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Why Travel Today Is Better Than Ever Before.

Posted by on September 1, 2010 .

Have you ever found yourself surrounded by people complaining about how everything was so much better back in the good ol’ days? I can’t count on my fingers how many times this has happened while traveling.

I’m tired of hearing from old travelers about how traveling was so much better back when they were young.

Although I wasn’t there in the 70′s, I have a feeling that they have a slightly selective memory… :p

For some reason people often seem to forget the not so good things and remember everything as if it was a perfect paradise.

To be honest, I don’t believe that everything about traveling is better today, but there are definitely many things today which are a lot better than the good ol’ days – so today lets focus on the good stuff!

It’s Cheaper

Seriously, whenever before has there been flight tickets for 5 dollars? Or a time when you could get a 100 EURO 12hr flight from Malaysia to Europe?

This is an amazing thing, and it means that today it’s not only the rich people who can afford to travel around the world – now nearly everyone can.

Not only are budget airlines offering cheap fares, but the higher valued airlines as well.

There are more companies and the competition is higher, which often results in a price war where the ticket fares go really cheap – get online and there are so many ways to find the cheap deals.

Years ago, backpacking around Europe was mainly done with a EUrail pass, today there are many alternatives, making it easier to find the cheapest and most suitable option for you.

It’s Easy, Faster & More Freedom

In 1994 it took 42 hours for us to get to Bali and 7 stopovers. Today it takes less than half that time, with only one stop over.

Traveling long distances is so much easier today, and the good deals to get there are right around the corner.

One big breakthrough over the last few years is the growth of people who can work wherever they want, who don’t have to go to an office and work the 9/5 job – resulting in the ability to be locational free.

Not long ago this was unthinkable, but today it’s a very common reality.

Also these days it’s SO much easier to be prepared and organized – everything is at the push of a button: book your flight, find the best place to stay, know where you always are etc.

Do you think that takes away the excitement and adventure of travel?

You can still go the ‘old’ way and just turn up at hostels paying for the night, and you can still hitch hike if you want.

What is best about this I think is that it gives us CHOICE – sometimes we all need that break from complicity, stress and uncertainty – then it’s nice to be able to get that so easy when you’re still abroad.

It’s More Accepted

More and more people are accepting the traveling lifestyle.

It really is going in the right direction, but still there are many people are still stuck in the old mindset of how you only allowed one gap year to travel and then you must come home and get a ‘real’ job and a ‘real’ life.

Today we’re much more open to open ended traveling, freedom long term travel, and you can even find more parents are taking their kids out of school to go traveling – which I think is a great idea!

What do YOU think is better about traveling today?

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  • Shawn Brandow

    I totaly agree with you. This is why I am able to start my travels this October, because of the unheard of low prices of travel. Everyone always complains that airline costs are skyrocketing, but their not really planning ahead.
    I had wanted to start my adventure 5 years ago, but my father talked me out of it, saying “Backpacking isn’t like it used to be back in the 70′s. You can’t just sleep on the side of the road like a vagrant.” While the latter has some truth to it, backpacking, hitchhiking and other forms of travel are much more accessible and affordable.
    Thanks for another great article guys.

    • Sofia

      Hey Shawn!

      I think it’s awesome that you’re taking the step and go traveling!!

      My mum says the same thing about traveling being more dangerous these days, but I think that deep down it just comes down to love and care.
      You care for your son/daughter and want them to come back safe and sound (and I also think she’s more afraid of things these days than she used to be – been watching too much news on TV! :P )

      Thanks for stopping by and share your thoughts!

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  • http://www.MyBeautifulAdventures.com/ GlobalButterfly

    I agree 100%!!!!!!

  • http://www.virginia-beachhotels.net/ Virginia Beach Hotels

    This is nice post. Thanks for sharing this post with us.

  • http://www.noplacetobe.com Poi

    Great post! All positives – how can anyone argue with that!

  • Villa Perezoso

    Excellent points: Travel can be both an adventure and a luxury today. I think people want the best of both worlds. They are also more willing to step out of the expected destinations and look into traveling on uncharted territories…this is where Villa Perezoso comes in. A luxury villa located steps away from the beach and the wilderness of Costa Rica. http://www.villaperezoso.com

  • http://twitter.com/NevEndingVoyage Never Ending Voyage

    I agree. Obviously technology makes things a lot easier too now. Having access to our cash through ATMs in most places makes things simpler, and using Skype for free international video calls makes it easier for our families to accept that we have left permanently. And we can work from anywhere there is an internet connection and travel forever!

    • Sofia

      Isn’t that just amazing! So many opportunities and possibilities!
      It’s such a nightmare when you go somewhere, run out of money and realize that there are no ATM’s anywhere within miles..! Luckily as you say, most often they’re there – thank god ;)

  • http://twitter.com/5faves Randall Shirley

    The term “travel” is becoming very skewed. I think many of us who write about it need to remember to break it down into buckets: Vacation, Business, Gap Year-ing, and the one that so many bloggers seem to be keen on: Vagabonding and Relocating, which are essentially forms of emmigration.

    What is true, however, for ALL of these is that when one is away from their native home place, they are essentially traveling…at least for a period. (If you relocate long-term, they are no longer traveling).

    The thing I find disappointing is that most of us no longer truly get away from “back home,” because we blog, tweet, flickr, Facebook, and email our every move to the folks back home. When or if we return, there’s actually nothing new to talk about, no pictures to show, no video nights, because most of the time we’ve already shown it all via the internet and our smart phones.

    Many things about travel have not changed, many have. Better? Worse? It’s all in the eye of the beholder. Nostalgia, however, is the one thing almost all travelers will agree is a great part of travel.

  • http://kanpurhotels.co.in/ kishan

    This is really wonderful post. I like your post because, i would always like to travel. Today days are going to changes. Technology will help us lots make things easier. Many traveling company giving lots of facility, concession, providing good services. That’s also helps us moving easier. Sometimes we got the negative experience but not to worry, forget it and look forwards because so many good and helpful people are waiting for you. Prepaid for traveling first, then go outside. Today world is growing very fast, not to worry. Today so many company are always ready to providing good services to customer. I get the only one life from God so i do not like to waste my time to worrying about life. I always plan to traveling with my family and friend yearly once. Thinks it and do it. Thanks for sharing this wonderful thought with us……..

  • http://kanpurhotels.co.in/ kishan

    This is really nice post. Think
    I would always like to travel. Days are going to changes. Technology will help us lots make things easier. Many traveling company giving lots of providing good services. Sometimes we got the negative experience but not to worry, forget it and look forwards because so many good and helpful people are waiting for you. Prepaid for traveling first, then go outside. Today world is growing very fast, not to worry. Today so many company are always ready to providing good services to customer. I get the only one life from God so i do not like to waste my time to worrying about life. I always plan to traveling with my family and friend yearly once. Thinks it and do it. Thanks for sharing this wonderful thought with us……..

  • http://twitter.com/richardclark109 richard clark

    great post and good points. i met many age ranges in my last 15 month trip abroad, from the young gap year backpackers to the older, been there, never stopped travelling, out there, hippy types. the younger ones were mostly blitzing it around, drinking and partying(and why not) and probably forgetting where and what country! they were in last week, only because they can these days in the forms of the cramped minivan, cheap flights and internet, make it all very easy to ‘travel’. I do enjoy listening to the older tales of ‘real travel’ when hitchhiking was the norm and overland was the only option.
    I personlly think travel has improved because, as above, it does give you the choice. you can either plan your trip to the last detail and fly it or taxi it to your hearts content. or.. if your feeling braver or maybe have done it before just go….where ever you like, how u like, as cheap as you like.
    i find i get a better experience or maybe more rewarding when you travel harder, but that depends on you, if you have the attitude of ‘oh well, doesnt look like the local bus is coming today, i’ll stay here another night and look around some more’ it causes no problems.
    this is from a 34 yr old who cant wait to get away again next feb for another 15 month trip
    http://goo.gl/b/BCgu

  • http://www.artofbackpacking.com Michael

    It’s always a good time to travel ;)

  • http://www.sidetracks.co.nz/en Helen

    It is true there are more choices as traveling has gotten more popular and it is easier to find out information, there is something for everyone out there, all you need to do is type in what you are interested in and the world is your oyster.