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Making excuses not to go travelling? Finding reasons not to travel? Here are some achievable solutions to put your travel dreams into action.
So you tell yourself: I want to travel the world. Yet, you find plenty of good excuses not to go travelling. Your heart says go travel, and your mind finds excuses for not going somewhere.
You are more likely to want to travel just by thinking about it, and that’s a good place to start.
The beauty of human nature is that we all possess different qualities. While some are naturally stronger-willed, others take a little more time to realise the need for change and the means to make dream travel happen. But that doesn’t mean realising a dream is impossible, even if it is difficult to process.
So, it becomes the task of the strong-willed person to pass on wisdom to those who need a step up the ‘can do’ ladder. There really are no excuses not to travel.
I’ve lost count of the number of times people have told me that they would love to be able to do what I am doing but can’t. This is usually followed by the one convenient means of hiding from a challenge: a list of excuses.
Unless you are truly happy in life (and I’m blessed to know people who are and who don’t desire to travel), the word ‘can’t ‘doesn’t exist. Finding the courage to break from conformity does. Instead, start thinking about the actionable how.
Article Contents
- Excuse Not to Go Travelling: “I can’t afford it”
- The Excuse Not to See a New Destination: “I don’t have anyone to go with”
- The Excuse Not to Travel: “I’m in a long-term relationship. I wish I’d done this when I was single.”
- The Excuse Not to Go Travelling: “It’s too late now / I’m too old.”
- The Excuse Not to See the World: “It will affect my career, and I’ll find it hard to find a job when I return.”
Excuse Not to Go Travelling: “I can’t afford it”
How to travel the world with little money. There’s no doubt some incomes leave little room to save or splurge for a big trip. But where savings do count is when looking at your lifestyle. You can afford travel as much as you can afford massive nights out on the town and increasing the content of your wardrobe.
When I announced that I was leaving for long-term travels, I had scowling comments including “You must earn loads,” “You are so lucky,” or “There’s always dad to help you, right?”
I was bringing in a decent enough wage to live comfortably, but I worked in media, so I was hardly scaling the banker’s bonus. I certainly didn’t earn enough to be able to save £20K for a round-the-world trip easily, and my parents don’t fund me (they don’t have that kind of capital, either). It was simply been a process of hard work, adaptability and extreme willpower.
I was lucky since the opportunity to take a long-term travel trip didn’t just come to me; I made it happen (alongside having the privilege to hold a strong passport). Still, I had to make changes to every single aspect of my life over 18 months to two years to save for the trip. I made travel affordable: I ate differently, I socialised less, I didn’t buy new clothes or daily take-out coffee. You’ll be surprised how much you can save.
The Solution: You will have to change your lifestyle
The reality is that it’s all down to sacrifice. If you want something that badly, you will adapt to make it happen.
Set an achievable goal and get into a savings routine.
There is no denying that it’s really tough having to go cold turkey on life’s regular luxuries. But even if you sacrificed just some of the small things to save £100 a month for an entire year, that would be enough for a return flight to Bangkok and to travel through Asia for a whole month. Travel is as affordable as you make it, and it’s easy to constantly compare cheap flights and decide on a destination.
The Excuse Not to See a New Destination: “I don’t have anyone to go with”
You want to find someone to travel with, and that’s perfectly ok. But, when someone stops holding your hand through life, it can be a very liberating process.
When I made the decision to travel around the world, I didn’t have anyone to go with either. No one wanted to go to the exact same places or was willing to make changes in their lives to save the same amount. The only potential candidates were the very young embarking on a GAP year – with a mentality and itinerary that never matched my own.
Sometimes, the thought scared me, but mostly, I got an adrenalin rush just thinking of the complete independence I would have and the people I would meet along the way. I was joining the growing ranks of solo female travellers who are doing just fine.
I was a solo and single traveller then, which meant I had no ties and no responsibilities to anybody other than myself. No one to answer to or have to begrudgingly compromise with or who would flake out on me. You can’t argue with that.
Meeting people on your travels is memorable, although sometimes you might be grateful for your own company. You will most certainly encounter many annoying things travellers say, but it’s all fun in the end.
You might not have anyone to leave home with, but you will find people along the way. At most points on the road, you will be with someone.
The Solution: Think of the positives of solo travel
You’ll gain confidence and life skills by learning to be self-sufficient.
You’ll make new friends because you will have to force yourself to interact in different social situations, but most of all, you will undertake a huge life-changing adventure: a personal achievement that tops any other in my eyes.
Test yourself
Book a weekend away on your own. I can still remember the rush I felt when I first got on a plane on my own, and I distinctly remember the daunting feeling of getting to the hostel and then later forgetting all about it when the wine and gossip were flowing. It’s even a chance to test your navigation trouble-shooting skills. And if it’s really not for you after this, at least you tried it to know.
Join other solo travellers
There are plenty of amazing tours out there for people in this situation, and I have mostly travelled this way in parts up until now. Choose a tour where you have lots of free time for your own exploration, and you will have the best of both worlds.
READ MORE: How to tell your Parents you are Going Travelling
The Excuse Not to Travel: “I’m in a long-term relationship. I wish I’d done this when I was single.”
You will not be expelled from travelling circles or not fit in because you happen to be with someone. Travelling with children is still a happy and successful way to travel.
The Solution: Follow your heart, regret will always linger.
Answer this: Are you staying put because you want to or because you think you have to?
There are two parts to this: one simple and one blunt. If you are both passionate about travelling, you can support each other in making it happen. By saving together (and sharing the pain of mutual lifestyle changes), you can overcome the ‘I can’t afford it’ scenario and overcome the fear of travelling alone.
But if your other half doesn’t want to, and you really do, you may (sadly) have to assess your compatibility. I was once in this predicament, and it took months of thought, heavy discussion, and someone trying to compromise my plans when saying, “I think if you were away for three months, that would be okay, I guess.” It wasn’t okay because I wanted to travel longer and loved that thought more, so we broke up.
The Excuse Not to Go Travelling: “It’s too late now / I’m too old.”
You are never too old to travel. It’s more a case of: I want to travel the world, but where do I start? I’m actually glad I didn’t do a gap year at 18 or in my very early 20s, when I had less cultural understanding and maturity. At the time of the first long travel trip, I was approaching 30, eight years into a decent career, and felt as though I had honed enough life skills that would come in handy on the road.
I’ve met people in their 40s, 50s and 60s, both single and married, who sold up everything to leave, even if just for a few months.
Times have changed, and age is no longer an issue. Material possessions and money tied up in property seem to be less of a desired norm.
I have no doubt it’s probably a lot easier for my generation to drop everything for a while since we generally have more security and less fear to do so, but no matter what age, I’ve learnt from these people that it is possible.
The Solution: Negotiation, saving or retirement.
I have met people who have either negotiated time off from work following a long period of service to the company, were able to save for longer to have enough to live on when returning home, are working abroad and using it as a base to explore other destinations, or have simply waited until retirement to do what they always dreamed of.
Take a leaf out of the 95-year-old backpacker in Australia that made headlines. There are no excuses that overshadow that guy’s achievement, and he’s proof that if you want to keep travelling, you can.
The Excuse Not to See the World: “It will affect my career, and I’ll find it hard to find a job when I return.”
I bet you would find many good excuses to miss work if you could. But to put it simply, travel won’t harm your career if you want to take a break from it.
I have many friends who returned from long-term travels and landed jobs within weeks. Of course, how easily you can snap up a job on return depends on your experience level and the employment climate, but when I’ve asked Directors (and people in positions to hire) their thoughts on this, it is not seen as detrimental to someone’s career. There may be some employers who don’t like it, but then, would you want to work for them?
So many people do it that it’s no longer off-the-scale outrageous. Plus, many people work while travelling, so it can actually boost your skills, not just your life experience. You are hired not just for the skills you bring to the table but for who you are. Travelling can be an aid to this.
And who knows if you will want the same job when you return?
I used my time out as a tester for what made me happy (I have never returned to the career path I was on) and instead made a career steer into development and charity work, eventually landing on journalism and travel writing, which utilised the skills I most loved using during my former-life PR roles.
The Solution: Choose a job with travel benefits
If the thought worries you, look out for companies that offer sabbaticals after a certain service period. You could get three to six months off and have a job to return to.
Use travelling to boost your CV.
Personally, I actually feel more at ease that I travelled with a CV full of a near decade’s worth of career experience, which essentially acted as security should I have needed to find a job that paid well in order to top up my funds.
If you find yourself full of reasons to get out of things and not be able to travel, know that change is difficult, but it’s possible.
Jeneen says
I need a good exuse to avoid traveling with my mom and siblings to Lebanon. Anyone know anything I could say
Ola says
Hi Becki,
Brilliant post. I’ve been dreaming about travelling for a while now and have set my sites on travelling South America within the next 2-3 months. I have been saving too and have after a very long time finally come round to the idea of doing it on my own. I realise I am quite dependent on others and terrified of taking the first step to leaving my job and regular salary. Especially as I don’t know “what I want to be when I grow up” yet. I build it up in my head but my mind is filled with doubt and worry as I am struggling to just let go – I’m guessing due to lack of self confidence.
I am particularly afraid of trusting strangers and afraid of getting seriously physically hurt by someone (especially travelling as an attractive single 30 year old female). Any advice on this would be much appreciated as I’m tired of being afraid to do things. It’s a real hinderance 🙁
Clodagh says
Hi Becki,
Thank you so much for this post, I could relate to nearly all worries, especially number 5!
I do need some further advice though and would be truly grateful if you could help me? Although I am young (22) I have outgrown the partying stage etc of my life, and look for far more fulfilling things.
I live with my partner but in order for us to save to go travelling (we both desperately want to), we must move home to live with our parents. His parents are over the moon (he is the youngest son so they are happy to have the baby home) however, my parents are not as happy. Although they would never stop me from coming home, my dad has called me a failure and said I have fallen at the first stage of adulthood.
To be honest I think he is just concerned about what his associates will say about his 22 year old daughter moving home and giving up work to “travel the f*@$!*g world” (his words not mine).
They haven’t travelled much, dad moved from Ireland and mum moved from Scotland into London, and dad has never travelled any further than this.
I am at a loos as to what to say to them, can you please advise at all?
Sorry for the long winded comment, but I just feel like my mum and dad will be disappointed in me.
Becki says
All parents are naturally worried, and we have to remember that this is not something they were able to do easily and therefore find normal. I hope my article on how to tell your parents you are going travelling helps: https://www.bordersofadventure.com/how-to-tell-parents-going-travelling/
Ultimately, you have to be happy and do what you want to do. Don’t let opinions hold you back. When it comes to your parents, you have to find a way of reasoning with them… but you are an adult now and the world is yours to explore. You have every right to act on your own choices. Good luck!
Clodagh says
Thank you so much for your response Becki.
Ally says
Great post. The ‘lucky’ one is my biggest annoyance…”oh you’re always away, you’re so lucky!”
No I’m not! I made a decision to do this and have sacrificed other stuff to enable me to do it. Yes, I’m lucky to be in a position in life to be able to do it, but when I return from my upcoming trip I will be aged 30 and have no home, no job, no car and no money, all so I could go traveling over the last few years. I’ll probably seem less lucky to them at that point I guess?
Laughably I was also told my another friend that spending time traveling was “a waste of money, you could have put that money down as a deposit on a house”. Sure he’ll be delighted on his death bed when he looks back fondly at that mortgage he had at the age of 28…
Becki says
It’s always hard, and with some, impossible, to describe how and why you travel. I think talking about money full stop is very difficult and as such, this seems to be the most common factor that determines travel. Of course, some can’t really afford it at all, which is a shame, and may mean saving for a couple of years for just one small bout of travels. When there’s a will there’s a way!
But I agree, maintaining a lifestyle in the Western world is much more difficult and expensive than being on the road – unless you are travelling around Europe (that hurts the wallet just as much)!
Jim says
I think if people really want to travel, they have to make it a priority in their life. With no savings, of course it’s harder, but all you need is a plane ticket, there are many volunteer opportunities – that provide a room a meals, There’s wwoofing, teaching english etc. for which you can get paid.
If I waited for people to come with me, I’d never go anywhere, exactly because of the excuses Becky mentions. The truth is, I could be hit by a car tomorrow, or suddenly get a serious illness that would prevent me from ever travelling again, so I just do it now while I can. I’d even be willing to put myself into debt if I had to just to good spend a month on a beach – 🙂
One thing about being single is that there’s no one to hold you back, When one partner wants to travel and the other is “afraid” – well, maybe it’s just time to do your trip around the world and say bye bye to the relationship. I met a guy from France in India a while back and he just decided to live his dream – dumped his GF, quit his job and that was it.
Jemima says
Hiya Becki, I’ve just been introduced to your work – I think it’s brilliant!
Just out of interest, how much did you (and readers can help with this too) try & save each month? I’m hoping to go away for over a year & so not sure how much I need to cut down on Starbucks & red wine!
Becki says
Hi Jemima. I’ve been trying to save £1,000 a month… the same as I need to budget when on the road. It does depend on where you are going and how long for. i.e If you were going to Asia for 6 months you wouldn’t be spending £6,000. Because I am going all over my budget will average out at that so that was my savings target. Hope that helps! 🙂
Charlie Davids says
Travel DOESNT have to be expensive! There are so many options to do it cheap that it kills me when people say they cannot afford it. You cannot travel if you are dead. That is the ONLY excuse I’ll accept! 🙂
Tiffany says
Hi, great post! I agree with pretty much everything you wrote.
I’ve always wanted to take a trip by myself and did it for the first time last month..I went around Europe by myself for a few weeks and really enjoyed it. I think I’d prefer to travel alone from now on :] Totally different experience and totally worth it!
Becki says
There are highs and lows to solo travel, but ultimately I’ve found it’s been mostly beneficial. Europe is a great place to travel solo – I’ve had many female friends travel there as thier first solo experience!
The Open Suitcase says
Bravo! I particularly like your assertion that travel makes you more desirable as an employment candidate. It also makes you more interesting as a person!
Becki says
I couldn’t agree more. It makes you more open, considerate, passionate, patient… the list goes on. I think such skills would prove valuable in many workplaces where certain business practices don’t always bring out the best in people…
Aleah says
Very nice post, esp because you provide solutions. Yes, you need money to travel, but there ARE a lot of ways to build your travel fund. And going by yourself is not a problem, too, if you really want to travel! As with any other human undertaking, we find excuses for things we don’t really want to do, because otherwise, we WILL find ways to go around those difficulties 🙂
Becki says
Agree – making excuses is a human instinct. It’s just realising the power to overcome them and the opportunities that come as a result 🙂
Jess says
Great post Becki! I particularly relate to the ‘can’t afford it’ part. I’m living in London, renting and working in an admin job, and I am still managing to save for a 3 month trip through Europe and Asia! Don’t get me wrong – it’s tough. I can’t even remember the last time I bought myself an item of clothing or splurged on a fancy dinner. But I know it’ll be worth it!
Chloe says
What a great post! As someone who has traveled solo in my 20s on a length of dental floss (shoestrings were too rich for my blood) and now stays in hotels with my spouse in my 60s I was thrilled with your 5 excuses. My favorite was how it gets easier to approach people the more you do it. This is some important to do and to be encouraged to do. From my perspective, the most relevant excuse not to travel is as we get older there come those pesky minor health problems. The solution: travel differently! Hotels, not hostels. Hailing a cab, not thumbing it. Generally speaking, we have more money now. So we can afford bathrooms. Love that 95 year old, BTW. Thanks Becki for your terrific site which I found by accident through another.
Becki says
Thanks Chloe. I too hope to continue travelling way into my later years. Like you say, you just have to adapt your style to suit your lifestyle and what makes you more comfortable. It’s great to see your enthusiasm!
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Vicky says
Great article Becki. Love the solutions and think you’ve pretty much covered all the dirty, horrible excuses out there :). My current one is that I can’t afford it – I’m saving though. 2013 oo yeah! x
Edna says
Being in a relationship is definitely no excuse not to travel! If the person is right, they’ll understand your dreams and passions. When I moved to Paris my English boyfriend stayed behind in Singapore — and now we’re engaged! And I’m still traveling, and our relationships is still stronger than ever. It IS possible to do!
Ian says
Interesting article. I’d really encourage people to go travelling. However, I’d strongly encourage people to arrange a job for when you come back. It might limit your freedom of when you come back – more so than the expiry of the annual plane ticket, however it will take a very long time to get back into your career otherwise. It is a hinderence to take time away from work in a fast changing industry such as anything related to computer software. You may have other examples.
I went away, due to redundancy, and enjoy the 11 months or so a lot. Met some great people. Had many lonely times too. It does take a lot of energy to meet new people. Don’t underestimate that.
I originally thought I’d go again with a friendly/sociable mate, as I genuinely feel this would reduce the energy needed.
Now I’m in my 30s everyone is settled down, and it’s not going to happen. No mates are going to leave at the same time.
So, perhaps there should be an organisation whereby you can make friends with sociable people before you go travelling? Hmm, now there’s an idea… is there one?
Becki says
Having a job to come back to is ideal, I agree, although sadly not that easy to arrange.
However, I think “it will take a very long time to get back into your career otherwise. It is a hinderence to take time away from work” is not strictly true for everyone. As I mentioned, I had friends who found work after long term travels within weeks as they had great experience and had gained a lot from travels, which I think is also an invaluable offering.
Yes, it can be dependent on industry, but also experience. I would say to people who are new to a career or who don’t have much experience, to build that up as the ideal option before they leave as this gives them a solid foundation to build on when returning.
I’ve travelled completely solo before, so have realised the lonely times. And, yes, it sucks. Big time. I had a moment like that in Vegas of all places. It’s about accepting that will happen (guaranteed), alongside the realisation of sometimes being overwhelmed by people, and also the moments of actively seeking your own time. There is never a right answer… the beauty is not knowing I guess!
As for the ‘organisation’ – social media networks, most notably Facebook and Twitter, have made the world smaller. The travel community that exists on there is immense and I have so much stuff lined up just from meeting good nomadic folk on there. Good times! 🙂
Forrest says
Nice post Becki. However, I have been seeing the world for 47 years now (really, started living as an expat brat at ten) and now I just wish more people would stay home. I am sort of kidding, traveling is a wonderful thing for the world, but it is all so crowded now. Just for an extreme example, the first time I went to Machu Pichu I had it to myself. These days 300,000 people a year tread there. Tkat that further. In the summer months, 200 people A DAY summit Everest.
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Becki says
I agree! Whilst this post was more about people that say they can’t when they actually can (rather than saying ‘everyone’ should travel), I totally see your point. I think what needs to be noted here is not stopping people from travelling, but weeding out the ‘travellers’ who have no intention of cultural interaction or who have no cultural understanding or a want to adhere to it.
For example, the ones who provide a bad example and who ruin areas (although on the other hand we should be grateful for areas such as Vang Vieng, Kuta etc that essentially ‘house’ them away from the more serene spots) and see long-term travel as a means of partying and drinking themselves around the world.
As for trekking, I can see how that is over-run, although I keep hearing that they are soon to limit severly the numbers to Machu Pichu. But beautiful things in the world do need to be shared, but with a balance of control and preservation.
Maddie says
Brilliant post Becki, completely agree with all your points. We are a couple in our early 30s with a mortgage and responsibilities but you just make sacrifices in other areas if travel is your focus.
I’m so glad I waited until travel has become something more than just a drinking tour of Asia as it would have been when I was younger. I always say to the many people who tell us we’re lucky that we’re lucky to have been born in the west where long term travel is a real possibility and easy logistically. Aside from that, we’ve made our own luck through hard work and saving for a long time.
Becki says
I agree… even if you have a mortgage you can still travel. I know a few couples that just saved for longer to cover 3 or so months worth of mortgage while they were away. They were the people who wanted the security of a property when they returned, so good on them for making it happen! Is this what you do? Save and leave for a long stint?
And yes, we are VERY lucky in the Western world, especially when you look at certain countries that are releuctant to let their own people leave. It breaks my heart when my Cambodian friends say “we are not allowed”. That’s the one thing I hope for everyone. Restriction of travel is cruel!
Neil (@packsandbunks) says
Very good piece Becki! Heard all of those before and although I appreciate each has some weight, like you say if an individual really want to travel they will make the necessary changes/sacrifices.
I’m in a long term relationship and travel. Neither of us earn a lot but we get by and still see the world. We’ve both taken gap years and found jobs afterwards. Neither of us are in our early 20’s anymore *sigh. Thats 4 out of 5 covered, not bad.
Agree that none of the above should stop you if travelling is what you really want to do!
Becki says
I do think there is a genuine difficulty for some, especially if the wages are tight or there are particular family situations to get around. It just tires me when people have £500 handbags on their arm and say “would love to do it” or who think they have to conform to what everyone else is doing only to have to live to regret it.
I guess willpower is really the only determining factor here, and patience. By the time I leave I would have been saving for nearly 18 months…a pretty long and drawm out countdown if there ever was one! Haha
Tammy says
Great article. I completely agree with you – I am glad I didn’t do a gap year in my late teens. Your interests are so different when you are younger (by that I mean partying), so I think you really run the risk of not seeing a country, its people and culture properly. Plus when you are a bit older you know that you have worked and saved hard for the trip and that it wasn’t sponsored by daddy. You must be very excited. Not long now.
Becki says
I know! When I initially started looking for a travel buddy it was just a pot of GAP’ers raving about buckets and getting smashed…and my interests are so different. I love a good drink, a lively bar and a party but that doesn’t always necessarilly dictate my travel route or destinations. Sadly, it’s these attitudes that have ruined certain areas. I’m glad I’m doing it now and from the stuff you are doing you have had so much more cultural insight on your travels than you would have years ago 🙂 Hopefully catch up with you along the way soon!
Rashaad says
I don’t know if I’d consider this an excuse, but I’m underemployed (If not unemployed). I’m really looking to travel as for me, it’s inexcusable that I haven’t been out of the country since I returned from Japan two years ago. But I am somewhat hopeful I’ll get a good job soon, so maybe I’ll travel somewhere next year.
Becki says
Understandably being unemployed makes it slightly impossible to save etc! These excuses were more in the context of people that have the means to travel if they really wanted to. Hope you find something soon so that you can start making some exciting travel plans! 🙂
henni says
Great entry – Thanks for this! I don’t know how many times I’ve had this conversation.
Waking up with the utmost sense of freedom, deciding where I feel like going every day, cost me a fraction per day of what doing nothing other than 10-12 hour work days cost in my pre-(and post-) travel life. I’ve met long term travelers of all ages, all economical backgrounds, all constellations, single, couples, friends, with kids and toddlers, healthy and ill, you name it.
If you want it bad enough, you will find a way to make it happen!
Becki says
Exactly, determination and ambition are the hardest things to find and when you do… stuff happens 🙂