When I have a flight, I always opt for a window seat because I love taking pictures during the trip (I have a plethora of cloud photos). On one of my recent flights I had an epiphany. I was looking out the window during landing and it suddenly hit me how small everything and everyone really is.
I mean it hit me how T I N Y our entire world looks from a plane. I zoomed in (mentally) and noticed a highway with little moving specks on it. Then I started thinking about how each one of those tiny moving specks is a car with people (smaller specks) in it. Each one of those people (probably) has goals, hopes, dreams, ideas, beliefs and a life. But at that moment, all the specks were headed in the same direction. They were all part of the same system. They all needed to work together to reach their respective destinations. Sure, their destinations were different but they still depended on each other, whether they thought about it or not to get there.
This small humbling experience made me think about how much we all need each other and how interconnected our world is. One small action you take can have huge consequences for this tiny place we call home. Our technologically advanced world might make us feel big, but as far as the universe is concerned we’re nothing but tiny specks.
“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.”
I get the question “how do you travel so much?” so often that I decided to share my secrets with the world. You’re welcome fellow humans. If you’re rolling your eyes, you should know that I’m a Leo so I can’t really help how humble I am.
Let’s start with the most important secret:
1) Budgeting
Not trip budgeting, life budgeting. If you don’t have enough money to travel, one of the reasons could be where you generally spend your money.
Do you really need the latest gadgets as soon as they come out? Do you HAVE to have those fancy overpriced shoes? When you decide to spend, do it on experiences not things – experiences last longer.
2) Travel like a local
Wherever you’re going, seek the less touristy areas and spend most of your time there. Not only will you save money, you’ll also get a more genuine experience of the place you’re visiting.
What’s traveling if you don’t get lost in the weird part of town?
3) Pack light
Take only what you need, your chances of getting stranded for a year while on vacation are pretty low. And if that does happen, you can always find a job there and buy new things.
On most of my trips I only take a backpack packed with the essentials.
4) Find a trip package
Find out if there are packages on sites like Expedia that combine flights, hotels and car rentals. Sometimes these can save you a lot of time and money, but you really have to dig to find them.
5) Take your time doing research
Is it better to get a hotel or Airbnb? Are there any minimally sketchy hostels? Should I take the bus or the train? Should I use Uber or risk getting kidnapped by a cab driver?
Depending on where you’re going, these are things you need to consider. Every location is different, don’t assume that the whole world behaves the same way your hometown does.
6) Find the free activities
Nature. Nothing beats the beauty of nature. (Most of the time) nature is free since it’s a bit hard for most countries to charge you for seeing it. And if they do happen to charge, the prices are usually very low and usually worth it.
If you live in the US, a good idea for a cheap fun trip with lots of scenery is a National Park. There are 58 National Parks spread out across the US, find one and go!
7) Travel with a group
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
Taking a trip with a group of friends can really help you cut costs while having an enormous amount of fun. Yes it can be stressful to please everyone in the group, but that’s part of the fun. It also gives you lots of stories you can tell when you get back!
8) Allow yourself to spend
Money comes back but your time won’t. Pushing off a trip you can take right now to a later time is probably worse than procrastinating in school.
The older you get, the busier you get and the harder it gets to travel. Your taste will also get more expensive as you get older so the same trip could cost you double or triple if you delay it.
Take as many trips as you can right now, future you will thank you for it. If this motivates you to take a trip, share your story with me!
Thinking of going to Iceland? Do it I absolutely recommend it. I mean, I recommend any trip but especially this place. Traveling to Iceland was something that I’ve always wanted to do and I finally decided to do it this year.
Now I can safely say that it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. And if you haven’t figured it out by the name already, I took the trip all alone and still had a fantastic time.
But “Wesam…” you say, “how can I have fun in Iceland all alone? What even is there to do? Will I get bored? Isn’t it expensive? What do Icelandic people eat?” Say no more. Let me answer all your questions.
What is there to do in Iceland?
If you’re considering Iceland, chances are you’re at least interested in nature or outdoor activities or maybe you’re just a huge Game of Thrones fan. Regardless of the reason, there is so much to see and do on this tiny island.
The island is full of natural wonders like Reynisfjara Beach, the blue lagoon, huge glaciers and many waterfalls with long Icelandic names that I can’t even try to pronounce. Combine these views with the stunning Aurora Borealis and you will feel like you are on another planet.
Iceland is heaven for outdoors enthusiasts and adventurers. This tiny island is packed with so many places for hiking, climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering, whale watching and diving just to name a few.
Click here for an article on the best places to see.
How can I have fun in Iceland alone?
If it’s your first time in Iceland, you’ll be better off doing it alone. It might seem weird at first but there are four main reasons for this recommendation.
The people in Iceland are extremely friendly, easy to talk to and fluent in English.
There are many tourists so you’ll meet people from all over the world. On my trip I met people from China, France, Germany, all over the U.S., Brazil, England and Russia just to name a few.
Going alone will help you explore things at your own pace without having to worry about what others want or don’t want to do.
Finally, once you get to explore the greatness of Iceland alone, you’re going to want to come back. So not bringing your friends or loved one(s) with you the first time will give you an excuse to return to this wonderful place!
If you’re still not convinced or aren’t a very social person, there are ways to facilitate the people meeting process. Booking group tours, staying in hostels or going out to events that interest you are a few very easy ways to make some Icelandic friends.
Click here for a blog post that helped me a lot with planning my Iceland trip.
Isn’t it expensive?
The short answer is – yes it is, it’s very expensive. Iceland is a small island without many natural resources which means that food, gas and many other commodities have to be imported. This makes the prices a lot higher. Not to worry though, there are always workarounds.
The most important step to not break the bank on your trip is to set a budget. You should do this for all of your trips but especially for Iceland.
First, figure out how long you’d like to go for. Normally, about a week is good for your first visit. Then, factor in all the meals, tour prices, hotel or hostel costs and other travel expenses. Finally, compare the prices you find with your budget and make your decisions based on that.
Many times it’s easier and cheaper to book group tours rather than renting a car to get around, especially if you’re traveling alone. The hostel option I mentioned earlier is also a great way to save money and hostels in Iceland are generally very safe, clean and popular with younger solo travelers who are looking to make new friends – just like you.
What is Icelandic culture like?
Icelandic people, much like the rest of the Nordic people, are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. Their culture is unique in its own way yet they’re very understanding of the rest of the world. You won’t feel much of a cultural difference if you’re visiting from the US, Canada or other places in Europe, especially since most Icelandic people are fluent in English.
The only thing I would recommend is to do some research on the food. Icelandic cuisine is very unique but very delicious if you know what to get.
Some final tips
If you want to photograph the Aurora Borealis (northern lights), you need a very good camera with the right settings. You also need to visit between September and April as that’s the peak Aurora season.
Activities in Iceland vary greatly depending on the season. Find out what you really want to do or see before making your decision on when to go.
There are no trains in Iceland and gas is super expensive, so keep that in mind when you’re figuring out your transportation around the island.
