The 11 Most Common Excuses for Not Traveling Abroad (and why they're weak)

Vienna Christmas markets

It's easy to dismiss an awesome idea by coming up with excuses. By "awesome idea" I mean traveling the world. Want to travel but you don't think it's possible? Think again. Here are 11 excuses I've heard time and time again - and why they're weak. Don't let travel intimidate you - take action and just go. If you want to do it, just do it.

The 11 Most Common Excuses for Not Traveling Abroad (and why they're weak)

1. "It's not safe"

Why this argument is weak: I felt safer in Paris at night as a female all by myself than I did out with a group friends at night in my US college town. The saying goes that you're more likely to be safe abroad than you are in your hometown. There are exceptions, of course. Just do your research beforehand, keep your wits about you, and be aware of any scams to look out for. Consider if it's smart or stupid to be out by yourself at night. And try not to get drunk or intoxicated to avoid getting lost or taken advantage of. These are all precautions you'd normally take if you were at home, though.

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2. "What if something goes wrong?"

Why this argument is weak: Things could go wrong whether you're home or abroad. Be prepared before you go.

"Most things I worry about never happen anyway." - Tom Petty

3. "I don't have anyone to go with"

Why this argument is weak: Why would you not go somewhere just because it doesn't work out to go with your friends? What if it's your only chance to go? You wouldn't want to miss out on the opportunity to go somewhere just because you don't have anyone to go with. You'll regret it if you don't go. Especially as you and your friends have increased responsibilities, it's difficult to make the timing align perfectly to travel together.

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See the screenshot above - I have a Facebook group with my best friends from college. No one's able to go to New York with me for Memorial Weekend, despite the tempting low ticket price. I'm not letting that hold me back. I booked the flights anyway. NYC, here I come!

Solo travel seems intimidating at first, but trust me when I say that it's not as scary (or as lonely) as you'd think!

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4. "I don't speak the language"

Why this argument is weak: If you're an English speaker, you will be able to get around just fine in most major cities. English is more often than not a second language and you will be surprised how many people in the world are fluent - or can at least make small talk - in English (plus many other languages!).

Of course it's always important to learn at least a few phrases before you go and to ask people if they speak English before assuming they would. The more rural an area is, the less likely you'll come across those who speak English. But if this is a main concern of yours you should be fine so long as you stick to cities or touristy areas.

5. "It's too expensive"

Why this argument is weak: most people who say this are those that hear the word "travel" and automatically connect it to a five star resort vacation, sitting on an excluded beach, and sipping pina coladas. There's nothing wrong with that type of trip, but with limitless ways to travel you can bet anyone with that mindset hasn't done any research on the topic.

If money is tight, then do what's right for you financially and save up for travel at a later date. You don't have to leave next month; sometimes having a goal (for example: 1 year from now, or when you finish grad school) makes it seem less intimidating.

Also read: How To Save Money For Travel and Ways To Save Money While You Travel

Buda Castle View

6. "I'm going to stick out like an 'Ugly American'"

Why this argument is weak: You won't if you do a little bit of research on the cultural customs beforehand, be respectful, and embrace the fact that some cultures are different. As an American who have met other Americans abroad, not everyone fits into the "ugly American" stereotype. You'll still be seen as an American, but you should erase the "ugly" (being ignorant/rude) part of the stereotype. The more you travel the more you understand that not everyone hates Americans...

7. "I don't have time"

Why this argument is weak: If you prioritize travel, you'll find time. It doesn't have to be your number one priority, but it could take precedent over staying home for a long weekend versus going somewhere. If you really want to travel you will find a way to do it.

1 The Louvre Paris

8. "I have too much stuff to bring"

Why this argument is weak: Exhibit A: my mom who brings two checked bags for a 5 day trip to Arizona. If you want to bring a bunch of stuff, then by all means do. Though you may be surprised by how little you need and how much room you can save with packing hacks.

9. "It's too complicated"

Why this argument is weak: Use the many resources available to help you get started. You could plan it on your own with the help from blogs and travel websites (Google anything you have questions about), by asking friends for advice, or by reading guidebooks.

To make it much easier you could book your trip with an agent or join a tour group. This takes all the planning out of it so you can relax and enjoy your trip. There are a number of tour companies for people aged around 18-30: Contiki, EF College Break, and G Adventures to name a few. You can sign up solo or with friends!

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10. "I'm too young/too old to travel"

Why this argument is weak: You're never too young or too old to see the world. Traveling when you're younger allows you advantages like being more physically fit with less potential for injuries, able to stay up later and bounce back from jet lag or drinking, and (potentially) less responsibilities like not having to worry about children.

However, you shouldn't let age deter you. I've seen older people out traveling having a great time just like anyone else. Maybe you want to wait until you've settled down, have some money saved up, or are retired. Just don't wait too long to the point of regret. My motto? Don't postpone happiness! If you want to go now, go.

11. "I don't want to leave the comfort of my own country"

Why this argument is weak: Everybody likes being comfortable. But seeing the Eiffel Tower in person for the first time is 10000x better than seeing the fake one on the Las Vegas strip. Living life means taking risks, and taking risks outside your comfort zone allow you to grow. Is your dream destination worth the hype? If you never go, you'll never know.

Work Experience That Will Help You Get a Job Abroad

Florence, Italy - View from Piazzale Michaelangelo

My most frequently asked question is how I got my job doing tour guiding and marketing for a travel company in Europe after college. Basically I sent my resume to the company, had a Skype interview, and got the job. Just like any job.

However, my experience and skills from college helped set my resume apart so that I was one of the few that was given an interview.

The job was a mix of many things: leading weekend trips to different cities in Europe for college study abroad students, digital marketing, sales, and events.

I'm going to outline helpful work experience for the jobs I've had that have allowed me to travel, some soft skills you should mention in a cover letter and interview, and what my resume looked like when I applied to these jobs.

International Tour Guiding and Marketing

Croatia tour

Helpful experience to have for this type of job:

• Study abroad or international travel experience

• Leadership

• Public speaking

• Social media (helpful to have experience doing this for businesses)

• Sales

• Event planning, operations and hosting

• Customer service

• Photography

• Video editing

• Writing

• Basic foreign language skills (if the people \where you're living speak a different language)

Budapest trip

Soft skills to mention (provide examples from your experience to back these up):

• Passion for travel

• Creativity

• Social/outgoing

• Strong leader

• Willingness to understand/accept other cultures

• Independence

• Easy-going, flexible

• Able to make snap decisions

• Sense of humor (especially when things go wrong)

• Like to have fun

Faculty Advisor for International Conferences

gylc europe

I've also gotten to do some traveling by working for a different company at leadership conferences. First I was in DC/NYC for a summer, and the following year was in Europe for a couple weeks, and this upcoming summer will be doing another one in China for a couple weeks. The job entailed leading a group of 20-25 international high school students and facilitating curriculum on leadership and international relations.

Helpful experience for this type of job:

• Experience leading groups

• Work/school experience in the area of the conference's theme

• Teaching, counseling, and/or coaching

• Public speaking

• Have worked with students

• Enjoy bonding games and icebreakers

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Soft skills:

• Able to make snap decisions

• Staying calm in stressful situations

• Being able to maintain high energy (LONG days)

• Friendly personality

• Role model (you follow the same set of rules the students do)

• Creativity

• Flexibility

• Always thinking with a "team" mindset

• Promoting inclusivity and a team spirit among your group

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When I originally applied to these jobs out of college, my resume included:

• Bachelor's degree in Public Relations with minors in Promotions and Journalism

• Studied abroad in Florence, Italy

• Public Relations Intern (7 months)

• Study Abroad Ambassador (2 years)

• Copy Editor for college yearbook (2 years)

• Social Media & Newsletter Editor for my school's chapter of PRSSA (1 year)

• Freshman Orientation Leader (3 years)

• Zumba instructor (1.5 years)

• College dance team member (4 years)

• Junior high dance team coach (1 year)

While I have a degree in PR, you don't necessarily need to be studying that to get one of those jobs. Some potential majors for wanting to go into something similarly related could include: communication, photojournalism, international relations, hospitality, international business, any foreign language, or tourism.

The more important thing is describing your previous experience and relating it to how you're qualified and will excel at the job at hand.

Have you worked abroad? Add your tips in the comments below!

Traveling The World After College: What You Need To Know

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People always told us as kids that we should be whatever we want to be: astronauts. Rockstars. Ballerinas. Athletes. Detectives. Professional puppy owners or ship captains or world explorers. And then we grow up. And we're told we need to be "practical" with a secure full time job in a sensible field.

Especially in the US, traveling after college is not the norm. Society urges college grads to look for employment right away (not a bad thing), but taking a gap year or even the summer to travel isn't exactly encouraged. But it should be.

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Even though older adults often say "oh I wish I had the opportunity to travel when I was your age," it still is "more important" to cling to the corporate ladder and the security of a 401k right after graduation, and anyone who strays from the norm are met with either "good for you!" or "well, just make sure you find a job when you get back *eyeroll.*" How do I know this? I received both immense praise and utter criticism - with those exact phrases - when I decided to move to Italy for a short term job after graduation.

Do what's right for you. Welcome or not, everyone is going to give you their advice on what you "need" to do. Tune out the haters and those with the ignorant, jealous mindset that traveling after college isn't possible or realistic. If you want to travel after college, now's the perfect time. And if you're just about ready to do it, here is everything you need to know.

Traveling The World After College: What You Need To Know

Seine River Paris

Research the many ways to travel

You could be working, backpacking, volunteering, or taking a two week trip. Do you want to go long term or short term? Do you want to rent an apartment somewhere or live a gypsy life?

Decide what works best for you

Once you've done your research, decide what works best for you. Whether it's Yacht Week in Croatia, teaching English in Cambodia, backpacking across Europe, a cruise around the Caribbean, a working holiday visa in Australia, or Peace Corps for two years, there are a number of ways to travel. The options are endless!

Get inspired by others

Read blogs of others who have done it to see how they're doing it. Follow their tips. Read books about travel. Search travel hashtags on Pinterest. Talk to friends or family who have gone abroad. Before I graduated college, I even went to my school's study abroad office to ask their tips on traveling after graduation, and they were able to give me plenty of tips and resources.

Spice Market Istanbul

Know the culture's customs before you go

This is important not to just to save yourself from potential embarrassment but to also be respectful and learn about how other people live. It's also helpful to learn at least a few phrases of the language of where you're going.

The money thing.

Yes, you'll need to budget your money, and no, it doesn't have to be as expensive as you may think. Don't have quite enough saved up? Neither did I when I graduated college. I worked a summer job to pay for my flights to Europe.

If you're working abroad, be realistic about the opportunity and how much money you're going to make. Know the exachange rate of your currency and the places you're going to.

Returning from abroad: the fear of being "unemployable"

Traveling after college will boost your resume. Contrary to any fears or reservations you may have, you don't need to get a full time corporate the day after graduation.

You won't be "behind." In fact, life will be pretty much the same when you get back home. There will be jobs to apply for when you get back. You have the rest of your life to climb the corporate ladder. I'm currently working full time back home after traveling. Traveling didn't hurt my resume, it helped it.

The skills you build upon and things you learn abroad can only be positive when you're applying to jobs in the future. Plus, travel may make your career aspirations more clear.

View of Champs Elysee from Arc de Triomphe

Get ready to go!

Get your passport if you don't already have one and sort out any visa situations you might be in. Start planning with these steps: 8 Essential Steps To Planning a Trip Abroad.

Be smart and safe

Give family and close friends back home your travel plans, flight details, and a general outline of where you're going so they know how to get ahold of you if an emergency arises. Use apps like Skype, FaceTime, Whatsapp, or Viber to keep in touch over wifi.

Connect with other travelers

If you're going solo or want to meet people along the way, use networks like Couchsurfing or other groups to find others or get advice on traveling. Hostels are another great way to meet people on the road.

Blarney Castle View Cork Ireland

Keep an open mind

Sometimes the intial culture shock is amazing, and sometimes it takes time to adjust. By staying open-minded you'll give yourself the opportunity to try new things, have new experiences, and meet new people - the best parts about going abroad.

If you really don't like it, you can always go home

That's always an option. But try to at least give it a chance, shake up your routine, or try going somewhere new before leaving.

Embrace everything

If you're going somewhere short term, your time will fly by. Take pictures. Keep a journal (or blog!). Be in the moment. You've worked hard to earn your degree, and now is the time to enjoy this period in life where you can be free to roam the world.

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Want more inspiration? Check out these posts about travel quotes:

These 14 Quotes Will Motivate You To Book Your Next Flight

10 Cliche But Inspiring Travel Quotes

10 Non-Cliche Travel Quotes

More Inspiring Travel Quotes

7 Things I Learned From Italians

Florence Duomo from Piazzale Michelangelo

One of the benefits of living abroad or traveling slow is that you typically understand the culture of the country and the people more than if you were just passing through. After studying abroad in Italy and living there after college, I've learned a thing or two from these gorgeous, animated Europeans.

7 Things I Learned From Italians

Purple Flowers in Sorrento

1. Stop and smell the roses

Time is different in Italy. Have a meeting at work? It's okay if you strolled in a five (or forty) minutes late. Maybe you ran into a friend on the way there, or you stopped to grab a quick espresso. In the summer vacation weeks (August) stores and restaurants have shorter hours. Some close completely and reopen when people come back from vacation. Spending time with friends and family over the summer holidays is more important than turning profit.

Andiamo Bellevue Food

2. Appreciate good food

Food is meant to taste good. One time I got take-away pizza from Cento Poveri, a restaurant near my apartment. As I held the boxes with one hand from underneath, they started to tilt a little. All of the servers nearby made audible gasps and lunged toward the pizza. The man who handed me the pizza said, "Ah! No-no-no!" This was all to ensure the cheese wouldn't slide off the perfectly crafted pizza.

3. ... And eat good food

You'll only find the best of the best in Italy, a major food capital of Europe. Daily grocery/market runs mean the freshest ingredients are used in your meals. Meals can drag out for hours, and if you're at a restaurant, you'll never be pushed out, because you're enjoying the meal and conversation.

4. Dress to impress

Italians are always dressed to the nines, even if it is just a simple skinny jeans/sneakers/sweater combination. "Look your best, because you'll never know who you'll run into" aptly applies, as you'll constantly see fabulous fashion from Italian men and women.

5. Quality over quantity

Well-crafted items are better than those made to quickly fall apart. One pair of quality, leather boots to face the cobblestone streets are far more worth it than 10 pairs of H&M sandals that will fall apart within days.

Duomo Florence

6. Art is not dead

As the birthplace of the Renaissance, Italy is an art history buff's dream come true. You'll not only museums filled with art; you'll see it everywhere you go: from the ancient wonders of still-standing structures in Rome (Colosseum to name one), to the delectable cuisine, to the designs carved into churches, or the pastel homes decorating the cliffs. Art isn't just in Italy's past - it's in its future. Internationally known fashion powerhouses such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Valentino are Italian, and there are budding artists at local universities studying everything from fine art to fashion to cooking.

7. There is a pretty word for "uhh."

It's allora. :)

10 Things Travel Taught Me

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It can be difficult to sum up how travel changes you or what you learn from travel.

I feel like a lot of the time this happens when people asked how your trip abroad was. When I got back from my study abroad program a few years ago, all I could really say was, "It was amazing," because it was amazing. It's difficult to describe it in more detail to someone who doesn't share that common ground.

But as the years have gone on and I've been able to travel a little more, I've been able to reflect on what I've learned so far.

1. People are very similar

Humans have the same basic needs: to be fed, to have shelter, to be loved. We want to surround ourselves with positive people, friends, and family. We want to better the lives of others. We want to learn and to grow.

People are very similar, even if their ways of eating, living, or loving are vastly different than your own. They don't do things in a "weird" way, they just do things differently. And that is okay.

Florence

2. The world isn't as scary as you think

It's important to keep your wits about you while you travel (just as you would in any city) and to research the cities you're visiting beforehand to be aware of tourist scams. However, most people are nice people, and the world isn't as scary as you think.

In Paris, I encountered girls asking me if I spoke English, thrusting their "petitions" (scams) into my face, but I simply ignored them. However, there were quite a few people I encountered as a solo female traveler that weekend showed nothing but kindness.

Also read: Solo Travel Stories That Confirmed My Faith In Humanity

3. Your appearance doesn't define you

When you travel, you can wear what you want, put on makeup if you want, or do your hair if you want. You'll never see these people again, so what does it matter if you decide to not make your hair perfect or wear the same thing two days in a row?

Istanbul Mosques

4. ...But it is still smart to respect customs, especially in terms of dress

When you travel you're likely to come across religious locations. In Italy, you're required to cover your shoulders, knees, and toes in churches. In Turkey, females must wear a headscarf in mosques.

In general, knowing the cultural clothing customs will not only help you blend in, but show the locals you care enough about their culture while you're spending time in their country.

5. You can communicate with body language just as much with words

It's best to know at least a few phrases in the foreign language before you go and to attempt to use them. However, unless you're fluent, there will be parts of your conversation with others that sound entirely like gibberish. I've had a number of conversations where body language and/or the usage of hand signals were the majority of the conversation.

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6. I'm better at directions than I thought (and other soft skills)

Navigation was never my strong suit. When I got my driver's license at age 16 I was constantly getting lost...in the city I grew up in. Traveling forced me to be aware of where I was going and to be able to find my way around. Slowly but surely, I became more confident with directions to the point where I was leading tours for my job in Europe to cities I hadn't been to before.

When you travel you learn so much that is applicable to everyday life. Independence, communication, and cultural understanding are a few soft skills one tends to pick up abroad.

7. You can learn more from the world than you can from a textbook

Going off of the above point - travel makes you wiser beyond your years. Going to school isn't something to be taken lightly, and even if you build off your education, there is so much to learn when you travel. You get life experience that you could never get by reading a book or watching a movie.

8. Material things aren't important

The more I travel, the more I realize I don't need a ton of material things. When you're traveling with just a small suitcase of possessions, it becomes clearer that you truly don't need a ton of stuff. Growing up on vacations I used to love to take home souvenirs. Now I'd rather spend it on experiences versus tacky trinkets.

I'll cherish the memories of the times I spent on a boat cruising through the Mediterranean or clinking beer steins with Germans at Oktoberfest more than snow globes that say "Cannes, France" or "Munich, Germany."

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9. Give it a second chance

It's important to give things another shot, because not everything is perfect. I fell ill with a terrible stomach ache a couple days before my weekend in Switzerland - a country I was extremely excited to visit as it held a high spot on my bucket list. I also lost my debit card in Turkey the weekend prior and had to borrow cash from friends throughout the weekend. And to top it off, it was really foggy, so even if I had had money to go skydiving, the weather conditions weren't safe.

Needless to say, the weekend in Switzerland was my least favorite trip in Europe.

But it wasn't Switzerland's fault. There were just a number of factors and unfavorable coincidences that all happened at the same time. I'll be sure to give Switzerland another chance if the opportunity arises. You can't totally judge something entirely based on one experience.

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10. Getting out of your comfort zone allows you to grow

One of my college professors once said something along the lines of, "When you look back at a past relationship, you have three periods: the comfort of being in the relationship, the break-up and grieving portion - which is undoubtedly the toughest part - and the part where you move on from it. Which part did you learn the most? After the breakup, when everything seems unfamiliar and tough and scary. You're out of your comfort zone. But after you've gone through it, you'll look back and realize that the point when you were out of your comfort zone was when you learned the most."

Moving to DC (a city I'd never been to) the summer after college for a job was out of my comfort zone. Moving to Italy at the end of that summer to work in Europe was even more out of my comfort zone. Leading a group of students by myself from the thermal baths through the Hungarian metro was, you guessed it, out of my comfort zone. But I did it. I pushed past the fear and got through it, and learned so much from doing so.

After all, facing your fears is the only way to get over them.

Phoenix Flea 2015

Phoenix comes to life on the weekends, with numerous festivals, outdoor markets, concerts, and food trucks. And with the March weather officially ringing in spring at a delightful 86 degrees, one simply must take advantage of everything going on in the valley.

I had the pleasure of attending this year's Phoenix Flea, which features booths selling locally made art, food and baked goods, crafts, and vintage fashion.

The event is located in downtown Phoenix at Heritage Museum Square with the entrance behind The Rosson House.

We couldn't resist getting waffles loaded with Nutella, raspberries, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream from the Waffle Crush truck.

These macarons from A BakeShop almost looked too pretty to eat. Their treats are delicious, by the way!

Loved the woodwork art pieces from WhiteFive Designs.

Float Balloon Tours were handing out yummy samples of virgin mimosas. I've wanted to ride in a hot air balloon for a while, so this is definitely something I'm going to look into!

There were a number of booths selling artsy prints that would liven up any room.

It's been nice to have weekends back to do fun things like this. Traveling to faraway places is amazing, but I feel like we often get caught up with only exploring abroad and don't take the chance to explore our own backyard. I'm definitely looking forward to discovering more of what Phoenix has to offer!

8 Must-Have Items For Surviving Overnight Bus Rides

Traveling overnight can be an inexpensive way to get somewhere and is sometimes your only option for transportation. 

And if it's a long trip, you might as well get some rest without having to pay another night's accommodation.

We traveled by private coach bus at my job in Europe and would leave on Thursday evenings. While some trips were only a few hours each way, others took all night. Florence to Budapest, Hungary; Florence to Split, Croatia; and Florence to Prague, Czech Republic were a few trips in particular where we would be traveling for 10-12 hours straight. By the time we arrived, it would be morning of the next day and we'd be off to start the trip's activities.

Being comfortable and having at least a semi-decent night's sleep on the overnight bus or train is essential. If you're not somewhat well rested, then the next day will just drag on as you attempt to explore through weary eyes and a cranky attitude.

Whether you're on a bus, train, or even a long haul flight, there are essentials you must bring with to ensure the most comfortable night possible: 

Earbuds/Headphones

For entertanment, to keep out miscellaneous noise, or to help you wind down.  

Scarf  

Whether you're a guy or a girl, you'll benefit from having a scarf with you. As a fashion statement or as simply something to keep warm, a scarf is a must-have. I've used scarves for many reasons, but mostly to keep warm or as a pillow. 

Makeshift "bed" items: neck pillow and travel sized blanket 

 To get some real sleep, you'll need to be as comfortable as possible without sacrificing room in your luggage. A neck pillow will be worth it after traveling for hours on end, and if you forget a scarf (or don't have a scarf that's good enough for the occasion) then a travel blanket (compact, warm but thin, and enough to cover at least your legs) will do.   

Melatonin 

This is an over-the-counter sleep aid that makes you tired. It's nice to have on hand when you have a long journey and just want to sleep through it all.

Sunglasses and/or eye shades

Because there are windows, which means sun in your eyes during the day or headlights from oncoming traffic at night.

Water bottle and snacks

Overnight journeys tend to be long, and you don't want to go without water or food if you're not stopping along the way. 

Portable phone charger 

If you're like most people, you probably charge your phone while you're asleep. Having a portable battery pack is handy for overnight rides, since oftentimes you'll be without a power source to charge your phone for a night. This way you'll have your phone ready to use the next day when you're out exploring.

Pocket Coffee 

Some countries in Europe sell Pocket Coffee, which is a packet that includes bite-sized chocolates that are filled with a liquid shot of espresso. These are so nice to have on hand for the next morning when you need an extra jolt! Otherwise, definitely grab a coffee or fresh glass of water when you arrive to get energized for the day!