So I have a confession, which I'm sure most of you know, but I thought I'd share it anyway. By US standards, I am not in the 1%, nor do intend to ever be. And I may even be in the lost 20-somethings that they have started writing books on, who find their 20's as time of exploring. For me, the exploring has happened literally.
In life, though I continue to learn (and question) more and more each day, my values have been firmly planted since I was young. The ventures which I find myself on (the literal exploration) are exciting and educational, but can come at a cost. But, what most don't realize, is there are so many ways around it. For the past 10 years (oh my, don't tell people I'm getting this old), I have either been in school or saving for school. Worse yet, for the next upteenmillion years I will continue to pay for my wonderful Marquette education.
Why does all of this matter? Because so many people have the same irk that I can't seem to shake of exploring, but think its cost prohibitive. Here are a few ideas from my trip to Panama to encourage the wanderlusters to plan their wandering adventures, regardless of cost.
― Jack Kerouac.
As you wanderlust, know that you too can wander, don't let the pennies hold you back.
In life, though I continue to learn (and question) more and more each day, my values have been firmly planted since I was young. The ventures which I find myself on (the literal exploration) are exciting and educational, but can come at a cost. But, what most don't realize, is there are so many ways around it. For the past 10 years (oh my, don't tell people I'm getting this old), I have either been in school or saving for school. Worse yet, for the next upteenmillion years I will continue to pay for my wonderful Marquette education.
Why does all of this matter? Because so many people have the same irk that I can't seem to shake of exploring, but think its cost prohibitive. Here are a few ideas from my trip to Panama to encourage the wanderlusters to plan their wandering adventures, regardless of cost.
- Be honest. My kindergarten teacher told me, my aunt Janet told me and it's a fashion that won't fade. Tell people your situation. When I was emailing about rentals and tours, I was honest, 'I'm a student budget, so if you have any student discounts, I'd love to hear about them'. Some will give you the normal price and some have been in your shoes too, they will offer you a discounted price. The landlord where I am staying knocked $100 off the rental and a few of the tour companies had some great offers.
- Be friendly. Sounds funny, as a travel guideline, right? But it's true. I've been offered free cab rides, free meals, discounts and more. Not with the intent of getting something, but just by being kind to a fellow human, whoever they may be. I find it interesting to learn about people and their story and it helps to never assume the worst about people.
- Be creative. Don't assume that the Marriott and top tour company are the only way to go. I found a great place to stay through a vacation rental site, which is right downtown (location, location, location), has a kitchen, wireless internet and feels more home-like than a hotel. I saved money on meals, taxis, lodging, internet and it made the trip feel more at ease. Other friends have used sites like: Couch Surfers and Airbnb.
- Be open. For this trip, I didn't pick Panama, I started looking at flights from Costa Rica and saw that there was a special. If you can, be open and flexible on your location and your dates, it makes a big difference with the cost of lodging and flights. Also, when you arrive, be open to activities that come up, what you learn about and what new things you find. Traveling off the beaten path often creates the best adventures, and they don't write travel books to guide you there.
― Jack Kerouac.
As you wanderlust, know that you too can wander, don't let the pennies hold you back.
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| And sometimes all you need is the sun and the sand, |
1 comment:
Hey, great points here and I totally agree. I especially like the "be creative" part...most people want adventure but can't seem to imagine a vacation without a hotel+flight+rental car+food package. That's the furthest thing from adventure, it's the kind of set-up that keeps people isolated.
That doesn't mean you can't find a place in the thick of things that still has good amenities (like you pointed out with internet, etc.), it just means that you might have to sacrifice some creature comforts to have a more authentic experience.
Great post!
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