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YouVolunteer / infohub / Top10 / Travel Truths 17 December 2007

Top 10...Travel Truths

You may have heard the stories and adventures of those who have traveled, read the newspapers articles and seen the documentaries, but here are the Top Ten Travel Truths about what really happens abroad.

1. (Not) The End of Civilisation
Almost anywhere you go now (unless you are really off the beaten path, in the Amazon Jungle or somewhere without even people) will have telephone (and mobile) access, and you'll be hard pressed be more than an hour or two's bus ride from an internet connection
2. Never-ending bus journeys
Bus JourneysThose from the UK will think that travelling for a couple of hours is a long trip, and those from any Western country will expect buses to arrive roughly on time. Be prepared to take journeys that resemble roller-coasters without the safety belts and take longer than a flight halfway around the world.
3. Everyone will want to hear about your trip
Friends and family still like to read about what you are doing whilst you are still out there, and even appreciate the group email or blog, but after the initial excitement of having you home again, and having seen the photo's they'll want to talk about things they've shared with you and current gossip.
4. Tourist Price
Some people (and you will meet them) will brag about how they bartered an incredible price at some street stall, but the reality is that we all pay the tourist price. The locals will nearly always pay less. As long as you feel you are getting a good price then why should it matter?
5. The Un-Incredible Tan
Catching the sunYou will be tanned but not that tanned. People expected you to be sun-bathing all day everyday, but it's hard to get a tan fully clothed carrying a pack-back or on a bus! Try finding a beach at the end of your trip to top up on the tan before the plane home.
6. You'll blow the budget
Whatever your budget is you'll spend it. If you are careful you will keep to what you had planned to spend, and then that must do trip, perfect souvenir or temptation for a decent meal will blow the budget. Even likelier, you'll be having so much fun that "budget" is what you think about when the ATM stops dispensing.
7. You won't be changed forever
You'll experience a lot and grow as a person, but those promises that you make to yourself that you'll make fruit smoothies everyday or be a super-chilled person when you get home probably won't happen. After a few weeks you'll be a more rounded version of the person your friends know and love.
8. Travel Companions
RaftingThe people that you will meet along the way will be what makes your trip special. travelling is as much about who you share it with as it is about what you see, and you will be unlikely to find as many like-minded people looking for the experience of a lifetime in one trip ever again.
9. You'll be living in dives?
Ok, so most hostels won't be anywhere near 5* luxury but you are unlikely to be living in flea ridden rat invested hell holes. In fact, in developing countries your are likely to get a better deal for you money than in Australia, America or Europe.
10. Once in a lifetime
The days spent in a mind-numbing office job getting together the money for the trip will be more than worth it when you are sitting on some un-spoilt tropical beach or wandering around the ruins of some ancient civilisation. Nothing you do before or since will match a backpacking adventure.

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