Examples of How Travel Can Enrich Your Life

Travel can enrich your life in ways you may not have considered. Think about all your options. As we travel, we often look at our world, its people, and our own lives differently. We gain new experiences along the way. It’s a wonderful way to live. Check out my trip-planning ideas and a travel-planning timeline to help get you on your way.

Think of the benefits of getting on your way!

• Travel is enriching and engaging because you’re experiencing something new, meeting new people, visiting new places, seeing new things (at museums or on tours), and trying new food.

• It keeps us young because we’re doing something active. Hmmm, better to live with our same old daily routines or mix things up a little bit and go on a trip … learn new things … meet new people?

• You have a host of life experiences that you bring to your travels. Those experiences can help you make deeper connections to what you see and do — and the people you meet — on your trip.

• Ponder ways that European travel can build on past learning and/or relationships.
  • You may have loved European history in school and want to learn more about a certain culture, city, or country.
  • You may have studied German many years ago and would like to enrich your background of that country … and brush up on your German while there.
  • You may favor art and want to explore one of more of the wonderful museums in Europe.
  • You may know someone from Iceland and think it would be fun to experience some of the interesting spots you’ve heard about from your friend.
  • Seeing and experiencing it in person is radically better than learning about places to visit on TV.

Find out more about a place that interests you by getting one or more tour books (from your local library or bookstore) or searching online. Some good resources that I’ve used are DK, Fodor’s, Frommers, and Rick Steves.

With some forethought and careful planning, you can have a rewarding travel experience. A travel agency like AAA has experienced staff to help guide you through your trip-planning process.

Travel Planning Tips

1. Choose the type of travel that is right for you: on your own, cruises, and guided tours.

• Plan the destinations yourself, rent a car, or hire a driver/service to ferry you from place to place. In big cities, you can take a hop-on/hop-off bus that transports you from sight to sight; for example, in Paris, you can easily take the bus to visit the Eiffel Tour, Louvre, Notre Dame, Musee d’Orsay, Champs Elysee, and more.

• Take a river or ocean cruise where all the planning is done for you. Some focus more on education and have onboard talks/presentations to put your travel destinations in context, while some (mostly ocean cruises) focus on providing a variety of entertainment. With a cruise, you usually have options for shore excursions. Alternatively, you may want to just relax on the ship for the day. You’ll have a lot of flexibility to do what you want. Also, keep in mind that many cruise lines offer different types of excursions, and some are suited for people who have mobility issues or don’t want to take a hike about a hill for a notable view.

• Take a guided bus tour that suits your desires. Some companies operate large group tours; others, like Rick Steves, offer tours for smaller groups, such as fewer than 30 people.

2. Gain some peace of mind in case some obstacle prevents you from following through on your travel plans. Consider travel insurance that would cover expenses relating to various issues, including trip cancellation due to health or other issues. You can search for travel insurance online or ask a travel agent if you’re interested in pursuing insurance.

3. Lack of full mobility doesn’t need to hinder your wanderlust. Airlines often have pre-boarding for passengers with mobility issues; this type of pre-boarding sometimes requires prior approval, so you may want to clarify what requirements there are ahead of time. There are other options for assistance at airports, and at venues, you may be visiting. You may find this information on an online search of the airline, museums, and other spots.

4. Long flights can take a toll on your body, especially if you’re feeling cramped in a seat with minimal legroom — especially if you’re on the taller side. You may want to upgrade so you are more comfortable on long flights. Although it will add to the cost of your overall trip, it may be worth it, so you gain more enjoyment from the entire experience.

5. If visiting museums or other popular places, consider getting your tickets ahead of time, so you don’t have to wait in line to get tickets at the venue. Plus, some popular (or small) museums allow a limited number of people to enter at a time, so they issue tickets for specific time periods; ordering your tickets ahead for the time period you want will help you plan your day.  So…skip the line by ordering and getting your tickets online.

6. For suggestions of top local restaurants and sights, ask the hotel’s/inn’s front desk staff for recommendations. Another option is to check online rating sites like TripAdvisor and Yelp.

Final Thoughts

Don’t let travel overwhelm you. Think of the memories you’ll gain and the stories you’ll be able to tell from meeting new people in new lands.

Comments?

Please leave a comment to share some of your travel experiences. How has travel enhanced your life? What new things have you discovered about people and places that you hadn’t considered before? What tips do you have for other travelers? Thanks! 🙂