Travel is expensive [Not if you do it right!]
The world is unsafe [Quite the contrary, people are inherently good]
Stereotypes are True [The truth is this couldn’t be further from the truth]
Guidebooks know best [Guidebooks don’t know best (and here’s why)…]
Traveling is running away [What’s so bad about freeing yourself anyway?]
The Travel Bug [Myth or Truth?]
Common Travel Myths
Travel is expensive
Myth.
Contrary to popular belief, travel isn’t (or at least doesn’t have to be) expensive. In the 21st Century travel has become a much more accessible activity, offering something for every budget. There are some countries you can visit and live on holiday for less than you would at home (take for example Nepal, India, or even Easter European countries like Bosnia & Herzegovina). Food & accommodation is much cheaper as tourism has been on a steep incline globally, so there is more competition. Sure, the likes of Paris, Rome and London are still expensive, but there are plenty of alternative choices if you’re on a budget.
The world is unsafe
Myth.
Regardless of what people tell you, the horror stories you see plastered all over the news and the ‘worst case scenario’ ideas you have inside your head, much of the world is safe to visit. Sure, there are some countries and cities you should avoid – but for the most part, the world is safe beyond the borders of your country.
Stereotypes are true
Myth.
Much like safety, I often hear various stereotypes about certain Nationalities, religions, cultures, etc. So many of them are not true or ridiculously exaggerated. The only way to know is to go and see for yourself – otherwise you have no say in the matter!
Guidebooks know best
Myth.
This is a tough one because I myself often use guidebooks as a first point of reference, and certainly believe they have some relevance. The problem with guidebooks is that they are often out of date or written by someone you don’t know – you don’t know what this person likes, if they’re relatable to you, or whether you will have similar tastes or interests in a city. That’s what I love about the bloggosphere – relying on a blog for your travel tips allows you to go to the blog you know best suits you personally. You get to know the author of the blog, trust them, and follow their advice!
Traveling is running away
Myth.
If you’re young and unsure of what you want to do with your life, I urge you to travel. If you’re midway through your life and feel there is a void – an unhappiness you can’t put your finger on – I urge you to travel. If you’re tired of your career and need a break, I urge you to travel. The misconception that travel is ‘running away’ couldn’t be any further from the truth. Traveling is a way to go out there and find out about the world AND yourself in the process.
The travel bug is real
Truth.
I’ve gotta call truth on this one. Since first going overseas a decade ago, I have been completely mesmerised by travel. The sense of adventure, discovering new places, trying new things, meeting new people…. I just can’t get that ‘fix’ elsewhere. If there’s one thing for certain, it’s that the travel bug is real.
Brooke Saward founded World of Wanderlust as a place to share inspiration from her travels and to inspire others to see our world. She now divides her time between adventures abroad and adventures in the kitchen, with a particular weakness for French pastries.
