They say it’s America the Beautiful – but how many of us have explored our own country the way we explore others when we travel abroad? There are plenty of opportunities for cultural experiences in the United States and experience an American life other than your own.
We plan. We are a not a fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants generation like the beats were. We don’t just hop in the car and drive off with a map and a dream. We make some semblance of an itinerary, and we bring a lot of our lives with us. These are the travel essentials for the savvy Millennial.
What’s the easiest way to see the world without leaving your living room? Grabbing some great films that take you from Kentucky to Bali. Here are some of my favorites.
When you’re on a trip, you want to make quick and efficient use of your time, and if the technology exists to do so, why shouldn’t we use it? That’s like arguing that we should still cook with fire even though someone invented the microwave. Go for it, people. Use these great GPS iPhone apps on your next trip.
Reverse culture shock is the moment when, even after visiting place after place for an extended period of time and wanting nothing more to come home, you find it most difficult to assimilate back into your own culture once you arrive. For this overly mobile generation, it’s become especially difficult.
The decision to move abroad is not a response to a desire for a crazy adventure. It is not a caprice. It is not Plan B anymore. It is a conscious choice for a happy and fulfilling life, personally and professionally. In an age when we are criticized for taking too long to grow up, living abroad might be one of the few ways to speed up the process.
How do you enjoy yourself when your discretionary income is almost non-existent? Traveling on a budget changes how you travel, but there is a world of online tools available to help you find the perfect place to vacation and not go into debt doing so.
When it comes to taking the wheel, stepping off the platform, or buckling in my seatbelt for takeoff alone, my excitement about seeing new places morphs into the Dragon of Travel Fear. I knew that to be able to finally see the places I’d imagined, the Dragon had to die. This is the story of slaying the Dragon.
I like leaving the office at a reasonable hour. I like to have plans on weeknights. I enjoy spending time in an office full of people instead of being alone on the road. The life of George Clooney’s character in Up in the Air isn’t really a lot of fun.
It’s pretty clear that we like to travel. We want to see the world beyond our apartments and dorm rooms. That’s why it is so important that airlines appeal to us – cheap flights, friendly service and great amenities are key. But, while some airlines are capable of providing what we need and making sure we know it, others just aren’t as successful.
