There are some things that are untrue, but somehow spread around like wildfire and become “common knowledge.” When it comes to traveling, you can’t believe everything you hear…
Women shouldn’t travel solo.
At our EWR Airport parking company, we’ve heard plenty of times that women shouldn’t travel alone – the reason being because it’s dangerous and women are vulnerable. However, women are completely capable of traveling alone (and should try it!). While there are always dangers to doing things solo, it shouldn’t matter if you do them in your home town or in a new city. As long as you’re smart about your actions, you’ll be fine.
Travel insurance is a waste.
While you may not need travel insurance for a weekend getaway a couple states over, it can come in quite handy if you’ve invested in a more detailed trip. If you’ve booked a two-week trip to France and Spain, you don’t want to miss out on it because a family member fell ill right before takeoff. Talk to an expert about your plans and if they’re worth insuring.
It takes a lot of money to travel.
Many people think that in order to travel, you have to have a trust fund or work a high-paying job, but the truth is, there are lots of ways to travel on a budget. For instance, if you’re willing to take on a new job, there are plenty that let you travel for free. Look into working on a cruise ship or teaching English in a foreign country. In addition, booking flights and hotels when they’re at their lowest can help you save a lot of money and making budget-conscious decisions during your trip can open up your destination options.
It’s dangerous to stay at an Airbnb.
Staying in someone else’s home may sound a little weird, but thousands of people have had successful Airbnb experiences and the idea of the shared lodging option is growing more and more popular every day. Yes, there will always be a few horror stories, but the truth is, these are very rare. When you think about some of the horror stories that have happened in hotels too, Airbnb doesn’t seem so scary.
Jet lag is caused by lack of sleep.
Most people believe that when they travel, their jet lag is because they haven’t gotten enough sleep. In reality, jet lag actually kicks in when your body’s internal clock is disrupted. We tend to wake up when the sun rises and wind down when the sun sets, but when you cross time zones, your body adapts to the changes in these times. In addition, dryness on the flight, a lack of fresh air, and cabin pressure can all contribute to jet lag.
You can’t travel once you have kids.
Just because you’ve had kids doesn’t mean you can’t continue to travel (though it will definitely take a little more planning). Choose destinations that are kid-friendly (no, we don’t mean Disney World) and if you’re a fast traveler, slow things down a little. The key is to enjoy everything you do – even if things don’t go as smoothly as they did when you didn’t have kids.
Traveling abroad is dangerous.
Because a country is foreign doesn’t automatically mean it’s dangerous. There are dangerous areas all over the world (even in the U.S.), so the key to traveling abroad is to choose a place that doesn’t raise your eyebrows or make you question your decision. Once you’re there, simply be on guard for any scams or hoaxes and you’ll be fine.
Travel can’t be done quickly.
While you probably can’t see all of Paris in one day, it doesn’t mean you should give up the dream of going there. No matter what kind of time you have, you can always make the most of it and prioritize what you want to see or do. So the next time you want to take a weekend trip to the Bahamas, go right ahead.
