Creating (And Overcoming!) Our Travel Challenges List

Travel is one of the most fulfilling hobbies (or should we say obsessions?), but it can also be one of the most challenging. When we are planning a dream trip, it can feel overwhelming to anticipate and plan around the potential obstacles that stand between us and the trip of a lifetime. 

Creating a list of our travel challenges helps us plan and prepare for our next adventure, even when it’s intimidating to face these struggles head on. But we can’t let our fears and doubts hold us back from experiencing all this amazing world has to offer! By creating our travel challenges list, we can reframe these obstacles as opportunities for self-growth and exploration instead. 

No matter what it is that’s stressing us out, a well-planned travel challenges list helps us feel more prepared and confident about turning our travel dreams into a reality. 

The  first step to overcoming these challenges is to identify them, so let’s get to it!

The Benefits of Creating a Travel Challenges List 

Though there is so much excitement around planning our next trip, the process can bring on uncertainty and anxiety, too. 

When we create our lists, it forces us to evaluate our own personal relationships with travel and identify the challenges that are unique to us. It can seem like a daunting task, but the peace of mind it brings is absolutely worth it!

Once we narrow down the main obstacles holding us back from fulfilling our travel goals, we can come up with backup plans and solutions before we set off on our journey. It’s always a relief to get those negative thoughts out of our heads and onto paper! Once we realize that we can handle anything that comes our way, we can head to our destination feeling calm and confident.

And let’s be honest: one of the best parts of travel is overcoming any unexpected challenges and coming home with an incredible story to share with your friends and family. So let’s make those lists – adventure awaits!

How to Create Our Travel Challenges List

First, let’s grab a pen and paper (or open up that blank document on the computer)!

Then, it’s time to brainstorm. We have to consider our destination along with our own personal quirks and travel styles. 

What obstacles could pop up on this particular trip? Are we headed to a foreign country that speaks a different language than we do? Are we planning activities that are outside of our typical comfort zone? Do we have any dietary restrictions or health conditions to consider when planning our trip? No challenge is too big or small, so we should write down anything and everything that comes to mind. 

Once we create our lists, it’s time to start researching solutions. Finding information and resources about our destination and our challenges is the first step to putting our anxieties to rest. 

If our list feels too discouraging at first, we can always break it up into smaller, more manageable chunks and focus on tackling one issue at a time. If we are feeling really adventurous, we can add a few “stretch goals.” These are the challenges that might take a little more ingenuity to conquer, but might lead to even more amazing experiences!

Common Travel Challenges (And How to Overcome Them)

1. Not Enough Time

 Between work, family commitments, and the stress of daily life, many travelers feel they lack the time needed to fulfill all of their travel goals. The solution is simple: prioritize, prioritize, prioritize! 

2. Budgeting

 Travel is a money-intensive hobby, and saving and managing the money for a trip can be a struggle for many of us. By creating a realistic budget, we can eliminate some of the financial stress associated with traveling. 

3. No Travel Companions

 When our loved ones have different schedules and interests than we do, it can be difficult to find someone to accompany us on our adventures. Joining an online community or booking a group tour are perfect ways to make new friends with fellow travelers that share our interests and priorities! Or, if we really want to step out of our comfort zones, solo travel can lead to unique experiences and self-reliance that we can only find when we push ourselves to explore the world on our own!

4. Health Concerns

Though making memories and getting the most out of our trips is one of our main concerns, we must also prioritize our health and wellness. But we can’t let that limit us! By organizing our health records, packing any necessary medications, scoping out restaurants that suit our dietary restrictions, and researching ways to mitigate the spread of illness as we travel, we can stay healthy and cross that next destination off our dream list.

5. Fear of the unknown

Being scared or unsure about what we don’t know is a universal human experience. But there is no reason to let that hold us back! By brainstorming as many potential challenges as possible, we can lower the chance of something truly “unknown” holding us back from enjoying our trip to the fullest.

6. Stress about planning the trip

Planning a trip from start to finish can feel overwhelming at first, and for some of us, it’s enough to keep us from ever getting started! We recommend the divide and conquer method. Break up each part of planning into categories (budget, flights, accommodations, packing, etc). Then, we can take it one step at a time!

From first-time adventurers to seasoned travelers, all of us benefit from creating our travel challenge lists. With proper preparation, a little creativity, and an open mind to new experiences, there is nothing stopping us from turning those destination daydreams into fond memories.

So why wait? Let’s narrow down those challenges and crush them. Our travel dreams depend on it!