Myths about traveling abroad that are holding back your dreams.
There seem to be a lot of reasons holding people back from traveling. Common myths about traveling abroad that make people too scared to travel. But that’s all that they are. Myths. And I’m here to put these myths to bed.
Traveling abroad is always going to be exciting and a bit scary. Even though you may have traveled for over 20 years, unexpected things are always going to happen. But this shouldn’t hold you back. It’s how you respond to these things that matter.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of the product links, we’ll receive a small commission at no cost to you. We only promote products and services we 100% believe in. Thank you so much for supporting us! Read more about it in our disclosure policy.
10 common myths about traveling abroad
Traveling is too expensive
Nope. Traveling is everything but expensive. Of course, it depends on your way of traveling and how expensive you make it out to be.
The only thing that’s gonna make your trip expensive is luxury. That’s why I’m avoiding luxury at all times. It makes my trip so much cheaper, adventurous, and memorable.
Here are some tips for traveling cheap:
- Stay in hostels (more on this later on)
- Avoid traveling in the high season
- Pick a cheap destination. Here are some of the cheapest destinations in Europe.
- Take trains! Especially in Europe. You can find some super cheap deals on Interrail or RailEurope.
Travel is dangerous
Again, nope. Travel is definitely not dangerous. It’s what people always tell you because of some horror stories they heard about traveling. As these horror stories may be real, they aren’t travel-related. Horrible things can happen in your own country as well.
But that’s not a way of encouraging you.
I’m telling you that travel is not dangerous. The world is kinder than you think. Most people are good and most countries are safer than your own. And the only way to find this out is by traveling.
I’ve been on a few trips through Europe now, and for me, there’s nothing more comfortable than being abroad, which is what keeps most travelers going. Travel is not dangerous, don’t let people tell you otherwise.
Make sure to get travel insurance, because even though travel is safe, other unexpected things may happen.
Solo travel is dangerous for women
This is kinda like the one above. But again, travel isn’t dangerous. Not for men, not for women, for nobody. Yes, I know it sounds scary being alone on the road as a woman. But it’s safer than you think.
Here are some successful female solo travelers:
Read about the best trips and tips for female solo travelers.
Hostels are dirty, unsafe and loud
As I said earlier, you should stay in hostels to cut your costs. Hostels are almost always the cheapest options. But you may have some doubts about hostels.
People tend to think that hostels are dirty and unsafe. But nothing could be more wrong!
Hostels are (literally) always getting cleaned, they mostly have friendly staff and lockers! If you’re afraid of your belongings getting stolen, don’t be! There are always lockers in hostels to put all your stuff in. Just remember to bring your own locks.
And for the noise, most hostels have some rules to keep it down after 10 or 11 pm. And they have little curtains for the bed, for privacy and to keep the light out.
I recommend booking hostels on Hostelworld, as they show hostel ratings and offer the best prices. So check it out!
Ps. Even if you’re not that outgoing, hostels will serve as a great option. People will respect that you’re not looking to talk or make friends.
Couch surfing is unsafe
Another form of cheap (free) accommodation is couch surfing. Couch surfing is staying at local people in a spare room or on a couch for free. I admit this does sound a bit sketchy, but trust me…
Couch surfing is not only safe, it may even be life-changing.
You can stay at a local, which means you’ll learn so much more about a country and traditions, and you may end up making friends for life. It’s an authentic and fun way to get to know some locals!
And best of all, it’s free!
But the only way it’s safe is through the Couchsurfing website. On this site, you can review profiles and references. Read about the safety basics of Couchsurfing here.
You should never couch surf someplace you don’t feel safe. Trust your gut feeling.
Golden tip: If you’ve had a great time staying with someone, get them a little thank-you gift for appreciation.
Budget travel is only possible when you’re young
Let’s cut to the chase, right away. Budget travel is always possible. It doesn’t matter if you’re young and single or you have a family. There are always things you can do to cut your costs without it compromising your experiences.
Some great places to learn about budget travel are:
- Nomadic Matt for budget travel all around the globe.
- Budget Traveller for the most in-detail budgeting tips.
- TraveLynn Family for budget travel with kids.
You can’t travel after having kids
Again, there are more possibilities than you think! Traveling with kids can be super great, as they are the best travel companions (yes, really).
Kids get a lot of school holidays, they’re cheaper (in trains or planes), and they simply don’t care about destinations. They care about activities that are fun for them, so you do need to include some fun kid activities.
So after having kids, don’t stop traveling. Take them with you and make memories that both you and your kids will cherish forever.
You’ll be pickpocketed in a foreign city
This is a sentence that’s stated wrong. The right sentence should be: There’s a minuscule chance you’ll be pickpocketed in A city. It doesn’t have to be a foreign city, you might as well be pickpocketed in your own city. I don’t get why these things become travel-related, pickpocketing can happen and actually happens everywhere.
Of course, in some places, it happens more often than in others, but it’s your responsibility to do your research about the cities you’re visiting.
And besides, if you make it hard for pickpocketers, they won’t even look twice. Here are some tips to reduce your chances of being pickpocketed:
- Buy an anti-theft bag.
- Or lock your regular bag(s).
- Keep your pockets empty, put everything in your secured bag(s).
- As I said before, do your research about certain places or cities!
Stick to these tips and you’ll be fine. But overall, most places or cities are safe from pickpocketers.
Safety locks are a must when traveling. Get them now!
English is spoken everywhere
This is a comfortable thing to know, only it’s not true. English is not spoken everywhere and it’s only a second language in a handful of countries.
Yes, nowadays a lot of people learn to speak English but beware that not everyone possesses this language.
But let me tell you that this is not a problem! Do you know how much a smile can achieve? Just keep smiling, talk some hands and feet and people will be devoted to helping you!
I have to become a digital nomad to travel
Now, the last myth is one I came across only in the last few years. As the world is now more accessible than ever, by becoming a digital nomad, people start to feel like that’s the only way to travel.
I mean, I felt some pressure. You used to be able to just work abroad at, like, some local restaurants. But now (after covid) it may feel like a faraway option. The land of digital nomads has grown in the last years and I must admit, everyone can become a digital nomad. It’s easier than it’s ever been before.
But it’s still hard work and I can imagine that you’re not up for it. So the big question is…
Can I still travel without becoming a digital nomad?
Of course you can!
It may be less popular, but you can still travel and work abroad like you used to be able to. You don’t have to become a digital nomad to be able to travel.
You need to believe in yourself
Now that you’re more informed about these truths about travel, there’s one more thing I’d like to tell you.
You need to believe in yourself. Without this belief, you won’t get very far. You need to believe that you can travel safely and see the most awesome things. You need to believe that these myths are nothing more than myths. You need to believe that the world is a good place filled with kind people.
I believe in you.
Final thoughts on common myths about traveling abroad
I hope I’ve informed you enough about these myths and what the actual truths are. If there’s anything you’d like to add to this post, let me know in the comments below!
Related posts
- The 13 Absolute Best Tips on How to Pack for Travel Like a Genius
- The Cheapest Cities in Europe to Visit This Summer (You’ll Love Them)
- 18 Underrated Medieval towns in Europe to Visit This Year!
- The 21 Eco-Friendly Travel Products you Need to Make Your Trip More Sustainable
10 Common Myths about Traveling Abroad (And Why They’re WRONG)
