So many people make the mistake in thinking that be able to travel you have to be a certain type of person or to travel in a certain type of way. Majority believe you have to be young and what is best known as “a backpacker” to be able to experience the world. Nope sorry to disappoint. Travelling does not come in one size or another. It is not something you can do wrong; there is not a right way. You travel your way and your way only. Be selfish; your way is the best way.. of course don’t say this to people. Everyone will have their own way of working and own way of thinking. The same way different people like different types of food, music or dress style. It is the exact same thing. You have to choose what works for you and what doesn’t work.
Do you like to have no plans at all? “Wing-it” if you will. Get to a place and have no idea what your next plan will be. Where will you be staying tonight? Who are you going to meet today? What will be my next meal? For some of you you are probably nodding at this thinking “of course that is the only way to properly travel”. Others will be saying to themselves “no freaking way”. Completely fine as well.
To travel is to feel secure at the same time. There have been many times I have turned up to a country in the middle of the night, no language to use, no signs to read, men coming up to the front of the bus trying to grab your bag and put you into the next tuktuk around the darkest corner of the street, most probably to charge you triple the price because I was a tourist. Does this sound fun? When you have been on a 39 hour bus journey this is not what you want to experience the other end. Well this is backpacking right? This is the only way you can travel? Not at all.
Disclaimer alert. You will meet people on route who will think they have a better way of doing things to you. You will meet people who will brag about how many countries they have been to or what amazing experiences they have had. Chances are they won’t ask you questions about yourself and even if they do they will definitely answer with something they have done just slightly better than you. You will meet these people and you can create your own named category for them. These are usually the people to avoid. Focus on the people who love to hear your stories and you love to hear theirs back. They will be like and open minded people just as yourself. When you share your adventures you can laugh, cry or smile at them together. Just by listening to each other you will both become a bit more educated in your own ways and they may be friends for life. Friends in other countries is a bonus.
My personal style? I’m pretty easy. I love not knowing what is around the corner, getting off a bus in the middle of no where and finding my way from that point. This isn’t all the time though; there are other times I just want someone to come get me from the airport and bring me straight to the hotel which I know I will be staying at and chill for the rest of the evening. It depends on your mood I guess. I can’t sleep on planes that is something I know I won’t be able to do but a bus, yes. Therefore I know when I get off a plane I would like the most simple journey possible to my next destination and when I get off a bus – I don’t really mind.
Since working for a Travel Company I have planned trips for people of all different styles. Some people just want flights. Some want flights and a hotel. Some want a group trip. Some have no idea. This is all OK. You will get there and you will learn quite quickly what style will be good for you and what won’t. My blogs on this site hopefully will give you an insight into what style of trip would suit you. They will hopefully give you inspiration, guidance and advice to help with the planning process as well as advice when away. Think of me as your very own travel advisor.
And my first piece of advice: find your own way and do it your own way.
LEAH HANCOX 