Top 10 reasons why people don’t travel (+ how to overcome them!)
Top 10 reasons why people don’t travel (+ how to overcome them!)
From financial constraints to fears of the unknown, there are a myriad of reasons why people don’t travel, with each obstacle presenting a unique barrier to the transformative power of travel. Here are the top 10 reasons why people don’t travel but more importantly – how to overcome them!
OTHER TRAVEL TIPS YOU MIGHT LIKE…
- Top 10 ways travelling benefits your mental health
- Top 10 ways to save money on food while you travel
- Top 10 ways to beat post-holiday blues (to feel your fab self again!)
- 3 Step quick guide to replacing a lost passport
- Top 10 tips for sleeping on a plane (even for the most nervous flyers!)
1) “I can’t afford to travel”
Now, I can’t totally debunk this reason as travelling can be expensive, but it’s all about WHERE you go and HOW you choose to travel.
The key is to be flexible. Choosing to holiday in the Maldives in a five star resort during peak season is going to be expensive, so set realistic goals for your travels if you’re on a budget!
If you are on a tighter budget, search for weekend break packages, destinations with cheap short-haul flights and staycations.
Ireland has one of the most beautiful natural landscapes I have ever seen and you know what? My return flights from Manchester cost less than £20! A train to Liverpool from Manchester costs me about that and the cities are only 30 miles a part!
If you’re looking for a summer holiday that won’t break the bank I recommend using travel companies such as Thomas Cook or TUI. They specialise in package holidays with all-inclusive and half-board deals within Europe that keep holiday expenses down.
I booked a no-fuss holiday to Crete for the end of May with TUI, which included two meals per day for eight days, return flights, transfers and a hotel on the beach for only £450! If I hadn’t asked for a beach front hotel it would have cost even less.
As soon as you have established a realistic budget for what you can afford, it’s all about the research. There are some amazing deals to be had, you just have to find the one that suits you best.
Don’t let your budget be the reason you don’t travel.
Get researching into your next dream holiday!
2) “It’s not safe to travel”
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not advising you to throw all caution to the wind and set up your sun-lounger in a war zone because you got a good deal on flights!
But I do think that a lot of the time we only associate somewhere with being “unsafe” based on unreliable tabloid headlines and assumptions from people around us.
I grew up in the UAE and because there has been some unrest in surrounding countries in the Middle East in the past (and sadly the present), people have often asked me if it’s safe to travel there.
They see scary headlines, build up the fear in their heads and then decide the entire country is a write off because of it. It’s really frustrating and even more so when people then use that as an excuse not to travel.
At the end of the day, you’re responsible for your own safety so if you don’t feel comfortable going somewhere because of its reputation then don’t go, but please do some proper research first.
Websites such as www.gov.uk are a great place to start as they list every country with up-to-date current affair information and provide recommendations on whether you should travel there or not.
3) “I can’t take time off work”
Work is often one of the main reasons why people don’t travel and as someone who started this travel blog whilst working a full-time job, I can tell you it’s not an excuse!
When I first started Footsteps on the Globe I worked full-time in marketing, ran this blog, had an active social life and I still managed to travel at least once a month.
Whether it be local, within the UK or abroad, I always found the time to seek out new adventures even if I only had the weekend (and most of the time I did!).
Some of my favourite travel memories are from weekends away where I didn’t even have to take any time off work. I left on a Friday night and returned Sunday before the work week started.
I’ve stayed in a treehouse in Wales, visited Amsterdam and Northern Ireland (just to name a few) all over a weekend, without disturbing my holiday allowance or my workload.
This is also a reminder that work is not your life and we have a holiday allowance for a reason and if you haven’t got plans this weekend, go book that mini break – guilt and excuse free!
4) “I don’t have anyone to travel with”
There is a simple solution to this reason not to travel that you may not want to hear. But if you don’t have anyone to travel with, just go alone!
I have travelled solo throughout the UK, South East Asia, the UAE and India and I never would have had these experiences (many backpacking), had I waited for someone to go with me.
I absolutely love travelling solo and have done it at various times in my life, both single and in long-term relationships.
Solo travel gives you a sense of freedom and self-confidence that you don’t get when you travel with others. You also don’t have to compromise on where you go or what you do – you can literally plan your trip as you see fit!
I understand that travelling alone can seem scary and it’s not for everyone. But I would be more scared of the experiences I’d miss out on just because I was too scared to travel alone!
If you haven’t got friends or family that are free to travel with you and you still don’t want to go alone, a great alternative to pure solo travel is to book a group trip with companies like Gadventures.
This gives you the reassurance of travelling with a group (safety in numbers and all that!) with the comfort of knowing that a guide is worrying about the little stressers such as organising transport between destinations and coordinating activities.
5) “I can’t travel because I have kids”
I know what you might be thinking, “you haven’t got kids so how would you know what it’s like to travel with them?”. And you would be right, I don’t have kids. But what I do know is that you can still travel but your travelling style will need to change.
You won’t be able to travel as fast paced or fit everything you need for a week in one backpack like before, but don’t let the fact you have kids deter you from travelling!
One of my long-time favourite travel bloggers, Monica from The Travel Hack is a huge advocate of travelling with kids and has written extensively about travelling whilst pregnant and postpartum with three kids. I highly recommend checking out her blog for advice on travelling with kids!
Another favourite of mine are YouTubers, Wolters World who have travelled with their two children all over the globe since they were born and have a range of videos on tips and tricks for travelling with children of all ages, all over the world!
If you and your partner love to travel, your little one will undoubtedly too and sharing precious moments together as you introduce them to the world through travel will be one of the greatest adventures of your life!
6) “I’m worried about getting sick if I travel”
I understand that you may be worried about getting sick while travelling. It’s natural to have concerns, especially if you have underlying health issues or are more sensitive to getting sick when travelling abroad.
But rest assured, there are plenty of precautions you can take to minimise the risk of getting sick.
Before going to any destination, make sure you do your research and double check you’re up-to-date with your vaccines.
If you’re based in the UK, most vaccinations are available for free on the NHS (a part from rabies), so it’s well worth booking an appointment with your GP to make sure you’re covered.
Whilst you’re travelling, ensure to prioritise your health by staying hydrated, eating nourishing food, getting enough rest and generally just listening to your body!
Make sure to wash your hands regularly, use sanitiser, wear a mask in crowded places and depending on the destination, avoid eating street food and drinking tap water.
Remember, millions of people travel safely every day! While it’s natural to worry, try to focus on the exciting experiences and unforgettable memories you’ll make.
Don’t forget to buy travel insurance that covers any unexpected accidents or illnesses just in case too!
7) “I can’t travel because i’m vegan/ vegetarian/ coeliac”
There’s a big misconception that being vegan, vegetarian or having *insert food allergy here* prevents you from travelling the world. But it’s simply not true!
As a long-time vegan traveller I absolutely love learning about new cultures and places through their vegan food!
The availability of vegan options can vary depending on the destination but I’ve shared some handy tips on this blog which will help you find vegan options wherever you travel to in the world.
If you have food allergies, be cautious of course but don’t let it prevent you from travelling!
8) “I’m just too busy to travel”
I hate to break it to you but we’re all busy! Most people’s days disappear in a blur of working, parenting, errands and house upkeep, but this isn’t your entire life!
If you’re in a hectic stage of your life as a new parent, started a new job or just bought a house, you are legitimately too busy to worry about travel – I totally get it!
All I can do is reassure you that this crazy stage in your life won’t last forever and you’ll eventually have space in your life again once the time is right to start planning your next adventure.
But if you’re constantly using the “I’m busy” reason for not travelling, you’re never going to NOT be busy and you’ll never end up going anywhere.
We prioritise what is most important to us and if travelling is never going to be part of the equation you’ll never go anywhere!
Travelling brings such immense joy and meaning to my life so it has always been a priority for me. Even from the time I started this blog as a hobby when I wasn’t making a penny from it, I prioritised travelling because it made me so happy!
No matter how often or how long you travel for, if you want to make it happen like everything else in your life, you’ll make it happen!
9) “I can’t leave my pets”
I totally get this. I have two adorable cockapoos that are like my children and I find it difficult to leave them every time!
When I went to India backpacking for five weeks, I missed my dogs so much that on days where I felt especially home sick I would ask my boyfriend to send videos of them to cheer me up. I’m such a soppy dog mum!
Having said this, as hard as it is to leave them, I don’t let the fact that I have dogs stop me from travelling and if I get to take them with me, even better!
The trick is to have a solid dog sitting arrangement that both you and your pets are comfortable with. Sites like, Trusted Housesitters offer pet sitting for free in exchange for accommodation and Rover lists hundreds of pet sitters in your area which you can vet and approach for availability.
We’ve luckily never had to pay for kennels for our dogs as we’ve either had a friend who could look after them for a few days or we’ve been able to pay a dog sitter to come and stay in our home with them.
I would recommend getting a housesitter if your pets are used to having you around a lot. They’ll be a lot less stressed once you’re gone if they’re able to stay in their usual home environment.
Pet sitters can be as cheap as £10 per night on Rover depending on the type of pet you have so I highly recommend checking them out and having a read through the reviews to find the right fit for you and your pets!
10) “I like being at home”
This is actually one of the biggest reasons why people don’t travel as often as they could, they just love being home – and that’s fine!
I’m a firm believer that travelling is one of the greatest educators we have at our disposal. It broadens our horizons, gives us a deeper understanding of different countries and cultures as well as cultivates a greater connection with the world around us.
But many people don’t crave new experiences and don’t like the discomfort and stress of travelling to new and far away places.
Regardless of whether you love to travel or not, I always recommend that people push themselves out of their comfort zones. You can’t live your life to the full by staying home in your little bubble.
So even if you don’t love to travel, please make sure you leave the house! But if you DO love to travel, what are you waiting for? Get researching into your next dream holiday!
OTHER TRAVEL TIPS YOU MIGHT LIKE…
- Top 10 ways travelling benefits your mental health
- Top 10 ways to save money on food while you travel
- Top 10 ways to beat post-holiday blues (to feel your fab self again!)
- 3 Step quick guide to replacing a lost passport
- Top 10 tips for sleeping on a plane (even for the most nervous flyers!)
What prevents you from travelling – if anything? Let me know in the comments below!
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