so you want to travel?tips & tricks from an amateur adventurer

my story

Distributed the Polio Vaccine to villages in Mexico

Rode Vespas through the streets of Florence, Italy

Hiked 100 miles around a peninsula in Ireland

Volunteered building houses in a Transylvanian Village

Rode 26 hours on a train through the heart of Bulgaria

Partied with Turkish Locals on the rooftops of Istanbul

why should you travel?

Learn more about the world and the people in it

Grow your confidence and resourcefulness

Memories and stories worth more than money can offer

Why not?

Stop dreaming and start DOING

reasons you say you can’t travel

Not enough money to afford a trip.

Not the right time. There are too many opportunities!

A secure job, apartment, or commitments.

No one to go with to experience the adventure.

Concerns from parents, friends or family.

tip 1: you can (and should) still travel.

Step 1: Research

research your travel interests

Figure out what interests you...

Pinterest

Travel Books from the Library / Amazon ($1.00 used)

Travel Podcasts

National Geographic / Travel Chanel Magazines

Online forums & travel groups

Make your Travel Bucket List

tip 2: know your limits and your style.

Step 2: plot your map

plot your trip map

Figure out what your next travel experience

Week? 2 Weeks? Month? Longer?

One destination for a more in-depth experience

Multiple destinations for a tour type experience?

Alone? With friends? With a tour group?

Set a date for your trip and plot out the key points above.

tip 3: change “I want to” to “I am going to.”

step 3: plan your plan

plan your planWork backwards from the date you’ve set.

Plot out details you need to figure out - depends on length of trip and destination.

Finances - What do you need to save to make it possible?

Trip Needs - Passport? Visas? Gear? Vaccines? Insurance?

Lodging & Itinerary - Hotels vs Hostels vs. Couchsurfing? Museums vs. Outdoors vs. Partying?

Set dates for yourself and hold yourself accountable.

Tip 4: set out a little time each week to plan.

step 4: count the days.

counting the days.

Continue to execute the plan you’ve set for yourself - save money, shop for gear, plan your itinerary and more.

Tell friends & family. Arrange coverage (job /pets/apartment /car) where necessary.

Continue to research and be inspired by where you WILL be going.

Plan out any final last-minute details you didn’t account for.

Cell phone abroad? Last minute gear? Etc.

Step 5:travel it up.

packing tips

Pack your pack then unload 1/2 the gear = less is more

Pack SMART rather than quantity

For longer trips, investing in quality gear makes a difference

Most things you CAN buy in other countries (laundry detergent, shirts, food, etc.)

Leave room for souvenirs!

travel resources [research]

Pinterest - Make Travel Boards of interest

Amazon - Find cheap used travel books

Online Forums & Travel Sites

www.lonelyplanet.com

www.fodors.com

www.nomadicmatt.com

www.matadornetwork.com

www.bootsnall.com

www.travelfish.org

travel resources [research]

Podcasts

Rick Steves Travel Podcast - More serious, adult travel

Amateur Traveler Podcast - Great for solo backpackers

Indie Travel Podcast - Great for group travelers

Other

Couchsurfing.org - Local meet-ups with other travelers

HelpX.net - Great for solo or couple backpackers

Rotary Travel Fellowship / Rotaract International

travel resources (flights)

Kayak.com - www.kayak.com

STA Travel - www.statravel.com

Travel Zoo - www.travelzoo.com

RTW Trips / Tickets - www.bootsnall.com

travel resources [lodging]

Travel Zoo - www.travelzoo.com

Air B n B - www.airbnb.com

Couch Surfing - www.couchsurfing.com

Help X - www.helpx.net

Rotaract Network - My Rotary Network - www.rotary.org

traveling tips & tricks

Don’t try to do too much in one day. Pace your travel experience.

Push your limits - particularly in traveling alone.

Try new food, new cultural experiences, talk to strangers!

Be SAFE and SMART.

Know your surroundings.

Be respectful & honor the culture YOU are in.

Embrace the culture & learn more about yourself in the process.

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.”- Mark Twain

questions?

Question s?