100 Different Ways to Finally Start Traveling!

Sometimes we nearly faint from despair, thinking, “I can never travel, because I don’t have enough time, or money, or opportunities!” …But that’s simply not true!

On March 31, 2011, in glorious Boston, I coordinated Teaching Traveling Inspiration Night, which aimed to help more teachers fulfill their travel dreams, thus transforming our world’s educational system through renewed energy, resources, and connections. Over 100 participants learned that night a whole new set of ways to see the world.

Now, even if you’re not a teacher, if you dream of travel, check out the following handout from Teaching Traveling Night, which is a broad overview of the gabillion permutations to actually create and act upon your travel dreams. If you are ever feeling stuck about how to get your rear onto a plane seat, take a breath of excitement and browse through these:

100 DIFFERENT WAYS TO TRAVEL! (Which ones appeal to YOU?)

A.) Time frame:

• Short-Term (Long weekend, 1 or 2 week vacation, Summer vacation)
• Long Term (“Career-Break” Travel for several months or longer)

B.) Level of Structure:

• Structured tour package (EF Tours, GEEO, GAP Adventures, STA Travel Packages, etc.)
• Structured small volunteer group (Limitless Horizons Ixil Guatemala, Mariposa DR Foundation, etc.)
• Structured Teach Abroad placement service (WorldTeach, Reach to Teach, GO!Overseas, Fulbright Exchange, etc.)
• Get funded to put together your own program (Fund for Teachers, etc.)
• Put it together yourself! (Meet Plan Go, Couchsurfing.org, Guidebooks, Net research, local classes or volunteer opportunities, following other tourists, STA flights, Facebook/Twitter friends of friends.)

C.) Who With?

• Alone (though you always meet people along the way!)
• With family
• With a friend or five
• With a group of coworkers or folks in the same field
• With students

D.) Activities:

• Tourism/Leisure (sightseeing, tours, relaxing on a beach or in the mountains!)
• Volunteering (teaching, environmental help, consulting, etc.)
• Taking Classes (foreign language, TEFL certification, massage, yoga, university…)
• Working (teaching English, food service, Au Pair, writing, odd jobs, etc.)

E.) Location:

• On the tourist trail (many foreigners around)
• Off the tourist trail (mostly locals around)
• Big city
• Medium-sized town
• Small town/Rural Village
• Mountains
• Sea-side
• Lake or river-side
• Inland

• Hot, tropical climate
• Temperate climate
• Colder climate

F.) Housing:

• Hotel
• Volunteer/worker communal house
• Homestay
• Couchsurfing
• Budget Hostel

• House rental or swap
• Tent, etc…

G.) Money Spent:

• Splurge
• Medium Price
• Budget Travel (which can be luxurious, too, honestly!)

So do you see now? The travel world is your oyster! Whatever you dream about connecting with the world, it CAN be achieved.

What are your thoughts now, after reading this giant list? Which permutations have you already tried, and which do you now want to try? What else would you like to add? We eagerly await your comments.