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What Makes or Breaks a Travel Experience?
How do we make a travel experience overseas the most memorable?
Are there a list of ‘must-see sights’ to see?
Do we arrive with a list of foods to try?
Maybe our goal is to simply relax.
There are many reasons why people travel, but what I’ve found over and over is that the greatest memories I have from my trips abroad are those where I’ve made meaningful connections with people—whether they are locals or other travelers.
Your Best/Worst Travel Experience
Today I want to challenge you (my dearest reader) to think of your worst and best travel experience, then ask the following:
Who were you with?
Where were you?
What made this moment the best/worst?
You might have found yourself under the twinkling night lights of the Eiffel Tower, a dream-worth travel experience, but perhaps you were arguing with your travel partner at the time.
Maybe you were in the quaint town square of Tilaran, but the conversation you had with a local brightened your mood and changed your perspective on what this place has to offer.
The Color to Our Travel Experience: People.
After thinking about some of the best and worst moments, you might have realized (like I have) that at the end of the day it doesn’t matter so much where we go, but rather who we choose to surround ourselves with that make or break our travel experience.
Despite having only stayed near to Bangalore a whole two months in India, I will treasure every single day I spent there.
Even though I could have traveled around Nicaragua at a faster pace, I’m forever grateful for taking a month in San Juan Del Sur to get to know the family I stayed with more.
In both cases, I wish I could have stayed even longer than I did, and dream frequently of when I can return.
And from this thought, I’m going to take you straight into a little excerpt from my memoir about my time in India.
From Black and White to Color
“Earrings, shirt, necklace,” Chetan whines as we browse through clothes racks. “Please, just pick something. She won’t let us leave until you do.”
After an hour of politely refusing, I finally give in and try on a gray kurti with intricate pink, green, and gold detailing running down the front.
His mom’s face illuminates like a full moon when she sees me wearing it. Later, Chetan explains that she wanted to ensure I have something to remember the time spent with their family.
I’ll never forget the time I shared with them, whether I have the kurti or not. Still, whenever I wear that gray kurti, I think of his mother and how she welcomed me with open arms, making me feel loved and comfortable from the moment I stepped into their home.
As I travel into the worlds of new people, time and again I realize that most people are not just willing but eager to share. Whether it’s stories of their everyday life or food from their table, kindness and generosity are ever present.
When I started my journey in January, I hardly considered the importance of making meaningful connections with people. I dreamed about what peaks I could climb and what sites I could see.
Now, if I imagine my travels without the interactions with people, my experiences are like a black-and-white photograph; they depict a place I can recognize and remember yet lack the vibrant energy and clarity that color creates.
I’m eternally grateful for every person along my path who’s painted color into my memories.
Want to Make Your Own Colorful Travel Experiences?
If you’ve never taken the plunge into any solo travel experience yet and are nervous to do so, I have two FREE guides to help you plan, pack, and save money on your trip!
If you subscribe to my Substack newsletter (no junk, only thought-provoking travel stories) you’ll get access to those guides.
That’s it for today!
I hope that you found this little read interesting and heartwarming. Stay tuned for next week for another pre-launch travel memoir reveal.
Much love,
Danika
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