and your bank account allows.
WHAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU
As mentioned at the beginning, everyone is different. It will be hard to find something that appeals to everyone. Knowing your options for when you travel, then, allows you to understand what will work for you, and what sort of experience you want to have, and what you want to avoid.
Experienced travellers are always thinking about where to go next, but if you’re someone who has never had the opportunity to get out there, or is scared about the potential danger that unfamiliar countries might bring, the best advice to give you is that you shouldn’t worry. Experiences like travelling across the world are supposed to be scary, they are supposed to inspire a sort of nervousness, but avoiding it will do no good, and you will look back later in life and probably wonder what if?
You are your own person, and you know better than anyone else what is right for you. Considering this, don’t go on an excursion that you will regret, but at the same time don’t be scared to try something new. The results might just surprise you.
