travel
Long ago, only the likes of men such as Christopher Columbus or Magellan could take on the adventure of traveling around the world. Our history books taught us that it takes big dreams and large ships to explore the world, but this is 2013, not 1492. Traveling around the world isn’t just for Columbus anymore. We are not at flying cars or teleporting quite yet, but it is still much easier to travel the world than it once was. If you are on a tight budget or if you have money to burn, then there are tons of options for all kinds of explorers.

More and more of our generation move back home for a stint to figure things out after school or between jobs. Others take extended honeymoons or just take a year off to recharge. Why not capitalize on that time to see parts of the world that up until recently, were for professional travelers’ eyes only? The how is almost as simple as the why. From special flights to couchsurfing, the secrets to getting away to see the world are available for you to take full advantage of. Whether you are young and adventurous or seasoned and ready to continue your life’s journey globally, the world is waiting for you.

We aren’t just talking about a trip to Bali for a long weekend or even a month-long splurge in the South of France. We’re talking about a full on “around the world” adventure – the real deal. Believe it or not, there are tons of resources for how to do this, depending on where you are in your life and what you are looking for in your trip. For early 20’s college students, Semester at Sea allows you to sail around the world on a mini cruise ship, stopping in 10-15 countries around the world from the US coast to coast. College credit, scholarships, and 700 new best friends make this a global study abroad worth doing for a Spring or Fall semester.

Not into group trips? No problem. There is a little-known “Round the World” (RTW) ticket that can be purchased from airline alliances such as OneWorld or Star Alliance. With varied parameters, these tickets allow you to hit multiple destinations (up to 16 sectors) within a certain timeframe (such as a yearlong period). Alliance airlines are made up of several member airlines, so you can have your pick of various destinations and companies. Grab a partner or go solo –  once you have the ticket, all you have to do is pick the places you’d like to go!

Living in the Information Technology Era also offers us endless kickstarters to get you excited about and connected to global travel. There are endless tips, guides, and reviews online for how to do so.  Scroll through Pinterest “Travel” page to get inspired and excited about traveling to exotic places. Visit TripAdvisor, where you can read about other traveler’s experiences and evaluate for yourself. Airbnb allows you to “rent” homes or apartments from $20 to $2,000 per night (depending on your budget) almost anywhere in the world. If you are feeling more adventurous, then you can sign up on Couchsurfing and crash at a local’s place nearly anywhere in the world – just be ready to return the favor if they head your way one day.

Traveling around the world is a luxury that anyone can indulge in now. There is no reason not to save up a little bit and take some time to change your life. Go see how the other side lives, and take a little piece of magic back with you. The world is your playground, so go play!