10 Reasons You're Not Traveling - and Why They're Bogus

I created this blog to show people you don’t need to be an influencer or a backpacker or a millionaire to travel. Every day people can wander the globe – I’m proof of that. I have a 9 to 5 desk job, student debt, and only a handful of vacation days (about 15) to work with. Yet I’m crossing off continent #4 this year and planning on spending 40+ days on vacation.

When I ask people why they don’t travel, I usually hear the same handful of reasons. But to be blunt – most of these are just excuses. I should know because I used to tell myself the same thing. Now I’ve faced up to the fact that they were ways to justify my inability to make traveling, a real dream of mine, a priority.

As a one-time dreamer and now a doer and travelaholic, I wanted to debunk these reasons you aren’t traveling in hopes you have an “aha” moment. Let’s debunk those excuses.

I will be the first to tell you that you can’t travel for free. With that being said, the cost of traveling is probably not as much as you think it is. Knowing how to find airfare deals is crucial – this week alone I’ve found roundtrip flights to Italy for $470, Panama City for $195, Vancouver for $200, Paris for $350 and China for $370. You can snag deals on hotels by staying outside the city center, going during the off-season, and using discount-finding sites like Booking.com. Don’t think you need to stay somewhere swanky - you’ll want to spend your time abroad exploring the sights, not sitting in your hotel. Many people assume you need thousands for a single trip abroad. Most of my trips come in or under $1,500 for a full week, including everything, and I don’t even stay in hostels or skimp out on nice restaurants. Traveling doesn’t need to cost as much as you think. You also don’t need to view travel as “all or nothing”. You can fly a budget airline and stay someplace nice. You can go for a discount hotel and eat at fancy restaurants. But you don’t need to go all out for everything. Staying balanced keeps your wallet happy.

Most people don’t have enough cash sitting in a bank account to book a vacation today. You need to save – which takes patience and work. Most trips I take are the result of months of saving. If you aren’t sure where to start, try the basics. You can start funding your travels with 3 easy steps using the cash you already have coming in. If you want to take your saving plans to the next level, I have lots of ways to help that travel fund of yours grow.

You need to simply be patient. Sure, saving $50 doesn’t seem like it’ll get you anywhere in this world. But if you stick with your saving plan, you can have a decent chunk of change in months to go to London or Paris or Colombia. You have the money to travel – you’re just spending it on other things. And doesn’t an investment in seeing the world sound so much more rewarding than another pair of jeans?

Cool, so do most of us. I’m not a full-time travel influencer or backpacker. I have a job, a 9 to 5 desk job. As does my husband, who travels just as much as me. And so do most of the people I encounter on my travels. We have jobs.

This year, I’m turning 15 days of PTO into 40+ days of traveling. How? I’m using these methods to stretch my time off. Can’t swing a week or more off work? No problem. International weekend getaways are possible, especially if you utilize a holiday weekend. Simply can’t unplug from work, no matter what you do? Talk to your boss. Let them know you want to take a trip but are struggling to make it work. See if you can work remotely while traveling. Offer to bring your work laptop along and work from the airport while waiting for your plane rides. You have vacation days – USE THEM.

Coordinating a trip can be overwhelming. I’m a planner so I enjoy putting all the pieces together, but you might not feel the same. It’s okay.

First, figure out your budget. Then pick a place and when to go. Book some plane tickets, book a hotel, and research what to do. The power of the internet is that you can research a place to your heart’s content and have all the information you need right at your fingertips.

Travel bloggers can provide so much insight on a variety of trips (budget, solo, luxury, immersive, etc). You can check out some of my specific city information at the “Destinations” link above. Use our experiences to help you figure out how to plan out your trip. Leave a comment below if you’re really lost and I’ll try and help out if I can, too!

Still overwhelmed? Outsource. I’ve used Travel 6 Degrees to assist on planning out logistics on trips to more remote destinations for minimal consulting fees (sometimes as low as $100 per trip – I’m not affiliated or sponsored in any way, just a happy customer).

You can also try a group trip. There are tons out there that will take care of most the details for you – think yoga retreats in Bali or wine tours across Italy or glamping in Iceland. Google group trips and find one that works for you. OR – steal one of the itineraries you see from a group trip that interests you. Most sites make their agendas available to the public to give you some inspiration.

Is there ever a “good time” to do something? For the longest of time I told myself I’d travel someday. But year after year passed and nada. Finally, I took the plunge and booked some plane tickets. There was no turning back at that point. I’m glad I did. If I hadn’t just done something, I likely would still be saying “maybe later”.

You’ll always have a busy life. What makes you think five years from now will be a better time to travel? Dig deeper into this excuse. Is it a money factor? See #1 and #2 above. Worried about work? Check #3. Why keep putting off your dreams? Go chase them NOW.

I’m sure we’ve all heard about tragic events over the years that have sparked some fears about safety. It’s scary and builds a perception that traveling isn’t safe. But really, these events can (and have) happen anywhere. Think of all the things that happen just where you live. Take a breath and relax – traveling isn’t as unsafe as you might imagine.

Want my safety advice? Use common sense. Stay alert and keep an eye on your belongings and surroundings. Trust your gut and leave if a situation feels sketchy. I’ve accidentally wandered into “bad parts” of some destinations and ended up just fine – I just turned around and headed back to someplace that felt familiar and safe. You don’t need to live in a bubble.

I mean this genuinely – good for you. Traveling, no matter where, is great. But there’s something about going somewhere totally new, totally different that changes you. Experiencing new cultures will have a lasting impact, as cheesy as that sounds.

I’m happy for you if you’ve gone to Disney or sat in Jamaica at an all-inclusive resort or hit up a cruise. But did those trips really open your eyes to new ways of living? Probably not. I’m not trying to minimize your trips – I personally head to Florida at least once a year – but good things never came from inside your comfort zone.

At least once in your life, go someplace that throws you for a loop. I’m not saying you need to trek to a remote village where no one speaks English but try to find a place that doesn’t provide all the comforts of home. It’ll show you a new way of living, let you see what other cultures value, and allow you to do something other than sit on the beach with a fruity drink in your hand. You can get a relaxing trip that’s also cultural – get off your resort, book a tour, wander through a non-touristy part of the city. Trust me, it’ll do your soul good.

I’m not a parent (well, to humans. I’m a cat and dog mom though!) so I can’t give a lot of insight on this. But are you going to spend the next 18+ years putting your dreams on the back burner just so you don’t have to leave your kids behind? I’m sure it’s tough being away from your children, but I’m sure a little getaway will do wonders for your wellbeing. It’s okay to be selfish.

With proper planning, I’m sure you can round up a trusted family member or friend who can watch your kids for an extended weekend or weeklong trip. Bring them back a souvenir for their troubles (maybe a bottle of wine from a vineyard you tour during your trip). There are a lot of bloggers out there who focus on traveling WITH children, if you really can’t stand to be apart and feel ambitious. Google it.

I’ll leave you with one final thought on this topic. Kids learn from experience. Do you envision your children traveling the world, exploring new destinations, experiencing new cultures, and expanding their horizons? What better way to encourage them to lead that type of life than by doing it yourself? When you take the time to make adventuring a priority, you empower them to do the same.

Good – if you aren’t scared, your dreams aren’t big enough. It shows that you’re pushing yourself to step outside your comfort zone.

Scared about getting lost? Wrong turns happen. It’s called taking the scenic route. Keep a map on hand, have your hotel address and phone number saved on your Notes app just in case, and turn back if you realize you’re going the wrong way. I get lost all the time, it’s NBD.

Worried about language barriers? Learn how to say hello and thank you in the language of whatever destination you’re visiting – it’ll go a long way. I’ve been to places where I’ve had to point and gesture, it all worked out in the end. Relax – you’ll never see these people again in your life. If you need to act like a mime for a hot second, that’s a-okay. If you’re still really concerned, try picking up a universal picture book like THIS (not affiliated), which will improve your pointing game.

These statements really make me sad. I think it comes from living in a society where we value things so much. Sure, unless you bring back souvenirs, you don’t have anything physical aside from pictures of your travel. But that’s not the point of exploring.

Cultural traveling changes you. You learn things about yourself and those around you. It really can’t be summarized into words, it’s just an experience you need to encounter firsthand. You’ll see new ways of living, look at things a little differently, and broaden your perspectives.

If you think “having something” is necessary for validation, then I don’t think you understand the value of an experience. More reason to travel – it’ll teach you something.

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So – did I piss anyone off? I truly don’t mean to call your reasons for not traveling complete crap. I only want to show you that your excuses are just that – excuses. They’re bandaids that make you feel better about putting your travel dreams off to the side.

The sooner you recognize your excuses for what they are, the faster you can knock down the hurdles you’re setting up in your mind. Stop finding reasons why you can’t. Instead of thinking “I can’t do that”, ask yourself “what do I need to do to make it happen”.

What excuse have you been hiding behind? How can I help you get past it? Drop a comment – let’s get you traveling.