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You see all those travel bloggers photos online and secretly daydream of exploring exotic countries too, but don’t feel ‘ready enough’ yet? Here’s my personal Top 5 list of places that I can recommend to everyone who just wants to tip their toes into the big waters of traveling:
5. Australia
So far away? Aren’t you scared of the animals there? It’s so big though! Australia seems to
intimidate a lot of people, probably because yes, it is probably the furthest destination one from
Europe could choose and yes, it is a huge country to explore, but if it’s your first time backpacking
or traveling for more than a month on your own, you should definitely consider Australia as one of
your options. Apart from the most diverse and breath taking landscapes, Australia has a good
infrastructure, friendly and welcoming people and lots and lots of other (solo-) travellers to bond
with to offer. If making friends is what you worry about most, you’ll surely find a travel buddy to rent
a car with in Australia. Another big plus: everybody speaks English, so communication issues won’t
be in your way of making friends or finding the right way to your next destination. But bear in mind
that Australia is a rather pricey country to travel to and in and needs at least a month your time.
Gold Coast – Australia
4. Singapore
If you laid your eyes on Australia now, this gem is a stopover for many major airlines on their way
down under: Singapore. Singapore is a great first insight into Asia for everyone who’s looking for
something a little more exotic and further away from home (but maybe not as far as Australia). The
city state is not only also an English speaking country, it can also impress with warm temperatures
all year round, well- kept temples and probably every type of Asian cuisine you can imagine.
Singapore is also probably the most modern city I’ve ever been to: the sparkling skyline looks
almost unreal at night, there’s Sentosa Island with its sandy beach and the Warner Bros Studios,
and there’s Supertree Grove, an arrangement of solar- powered metal trees, which make you feel
like you just walked into the film set of ‘Avatar’. It’s a great place to begin with and get into the
travel vibe for a few days before heading off to other places!
Singapore
3. Ireland
I think Ireland is a very underrated destination for travellers. It’s the serenity of the country that
fascinated me the most. When the fog thins out as you’re driving across gentle hills and reveals the
evergreen landscapes of the island, you start to believe in magic. In contrast, there’s lively Dublin
with lots of pubs and bars, which somehow gives you the ‘big capital’ but also the ’cosy home’
feeling at the same time. What I probably love most about Ireland is its people. A friendly face and
a helping hand makes traveling a lot easier and for me, Irish people are famous for their hospitality.
It’s easy to get around by coach and perfect for everyone who only wants to spend 1-2 weeks
abroad!
Dingle, Ireland
2. The Netherlands
The Netherlands never fail to amaze me. The easy- going vibe and the small details make it easy
to fall in love with this country: flower pots hanging from the street lights, tiny decorated cafés and
bars, colourful bikes wherever you look, the ‘no-stress- attitude’ of the people and the long list of
things to do make the Netherlands probably one of the best destinations to start your traveling
career with. It’s easy to get around, no matter if you just want to explore Amsterdam, which can be
easily done by foot, or if you’d like to see more of the whole country which doesn’t even have to
involve public transport as you can hire bikes to explore the nearest city or go for a ride along the
sea. The Netherlands are home to some of the greatest galleries and museums documenting
European history, a huge music scene and some beautiful beaches which are waiting to be
checked out!
Zaanse Schans, Netherlands
1. Your home
Yes, you read correctly, home. Why not start exploring your own country/ area to begin with? Try
and look at your home with the eyes of an outsider and start researching: Which cities sound like
interesting places? Are there any old castles, natural reserves, theme parks, film locations or areas
that offer lots of outdoor activities? I can promise you, you’ll find something you didn’t know of
before. It’s the perfect opportunity for a little getaway over the weekend or even just a day, doesn’t
cost a lot (if anything),a refreshing change to everyday life and perfect for everyone who can’t get
a few weeks off work! And don’t worry about it not sounding as ‘cool’ as a year- long backpacking
trip through South East Asia. There’s no definition for traveling, if that’s all you feel comfortable with or can do for now, that’s totally fine.
Making the first step is never easy. It can be exciting, scary, nerve racking..but every journey has to
start somewhere. The thought of being in a foreign country far away from home, not being able to
understand a single word and maybe even being completely on your own without any family or
friends can be pretty daunting at first.
For me, that feeling never goes away completely. But it has turned into an ‘exciting scary’, it’s like
adrenaline that pumps through your body before you do a bungee jump, it’s scary but you get
addicted to it and want to do it again.
Don’t worry if you can’t add the ‘exciting’ to the ‘scary’ yet. When I traveled for the first time, my
Mum had to convince me for months to sign up for a 2 week language course in England. I was
about 12 years old and I remember crying in the bathroom as I was scared of not making any
friends and being alone. In the end she convinced me to go- and I ended up having the most
exciting summer holidays I could have imagined and doing that same course in different places
another 4 times, preferably without friends from home as I realised making new friends wasn’t that hard.
Even if the beginning isn’t easy and involves stepping out of your comfort zone, the journey is
usually worth going.
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