If you’ve spent any time swiping on dating apps, you’ve probably noticed a theme: everyone loves traveling (along with brunch and long walks on the beach). And if traveling isn’t already your Tinder match’s favorite pastime, it’s probably on their bucket list.
Why is this? Well, traveling to a new destination is one thing that actually lives up to the hype (unlike many dating apps). By planning a trip, you can set yourself up for many surprising benefits.
Best of all, traveling doesn’t need to break the bank. There’s an abundance of cheap flights, affordable accommodations, and cute, cost-effective luggage options out there to make your next adventure possible. Before you Google “travel packing tips,” learn why a new experience in a different place could be just what you need.
Why Traveling Is Important
If you're wondering why you should travel, check out these 10 benefits of traveling:
1. Traveling Offers You a Healthy Escape
For many people, the purpose of travel is to enjoy some much-needed relaxation. Sometimes, you just need a break from everything going on in your life, whether that’s:
- Work stress
- A bad breakup
- Gloomy weather
- Boredom
Regardless of why you’re craving an escape, travel is the ticket. It’s amazing how small your problems look when you're 40,000 feet up in the sky, gazing down at them from a tiny plane window. Hi problems… Bye problems.
On your vacation, you can indulge in a much-deserved reprieve. Maybe you spend your off-time soaking up the sun on a tropical beach somewhere, the sound of waves lapping, and a piña colada in hand (let's be honest, piña coladas could be the sole reason why traveling is important). Or maybe perusing Parisian art museums all afternoon is more your style. No matter how you choose to relax and unwind, taking a break from your responsibilities is healthy! It allows you to return home with a renewed sense of energy.
2. Traveling Helps You Grow as a Person
Ever hear the saying, “there’s no growth in your comfort zone”? Well, it’s true. If you’re currently stuck in a rut, traveling can help you shake free from stagnation and jumpstart your personal growth journey. Once you set foot in a new city or country, you’ll be given plenty of opportunities to challenge yourself by:
- Navigating unfamiliar situations
- Communicating in a new language
- Meeting new people from diverse cultures
- Tasting new, daring cuisines (escargot, anyone?)
- Signing up for thrilling activities, like skydiving, ziplining, or horseback riding
By venturing out of your comfort zone, you'll gain a fresh perspective and new ideas on your preferences, goals, and values. You'll be able to see beyond the limitations of your day-to-day life and uncover what truly matters to you.
Have a life-changing revelation with a change of scenery.
3. Traveling Offers You Immersive, Real-World Learning Experiences
Traveling can also make you smarter. If you had a trip to Peru on the books, you might feel inspired to brush up on your Spanish or read up on the history of Machu Picchu. Once you arrive, all of those lessons will become much more memorable and salient.
In other words, traveling transforms the world into your classroom. There’s a reason why so many colleges promote study abroad programs. Even if you embark on your vacation for relaxation’s sake, you can still pick up culinary tips, spiritual practices, and problem-solving skills along the way.
Traveling also helps you dispel any preconceptions you have about other countries and cultures. If your only exposure to a foreign country is what you hear on the news, you could have an overly-negative perception of it. By booking a trip and checking it out for yourself, you’ll see first-hand what it has to offer, allowing you to develop a more accurate (and positive) perspective on the world.
4. Traveling Enhances Your Understanding of Other Cultures
Understanding different cultures is a reason to travel all on its own. It’s fascinating how diverse different cultures can be, from their pace of life to their long-held traditions.
By immersing yourself in a new culture, you’ll reevaluate your assumptions about how life must be lived. Maybe you notice that you savor the slow pace of “island time” in Hawaii. Or maybe you’re invigorated by the lively nightlife of Buenos Aires.
By experiencing a different culture and other values, you’ll learn why traveling is important by discovering there are many ways to live.
5. Traveling Deepens Your Connection to Humanity at Large
While many cultures showcase rich diversity, being in a new place, and discovering new things also reveals to you that people aren’t that different from one another. We all share a common humanity.
No matter where you travel, people:
- Work hard for their families
- Aspire to give their children a better life
- Have similar hopes, fears, and dreams
- Enjoy celebrations, music, and great food
This unified sense of humanity will help you cultivate more empathy for those who are different than you, whether they live at home or abroad.
6. Traveling Allows You to Try New Cuisines
If you’re a foodie, traveling can take your taste buds’ on the experience of their lifetime. There’s nothing like visiting a new country to expand your culinary horizons.
Imagine sitting down to a fresh plate of homemade Italian pasta from a family-owned “trattoria.” They’ve been perfecting their craft for hundreds of years. One bite in, you'll discover the purpose of travel and be lost in spaghetti heaven. Or maybe you try out some authentic Japanese sushi or Mexican food South of the border—after experiences like these, you’ll have a whole new appreciation for their cultures of origin.
As you eat your way through your destination, you may even pick up a few tips and tricks to enhance your kitchen at home! There’s no better way to impress a dinner date than with some “authentic” cuisine inspired by your travels.
7. Traveling Connects You with New People
Traveling also gives you the opportunity to meet some new friends! As a traveler, you have a perfect excuse to start up a conversation with locals. All you have to do is ask them about the best things to do in their city.
If you meet some especially friendly locals, they may even offer to show you around. You could end up exploring the hidden treasures and “locals-only” hot spots of your travel destination. Even if you’re on the shyer side, traveling has a way of forcing people out of their shells (in the best of ways, of course).
By developing friendships with people abroad, you’ll return home with an international social network—and possibly even an invitation to visit again soon!
8. Traveling Lets You Build Meaningful Memories with Loved Ones
As we know you're discovering, there are many reasons to travel and while solo travel is all the rave these days (especially for young people), family travel or going with friends is equally valuable. It gives you and your loved ones a chance to make memories that you'll look back on for years to come.
From long travel days spent hauling your luggage across the airport to unforgettable afternoons traversing a new country, group trips promote a special type of bond.
Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway with your new spouse or a big family bash abroad, or wondering what the best bachelorette party destinations are, you can rest assured that you’ll leave your vacation closer with your travel-mates than you were when you arrived.
9. Traveling Can Make You More Attractive
Yes, it’s true, posting a photo from your trip to Bali increases your dating app matches by 300%. It’s science.
All jokes aside, studies show that traveling makes you more dateable and desirable. Here’s why:
- You’ll have tons of captivating stories to tell
- You’ll exude a newfound sense of confidence
- You’ll be more open-minded due to your exposure to other cultures
- You’ll possess a unique perspective on the world
As a well-traveled person, you inherently become more interesting. Others will see your travels as an indication that you’re adventurous, open-minded, and confident. By embodying this magical travel charisma, you’ll attract like-minded love interests and show them that you’re up for some adventure.
10. Traveling Amplifies Your Appreciation for Home
Distance makes the heart grow fonder. This sentiment certainly applies to your hometown after a long stint abroad. Even if you cherish every moment in a foreign country and experience the world’s incredible cultural diversity and cultural traditions, there's something deliciously comforting about returning home to everyday life.
Your need for novelty will be satisfied. After experiencing daily life in a different way, you’ll welcome some routine and structure. You’ll also have a newfound appreciation for everything you took for granted in the past. Even being around other native English speakers can feel like a refreshing return to normalcy!
With this elevated sense of gratitude for your home country, you can take on your day-to-day life with a new and improved attitude, and you'll be in great company- 86% of people claim that traveling and shaking up their daily routine improves their mood and perspective on life.
If you want in on this attitude upgrade, it’s just one plane ticket away.
Travel in Style
As you can see, there are so many reasons to travel. If you want to jet-set in style, make sure you have the right luggage for your next adventure.
At BÈIS, we carry a beautiful, top-of-the-line collection of luggage. Whether you need a new toiletry bag, a weekend carryall, or a hardshell suitcase, we’ve got you covered. Best of all, our luggage features weight indicators and TSA-approved locks for ultimate travel convenience.
Sources:
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Forbes. Science Says Travel Makes You Smarter. URL
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Contiki. How does travel change you? 3000 millennials will tell you. URL
- TransAmerican Center For Retirement Studies. Journey to Healthy Aging: Planning for Travel in Retirement. URL