The recent rise of simple, cheap global communication, coupled with the amazing travel opportunities offered by low-cost airfares, means that for more and more people traveling has become less something they do on their holidays and more a way of life.
With an increasing number of people being able to work freelance or on the go, there are now really no limits as to where an individual, or even a family, can spend their time. People search for opportunities to balance work and life and it’s now not uncommon for individuals and families to spend large parts of the year, and in some cases years, in different locations. This is what we can travel or travel lifestyle.
When you’re spending a significant amount of time abroad, be it for an adventure travel experience or a family vacation, there are a number of factors you should bear in mind to make sure you get the most from the experience you possibly can.
The first thing you should consider when you travel is that regardless of your destination, it’s absolutely vital that you attempt to integrate with the local people. This will make your life travel experience so much richer as you pick up tips and insider information, and you’ll also find that you gain a far greater understanding of the culture that you’re living in.
If you’re a stranger in a strange land, the sooner you can make local friends the better, as they’ll not just provide much-needed company and camaraderie you’ll also find that in most cases locals are incredibly proud of their country and will do everything they can to make sure that you have the best experience of their homeland possible.
But no matter how many friends you make, you’ll also have to get used to the idea that you’ll always be an outsider. Whether it’s the color of your skin or your command of the language or accent, you must appreciate that it will be impossible for you to ever truly blend in. This doesn’t have to be a negative thing at all, but it does mean that you’ll have to treat the local way of doing things with respect nothing is guaranteed to make you unpopular more quickly than if you come across as being scornful of local culture or having an air of superiority. This is particularly important if you’re taking part in an adventure travel holiday, as often these holidays involve visiting places that are important, and in some cases, sacred, to local people and so should be treated with due reverence and respect.
Another thing to bear in mind is that you should try and see as much of your particular destination as possible. If you’ve been to a place several times on family vacations, try to do different things from those you’ve done before. It’s easy to get into the mindset that once you’ve chosen your destination you should stay there, but there are great experiences to be had by taking a car ride up the coast or getting a train inland.
After all, a nomad lifestyle supposes a lot of moving from one place to another. Besides, in most places you visit, you don’t know when you’ll be coming back, so you should do everything you can to make sure that your travel lifestyle is as rich, fulfilling and varied as possible. Jez Gee is a freelance writer who lives in London and loves both adventure travel and family vacations. He’s spent a year circumnavigating the globe and has driven across America with family and friends twice.