What’s on your bucket list? If you’re like most people, you have at least one or two ambitious travel destinations on there. However, unless you’re already an experienced traveler, there’s also a good chance you keep putting it off. Travel tends to be one of those things people postpone as a someday idea, and before they know it, the opportunity may have passed them by. Plenty of older people continue to travel extensively, so it’s not as though retirement means you’ll have to stay in one place, but why wait? Let’s take a look at a few barriers to making those bucket list travel dreams come true and how they can be dealt with.
Secure the Funds
Even if you’re going on a budget, travel isn’t cheap. If your dream is to hike to Everest Base Camp, to walk to Machu Picchu or to relax on a Caribbean cruise, you’ll need some cash. This means either saving up the money or borrowing it. You can do either of these by taking out a personal loan from your bank, your credit union or an online lender. If you have debt that is keeping you from saving up for your trip, you may be able to consolidate it with a personal loan from Earnest.com that has a lower interest rate. This can help you pay off the debt faster and spend less money doing so, which you can then put toward your travel savings. If you just can’t wait and want to borrow money for your trip, look for low interest rates, and be sure you can fulfill the repayment terms.
Plan in Advance
There’s a saying about those who have enough money for things lacking time and vice versa, and it may well be that time and not money is your obstacle. If taking time off from your job is the issue, talk to your boss or human resources and see what creative solutions may be available to you. Could you put in some overtime and receive comp time in return to add to your regular vacation time? Is an unpaid leave of absence an option? Do you have a sabbatical coming up? If your time crunch has more to do with family responsibilities, talk to your family about a plan to deal with those responsibilities while you are away, or take your family with you!
Plans in Place are Key
Some may have the money and time but are overwhelmed by the planning aspect. Keep in mind that while you need to lay some basic groundwork, more extensive planning does not necessarily mean a better trip. Write down your must-dos. This might include making flight reservations, getting any necessary vaccinations and making a trip budget. However, allow yourself some flexibility as well. Books and online forums are both great sources of information for specific questions or concerns, but you only have to plan everything down to the last detail if that’s something you particularly enjoy. For example, if you would prefer not to book accommodations and want to play it by ear instead, you only need to make sure that it’s possible to get a place to stay at the last minute.
