Wanna Travel? Do These 2 Things.
Have you been dreaming of traveling to gorgeous faraway places?
Does looking at flights or bus tickets online make a tingle go down your spine?
Have you been saving tiny amounts of money for as long as you can remember but it just never seems like enough to realize your goal of traveling?
Is your head filled with silly, but seemingly legit, thoughts like “Oh poor me, I won’t be able to travel until I’m old and retired” or “I just don’t think I can swing it”?
Well read on!
I have been traveling a ton for the last three years and I want to share a couple of resources with you so you can do the same. I can’t tell you how many friends and acquaintances have said to me “I wish I could do that!” Well, my answer to them was usually: “You can!” (Then I would try to pretend I didn’t see them rolling their eyes at me). You see, I used to have the above thoughts all the time but now I don’t bother with them and I don’t want you to either. Don’t get me wrong, it took me years to realize my goal of traveling and it does take a lot of faith in yourself, courage, hours and hours of planning, research and some money, but...
...you can do it! I believe in you!
If you go through these two resources carefully you will begin to realize that your dream of traveling is closer than you might realize. So here goes:
#1
Get the book Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel by Rolf Potts
This book totally rules and will inspire you to change your outlook on long term world travel. It is by far, my absolute favorite travel related book. It comes highly recommended by me, but also by a slew of other people who are wildly successful and have many more accolades than I do, one of which is Tim Ferriss (love that guy). Trust me, you will LOVE this book. It is for people in every stage of life and it’s a pretty short read. It will teach you how to travel for the rest of your life. Get it. Read it or listen to it. You will surely be inspired.
#2
Checkout Workaway.info
A friend of mine told me about this site a few years ago and I was so glad she did. This site is how I spent 5 weeks on the absolutely beautiful island of Mallorca, Spain in the beginning of 2016. I was an opare for a family and got free housing and transportation around the island. Did I mention that the "housing" was a stunning, 100 year old villa in the mountains surrounded by groves of oranges and lemons? Yeah, it was pretty sweet.
Workaway allows you to make a profile and communicate with hosts all over the world. You trade your time for free lodging and (a lot of the time) free food too. You will trade up to five hours of work a day for free lodging, food, insider info and adventures, all while forming bonds with people far far away. There are thousands of opportunities waiting for you out there! Workaway is one of my favorite websites for "dreaming and scheming " as I like to say. You can search by continent, country, city, keyword and other filters to find your perfect workaway opportunity. Your mind will be blown. You can search the database of thousands of hosts for free and you pay an annual membership fee to make your profile and contact hosts for one year. An account for a single person is $38 a year and if you want to travel with a friend or partner, a couple account is $48 per year. I have found this fee is MORE than worth it. Check out the site and realize you can stay in fabulous places FOR FREE if you are willing to roll up your sleeves and help out a cause. Pick a cause you believe in and it doesn't even feel like work. Working opportunities range from everything to housework, construction, sharing skills you already have (like web design, cooking or language teaching), working in restaurants, hostels and on farms, to helping care for children, pets or the elderly, helping with nonprofits and everything in between. I used to get on Workaway when I had a not-so-awesome day at work or when I would be feeling down. Looking at this awesome resource reminded me of everything the world has to offer and what the heck I was working for in the first place. I was sure to be feeling better after logging on for a good 'ole "dreaming and scheming" session. I’m sure you will be amazed when you visit the site. Also fun fact, no one is paying me to say this I just really love this site!
Have any questions? Reach out to me via email or in the comments below. Have an awesome day!
