How many times have you dreamed of making a trip happen, done some quick googling, picked up brochures from your travel agent or torn pages from magazines, only to never have your dreams materialise into an amazing trip?
I know that it took me years to get around to taking my first big trip and now that I’ve moved cities, I’m finding it easier to let old excuses creep back in to my travel plans – or dreams.
Lots of people add places to their bucket list, which grows longer and longer while the years whiz by, without a single new destination.
Why? Because making your travel dreams turn into plans isn’t easy.
You have to squeeze in a trip between semesters at uni or ask your boss for time off – rarely a fun conversation.
You’re not sure who to travel with.
You’re overwhelmed by the possibilities and have no idea where to start– and everyone around you has a (conflicting) opinion.
Your year is filling up quicker than you can say “Save me!” and to be quite honest, you’re comfortable. Your life is on auto pilot. It’s easy to cycle through your week, working, eating and drinking out with friends and spending nights on the couch.
Making travel happen means stalking airline websites for the best airfares, for months. It means clicking that terrifying yet exhilerating “Confirm” button on airline tickets that cost an arm and a leg, and mean you’re locked in.
It means spending inordinate amounts of time on TripAdvisor deciding whether one reviewer was just a pain in the ass, or if the only reasonably-priced B&B does have rude staff, a dirty bathroom and has a serious noise problem.
The biggest headache is the budget. How much do you need for five weeks in Europe? Have you got enough? Should you book that tour sailing around Capri, or isn’t it worth it? (Hint: It’s worth it. Empty your online shopping cart and cancel your music festival plans (you’ll live)).
For most of us, travel means knocking a few zeroes off our shopping & entertainment budget, and then some. It sounds easy and so mature and so simple to spend less, but putting it into practice can be seriously not fun. Especially when you can’t afford that second glass of wine, or that coat or that cover charge.
For months, your eyes will dart between your bank balance and your trip budget, and you’ll start to panic.
“How the hell am I ever going to afford it?”
We know all of these things. These minor inconveniences sit in the back of our minds, and whisper quietly that we can’t do it. Just when we’re getting the nerve to book a trip anyway, they start to scream.
“I just don’t have time this year.”
“I don’t have money this year.”
“It’s just too hard this year.”
“Next year will be better…or better yet, the year after.”
Fear will tell you anything to stay within your comfort zone and to avoid growth. It will think of a million reasons why you can’t, and ignore any little voice that pipes up with reasons you can.
Deciding to go is the hardest part of making your travel dreams come true. Once you’re committed, you’re halfway there.
Once you get over that initial hurdle of deciding to go, a whole world of opportunities and solutions open up. Once you decide to go, the symphony of nay-sayers in your mind are silenced. Those opinions don’t matter anymore, because you’re not thinking of reasons you can’t. You’re too busy making plans for ways that you can.
You’re so buoyed with the excitement of the adventures on your horizon, that you have a newfound energy and creativity for solving any problems that come your way. Impossible train times in Italy lead to a stopover with just enough time to see the most beautiful sights of Milan. Expensive accommodation in Cinque Terre leads you to a beautiful, affordable seaside village down the road, where you see the most beautiful sunset of your life. Plans falling through in London leads to two extra nights in Paris.
Deciding to go is the first and the biggest step. Don’t say it unless you mean it, because not following through weakens the power of your words.
Dream it, declare it, design it and then discover what you’re capable of.
Finally, remember Nelson Mandela’s wise words, which he may or may not have intended to be repurposed as travel advice, “It always seems impossible until its done.
Where will YOU decide to go? Let me know of your next travel plans in the comments below!
Hello! I’m an Australian travel blogger, living in Melbourne, Australia. I grew up in Brisbane, studied in Paris, lived & worked in New York City and now live in Melbourne, Australia.
I love sharing specific and useful recommendations, itineraries and guides for the most beautiful things to see, do, experience & eat wherever I go.
My favourite travel destinations are Australia, New York City & surrounds, France, Greece & Japan, but I’m always excited to explore somewhere new!
The Wanderbug is reader supported. This site may contain links to affiliate websites, which means when you buy through links on this site I may receive a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Hi Genevieve,
This piece is written wonderfully. I connected with it so well. Its a very good read! Would love to see you as an established travel writer some day! I wish you all the best in your travel endevours.
Thank you so much for your kind words, you’ve made my day! Lovely to hear such positive feedback, makes blogging that much more rewarding 🙂 Happy travels!
I could not agree with you more! There are always so many reasons not to travel, and I made the excuses for too many years. Once you decide to just go, it’s so worth it! I set aside a finite travel budget each year, and it’s definitely higher than what most people spend, but I live simply in tons of other places. That way, I don’t feel guilty about spending the money because I already have it accounted for. Plus, I love searching for travel deals. I want to get as many destinations and as much fun out of that money as possible!
I completely agree! I’ve always found that the best way to make travel happen is to just decide on it, commit to, and don’t let anything or anyone talk you out of it. Start saying to yourself and other people “I’m going to “X” country in “Y” month. Buy the plane ticket, and you’re most of the way there. Bosses, boyfriends, friends and family members can’t talk you out of a plane ticket you’ve already purchased!
I wish I had the money to travel this Easter but I have to save up so I can afford my year studying abroad in September. I’d probably give in and squander all my money on travel if I didn’t have the incentive of spending longer abroad further down the line. Instead of a mature voice inside my head, telling me to work in order to get good career experience and to save up, I have a boyfriend who wants to do just that and parents to nag me!
You’re already making your travel plans happen! It can be a bit of a waiting game when you’re saving up for a big trip, but I’m sure it will be worth it!
I’ve lost hours, probably days of my life searching for cheap airline. People will always be able to find excuses to not travel, sometimes they just need a push. I’m making my dream of moving abroad a reality. 10 months from now my husband and I will be who knows where, but I do know it won’t be in the US.
It’s not easy, but it’s always worth it! How exciting for you both, good luck! 🙂