4 Reasons to Travel Right Now

It’s everywhere - the infectious urge to travel. Whether you see pictures of your coworker’s trip to the beach or Expedia.com ads follow you around in your internet travel, the travel bug is viral. Instagram promotes amazing destinations by sneakily allowing them to show up on your feed as you scroll while you’re waiting for the bus after work. Airfare is often on sale, and travel hacks to use credit card points have never been more popular on Reddit or within Facebook groups about budgeting.

Traveling internationally has never been easier, even if your desired destinations are in the domestic or continental United States. There are so many reasons to listen to the little voice that says, “why not?” and order that plane ticket.

There’s no reason to wait for a later date or for when the kids will appreciate it, or some other excuse. Here are nine reasons you should be traveling right now.

Travel is a great stress reliever.

Sometimes, you just need a change of scenery. With the influx of connectivity, it’s easier than ever to be plugged in all the time which is to say that it’s easier than ever to lose your boundaries with work. Take it home with you, finish later on, you know … those sorts of things. The stress of work and daily life distract us from things that we find value in, such as other cultures and exploring new places.

Taking a break from your daily routine and the hustle and bustle of your life will help you feel less stressed out when you’re back at your desk. Apparently, over 80% of Americans feel less stressed after just a day or two away.

If that’s not a reason to get up and go, what is?

It’s going to boost your confidence.

Have you ever wondered how you’re going to get something done or get through something difficult? When you’re traveling, there’s always the possibility something could go wrong. Maybe your luggage will get lost, maybe you forgot a document you need to travel, or maybe being around new people is really stressful to you.

Whatever the reason for the difficulty, traveling forces you to surrender to the uncontrollable. Traveling boosts your confidence because you become more mentally patient, strong, and ready to handle whatever life throws your way.

There is literally a destination for anyone.

Love to bike? There are cafes all over Latvia devoted to coffee for bikers. If something should so happen to your bike as you’re exploring, this cafe will fix it for you while you wait and sip on something delicious.

Love to hike? Try one of the Central or South American countries with beautiful hikes and captivating waterfalls to get your fix of the outdoors. Trekking around South or Central America is a great way to explore. For one thing, the second largest mountain range in the world is home in South America. There has to be a hike or two for you there while you drink up the culture.

Speaking of drinking, there are destinations for beer, wine, liquor, or cocktail lovers. Frankly there is a diverse drinking scene in most countries, but those that are known for their spirits make for a really fun vacation. Singapore, for instance, hosts a bunch of different festivals throughout the year. It’s a hot spot in terms of culture, history, and its diversity. Though the nation has fantastic cocktails, it has a notoriously high taxation on alcohol which is to say it’s one of the most expensive places to drink in the world.

You’re never going to regret the memories.

If you’re traveling, are you really going to regret that last drink? The funky food you tried from a street vendor in an Asian country you don’t remember the name of? Even psychologists agree - traveling is good for your health because it encourages you to do things that are aligned with your personal preferences. With those preferences in mind, you can keep the light of your experience burning by recreating the experiences you had while traveling at home.

There are no excuses for flights unbooked, vacation days left untaken. Traveling is easier than ever, so these are just a few reasons for you to get packing.