Because of that, I’ve come up with 5 travel experiences on my wish list :
1. Be a backpacker.
Backpacking (Photo by http://austinban.com/)
I do understand the freedom from the raucous noise luggage wheels make on cobblestone streets, and the pain of dragging them up stairs. Still as a physical therapist, I can’t help but calculate the weight and strain that the bags put on your spine and hips. Still, I do want to experience why people choose this path and see if it suits me.
For tips on choosing the right backpack, read this article by Nomadic Matt.
2. Stay at a Hostel.
Downtown Hostel in Split, Croatia (Photo from Booking.com)
Although not synonymous with each other, many of the aforementioned backpackers park their bags beside bunk beds in hostels. The hosteling experience is marked by sharing common areas: bedroom, kitchen, living space and bathroom. While it used to only be populated by budget travelers, more people outside of that demographic are trying it out for the social aspect of meeting fellow travelers, which is especially appealing to solo travelers.
There has been a surge in boutique hostels or poshtels with hipper design and amenities (pingpong table, video game consoles, yoga classes) than many chain motels and hotels.
The Living Room of Almaa Sintra Hostel in Porto, Portugal (Photo credit: Almaa Sintra Hostel)
3. Have a meal at a local’s home.
One of my favorite segments in Anthony Bourdain’s Travel Channel show No Reservations is when he gets invited into a local’s home. A mother or grandmother cooks up a storm of the family’s best dishes and it turns out to be one of the best meals of his life.
While not everyone’s mama or abuela turn out to be a culinary genius, sharing a meal in someone’s home is an intimate way of experiencing the country and the family’s culture. Since not everyone may have the chance to be invited to a home-coooked dinner, there are sites that connect travelers with folks who like to cook and entertain guests in their home. Eatwith.com has a network of local chefs offering meals in their homes while VizEat.com connects visitors with a wider range of hosts, from professional chefs to home cooks.
The closest I’ve gotten to this experience was when our tour group from Intrepid Travel dined at a Moroccan home in a suburb of Fes. We were ushered into a room with a fantastically elaborate ceiling handcrafted by the host’s brother and was served a delicious traditional Moroccan meal. It was a lovely experience, and I hope to recreate that on my own as an independent traveler.
Dining at a home in Fes with our tour group
4. House sit.
I heard about house sitting from the travel bloggers that I follow. Several of them have used this strategy to cut down on living expenses while staying in a town or city. The setup is that a traveler signs up to be a house carer on one of the platforms or websites that connects them to homeowners looking for a sitter to mind their house (and pets if any) while they go on vacation.
As straightforward as that may sound, there are several steps to take to successfully book and get through a house sitting job. Choosing a platform to sign up with, creating an appealing house sitter profile to land jobs, screening house sit offers and actually making it through a house sit are the just some of things a prospective house sitter like me need to educate herself on.
I’ve been learning the ins and outs of house sitting from Nat and Jodie at House Sitting Academy and I’m excited to give it a go in 2016.
House Sitting Academy
5. Fly in First Class.
Chilling in First Class (Photo from www.emirates.com)
To balance out all the roughing-it and budget travel experiences, the last item on my travel experience wish list swings to the other end of the spectrum.
Sitting in first class, especially on long haul flights, is a dream. The space, privacy, personalized attention and luxe amenities are things that I think about when I’m squished in a middle seat in a middle row on a 6 hour flight.
Emirates A380 First Class (Photo:http://www.forbes.com/sites/lisaloverro/2012/11/05/the-emirates-a380-first-class-cabin-one-indulgent-experience/)
Now, unless I win the lottery big time, I don’t see myself purchasing a First Class ticket anytime soon. However, getting a seat at the front (or upper level, in the case of the A380) is possible by redeeming miles and points.
I’ve been learning tips and strategies from the Travel Hacking Cartel and The Points Guy and have made good progress with accumulating miles through using my credit cards for everyday and travel purchases. The question is: will I use my precious miles for a First Class seat or will I break down and use it for two, even three roundtrip flights back in economy class? I’ll let you know!
What sort of travel experiences are on your wish list? Share them below in the comments section.
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I’ve tried #2, #3, and #5!!! #3 is the best. ???✈️
Let me guess – in Turkey 😉 ?
These are all mine too! Just to experience a different ways of travelling and see if any are more beneficial for meeting locals, other travellers, etc. And of course first class is a must, even just once!
Definitely! It’s good to try out a variety of travel styles and experience 🙂 Oh yes, First Class – at least once, preferably on a really long flight!
I’ve done all except #5 haha Biggest turn-off with hostels is when you’re in a 12-bed dorm and all your roommates are guys. Happened to me in Foz do Iguazu in Brazil. There were these strappling young Danish guys who just dropped their dirty clothes and shoes all over the room. Can you imagine what my problem was? Big UGH!
Yikes – I’m definitely not ready for that scenario, Aleah, lol! I admire your bravery and wish you safe travels all around South America!