{"id":2511,"date":"2020-03-24T11:54:36","date_gmt":"2020-03-24T15:54:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/?p=2511"},"modified":"2024-09-10T15:23:57","modified_gmt":"2024-09-10T19:23:57","slug":"dont-have-travel-regrets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/travel-blogs\/dont-have-travel-regrets\/","title":{"rendered":"Don’t Have (Travel) Regrets"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"no<\/p>\n

When I went to college (or “university” as non-Americans say), a few of my friends studied abroad. They came back glowing from life-changing experiences<\/a>, telling stories of new friends, spontaneous trips to exotic locations, foreign flings, “weird” food, and life lessons learned. Their tales made it sound like they lived through a coming-of-age movie. <\/p>\n

How exciting it must be! To be in a foreign country, learning a new language<\/a>, reinventing yourself, meeting foreign girls, and being able to legally drink. For a college student, it sounded like magic.<\/p>\n

But, though I took the forms to fill out each semester, I never studied abroad. <\/p>\n

Semester after semester passed and I let the opportunities slip by. <\/p>\n

Why?<\/p>\n

One simple reason: FEAR.<\/p>\n

I was always too afraid<\/a>. I wasn’t afraid of what would happen or if I would succeed. No, I had a worse kind of fear: FOMO. The fear of missing out. I worried constantly that life back home would pass me by and I’d be forgotten. <\/p>\n

What changes would happen with my friends? <\/p>\n

What parties would I miss? <\/p>\n

What if there was some big event at school and I wasn\u2019t there? <\/p>\n

What inside jokes would I not be a part of? <\/p>\n

What if the President came? What if this! What if that!<\/p>\n

As a shy, unconfident college kid, I never wanted to leave because I was (incorrectly) afraid that if I left, I’d come back and life would have moved on without me and I’d be a stranger to those around me.<\/p>\n

I didn’t want to hear stories from my friends about things they did while I was away \u2014 I wanted to be a part of those experiences. In my mind, I knew I would have created my own stories abroad but I was too afraid about what stories I would miss if I left. <\/p>\n

So I stayed at home. <\/p>\n

And, though I did eventually go traveling (and spent a decade traveling the world<\/a>), I regret not studying abroad.<\/p>\n

Now, we all know we can’t change the past. And maybe if I had studied abroad I never would have gone traveling later or made this website. Who knows? But you can’t be mired in what-ifs<\/em>. You can only make the best decisions you can at the time with the information you have.<\/p>\n

But I regret the decision I made because I let fear win.<\/p>\n

I let fear rule my life. I went with the devil I knew because it was easier. I allowed myself to stay in my comfort zone and never really test myself<\/a>. I put off a great experience because I was afraid of what the future might<\/em> have happened. <\/p>\n

\"no<\/p>\n

It was a hard lesson to learn but missing out on studying abroad showed me that you can’t let your fear hold you back. In previous posts, I’ve written about how now is a good time to travel<\/a> because of the economy and about how the only secret to long term traveling<\/a> is desire. <\/p>\n

But even those with the greatest desire to travel can still be held back by fear. <\/p>\n

The Dutch have a saying: “He who is outside his door already has the hardest part of his journey behind him.”<\/p>\n

If you talk to any traveler, they will all tell you the same thing: nothing changes back home. People might get a new job or a new girlfriend. Maybe someone might get married. A restaurant might close. A bar might no longer be cool. <\/p>\n

But the day to day life will be the same and when you know that, you\u2019ll thank yourself for not giving into fear.<\/p>\n

Life never gives you the same chance twice. Doors don\u2019t reopen. Once they shut, they usually shut for good. <\/p>\n

Fortuantely, it\u2019s easier to travel than you think. Once you take that first step out the door, anything is possible. Whether it\u2019s a two week trip to Bali<\/a>, a year-long trip around the world, or finally taking the family to Disney, get going now because you are missing a big world out there.<\/p>\n

I regret never studying abroad. <\/p>\n

I can’t take back my decision but I can make sure I am never afraid to step out the door again. And I can help others avoid my mistake.<\/p>\n

Because, in the end, you’ll regret not<\/em> going more than you\u2019ll ever regret going.<\/p>\n

How to Travel the World on $75 a Day<\/span><\/h3>
\"How<\/div>

My New York Times<\/em> best-selling book to travel will teach you how to master the art of travel so that you\u2019ll get off save money, always find deals, and have a deeper travel experience. It\u2019s your A to Z planning guide that the BBC called the \u201cbible for budget travelers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Click here to learn more and start reading it today!<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

\n

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks<\/h4>\n

Book Your Flight<\/strong>
\nFind a cheap flight by using Skyscanner<\/a>. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned. <\/p>\n

Book Your Accommodation<\/strong>
\nYou can book your hostel with Hostelworld<\/a>. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com<\/a> as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels. <\/p>\n

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance<\/strong>
\nTravel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:<\/p>\n