How to get the non-traveler to travel.
“What if the plane crashes?!”
“I don’t speak the language, I wouldn’t be able to understand anyone.”
“There are plenty of nice places to visit around here, why would I go abroad?”
“What would we do with the dogs?!”
😱😱😱😱😱
And so on….and so forth….
Personally, I can’t relate to any of the aforementioned statements…but it wasn’t until I started working in the travel industry that I realized just how many people do.
There have been many times someone comes in and sits with us, starts to plan the most amazing, once-in-a-lifetime trip, and ends up saying…
“Oh and by the way, I’m taking this trip alone, my s/o hates traveling.”
“I just travel with my friend(s), my family doesn’t like going out of the country.”
“I’ll propose this trip to my s/o, but no promises they’re coming. They’re terrified of planes.”
While all of those reasons are valid, I’m here to offer some encouragement and insight that maaaaaay help change their minds – so you can finally take that anniversary trip to Italy you’ve been dreaming of for thirty years.
Oddly specific, I know.
Anyways…
Let’s tackle first the biggest non-traveler excuse I hear.
“I’m scared of plane travel.”
Okay, so before I started writing this blog post, I didn’t realize this fear actually had a name. Its called, “Aviophobia” or “Fear of Flying”.
But hey, there’s no shame in it! It’s more common than you think. More than 25 million people in the US suffer from fear of flying, and about 30% of people worldwide.
I mean think about it. You’re in a huge metal tube thousands of feet in the air, with a bunch of strangers, for hours and hours. I get it.
Realistically though, is anything truly likely to happen to you?
Here are some statistics that may help you out 👇🏼
· You are 19 times safer in a plane than in a car.
· You have a 1 in 7.9 million chance of actually dying in a plane crash.
· 98.6% of crashes do not result in a fatality.
· Of 140 plane accidents between 2012-2016, only two resulted in fatalities.
· You’re 95 times more likely to die from unintentional poisoning than a plane crash.
Here’s one last little bit of info to help quell your anxiety, coming from an MIT Sloan School statistician, “If you took one flight a day, you would on average need to fly every day for 55,000 years before being involved in a fatal crash.”
So, in conclusion, the odds of you actually being involved in a plane crash are extremely unlikely, to put it lightly.
And even if your plane were to suffer an accident, the odds of it resulting in a fatality are slim to none.
“I don’t speak the language, I wouldn’t be able to understand anyone.”
Now again, this is a perfectly valid concern. I have personally experienced the frustration that comes with traveling abroad, trying to get your point across to a local, and it falling flat.
It’s frustrating yes, but does it happen often? No.
Is it worth it? Yes.
From personal experience, its so worth it! I spent a whole month in South Korea, wasn’t fluent in the language whatsoever, and the majority could not speak English fluently. But, I never got lost, I was always able to get my point across, and I had the BEST time!
Thankfully, we live in the age of technology. If you have a smart phone, you can use programs like google translate to help you translate whatever you need while abroad.
If this is really a huge concern for you, don’t worry. There are actual devices you can buy specifically for translation, so it wouldn’t even feel like there was a language barrier. Here’s our top pick 👇🏼
So, this may have been a problem 50 years ago, but in our day and age? Definitely not.
“There are plenty of nice places to visit around here, why would I go abroad?”
I agree, there are loads of gorgeous places to visit and cool things to see and do within the U.S. You’ve got world famous national parks and beaches on the west coast, historical sites and culturally significant stops in the South, and one of the most famous cities in the world to the East.
BUT, can you zipline through the Amazon rainforest in the US? Or take a cable car up the side of the Swiss alps at sunset? Or go snorkeling with thousands of species of tropical fish in the Great Barrier Reef?
Not in the U.S. you can’t!
There are so many beautiful, once-in-a-lifetime experiences you can only find abroad.
On top of that, traveling abroad offers much more than just unique experiences. You can…
Meet new people that become lifelong friends, even if you don’t live in the same country! 👯
If not already in a relationship, meet your future partner (I would know, I’m a product of that 😆)
Open your eyes to new ideas, possibilities, and inspiration. Starbucks, a billion dollar business, started because Howard Schultz was inspired by the café culture in Italy! ☕
Encounter work opportunities and job offers that you could have never have gotten at home. 💼
Experience an intriguing culture completely different from your own 🔍
Appreciate diversity more, and become a more accepting and open-minded person 💃🏼🏂🏼🎎🧧
Increase your general knowledge and understanding 🤓
Find unique and beautiful souvenirs, such as art pieces, clothing, cosmetics, instruments, etc. Items that you’ll treasure for a lifetime. 🪘🪃
It improves your mental health! According to a 2013 study with people aged 25 to 70+, 80% of respondents said travel improves their general mood and outlook on life with 75% of respondents also saying travel helps them reduce stress 😊
Discover your new favorite food! If I hadn’t gone to Korea, I would have never discovered just how much I love soft tofu stew. (If you haven’t tried it, you really should) 🍲
Increased connection with family members 💗
…and those are just a few ways traveling can benefit you! 😱
Lastly…
What would we do with the dogs?!
I understand, and love, just how much pets can become a part of the family. Oftentimes we care for them just like we would our kids! Since they’re so important, I understand the concern and hesitation around leaving them behind to go on vacation. Especially if it’s a trip abroad, you’re much farther away, and that can be nerve wracking.
But, there’s really no need to worry. Here are some safe and fun options for your furry friend:
👉🏼 Send them on vacation too! Check them into a doggy daycare, or even resort. Simply search “doggy daycares and resorts near me” and look at the options listed! Make sure to check out the reviews and photos, not every doggy daycare is made the same.
👉🏼 Hire a pet sitter. Years ago, your dear author would do this for family and friends. Stay at the house, make sure the pets are happy and healthy and fed, it was a piece of cake! Even if you don’t know anyone personally who would do this for you, you can always check out websites like care.com and rover to find a reputable pet sitter.
👉🏼 Ask family or friends to let them have a sleepover. Sometimes, family or friends (especially those who already have dogs themselves) are willing to let your furry friend crash at their place! My recommendation: Always do a one or two day trial run before the actual trip to make sure your pet is comfortable, and is a good fit in the home. AKA, gets along with the family and other pets.
👉🏼 Take them with you! Now this is a bit of a complicated process, but its absolutely possible. Your travel advisor can arrange plane transport for your dog, find animal friendly stays, and even arrange care for them abroad. Want more info? Send us a message! 📨
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I hope this article helps you convince your family or friends who aren’t so keen on travel to take a leap of faith, give it a go, and watch the amazingness unfold before them.
I leave you, dear reader, with this:
“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” – Augustine