One of the best life lessons I have found is to travel, especially alone, but if that’s not an option for you right now, traveling with family and friends works well, too. I have been to Europe, South America, the Caribbean, Canada, and Mexico and currently study abroad alone in England. All of my travels have consistently taught me one thing: People are the same everywhere you go. Everyone, no matter what country, has felt the same things you have felt: sadness, happiness, homesickness, excitement, confusion, hot and cold. For me, this lessened my fear of traveling to a new, faraway place alone because I knew everyone has encountered similar things as I have. Yes, sometimes one country may be harder to get around due to language barriers or culture, but in the end, traveling grows your mind so much that it’s worth taking some risks. 

In order to save money and because you are probably young, I recommend starting out traveling within the U.S. Drive to a nearby state if you have a car and just explore the city. If you are a little more willing to spend your money, try traveling to Canada. The country has beautiful scenery and city life combined into one, depending on where in the country you go. If you are luckier or have more means, give Europe a try. Western Europe is one of the most famous travel destinations for many people and will make traveling there alone or with friends and family easier. If there is a place you have always wanted to go, there is no time like when you are young. Take some time to get your finances in order and go; just drop everything and go for a week or even a month. 

Now that I have filled your head with endless possibilities and you are excited, here is how you could make your dreams come into reality. If you are in middle or high school, check with your school or even your school district to see if there are any plans for trips that the school is sponsoring. I went to Western Europe during spring break of my senior year with one friend and came out with lifelong friendships, enriched culture, and an open mind in just a week. I suggest you start looking sooner rather than later into these options as they often require almost a year of planning and paying. There’s always a decent price on travel; I wish there weren’t. Another option is if you are already in college, you may be able to partake in studying abroad for a full semester or even just a few weeks in the summer – which is much cheaper – or you can go on excursions with your university similar to those in high school. Traveling with your school is one of the best ways to travel when you are young because a lot of the planning you may not know you even need is done for you, and the cost is lumped together. Always have extra money saved up when you’re going through the school!

Now, let’s say you aren’t in school and don’t have the luxury to join a school trip, even though sometimes you can join a school trip even if you aren’t in school; traveling is more possible than you think. Take the time to decide on your budget first, then go from there to figure out where you would like to go. Use websites that can give you the best deals and offer packaged flights and hotel stays so that everything is together and reliable. Hotels are, in my opinion, better for younger tourists or traveling alone because you can meet people in the hotel and get advice on what to do once you’re there, whereas an Airbnb-type apartment may be more expensive and isolating. Hostels in Europe are the way to go to save money, and like everything planning to travel, especially when you’re young, takes time and effort. Research and save, and you will be on your way to learn about new people and cultures. The sky is the limit for your life and your travels.