https://blackgirlnerds.com/5-ways-to-travel-more-in-2024/

According to the International Air Transport Association, IATA, 4.7 billion is the number of people expected to travel in 2024. Traveling has made a comeback over the last few years and is a top priority for many. 

If you want to join the billions of people traveling this year, starting with a plan is essential. Without a clear intention, it can be easy to fall into excuses such as thinking traveling is too expensive, thinking you don’t have time to travel, or being unsure of where to go. 

However, if you’re determined to start traveling this year or want to continue your travel adventures from last year, here’s how to travel more. 

1. Create an Intention or Goal to Travel

The first step is to get out of the mindset of simply wanting to travel. In reality, we all want things, but if we don’t act toward achieving what we want, our desires are just ideas. 

Consider why you want to travel. Do you feel you’re missing out on something by not traveling? Do you need to break out of your routine? You may want to have new experiences or learn from different cultures. Whatever your reason is, be very clear on why you want to travel. 

Next, consider creating a goal or intention for your travels. A goal is something that has a specific result. For instance, some travel goals might be:

• Visiting ten new states this year.
• Going to five new museums.
• Visiting all the national parks.

Having a specific goal you want to achieve makes traveling more tangible for your brain. The more realistic your goal is, the easier it can be to take action. Likewise, an intention is more about having a specific motivation or purpose. Examples of travel intentions could be: 

• Experiencing solo travel.
• Visiting a culture that is entirely different from your own.
• Practice speaking a foreign language in a different country.
• Completely relax and disconnect from your daily responsibilities.

Once you know what you want to gain from traveling, choose a destination to help you complete your goals. When you know where you want to go, you can start preparing your finances.

2. Make a Travel Budget

There is a common misconception that traveling costs a lot of money. The truth is it can, depending on where, when, and how you travel. Affordable travel is possible, depending on your planning and preparation. 

Look for Affordable Flights or Other Means of Transportation

When looking at flights, consider using tools such as Google Flights that can tell you the different flight prices for the month. You can also set up price alerts on websites such as Kayak.com to monitor the price of your flight and to receive notifications of lower prices. 

Alternatively, if flights are out of your price range, consider going to a closer destination: one you travel to by bus, train, or car. 

Use Traditional and Non-traditional Accommodation Methods

To save money, consider your various accommodation options. Booking a hotel is an obvious choice but can be the most expensive. If you are more flexible with where you to stay, consider budget-friendly options such as Airbnb and hostels.

The hostel scene has dramatically improved over the years. Many hostels cater to solo travelers by having private rooms, bathrooms, and workspaces. They also help foster a sense of community by hosting parties, meet-ups, and other events for guests.

If you want to offset the cost of accommodations completely, try house sitting. This opportunity will require some planning and patience. Essentially, you offer to pet-sit or house-sit at someone’s home while the homeowners are on vacation. Minimal costs are involved, such as signing up for a house-sitting membership and transportation. Yet once you book a house-sit, you agree to take care of someone’s home for free. 

Ask to Stay with a Friend

Lastly, one of the most budget-friendly travel methods is visiting friends and asking to stay in their spare bedroom or couch. It’s not the most glamorous option, but this is an option if you want to travel. 

As you look at flight and accommodation costs, you’ll gain an idea of how much your trip will cost. Consider additional costs such as food, transportation, activities, currency conversions, and other things you plan on spending money on.

Once you know what you want to spend your money on, you can decide how much you want to spend in different areas. When you know how much your trip will cost, you can begin to save up. 

3. Spend Time or Talk with Other Travelers

Similar to surrounding yourself with people you want to be like, the same goes for travelers. When you talk to other people who have been where you want to go, it helps to: 

• Alleviate any fears you have.
• Answer questions.
• Help you gain a better perspective on where you are going.
• Assist you in preparing for your trip.

A simple way to get started is to set up a call with friends you know who have traveled a lot recently or will be traveling soon. You can also join Facebook groups of travelers and ask people in the group questions. Lastly, if you don’t want to reach out to anyone, you can follow YouTubers and travel influencers who share authentic experiences about their travels. 

4. Travel Locally

One of the simplest ways to travel more this year is to be a tourist in your own backyard. Some of the most beautiful places in the world may be closer to you than you think. Start by visiting your state’s museums, parks, and historic places.

Ways to travel locally include:

• Taking a train or bus to an unfamiliar city or town.
• Join a hiking club or an outdoors club.
• Sign up for volunteer work.
• Take a city tour.
• Visit a national park.
• Visit a new beach.
• Go camping.

5. Travel Off-Season

Traveling off-season or during the shoulder season will help you find some of the best travel deals and avoid large crowds.

Most people travel during what is known as the peak season, which takes place between June and August. The shoulder season, another good time to travel, is around April to mid-June. The off-season is between November and March when the least amount of people are traveling.

When traveling during off or shoulder seasons, check the weather for the destination you plan to visit. In some countries, the off-season may mean lots of rain or thunderstorms. However, many destinations have a lot to offer during these non-popular seasons. 

Traveling can impact the rest of your life. Exploring a new country and learning about a different culture makes life adventurous, fun, and worthwhile. So leave your excuses in 2023 and make 2024 your year of travel.