Scary Foreign Languages and Travel
The Fear of Foreign Languages The idea of trying to communicate with someone in a language different than your own is one of the most terrifying aspects of traveling abroad for many...
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The IKEA Effect and Travel
There is a psychological phenomenon called the "IKEA Effect" that probably should be called the "Betty Crocker Effect" given that researchers began to first pay attention to it when instant cake mixes...
Foreign Currency: It’s Not Monopoly Money
How to Handle Money I used to not be able to manage money. No, I'm not talking about budgeting. I'm talking about dealing with unfamiliar currency in another country. During my first...
What Documents Do I Need for International Travel? (Part Two)
Is International Travel Really That Different? Travel is travel...except when it isn't. Traveling internationally has some different considerations from traveling domestically. If you're considering traveling out of the country for the first...
What Documents Do I Need for International Travel? (Part One)
When traveling internationally, it is important to be familiar with the paperwork you need before sitting down to make your reservations. I said "be familiar" with the documentation rather than having it...
Are You a Maximizer or a Satisficer?
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions Everyday we are faced with a multitude of choices, starting with what we are going to wear and what we want to eat for breakfast and ending with what...
Are You Scared to Commit?
Sometimes the hardest step in a journey is the first one, and entering your credit card information is the first step of turning your dreams into something real. It isn't surprising then...
How to Create a Home Base
I received a question about creating a home base for an adventure, so I thought I'd expand on the topic. The Benefits of Having a "Home" Along the same lines as trying...
How to Plan Your Travel Days
You've figured out when you want to travel, but now it's time to create a plan to actually structure your travel adventure. How do you want to spend your days? Priorities and...
When to Travel
When is the best time to travel? Now! How long should your trip be? Is "forever" a realistic answer? Actually, reality almost always creates constraints, and the act of mapping out the...