One of the hardest decisions to make is deciding whether to travel for 2 weeks, a few months, or go on an endless journey, waking up each morning open and flexible to every opportunity and go wherever the wind and your heart take you. As tempting as the last option is, you'd be amazed how much one can fit into a very short time frame.
I'll be honest. I can't help but cringe a little bit inside whenever I hear someone is planning a 10 day, 10 country sightseeing trip in Europe. I don't mean to offend anyone's upcoming sightseeing package. But it's like deciding, "You know what, instead of watching one movie, I'll watch 10 minutes of 10 different movies. That way I can feel like I saw way more movies." I know it's natural to want to see it all, but those countries really aren't going anywhere. And very little is accomplished by checking off a massive list of travel destinations before your 21st birthday. Leaving some boxes unchecked is a great way to fuel the desire for visits later in life when you actually have the time and money to enjoy those places fully.
While I don't recommend the aforementioned accelerated travel packages, its true that one really can gain a lot of insights and experiences in a very short amount of time. The first time I traveled Fiji it was only for 2 weeks, but since it was my first time being in a Third World Country and simultaneously when I first got my scuba diving license, it was such an impressionable time. I felt I learned more about life in two weeks than in a year sitting at my previous desk job.
As true as all that may be, there is something truly special and even life changing about an extended travel where you can really take each day as it comes. So, how do you make the call? At the end of the day, only you can really know what's best for you in your circumstances. But here are some things to consider...
If this is what you picture when you think of good traveling, perhaps a more condensed trip is more realistic.
What's Your Reason?
If you want to travel just to relax after a long tax season, have specific plans like ascending Mt. Kilimanjaru, or just need a little change of scenery and walking the streets of Paris would be just the cure, then there really is no need to quit your job and find a new home for your precious cat, Lucy.
On the other hand, if your reason for traveling is out of a desire to find a new direction in your life, perhaps a more extended travel is something you should give some real consideration. Other good reasons are if you have some internal things you want to heal or process. Travel has an amazing power to make the biggest of problems seem small and helps you to see things in a different light. Maybe you're curious what it's like to get your hands dirty working on a farm. Or simply want to learn about other cultures and ways of thinking. If your reason for traveling sounds closer like these, the longer you travel, the more depth your experiences are likely to have.
What's Your Work?
Ask yourself what type of work you're in. Is the field constantly changing and requires ongoing learning or training to stay employable? Is it the type of field that has unforgiving HR managers that can't see past a resume gap? If so, taking a shorter trip or looking into taking a leave of absence is probably your best bet. Although apart from being an Olympic athlete, I can't think of too many circumstances where taking one year off would ruin all your future prospects and dreams.
As irresponsible as taking extended time out to travel may seem, there are a few things to consider before writing it off as completely wreckless. You never know if while on your travels you may get some insight into what your real passion is in life. You could save decades of your life spent doing a job you hate. Maybe you'll come up with a great startup idea that you never would have thought of while in the daily grind. Even if you are dead set on your career path, postponing a longer travel will only make it harder once you've climbed up the ladder and taken up more responsibilities along the way. So don't think it'll be easier at some unknown point in the future, chances are it won't. Your best opportunity is probably right now. Just make sure it's what you really want. Be honest with yourself about how important things like security and comfort are to you. You don't want to quit your job and burn all your bridges to discover all you really want to do in life is chill at home watching Netflix. The rat race may not be perfect in every way, but it is comfy. And for some people that's all they really want. There's nothing wrong with that. It's just slightly more boring.
Simple food is simple. But the venues you'll find yourself will more than make up for it.
Can You Finance Your Style of Traveling?
There are two components in determining whether or not you can finance your travels. One being the pure amount of money you have in the bank. The other being how fast your way of traveling burns through said amount.
Everyone loves food. But are you one of those people that really, really, loves food? If every time you go out you splurge on sugary cocktails or never order a meal without either an entree or dessert, that means you. Everyone loves comfort. But does the mere thought of staying at a below 3 star accommodation give you mild panic attacks? Then perhaps that may tip the scales more in favor of settling for a shorter trip.
If you are the kind of person that doesn't mind looking out for Couchsurfing options, roughing a subpar guesthouse once in a while, and loves the idea of checking out local street food options without any hesitation, then doing an extended travel is a lot more doable even with modest savings.
No matter how long you decide, just remember to make the most of it.
