2018: The year you find Adventure & Make Travel Happen

NEW YEARS TRAVEL RESOLUTIONS

One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to travel more. It’s right up there with going to the gym and eating healthier.

And like so many other resolutions that start out with the best intentions this one is often the first to fail.  Not because of motivation or ambition, but because travel brings people out of their comfort zone.

But when you ask why, most people will offer some form of excuse involving time or money.  They forget to ask for time off, work got too busy, they have a baby on the way, didn’t save enough money, house needed painting, couldn’t find a cheap ticket, couldn’t find someone to go with, yadda, yadda, yadda, blah, blah blah.

Travel will educate you, but it doesn’t happen immediately.  Long term travel will make you healthier, stronger & wealthier, but its easier for people to see the immediate gratification in going to the gym today.  Giving up pizza tonight.  Finding a good book on Audible, or signing up for an online class.  These give the impression of results without leaving your comfort zone.  Where travel forces you to pack a bag, ask for time off of work, purchase a plane ticket, book accommodations & make a commitment.

Usually you find people don’t follow through with their New Year’s resolutions because they don’t have the energy to commit.  Or in the case of travel they are too afraid to commit.   People will start out looking at the map, and pick their dream destination.  But that is about all the effort they put in.  Some will look up hotel costs, maybe even buy a  guide book from Amazon or the local bookstore.  Some might even put in the effort to check flight costs, but most will not click the “BOOK TRIP NOW” button.  They justify it by saying, ” Let me think about it, and maybe next paycheck I will book it.”

Change is good, but change is hard.  People are creatures of habits, and getting out of your comfort zone is hard to do.  Its your comfort zone for a reason, and it takes dedication & courage.  Escaping your usual range of familiarity is hard, but if you want something you have never had before you’re going to have to do something you have never done before.

Chasing travel dreams can be overwhelming, but turning dreams into reality can be a nerve racking adventure.   It comes with a mix of emotions.  “Yes, I’m doing it, but also a what did I get myself into?”  This usually happens the second you buy your plane ticket.  You’re locked in, and there’s no going back now.

Soon you will be exploring a place where you don’t speak the language, don’t know anyone or know anything about.  Its the adventure you have been dreaming about.  But the reality of it all keeps more people from booking their dream trip because they aren’t sure they are “ready.”

Not only do they struggle with whether or not they are ready for the “big trip” they also probably worry about time and/or money.  You probably share these concerns as well.  Probably because you were raised in an era where travel equals expensive hotel or resort vacation.  This persistent myth that travel is expensive is uncovered with all the travel blogs, apps, deal sites, travel hacking websites & magazines out there, but still remains a stereotype that many believe travel is expensive.

A couple of weeks ago I got an email from my friend in Bali: “Why do people still think travel is expensive?!”



I screamed at my computer screen, arms waving, threw my pillow, rolled my eyes, yelling RIGHT!?!? This is a good question, and I still can’t figure out why people think this.  Well let me rephrase I can’t figure out why people associate “luxury”, which is synonymous with expensive with travel.

People tend to think when they travel they have to stay in fancy hotels, rent cars & participate in other luxurious activities.  Whenever someone asks me why I don’t stay in fancy hotels I always respond with my first trip to Jackson Hole.  Still one of my most memorable ski trips to date.  We had lodging for $34/night less then 100 feet from the chair lift in Jackson Hole where most hotel rooms go for over $200/night.

What’s my point?  There are travel deals aaaaaaaallllllllll the time if you know where to look, and how to look!.  2017 catered to travelers with some incredible cheap fares, and 2018 is shaping up to be the year of travel so now is the time to act.  On top of cheap fares the share economy & gig economy have exploded in popularity.  Allowing you to bypass the old travel gatekeepers, and connect with locals for a cheaper adventure.  Sites like Couchsurfer & AirBnB are a couple of my favorites.

So today I am going to show you how to start the New Year off right, and fulfill your travel resolutions.  Let’s get you somewhere in the world you have been dreaming of visiting for far too long.  Are you ready to start 2018 off right.

FIRST GO TO ONE OF THESE SITES:

 Kiwi,  Secret Flying, Holiday Pirates, or  Flight Deal.  Find your dream destination, or look for cheap flights to your dream travel destination.

SECOND BOOK YOUR ADVENTURE FLIGHT:

Don’t worry about anything else, but your travel destination.  You can worry about what to pack, expenses, hotel, time off, what to do later.  I promise you everything will work itself out.  Just book your trip. Lock yourself into your dream adventure.  Part of the fun of a trip is the planning, and once your locked in then you get to actually plan your trip.  Do things you wanna do, and see the sites you wanna see.  BOOK IT! NOW!!  Worry about the logistics & planning later.  Just book your trip.

THIRD:

Plan your trip.  Subscribe to travel blogs like this one.  Do some research on the area.  Find out exactly what it is you want to see and do.  Plan your big trip, and pursue your dreams.  This is happening so make it yours.  Enjoy it.  Half of the fun of a big trip is the planning & research as you uncover all these cool ideas, sites & adventures.  You may not be able to get it all in on one trip.  That is fine.  Just gives you an excuse to take another trip.  BONUS! SCORE! DEAL!  The rest is easy once you make the commitment to buying a flight.

Over and over again travelers & subscribers to this adventure travel blog have emailed me  to say, “I was so worried about my trip.  I had so much anxiety about traveling alone, or what it would be like.  I had built it up in my own head so much that all I could focus on was the ‘what ifs’.”

But then I get the emails from the same exact people after their trip, or during their trip telling me, “I should have listened to you sooner Adam.  Once I got on the road, or off the plane everything fell into place like it was supposed to.  I don’t know why I worried so much.  Travel is easy, and way cheaper than I thought it was going to be.”

Its unnerving to be on your own in another country, and even more scary when your out of your comfort zone.  That’s why I am here for you.  Let AOWANDERS be your virtual “helping hand”.  Lets take the leap together.  I am here to reassure you along the way, answer your questions, take away your fears, and even provide you support.  So lets jump together.  Make 2018 the year you conquer your travel resolutions!

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