5 Reasons Mexico Can Be Better Outside of a Resort

travelpulse.com

Mexico is a fantastic country with delicious cuisine, friendly people and some of the world's most amazing historical sites. People love going on vacation to Mexico, and why wouldn't they? A resort allows you to enjoy a beautiful beach, have waiters refill your margarita before you even notice it's empty, and enjoy a selection of 10 different international restaurants all without even leaving the resort!

But what if we were to tell you that your vacation could be even better? Try venturing outside of the all-inclusives and experience the real Mexico!

Here are five reasons why Mexico can be even better outside of the resort:

1. The Cost

With prices like $1500 / week for a five-star, all-inclusive holiday, you may think that you could never enjoy Mexico for less if you did it independently. But believe us, you can. Mexico is a country of incredible value and you could easily spend three weeks here, staying in an apartment, eating local food and drinking at local bars, and you wouldn't spend more than $1,500 in three weeks!

But, you don't have to stay in an apartment or a hotel, you can still stay in your resort and experience Mexico. Just hop on a local bus or taxi and take a day-trip to a nearby town. You'll love the vibe of the local life in this incredible country.

2. Meeting Local People

One of the most fascinating aspects of travel is having the opportunity to meet and mingle with the local people in whatever countries you visit. It's amazing when you get the opportunity to learn about the culture, day-to-day life, and beliefs first hand, from a new local friend.

Of course, the employees at your resort will be Mexican, and it's great to be able to sit and chat with them for a while, but they're busy and you don't often get into deep conversations with them. 

If you have the opportunity to meet Mexicans at a bar, at a restaurant or on the streets, outside of a work environment, it will be easier to forge lasting friendships and really get to know them. Who knows, you may even get invited into their homes... a prospect that is less likely if you're staying at a resort.

3. Tasting Real Mexican Food

Of course your resort will have amazing Mexican restaurants on-site, but let's be honest. How many meals do you actually end up eating there? With so many amazing international restaurants around, you may just end up eating every type of food except Mexican!

If you stay in a small local town like Valladolid in the Yucatan, you'll have more options for Mexican food than you could dream of. You'll learn about local specialties, ingredients and preparation methods. Best of all, you'll probably be sharing the restaurant with mostly locals, which is a great way to mingle and make new Mexican friends.

4. Learning Some Spanish

This may not be a top priority for you when you're planning your vacation to Mexico, but it can be a lot of fun to learn Spanish while you're there! If you take a tip from No. 1 in this post, you may be hanging around for three weeks or more. That means you'll have plenty of time to learn and practice some of the local language. Mexicans are always friendly to tourists, but they love it whengringos take the time to learn a bit of their native tongue. Not only will you enjoy the new skill, but your Mexican friends will appreciate it.

5. Being IN Mexico:

Of course if you go to Mexico and stay in a resort, you'll have been to Mexico... but venture away from your gated all-inclusive community and head into the cities to get a real feel for this amazing nation, its unique culture and its welcoming people. There's nothing like walking down a back road in quiet village, or strolling through the city centro in the late afternoon. Mexico is a great place to be, so get out there and see it!

Photo: Beautiful Valladolid town in the Yucatan State

While staying in a resort is a fun experience and the ultimate way to relax on your holiday, you may want to consider this alternative way of travelling in Mexico. Even if you still stay in a resort, you can enhance your trip by leaving the grounds once in a while and taking a local bus into town.

Mexico is out there, waiting to be explored, and despite what the news says, it's safe. You won't be venturing into dangerous border towns, or walking down dark alleys at night, so you can be sure that in major tourist towns like Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and Playa del Carmen, you'll have no issues. So why not head out into the real Mexico? Give it a try to see what it's like.

Confessions of a Spice-Challenged Visitor to Mexico

 Bob Schulman

Travel editor, WatchBoom.com

huffingtonpost.com

First, let's get this straight: I really like spices. The trouble is, they don't like me. Anything with even a tiny chili in it gives me an instant heartburn. So when I'm in Mexico, enchiladas are out. So are quesadillas. Ditto for huevos rancheros. I can't even be in the same room with chipotles a la poblana.

Where can a spice-challenged traveler chow down south of the border?

As a travel writer, I've been there lots of times. Over the years I've learned to look for big hotels that cater to families -- because their restaurants tend to offer simple fare for kids. Like hamburgers, hot dogs and pepito (steak) sandwiches.

Many of Mazatlan's big hotels are in the city's 'Golden Zone.'

What about side dishes? I order papas fritas (french fried potatoes) to go with my burgers. Can't go wrong there. Well, usually.

At night, I make a bee line to restaurants of the ilk of Senor Frog's and Carlos'n Charlie's (among a bunch of fun restaurant brands in the Grupo Anderson's chain). Such places serve up stateside-type burgers and fried chicken and even fairly tame barbecue dishes, like Carlos' "Moo-Peep-Oink" (barbecued steak, chicken and ribs).Ay caramba! That one scores a big 10 on my non-spicy meter.

Munching around Mazatlan

I came across some great spots for the spice-impaired during a recent trip to western Mexico's beach resort at Mazatlan. One was a chili-less breakfast at El Shrimp Bucket in the La Siesta Hotel in the city's downtown Historic District. The restaurant has some history of its own, having opened in 1963 as the first location in what became the Grupo Anderson chain.

Spice-challenged tourists can opt for a tuna salad.

Another eatery offering my kind of dishes is a country and western version of Carlos'n Charlie's called La Casa Country. There, I chewed away on ribs to die for (but not from heartburn) while waiters dressed like cowboys pranced around doing line dances.

The next day, I walked away from the Panama Restaurant out in the Golden Zone (Mazatlan's hotel strip, about eight miles from the Historic District) without even a tinge of heart fire. Panama has three Applebee's-like restaurants around town along with nine bakeries, the latter with a menu full of sugar rolls, muffins, beignet fritters and other artery cloggers right out of the oven.

Mouth-watering gnoshes on the racks of the Panama bakery.

I should note that the places I've mentioned, like most of Mazatlan's other restaurants, typically have lots of hot Mexican stuff on their menus, too. Some also feature international gourmet dishes.

La Mazatleca, for instance, is happy to serve customers like myself a two-inch-thick filet topped with a mild Gorgonzola cheese sauce. Other customers might opt for hotties like Los Monos Biches (fried shrimp in garlic, chilis, onions and butter served with chili beans and cheese and topped with - quick, call the Fire Department -- chili-based adobo sauce).

A number of restaurants are in the city's Historic District, near the Plazuela Machado.

El Presidio, another gourmet restaurant, came up with some yummy lamb chops and a baked potato for me. More adventurous diners at this elegant, old-world mansion went for an appetizer called Fideo Seco (spicy fried Mexican noodles with grilled garlic- and chili-based Zarandeado shrimp).

Freshly caught shrimp dishes show up on just about all of Mazatlan's menus. Arguably, the area's champion shrimp joint is a place called El Cuchupetas in the little city of Villa Union about a half-hour ride from Mazatlan. There, you can get anything from just breaded shrimp (one of my favorites) to the demoniac Shrimp Diabloamong some 50 shrimp dishes.

Back in Mazatlan, Pedro & Lola on the corner of the Plazuela Machado in the Historic District serves an awesome breaded shrimp plate (all the spicy things come on the side) with the hands-down best papas fritas in town.

In a real bind, on those rare days when I simply can't find anything spice-less in Mazatlan or anyplace else in Mexico, I can get by with a bowl or two of tortilla soup.

All photos by Bob Schulman

Practical Tips on Visiting Mexico

1dad1kid.com
By Talon Windwalker

Mexico is an incredibly diverse country. Each region has its own cuisine specialties, some differences in culture, topography, and more. The people are as colorful as their textiles. This nation attracts tourists from all over the world, so it’s usually easy to find great flight deals. Here are some tips and ideas for visiting this wonderful country.

Do I need a visa for Mexico?

The country is a very welcoming host, and most visitors will receive an entry for up to an impressive 180 days. If you’re from the US, you do not need an advance visa. Just come on down!

Regions

Mexico is a big country! The frontera (border) and northern region is quite arid and can see some very high temperatures during the summer.

The Baja Cailfornia area is a popular place for tourists. While there are a lot of spots to enjoy the ocean, it’s still very much a desert area. In fact, there are four main desert areas on the peninsula.

My favorite regions are the Yucatan (which separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea and has several Mayan ruins), Chiapas (home to the fascinating Palenque ruins), and Oaxaca (pronounced like oh-a-haw-ka).

If you’re a scuba diver, I definitely recommend you head to the island of Cozumel. It has some incredible, world-class diving.

Safety

The media is usually rife with horror stories about Mexico. Mexico is actually a very safe place to visit. If you sell drugs or work for the DEA, then I wouldn’t recommend the northern regions. Otherwise, you’re fine. Almost all violence is between drug cartels and law enforcement. Tourists are usually left alone.

Getting around Mexico

Unlike Europe, you won’t find a lot of truly low-budget flights, and there is no countrywide train system. So if you’re touring the country, plan on taking the bus unless your budget can accommodate some flights. There are some decent airfares if you’re traveling between the right regions.

ADO (site is in Spanish) is my favorite bus company for doing longer hauls. They are generally quite comfortable, inexpensive, and safe. They can be over air-conditioned, so you may want something to wrap around your shoulders or legs.

Volaris often has some good deals for flying.

Taxis within the country are generally not metered, so it can be helpful to ask your hotel what the appropriate rates should be. Occasionally you will be charged a bit extra for a radio-dispatched taxi, so it’s usually cheaper to flag a taxi in motion.

When moving within a city or between nearby cities, make sure to ask about colectivos. These are shuttles that are quite cheap and handy to use. It can get pretty crowded in them, but you’ll save a lot of money by using them. Plus you get to experience more of the local culture this way. Mexico City has a good metro and public bus system.

Money

Prices can be a bit disconcerting at first because they use the dollar symbol to indicate pesos. So when you see a beer is $25 don’t have a heart attack. That’s actually 25 MXN which is less than $2 USD. Tour packages are usually listed in USD, though.

While you can use US dollars in most areas, I don’t recommend it. The exchange rate a restaurant will give you is much less than what a bank will. It’s best to just use your ATM card to withdraw pesos. (Safety tip: Don’t use stand-alone kiosks on the street. It’s always better to use an ATM that is attached to a bank. They’re easy to find and are plentiful.)

Language

Obviously, Spanish is the main language. Some of the indigenous people speak it as a second language. The accent changes a bit depending on what region the person is from, but the only one I find occasionally challenging is from the border area (as in bordering the US). However, it’s usually very easy to find people who speak at least some English, especially if you’re in larger towns or places with lots of tourists.

Phone/Data/WiFi

Telcel is the most popular provider for cellular service in Mexico, but there are definitely others. In my experience, getting phone service through Movistar is less of a hassle as a foreigner, but that may depend on the region you’re in.

In bigger towns, you’ll find plenty of places offering free WiFi. Most of those locales are usually also air conditioned which make them wonderful places to hang around for a bit. Infinitum is a popular internet provider, so you will find many companies using them. This is good because if you pick up a password at a place like Starbucks, that same password will often work all over the region for a few months.

Some popular cities also provide free WiFi in their public parks which makes this a great option if you’re out and about. Data for your phone or tablet is pretty reasonable, though. With Movistar I have unlimited email, Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp plus 250 MB of data for around $15 USD/month (which also includes minutes and SMS messages).

Food

Mexican food in Mexico is often quite different from what you eat in the States or almost any Mexican food place in the world. If you order a taco, don’t expect it to come in a hard shell. Nachos and burritos aren’t actually Mexican, so if you do find them they may be a bit different than what you’re used to. A quesadilla is much different than the ones in the US. But they’re all still yummy!

Vegetarians will have a bit more of a challenge finding a variety of foods, especially when it comes to street food. While it is becoming more common, many Mexicans may interpret “I’m vegetarian” to mean you don’t eat beef or pork, so chicken and fish are totally acceptable, right? You may have to try a few times to get them to understand.

Aguas frescas are absolutely divine drinks. They are basically fresh fruit blended with water (almost everyone will automatically use purified water) and some sugar. My favorites are agua de sandia (watermelon), de melón (cantaloupe), and piña (pineapple). A combination of watermelon and pineapple is also quite good. If you’re wanting something like lemonade ask for agua de limón natural.

Licuados are like aguas frescas except that they use milk instead of water.

Food can be quite regional. For example, in the Yucatan you’ll find my favorite Mexican breakfast food, chilaquiles; however, they aren’t common in other areas. The wonderful mole (a sauce that contains chocolate among many other things) is prepared differently in almost every region.

Visitors tend to be overly cautious about the food in Mexico. You might be surprised to find out how much of your produce in the US comes from here, so don’t freak out about eating it. Most places have decent food hygiene. We’ve spent a lot of time in Mexico and have never been sick.

Most restaurants will automatically assume you don’t want food too spicy, so if that’s true in your case you’ll have it made. Often you’ll find a few bowls of different salsas on your table. Just point to the bowls and ask “No pica?” (no pee-kah), and they’ll show you the salsa that is the least spicy.

The water in most of Mexico is potable, but in some cities it is treated quite heavily with chemicals, and in other areas it’s packed with minerals which can be tough on your stomach. I avoid tap water in the Yucatan because it is very hard, and this region has the highest number of kidney stone incidents in all of Mexico. Most locals drink purified water as well, so it’s really easy to find and relatively inexpensive.

If you’ll be in an area for a while, you can get a garrafón (20 L bottle) for 10 MXN (about 77 cents US). These can be refilled/recycled for new ones. It’s cheaper and better for the environment than constantly buying plastic bottles. You’ll often find people riding bicycle carts down the street selling filled ones, or there are refill centers which are usually easy to find.

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My 30 Best Travel Tips After 3 Years Traveling The World

By Matthew Karsten

expertvagabond.com

My Best Tips for World Travel

TRAVEL TIPS

It’s now been 3 years since I sold everything and left the United States to travel the world. These are the best travel tips I’ve discovered along the way.

November marks 3 years since I took a one-way flight from Miami to Guatemala City, leaping nervously into the unknown and leaving much of my old life behind while embarking on an epic travel adventure around the world.

It’s been a wild ride, and I’ve learned a lot since then. To celebrate my 3 year “travelversary” this year, I’ve decided to share a collection of my best and most useful travel tips with you.

Feel free to share your own best travel tips at the end.

1. Patience is Important

Don’t sweat the stuff you can’t control. Life is much too short to be angry & annoyed all the time. Did you miss your bus? No worries, there will be another one. ATMs out of money? Great! Take an unplanned road trip over to the next town and explore. Sometimes freakouts happen regardless. Just take a deep breath and remind yourself that it could be worse.

2. Wake Up Early

Rise at sunrise to have the best attractions all to yourself while avoiding crowds. It’s also a magical time for photos due to soft diffused light, and usually easier to interact with locals. Sketchy areas are less dangerous in the morning too. Honest hardworking people wake up early; touts, scammers, and criminals sleep in.

Travel Tip: Laugh at Yourself

3. Laugh at Yourself

You will definitely look like a fool many times when traveling to new places. Rather than get embarrassed, laugh at yourself. Don’t be afraid to screw up, and don’t take life so seriously. Once a whole bus full of Guatemalans laughed with glee when I forced our bus to stop in order to pee on the side of the road. Returning to the bus and laughing with them gave me new friends for the rest of the ride.

4. Stash Extra Cash

Cash is king around the world. To cover your ass in an emergency, make sure to stash some in a few different places. I recommend at least a couple hundred dollars worth. If you lose your wallet, your card stops working, or the ATMs run out of money, you’ll be glad you did. Some of my favorite stash spots include socks, under shoe inserts, a toiletry bag, around the frame of a backpack, even sewn behind a patch on your bag. That last one’s for you, Canadians.

Travel Tip: Meet Local People

5. Meet Local People

Make it a point to avoid other travelers from time to time and start conversations with local people. Basic English is spoken widely all over the world, so it’s easier to communicate with them than you might think, especially when you combine hand gestures and body language. Learn from those who live in the country you’re visiting. People enrich your travels more than sights do.

6. Pack a Scarf

I happen to use a Shemagh, but sarongs work great too. This simple piece of cotton cloth is one of my most useful travel accessories with many different practical applications. It’s great for sun protection, a makeshift towel, carrying stuff around, an eye mask, and much more.

Travel Tip: Observe Daily Life

7. Observe Daily Life

If you really want to get a feel for the pulse of a place, I recommend spending a few hours sitting in a park or on a busy street corner by yourself just watching day to day life happen in front of you. Slow down your thoughts and pay close attention to the details around you. The smells, the colors, human interactions, and sounds. It’s a kind of meditation — and you’ll see stuff you never noticed before.

8. Back Everything Up

When my laptop computer was stolen in Panama, having most of my important documents and photos backed up saved my ass. Keep both digital and physical copies of your passport, visas, driver’s license, birth certificate, health insurance card, serial numbers, and important phone numbers ready to go in case of an emergency. Backup your files & photos on an external hard drive as well as online with software like Backblaze.

Travel Tip: Take Lots of Photos

9. Take Lots of Photos

You may only see these places & meet these people once in your lifetime. Remember them forever with plenty of photos. Don’t worry about looking like a “tourist”. Are you traveling to look cool? No one cares. Great photos are the ultimate souvenir. They don’t cost anything, they’re easy to share with others, and they don’t take up space in your luggage. Just remember once you have your shot to get out from behind the lens and enjoy the view.

10. There’s Always a Way

Nothing is impossible. If you are having trouble going somewhere or doing something, don’t give up. You just haven’t found the best solution or met the right person yet. Don’t listen to those who say it can’t be done. Perseverance pays off.

Travel Tip: Smile & Say Hello

11. Smile & Say Hello

Having trouble interacting with locals? Do people seem unfriendly? Maybe it’s your body language. One of my best travel tips is to make eye contact and smile as you walk by. If they smile back, say hello in the local language too. This is a fast way to make new friends. You can’t expect everyone to just walk around with a big stupid grin on their face. That’s your job. Usually all it takes is for you to initiate contact and they’ll open up.

12. Splurge a Bit

I’m a huge fan of budget travel, as it lets you travel longer and actually experience more of the fascinating world we live in rather than waste money on stuff you don’t need. You can travel many places for $30 a day with no problems. That said, living on a shoestring gets old after a while. It’s nice (and healthy) to go over your budget occasionally. Book a few days at a nice hotel, eat out at a fancy restaurant, or spend a wild night on the town every now and then.

Travel Tip: Keep an Open Mind

13. Keep an Open Mind

Don’t judge the lifestyles of others if different from your own. Listen to opinions you don’t agree with. It’s arrogant to assume your views are correct and other people are wrong. Practice empathy and put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Embrace different possibilities, opportunities, people, suggestions and interests. Ask questions. You may be surprised at what you’ll learn from each other.

14. Try Couchsurfing

If you don’t know what it is, Couchsurfing.org is a large online community of travelers who share their spare rooms or couches with strangers for free. Hostels are fun, but you’re hanging out with tourists like yourself who don’t know the area. If you truly want to experience a country and it’s people, you should stay with a local. There are millions of couchsurfers around the world willing to host you and provide recommendations. I promise they won’t bite.

Travel Tip: Volunteer Occasionally

15. Volunteer Occasionally

Make it a point to volunteer some of your time for worthwhile projects when traveling. Not only is it a very rewarding experience, but you’ll often learn more about the country and it’s people while also making new friends. There’s a great site called Grassroots Volunteering where you can search for highly recommended volunteer opportunities around the world.

16. Pack Ear Plugs

Muffle the sounds of crying babies, drunk Australians, barking dogs, honking horns, dormitory sex, natural gas salesmen, and more. A traveler’s best friend. 

Travel Tip: Don’t Be Afraid

17. Don’t Be Afraid

The world is not nearly as dangerous as the media makes it out to be. Keep an eye out for sketchy situations but don’t let that be the focus of your whole trip. Use common sense and you’ll be ok. Most people are friendly, trustworthy, generous, and willing to help you out. This goes for women too. I realize I’m not a woman, but I’ve met plenty of experienced female travelers who agree.

18. Get Lost on Purpose

If you want to see the parts of town where real people live & work, you need to go visit them. The best way to do this is on foot — without knowing where you’re going. Write down the name of your hotel so you can catch a taxi back if needed, then just pick a direction and start walking. Don’t worry too much about stumbling into dangerous neighborhoods either, as locals will generally warn you before you get that far.

Travel Tip: Eat Local Food

19. Eat Local Food

Think you already know what Mexican food tastes like? You’re probably wrong. Taste a bit of everything when you travel, especially if you don’t know what it is. Ask local people for recommendations. Eat street food from vendors with big lines out front. I’ve been very sick only twice in my travels. Don’t be scared of the food.

20. Say Yes Often

Be impulsive and say yes when someone randomly invites you to meet their family, try a new activity, or explore a place you didn’t know existed. It’s these unexpected and unplanned situations that add spice to your travels and always turn into the best stories later. Accept the kindness of strangers when you travel — you’ll have plenty of opportunities to do so.

Travel Tip: Slow Down

21. Slow Down

Please don’t try to cram 6 countries into 6 weeks of travel. You’ll miss a lot if you only spend a day in a city or town. All the good stuff happens when you really take the time to explore an area. That’s when you learn about activities that aren’t in your guidebook and meet people who are eager to show you around. I can honestly say that NONE of my best travel experiences happened within the first few days of arriving somewhere. Spend more time in fewer places for maximum enjoyment.

22. Keep Good Notes

My memory for details sucks. When I first started my travels 3 years ago, I didn’t keep a good journal, and now I’m regretting it. Information like the names of people I met, conversations I had, feelings about a new experience, or what a particular town smelled like. If you ever want to write about your travels, these details are handy.

Travel Tip: Break Out of Your Comfort Zone

23. Break Out of Your Comfort Zone

Challenge yourself to try things that normally give you anxiety. The more you do this, the more that anxiety will fade away. Not a hiker? Go on more hikes. Have trouble talking to strangers? Talk to everyone. Scared of weird food? Eat the weirdest thing you can find. The reason this works so well while traveling is because everything is already so different, what’s one more new/uncomfortable experience?

24. Don’t Plan Too Much

I cringe when readers ask how many days they should spend in a particular country or city. The truth is I have no idea what you’ll enjoy or who you’ll meet. I thought I’d rocket through Nicaragua in a week or two, but ended up living there for 4 months. My advice is to pick a starting point, 1 or 2 must-do activities, and an ending point (or not). Then just let the universe determine the rest.

Travel Tip: Pack Less Stuff

25. Pack Less Stuff

You don’t need 1/2 the gear you think you do to travel anywhere. We’ve all done it. It’s a right of passage for travelers to slowly become better at packing less. My first bag was 70 liters packed full, my current bag is 50 liters packed 2/3rds full. As a full-time vagabond, everything I own fits on my back. If you’re not sure about packing something, you don’t need it. It’s also possible to buy most things at your destination country if you discover you need them.

26. Listen to Podcasts

Podcasts are awesome. It’s like creating your own personal radio station and filling it with shows and music you always want to listen to. I never thought I’d actually look forward to a 10 hour bus ride. But with podcasts, it’s possible (well, as long as the seats are comfortable). Time will fly by as you listen to incredible storytelling, fun music, or interviews with experts. Here are some of my favorites: This American Life, The Moth, RISK!, Radiolab, Blogcast FM, and Electro-Swing.

Travel Tip: Treat Your Body Well

27. Treat Your Body Well

Travel can throw your body out of whack. When you’re moving from place to place it’s difficult to maintain a workout routine, and many of us slack off. Or we don’t sleep enough. Or we eat too many cupcakes. I’m guilty of not flossing my teeth. Remember to be nice to your body. Get enough sleep, stay hydrated, eat healthy, use sunscreen, and exercise often (check out this bodyweight routine, no gym required!). And, yes, flossing too I guess.

28. Stay in Touch

Remember to call your family & friends from time to time. Maybe surprise them and go old-school by sending a postcard (it’s in the mail, Mom!). Travel isn’t lonely, far from it. You constantly meet other people. But many of those relationships are fleeting. So maintaining a strong connection with the people who know you best is important.

Travel Tip: Get Off the Beaten Path

29. Get Off the Beaten Path

I know it’s cliché, but you should still attempt it. Seek out interesting and unusual places that don’t see much tourism. Many memorable travel experiences have happened to me in areas that are not easy to visit. By all means travel to popular sites, but don’t rule out other locations just because they’re not on the tourist trail. Although please realize that just because an area is remote or dangerous doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have a life-changing experience.

30. Travel More

If there’s one thing I’ve noticed over the past 3 years, it’s that many people back home love to tell me how lucky I am while making excuses why they can’t travel. It’s too expensive. They can’t get time off work. Who will feed their pets? When I suggest solutions to these “problems”, they still don’t take action. Why? Because they’re often hiding behind the true reason: they’re scared.

Most people who wait to travel the world never do. You don’t need to sell all your worldly possessions and become a homeless vagabond like me. Just get out there more than you do now. Start with a weekend in a different state. Then maybe try a week in the country next door.

The new car, remodeling project, and iPhone can wait. If you truly want to travel more, you can make it happen. Career breaks are possible. You have friends who would love to watch your pets. It’s a big, beautiful, exciting, and absolutely fascinating world out there. Explore some of it now, rather than later.