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What is Meaningful Travel? A Roadmap for Purposeful Trips

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January 19, 2019 February 23, 2019 Chris Behrsin Living Abroad , Food, History and Culture , Languages and Interactions

It’s been over 6-months since we updated our blog’s homepage with the slogan: ‘We believe in meaningful travel’. Since that point, we’ve been asked numerous times on the road: But what actually is meaningful travel?

So, we realised a blog post was needed to explain the concept.

In short, meaningful travel is focused on immersing yourselves in a community or culture and trying to get the most out of a place. It’s about respect and care for the area you’re travelling to, trying to reduce negative impact and make positive impact, without forcing it. It’s about growth, where travel becomes a way of life, if you like, rather than merely just ‘seeing’ a place.

When done well, it becomes an enriching and rewarding experience that fuels personal growth.

But it isn’t always easy.

Read on to learn more about meaningful travel and how it can enrich your trips and help you grow.

What Meaningful Travel is All About

I know there are a lot of buzzwords out there on the internet nowadays. At first sight, ‘meaningful travel’ might seem one of them. But bear with me, because we truly believe it’s something that every traveller should consider to some extent.

Meaningful travel is about seeking travel experiences that enrich both you and the place you visit in some way. This enrichment might be social, environmental, or economic. Different advocates of meaningful travel take different angles on this.

But what’s important is a conscious effort to understand the impact you make on a place and to make that impact meaningful for everyone involved.

Personally, I’ve thought a lot about meaningful travel recently and how to achieve it. In many ways, it’s an ideal to strive towards and we’re all going to slip sometimes — this is part of being human.

Still, the United World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has estimated that by 2030 we’ll have over 1.8 billion international travellers. That’s over 1/5th of the world’s population. If we all flock to the same old tourist resorts looking for the same old experiences, then we’re going to have a huge social problem.

Meaningful travel is a way to combat this. And I personally believe travelling this way is much more fun.

The Dark Side of Tourism

Before going into my own ideas about meaningful travel, I wanted to talk about some of the negative impact caused by tourism today. Sadly, this is due to the fact that a lot of information isn’t presented to us travellers. The kind of stuff that would absolutely appall us if we knew what was going on underneath the surface.

If you’d asked me ten years ago, I would have told you: sure, I want to ride an elephant. I’d already ridden on a horse and a camel and elephants just seemed exotic and cool. It seemed the kind of thing Indiana Jones would do and who wouldn’t want to be Indy?

Well, I guess Indy wasn’t a very responsible traveller.

But while I dreamed of riding an elephant, there were so many things I didn’t know. Like that elephants have weak spines and so can’t handle weight on their bodies like horses or camels can. And that they haven’t been domesticated like horses and camels, and they undergo unspeakable cruelty to prep them for the purpose of riding. Also that the guys who drive these elephants (e.g. Thai Mahoots) tend to be paid despicable wages and many of them lead pretty horrible lives.

Elephant tourism is one of the most cited examples of tourism’s negative impact on a location, but there are plenty of others. One that comes to mind happens near our current base in Hanoi in the Vietnamese village of Le Mat, where you can eat the beating heart of a cobra.

I’m not against people eating snake, although the way they are slaughtered raises certain questions about animal cruelty.

But I am against endangered species like the king cobra, being used for this purpose and for the snake wine trade.

Sadly, a lot of the literature on Le Mat endorses this practice, without giving the whole picture. But if we knew the king cobra was on the IUCN red list for vulnerable and endangered species, how many of us travellers would approve?

This is why it’s important to have a roadmap, I feel. Something we can aspire to in order to make us better, more meaningful travellers.

The Three Tenets of Meaningful Travel

We like to focus on three things when we travel: integration, responsibility and growth. We also strongly disagree with the wealth of media that poses travel as a selfish endeavour. It doesn’t have to be, as I shall demonstrate.

You see all three principles involve consideration on how to benefit both the traveller and the local community. If the benefit from the exchange isn’t mutual, then it fails to be meaningful.

If the traveller gets the majority of the benefit, then this encourages exploitation in the local community, as has happened with the Thai indigenous longneck tribe. Or, need I mention sex tourism.

If the resort gets all the benefit (e.g. tourist traps) then this can lead to economical imbalance and leave the traveller feeling miserable.

Therefore, a balance is essential. I’ve designed these three principles to take this into account.

Integration

Integration means involving yourself with the local community as much as possible to try and make friends. This could involve among other things:

• learning the language
• interacting with the locals
• eating and drinking locally
• learning as much as you can of the culture (both while there and beforehand).

It doesn’t necessarily mean avoiding other travellers or expats. Travellers met upon the road can become lifelong friends and their stories can enlighten other travellers. But I do believe that travellers should be wary about how they interact with the community when traveling with others or meeting as a group.

Integration is about bridging the gap between the ‘us and them’ philosophy that often emerges between expats and locals. It’s about making an effort to make friends in the local community and build meaningful connections.

This way, you can learn about local culture while teaching locals a little bit about your own.

Classes are a great way to do this. Language exchange meetups are another. For example, we attended several times the TENGO language exchange in Granada (no longer running, unfortunately). Here we got a chance to interact with both locals and expats alike.

Also, don’t neglect the simplest of interactions. Even an exchange of smiles can be incredibly valuable to both sides involved.

Approaching travels with an open mind really helps build meaningful travel experiences. Also, don’t worry if you don’t speak the language: gestures can take you a long way.

Responsibility

It’s impossible to travel the world without making some kind of impact. Responsibility is about minimising the negative impact and trying to bring as much positive impact as possible.

This doesn’t mean trying to enforce personal views in a community, which can often do more harm than good. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and people on the far-flung corners of the world have their own influences and belief systems.

I’ve met travellers who carry with them a weight of entitlement. They seem to think that because they were treated in a certain way back home, then they should be treated the same way in a foreign country. But the world doesn’t work this way, which consequently makes it more interesting to explore.

Responsibility instead means trying to learn a little about the local etiquette and respecting that. You don’t have to prostrate in a temple if your back can’t take it. But if the locals do it, then it’s also respectful to take off your shoes (and socks in some countries).

Responsibility also means being respectful of the environment. Not littering, not doing anything that might cause fires, and where possible taking advice from the local community. Also, being careful of things like electricity and water usage in resource-poor areas.

You’re likely to encounter some tough questions as you travel, like: should I give money to that beggar or would I be supporting a local scam? This is where research often comes in handy. If, on the ground, you don’t know, simply use your best judgement (as we did when deciding how much money to give to a temple in Yangon, Myanmar ), then research later so you can adjust your behaviour next time.

Part of the skill of meaningful travel is learning how to make more responsible decisions. It’s an art. And the thing about art is, you get better with practice.

The final meaningful travel principle is that of growth. Travel is a powerful endeavour that can help you grow physically, emotionally and spiritually. I think this is also one of the reasons travel is often seen as selfish. Because, hey, you’re doing this for yourself right? To become worldly, and experienced, and have great stories to tell back home.

But here’s the thing. The more experience you gain as a traveller, the more you can enlighten others with your stories. You can become more endearing to the locals who meet you. Perhaps some might see you as wise. And so you might inspire them on to do great things.

If just your presence in a country inspired someone to start a new business, or propose to their loved one, or finally reconcile with their parents, wouldn’t that be meaningful?

That’s one of the greatest benefits of meaningful travel. If you do it well, you simply being there can become a huge catalyst for change.

I also believe that the positive impact meaningful travellers make on a community should be growth focused. In a Destinations Show 2017 talk , Rickshaw Travel talked about empowering people to be ‘agents in their own destiny’.

There are some great points raised in this video and it’s worth watching the whole thing. It’s also great to see that there are travel agencies out there like Rickshaw Travel , specializing in meaningful travel experiences.

Volunteering is a great way to embrace meaningful growth experiences. We volunteered in Tenerife recently. A lady there was setting up an international study abroad program (to be the only one on the island) and she needed some help with things like business plans and pitch decks. In return, we stayed in the Tenerife Midlands — a stunning and lesser visited part of the island and had many chances to interact with the locals, including an older man who ran a winery and vineyard.

Be careful with volunteering programs, though, as there are a lot of scams out there. Do your due diligence first: Google the company name followed by the word ‘scam’, check their accreditation schemes using the same method. Unfortunately, fake volunteering programs can have an incredibly negative impact on the local economy.

Hovos is a great place to look for more personal volunteering programs and gain free accommodation in exchange.

How We Travel Meaningfully

For us, travel is a way of life. But at the same time, we’re not your typical traveller. You certainly wouldn’t call us vacationers.

Instead, we like to stay in a place for as long as possible and take time to get to know its people and the culture. Right now, we’re living and working in Vietnam: myself as a digital nomad copywriter and Ola as an English teacher. We eat local wherever possible, are making an effort to learn the language (although due to limited time I’m not putting in as much as I would like), and we’re trying our best to become a part of the local community.

To give an example, we spend a lot of time working on our blog and other projects in Manzi . This is a local coffee shop run by a Vietnamese couple, as well as a centre for Vietnamese art. In fact, they call it a collaborative art space. We love supporting this place, because we know that the owners put a lot love into it themselves. One of the baristas there is even happy to teach us a little Vietnamese.

Another meaningful travel experience we had was when we visited the South Shaolin Temple in Putian, China (and later another in Fuqing ). We went to this lesser visited temple with a friend, and as soon as we got there one of the local volunteers stepped up to show us around.

Other than our friend, no one there spoke much English. But we still ended up learning a lot about the place and we had a chance to tell our stories too (with our friend’s help as a translator). At the same time, we were respective of the culture in there, didn’t take any photos of indoor Buddhas as requested and paid our respects through prostrating at the local shrine. It truly was a meaningful experience.

How to Become a Meaningful Traveller

You may or you may not have heard the term returnism in the media at some point. They’ve coined this to mean the phenomenon of vacationers returning to the same place year after year. In fact, a 2015 study in the UK found that 91 per cent of Britons prefer to return to a familiar destination over somewhere new.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think there’s anything wrong to going back to the same place. But if that place has stopped losing its meaning for you, it might be worth considering other destinations, or at least other ways of seeing a place.

There’s often a lot that’s hidden between the cracks of even some of the world’s most touristy destinations and to discover these things can be truly enlightening.

I know a lot of us just want to go on holiday to relax, and that’s fine — we all need to take some time out from our busy lives now and again. What I want to encourage, though, is for more people to examine the impact their travel has on the local economy and find ways to make it meaningful for both yourself and the people (and wildlife) at the destination.

In many ways, meaningful travel is a very personal journey that involves looking within for what fascinates you. It’s like being a journalist in a way — you look for a unique angle for your journey and then you pursue it. After that, it’s nothing more than a continuous cycle of research and trying out new things, while always keeping the positive in mind.

Travelling does not have to be a selfish endeavour. But it’s you who has to choose not to make it that way.

Thanks for reading my article about meaningful travel. If you have any thoughts yourself on how to make travel meaningful, I’d really like to hear them in the comments below.

To be honest, there’s so much more I want to write about this, but this article is already pretty long. Which is why I’m writing a book on meaningful travel.

Feel free to sign up to our email newsletter below, and we’ll let you know once it’s published.

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About Chris Behrsin

Chris Behrsin is an author, copywriter, and co-author of this blog. He's travelled to over 30 countries and he enjoys playing the piano (when he has access to one), reading, writing, and of course travelling. Oh, and by the way, if you also like reading Fantasy or Steampunk novels, you can download his book Dragonseer for around a dollar from Amazon .

20 thoughts on “ What is Meaningful Travel? ”

I think just about everyone would agree with this, though it’s still a touch abstract. Perhaps a future post about how you achieved meaningful travel in a specific trip/destination? (perhaps you have these already?) Or what wouldn’t be meaningful. I think lots of us have had the eureka moment when we realize that riding on an elephant or eating the cobra heart isn’t an automatic “yes”. These subjects can be somewhat preachy, so a new perspective would be welcome.

Thanks Tom for the feedback. We’re working on more concrete examples and we’ll be writing much more about meaningful travel in the coming months. This post is just a primer on the philosophy behind meaningful travel — a topic that’s very close to our hearts.

Interesting topic and one that I’m sure will have different meaning to everyone. When I was younger, I had no idea that riding elephants was so harmful. I’m glad that there is a lot more information out there now that sheds light the sad truths about this seemingly harmless tourist activity.

Thanks Candy. It’s a good thing, I think, that more and more people are beginning to shed light on the truth’s about elephant tourism.

Our website and travel motto is “engage, explore, immerse”. For us that means we engage with the locals, we explore their culture and lifestyle and we immerse ourselves in it, to learn as much as we can, share as much as we are able, give back as much as we are allowed. In some places on the globe, simply being a gracious guest is all the giving back that is expected or even wanted and anything more than that can be offensive. Meaningful travel is an interesting concept, or as you point out catchword. The words I most often cling to are sustainable travel. Travel that ensures we are able to sustain the globe, the people, the cultures, the destinations we are discovering. Thank you for opening this topic up for discussion … a most important one.

I really like that motto Michael. And I agree sometimes your presence as a gracious guest (and the keyword is gracious) is all that you need to give. But then, even if you’re not giving physical gifts, there are still things like the empowerment of words and value of a smile, which can last for a lifetime.

Of course the meaning of meaningful travel is different for everyone but I think you have done a wonderful job of expressing what it means to you. Engaging with locals and the natural environment responsibly and sustainably is incredibly important for us. The more we travel, the more we learn. I think travelling is teaching us every day to be a better human being.

Thank you Mohanda and Aninda, glad you liked the post. I’m also happy to hear that you’re embracing responsible and sustainable travel. And you’ve hit the nail on the head there about how travel teaches us to be better human beings. As Mark Twain said: “Travel is fatal to bigotry and narrow-mindedness.”

The people I meet as long term travellers seem to understand these concepts. The greatest joy for the curious of mind and heart is connecting with the locals in a respectful way. Definitely doing a ton of research helps to shed light on unethical practices that as a visitor you can choose not to partake in. Living in a country long term definitely increases your ability to engage in meaningful travel!

I find that too, that the longer I travel, the more I understand about it. The journey often also shifts inward and I learn more about myself the further I travel along the road.

As you said, meaningful travel (and travel itself) is a very personal journey. How deeply we are impacted by travel and how deeply our travels impact the environment certainly differ from one person to the other. For me, travel is synonymous with personal growth, so i relate with your last point completely.

Thank you for your comment. I do believe travel is incredibly personal and a lot of what we find meaningful will depend on who we are. Just like every teacher has a different teaching style, each traveler will have their own different ways of relating to a community or destination.

You make some really good points here. I’ve always considered how to travel in a more sustainable way (though not taking the plane and opting for a train is not always an option, due to limited time), and how travel can help me become a better person. But until now I’ve never considered what I can do for a place while I’m there. Because, yes, as a blogger, I can write to raise awareness about certain things or to promote for free small businesses whose services I enjoyed, but I never thought about what more can be done while on the trip.

Thanks. As you point out, blogging gives us extra options for meaningful travel as well as an extra onus of responsibility. But if we can raise awareness about the right things we can really help create a positive and meaningful impact, even if done long after we’ve visited a place.

I think meaningful travel can have different meaning for different people and as one travels he or she finds his or her meaning. For me it’s all about exploring new things, meeting new people and come back with lost and hidden stories. Each trip gives a new meaning to my thought process and equips me with new outlook. You have given some good example though I do not buy few of them. Wish you many more meaningful travel experiences.

Thank you Himanshu, I think there’s also something to be said about finding personal meaning on a journey as well. Travel can really help us find our callings in life. Or inspire us to follow a new direction that we’d never previously considered before.

Great post! Meaningful and sustainable travel is near and dear to my heart and I always appreciate seeing other travllers and travel bloggers who feel the same. I´ve always had a strong and decided stance on most of the biggies like (not) riding elephants and eating and stearing clear of orphan tourism, but these days I´m trying to put an added focus on ensuring I eat and spend locally and limit plastic and other wastes by using products without packaging. I look forward to reading more about your meaningful travels!

Thank you Erica and I’m glad to hear that meaningful travel is also important to you. I don’t think I mentioned orphan tourism in this post, but it’s another one to be cautious of. It’s great to hear about the concerted effort you’re putting into making a positive impact.

What a great, thorough piece this is. I think the most important thing is to be thinking about what it means to travel in an authentic way and discussing it, which I’m glad to see that so many travelers are these days. Things like animal cruelty and riding elephants really need to be public, common knowledge before the industry is no longer profitable, so encouraging everyone to be mindful is really the best way forward. Thanks for sharing!

My pleasure, Kevin. It is great to know that more and more people are starting to learn and take action against these crucial issues. As you say,, the first step is being mindful about it.

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What Is Meaningful Travel?

We want travel to change you in ways you never imagined.

If you want to learn, grow and discover the world and yourself completely, try Meaningful Travel.

How can you discover meaningful travel?

• Park your fears and hang-ups, and engage with people of the world.
• Make an effort to learn some words in a different language and communicate even when you make mistakes or think you look silly.
• Laugh at yourself, try something new, make mistakes, even for things you previously took for granted.
• See locals as world neighbors, not attractions.

Dorene & our server on 19th street

• Discover life skills that impact the world positively, such as, patience, humility, presence, awareness, and cultural sensitivity.
• Not to judge another culture or impose your own values. Instead, you seek to understand other cultures.
• Stay completely present and take in the entire experience, rather than over-thinking and missing the moment

Enjoy locally-run and locally-owned establishments and activities. You may even visit or live in a village, community or neighborhood in order to better appreciate another culture or a different way of life.

Participate in activities and places where locals go such as, staying with local families, visiting orphanages, working on social projects, teaching English, or attending festivals.

What happens when you discover Meaningful Travel:

You return inspired, aware and grounded, eager to share and teach others of your life experiences..

You become a better global citizen and yearn to make a difference in the world.

Meaningful travel experiences are also different for everyone. 

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About the Author Dorene

Dorene is a marketing consultant and freelance writer. She quit her 20-year career in marketing to redesign her career and lifestyle on her own terms by living location independent. Now with her husband Troy, she helps people who want to redefine their midlife and make conscious changes at TravelLifeX. She also trains & coaches travel and hospitality clients to improve their marketing at TravelLifeMedia.com

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Meaningful Travel: What Is It and Why Should Travel Advisors Book It?

One lasting effect of living through the global pandemic has been that people are more carefully considering how they spend their time, both at work and at play. It is no surprise, then, that the trend towards meaningful travel is gaining even more momentum. Travel Market Report took a deeper look at just what meaningful travel is and why travel advisors should be booking it now.

What is meaningful travel? This type of travel goes beyond wanderlust. It is about satisfying a longing for enrichment, for unforgettable journeys … those moments that take one’s breath away, or bring a joy that comes with experiencing new things, sharing moments with loved ones, and making new friends. These are the kinds of adventures that people reflect on days, weeks, and even decades after the trips are over.

“Meaningful travel offers a personal connection deeply rooted in the experience the traveler is seeking. [That includes] connecting with something on a trip that resonates with a personal passion,” said Ralph Iantosca, CTA, LS, DS, expedition and safari specialist, owner of Iantosca Travel LLC, and named among Condé Nast’s Top Travel Specialists in 2020-2022.

For instance, Iantosca described a multigenerational trip to New York that he arranged for a client. The grandmother wanted to keep her granddaughter interested in the travel experience. The granddaughter was in high school drama and singing, so the grandmother loved the idea he proposed of setting up a private voice lesson with a Broadway voice coach for her granddaughter. As it turns out, the granddaughter will be moving to New York this summer to study with a drama coach and a voice coach, and has a talent agent helping her. Needless to say, this trip was a hit all around.

Another example Iantosca gave: “I had a client interested in their family heritage so they went to Norway. The supplier I worked with found a fjord that had the same name, learning later that the family came from that area of Norway. Tracing their family roots in Norway allowed the family to learn about their grandparents, great-grandparents, the family’s immigration to the United States, and they were able to share that with the younger generations who traveled along with them.”

Roberta deGrandis, CIS, MCC, CTA, Let's Go Travel, LLC, also referenced heritage travel in the discussion about meaningful travel: “I think some of the most impactful trips I have helped clients plan are when they are going to visit the places their ancestors came from. Especially when they know the small town or village where their grandparents or great-grandparents came from, and we incorporate a visit to that exact place. I say it's a return to the ‘dirt’ they came from, and it's meaningful when they can walk in the same places they have heard stories about growing up.”

Any destination that touches the emotions of the traveler can serve as the backdrop for a milestone trip. Here are some ideas travel advisors can share with clients to help inspire them to get back out there and travel on an immersive and meaningful journey, either in the U.S. or internationally:

• Standing with the family in awe at the rim of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World – the Grand Canyon – after a journey by historic train through the breathtaking landscape across the U.S.
• Celebrating a milestone anniversary on the deck of a small, yacht-style cruise as the Greek Isles melt into the Aegean Sea
• Sipping on a Bordeaux poured straight from the barrel after a bike ride through the French countryside with friends new and old
• Gathering for a family reunion around a spring-fed pool at a true American oasis in the middle of Death Valley National Park
• Celebrating a birthday exploring the incredible diversity of wildlife in the Galapagos aboard a small excursion ship led by a naturalist
• Seeing elephants, rhinos and giraffes up close during a once-in-a-lifetime African safari, and then returning to luxuriously rustic treehouse accommodations to talk about the day’s adventures with friends

Why is meaningful travel surging now? Research has shown that after the abrupt halt to normal life that came with the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers are now hungrier than ever to experience the world through a new lens and to travel to places that will rejuvenate, inspire, and provide memories that last a lifetime.

“During the pandemic, everyone had the opportunity to think about their future, what matters, and now they want that when they travel,” said Iantosca.

Along those same lines, Kathi Russ, franchise owner and travel advisor, Epic Travel LLC commented: “With the lifting of travel restrictions around the world, pent up wanderlust is being released. It appears that returning to the joy of travel finds many looking to go big and beyond the ordinary with their travel plans.”

As an example, she said: “I have clients who joined me on a European river cruise in May 2022. This trip was planned in the depths of the isolation of the pandemic, after I did a Zoom call highlighting the virtues and value of river cruise travel. This trip was a stake in the ground for this couple to look forward to, while they were going through serious life challenges with aging parents. When the trip finally arrived, the joy and wonder that I witnessed in them was heartwarming. This was their first trip to Europe, and they embraced every step, every disjointed conversation with someone who didn't speak English, every vista and view along the way and the cultural history of the land and its people through the years. This trip was more than just travel – it was a time to open their hearts and minds to the world again.”

The value travel advisors add These are exactly the types of trips where travel advisors add tremendous value to the travel equation.

“We have the contacts with incredible destination management companies in the countries where the clients wish to visit. Having the ability to collaborate and design a one-of-a-kind itinerary is something that travelers really want,” said Iantosca.

He recalled a group trip to Rwanda. The Park Warden gave them a permit to see the very same family of gorillas that he saw back in 2004 on his first trip there. That is the kind of magic a travel advisor can work, because of long-standing relationships in destination.

And with it, “You build a reputation and become known for doing these things, so the referrals grow into this type of business that really becomes profitable,” added Iantosca.

Russ also reflected on why travel advisors are important when booking meaningful travel: “As a professional with access to resources around the world, a travel advisor helps clients not only to go, but to go with gusto, to experience a place and its people in an immersive, authentic way. By understanding what a client enjoys, an advisor can match experiences so the vacation is memorable and meaningful. Think, ‘Do I want to drive by a sheep farm in a bus or do I want to learn how to shear a sheep?!’ Advisors have connections with fourth-generation truffle farmers in the south of France, as well as local guides in Iceland who know just where the most magnificent and remote waterfall is located. 

“Meaningful, bucket-list travel for me means that I am doing far more than booking reservations. It means I am helping my clients to have world-class experiences and memories, that will result in them being my lifetime travel clients.”

Travel advisors can also help in the financial planning for a big trip. “Milestones can be expensive, however the reason to celebrate and share a memory that will last forever is priceless,” explained Iantosca. “Start planning early and add 15-20% on top of the budget you think you have set aside. Making plans two years in advance is something that could save a lot of money. I’ve negotiated rates that far in advance, asking if we pay ahead will they honor the rate this year for two-plus years ahead – it’s always a good idea to ask. Many suppliers are wanting bookings that far in advance.”

Another option, says Angela Armutcu, owner of Jetset Travel, is to have family members and friends contribute financially to a milestone trip instead of having a party, such as to commemorate a 50th wedding anniversary or a multigenerational journey celebrating an important birthday.

And Armutcu offered this parting thought: “I feel that all trips have meaning for customers. It could be the grandparents flying to see a new grandbaby or someone going to an unfortunate funeral. All travel has some special meaning to each customer. We all want the big-ticket trips. In the end, we are here to help all of our customers fulfill the smallest to the biggest trip … It is a big responsibility when people have expectations. It is also rewarding to fulfill their dreams.”   

FROM THE SPONSOR: Xanterra Travel Collection delivers A World of Unforgettable Experiences to the most Beautiful Places on Earth®. Whether your client yearns for an adventure at sea, a biking or walking adventure in breathtaking destinations around the world, a fully escorted tour, a ride in a restored historic train, or unrivaled access to our majestic national parks, Xanterra Travel Collection’s family of companies will help you earn commissions , provide bucket-list experiences, and build customer loyalty. Xanterra Travel Collection specializes in providing authentic experiences, across all of our products. Guests eat local cuisine with ingredients locally sourced, stay in prime locations, and have the opportunity to go behind the scenes to access key sites. It’s vacationing with a locally intensive “wow” factor.

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11 Ways to Make Every Trip You Take More Meaningful

We're partnering with Capital One to launch our new Purposeful Travel Hub . If you have unique ways you like to pay it forward when you travel or just love exploring new places with family and friends, we want to hear about it. Share your most treasured travel moments and purposeful travel tips with us using #MeaningfulMoments .

Looking to bring back something from your travels besides a tan and a few kitschy souvenirs? It's possible to create meaningful, unforgettable moments while traveling, even if you can't dedicate an entire trip to volunteering in Ghana or meditating at an ashram in India. There are easy ways to add purpose to an already-planned trip, even if that trip is primarily about relaxing on vacation.

1. Read About Your Destination

Literature is a wonderful way to learn about a particular place before your visit. Whether it be fiction, memoir or even a guidebook, understanding the history, culture and traditions of your destination can really enhance your trip — and help you forge a deeper connection with a land and its people prior to arrival.

(Photo by Hitoshi Suzuki via Unsplash)

Before a trip to see the famed temples at Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia, I dug into a copy of "Tomb Raider." But I also read a biography by Loung Ung, who described her experience as a child soldier during the Khmer Rouge years. Understanding the regime and how these tragedies affected the country and its citizens gave me an entirely new outlook on the culture and its resilience, enriching my trip even further.

2. Meet the Locals

Talking to locals can help you develop a far more nuanced understanding of a destination. Even if you trip is to an all-inclusive resort, it's important to take time to talk to people at the local markets, to ask your tour guide questions about local customs and chat with resort staff, many of whom live in the city or region you're visiting.

Several years ago, I was invited to dine with a local family in Mandalay, Myanmar after chatting to a local who rented me a bicycle. Tourism was relatively new at the time, and locals were excited to interact with visitors. Sitting on pillows on the floor of their hut by the river; eating oily curry and rice with my fingers; chatting in broken English; watching their children laugh and play was an intimate experience I'll never forget.

You don't have to end up in a family home to meet locals, of course. Simply initiating conversation with your taxi driver can be a fun way to find out colorful information about the destination you're visiting.

3. Learn the Language

Obviously, this can be difficult, especially if you're traveling to a country with a complicated or less common language. But it's very special to see people's eyes light up — and smiles widen — when you attempt to say even a word or two in their language.

When traveling in Laos, I learned how to say a couple words in Lao: thank you, good morning and goodbye. While I felt a little silly saying them at first (I'm sure my pronunciation was horrendous), the locals were thrilled I had taken the time to try and, as a result, treated me with even more kindness, telling me stories and personal anecdotes, even introducing me to their family members or sharing their snacks with me, which gave me immense insight to the Lao way of life and made me forge a more personal connection with Laos.

Download a language app such as Duolingo so you can brush up on your vocabulary and practice pronunciation.

4. Stay, Eat and Shop Local

Using points at brand hotels around the world is a great way to save money and redeem rewards on travel. But consider spending cash on a stay at a boutique hotel, B&B or homestay for at least one night instead. Doing so supports the local economy even more, and can also give you a better look at how locals live and work, too.

5. Lend a Hand

You don't have to plan a whole voluntourism trip to give back during your travels. With organizations such as Pack For a Purpose , you can identify items that are needed in local communities (think: school or medical supplies), bring them in your suitcase and drop them off at various hotels or schools at your chosen destination.

Meanwhile, Give A Day Global helps connect travelers with one-day volunteer opportunities all over the world. And some hotels offer volunteer opportunities where you can help out with conservation programs, animal protection or work at local schools for an afternoon. Remember, it's not about quantity, it's about quality. And a little help can go a long way.

6. Go Beyond Tourist Centers — Responsibly

There may be plenty to see in the city center, but make an effort to go off-the-beaten path, to communities that haven't yet been commercialized or influenced by tourism.

If you decide to do a tour, opt for one that explores less-frequented areas. For example, Comuna 13 Grafitti Tours in Medellín, Colombia take travelers through an area of the city, the 13th District, that many tourists don't get to see. Tourists are encouraged to interact with the residents while respecting the local community. You may even get to meet some of the artists who've contributed to the vibrant street art scene.

(Photo by Fancycrave via Unsplash)

7. Ride Public Transport

Riding the bus or metro with locals is a great way to embrace the vibes of your destination — and get from A to B quickly, too

During a recent trip to Sri Lanka, I took the bus from Sigiriya to see the ancient ruins of Polonnaruwa. Not only did I save almost $30 by taking the bus (which cost just a couple dollars roundtrip) instead of a private car or tuk tuk, but I was thrown straight into Sri Lankan society. The colorful lights flashing over the Buddhist statues on the bus and the Hindi music blaring added to the fun, and I even saw a few wild elephants out of the window during the hour-long adventure.

8. Travel More Slowly

While it may be tempting to squeeze a couple countries or cities into your weeklong adventure, consider traveling more slowly to really get a feel for the destination. To truly experience a city — its people, its culture — take your time, and don't rush.

Every day, make an effort to think about where you are, why you're there and how lucky you are to be able to travel. This will give you a whole new outlook on the journey. Plus, you'll actually feel rested and relaxed after your trip.

Carla Sánchez , co-founder of Secret Yoga Club and The Holistic Concept who guides yoga and meditation retreats and workshops around the world, told TPG that, "Time is valuable and we are always in a rush in our daily life. Slowing down your travel allows you to enjoy and find meaning in every single detail and experience — a true luxury!"

9. Take a Solo Trip

Traveling alone for the first time can be intimidating. You may not want to experience a place alone, or feel guilty for not bringing your partner or family along. But taking a solo trip can be incredibly rewarding, granting you time — and solitude — to reflect on yourself, on the place you're visiting and on why you love to travel in the first place. Even a few days on your own can bring real perspective to your trip — and you may very well find that you make lifelong friends along the way.

10. Get Out Into Nature

Even if you're visiting a busy metropolis, getting outside of the city into nature — even just for a day trip — can be really special. If you can't get out of the city, try instead to build in time for a picnic in a city park or botanical garden. Seeing nature's wonders, be they modest groves of trees or grand waterfalls, can remind you that beauty is everywhere.

11. Put Down Your Phone

The last, but possibly most important way to add meaning to every trip you take, is to put down your phone, live in the moment and truly experience your destination. While it can be tempting to photograph everything or document your time on social media, it can be a distraction.

Test yourself by shutting off your phone or leaving it in the hotel safe, even for just an hour or two, to get the most out of your travels. If you're worried you'll forget an epic experience without a chance to photograph it, take a camera along or, better yet, a pen and notepad, so you can document your adventures by hand. It may be just the therapeutic escape you need.

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5 ways to make travel more meaningful in 2023

Discover your roots, blaze a new trail, or chase your passions to rediscover the wonders of travel this year.

With 2022’s travel woes in the rearview mirror, the year ahead beckons with the prospect of rediscovering the world’s wonders. “We are seeing travel patterns and habits normalize to pre-pandemic times, a good sign of what is to come in 2023,” says Tiffany Townsend, NYC & Company’s executive vice president of global communications. “People are keen to get out there and seize the opportunity to travel, whether they’re returning to a beloved spot or finally visiting their dream destination.”

From acknowledging new perspectives on history to following a thrilling on-screen story into the real world, these five New Year’s resolutions can help make your travels more meaningful.

Blaze a trail  

This year, resolve to get out on a path that reveals a lesser known destination or that brings a fresh perspective to a beloved favorite. The new, 250-mile Trans Bhutan Trail lures trekkers from this enchanting country’s famed Himalayan peaks to outlying regions with its dense forests and ancient fortresses. Other recently created trails span Armenia ; circumnavigate Prince Edward Island , in Canada ; and explore medieval Alpine history and culture around Zermatt, Switzerland .

( Discover 25 amazing Best of the World destinations for 2023 .)

Follow your passion

Is the future of travel passion-based ? Either way, following your latest obsession can deepen a connection to a place—whether it’s to Sicily after binging White Lotus , or Puerto Rico to chase chupacabras . In 2023, soccer fans can head to Australia and New Zealand for the FIFA Women’s World Cup matches . Disney enthusiasts will want to check out the company’s 100th anniversary celebrations (and get their hands on the commemorative swag) at parks around the world. Baseball lovers will flock once again to places like Phoenix for spring training . Anime and comic superfans can geek out at the Anime Expo in California and the ever popular New York Comic Con .

Support local ecosystems

You can help preserve the landscapes and wildlife you love by supporting places that leverage tourism to protect them. Responsible tourism helps rewilding efforts in Scotland , contributes to small-town survival in Slovenia , and elevates a new kind of community-based safari in Botswana . You can also encourage more inclusive nature experiences with outfitters that welcome diverse groups or differently abled travelers.

( Go beyond the beach at these inclusive coastal destinations .)

Grow your roots  

It’s never been easier to travel in search of family history and heritage. When the International African American Museum opens in Charleston , South Carolina , on January 21, visitors can access a database of millions of genealogical records at its Center for Family History. Ghana continues to welcome Black travelers to reforge ancestral links to West Africa. River cruise lines are helping travelers learn more about their European connections by partnering with ancestry testing services. Whether the exploration of roots has fueled the rise in multi-generational travel or vice versa, this travel trend is a great way to bring families together.

( In Charleston, Black history is being told through a new lens .)

Learn something new

There are more opportunities than ever for travelers to add to their skill set while making authentic cultural connections. Learn traditional jewelry-making alongside a Polynesian family in Bora Bora, or perfect your snowshoeing technique along a historic route in Japan once traveled by feudal lords and samurai warriors. Pitch in to get dinner on the table in Guatemala , or trace how traditional foods make its way from farm to plate on an agritourism stay in Tennessee . Or explore mountainside gardens while learning about the health benefits of Rastafarian-inspired organic cooking in St. Lucia . With hands-on experiences like these, trips remain memorable long after they have ended.

( Master these travel skills now for smarter trips later .)

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9 Ways to Make Travel More Meaningful

Travel appears on many bucket lists for a variety of reasons. For some it is simply a time to reenergize your batteries, while for others it’s to experience things first hand or disconnect from the stresses at home. For me, and many others who choose take it one step further and travel deeper, it is because it has the ability to enrich your life in some way, shape or form.

You return a different person than when you arrived. 

Though many people associate having meaningful travel experiences strictly with volunteerism, there are many different ways to travel deeper, exploring the world purposefully and making your ventures matter more. You are the only one that can determine what type of travel experience will make a difference in your life, but here are 9 ways that can help to make your travels more meaningful:

1. Immerse Yourself in the Culture

When many arrive to a foreign destination they make the mistake of visiting without ever really leaving their own world. They choose the route of being a tourist looking from the outside in, essentially sitting on the sidelines taking in everything going on around them yet never really participating.

They are spectators of the city’s people.

On the flip side of the coin, others gain a better understanding and have a more profound experience by being immersed in the culture, which is really just a just a matter of leaving the comfort of your hotel and being engulfed into the world around you. The deepest travel happens when you integrate into a community by actively participating, opening yourself to interact with the locals and understanding the way others live. This can be as easy as actively participating in their rituals, eating traditional dishes from the region or learning the history that makes the city what it is today.

Tips for Immersing into a Culture:

• Learn some basic phrases in the foreign tongue and look for opportunities to interact with the city’s people.
• Get off the beaten path, drink at local pubs and frequent local hangouts.
• Stay away from the tourist traps, but if you are there ask the workers at the souvenir stands the right questions. Ask the real questions about how it is to live, work and eat in their town. Where are their favorite places to go?
• Be patient if you are traveling to a foreign country, as English is probably their second language. Interact with a curious, loving spirit – a willingness to learn.

2. Connect With Nature & Wildlife

Many brushes with nature are brief escapes from an otherwise stressful day; you may pause for a moment to look out your office window at an afternoon rainbow or spot a deer in the fields across from your child’s school. For an instant, the accidental encounter energizes and calms you at the same time, but you may not be sure why. Connecting with nature means more than simply getting a little fresh air, rather it has the potential to make us aware of an existence bigger than the latest Apple product, and possibly even ourselves.

Traveling gives you many opportunities to be among nature and consciously connect with it in its natural environment, not at a zoo or animal park. Look for places that allow you to interact with dolphins in the wild, participate in turtle protection programs or spot birds in natural habitats; visit national parks, sanctuaries and UNESCO World Heritage sites .

3. Give Back

Just like the old adage says “it feels better to give than to receive”. Though giving should be a selfless experience, it is both beneficial for yourself as well as the recipient. Research has shown that there are incredible benefits to humanitarianism; it builds relationships, profits people less fortunate, strengthens communities and helps you gain a different perspective.

Simply put, giving feels good.

Whether you center an entire trip on helping others or add a few volunteer aspects to your itinerary, there are plenty of opportunities to be charitable around the world. There are several organizations that create itineraries where you can join a development project trip, like GVI , Projects Abroad  or Global Volunteers . Or try Go, Eat, Give which organizes trips with the perfect blend of culture, food and community service.

There are also some simpler, less time consuming projects as well, like Pack for a Purpose , where you leave a little room in your suitcase to pack items needed for community projects or lend money to a future entrepreneur through the Kiva .

4. Push your comfort zone

Just as I mentioned that one of the benefits of settings goals with a bucket list is its ability to push you to step outside your comfort zone, expanding your boundaries is also another way to get the most out of your travel experience. Each time you try something for the first time you will grow, a little piece of the fear of the unknown is removed and replaced with a sense of empowerment.

You should walk away from a trip saying, “I can’t believe I had the courage to do that”.

On an international trip, many things will break you out of your comfort zone; dealing with the language barrier, navigating the streets and ordering foreign food. But, also make it a point to do something that scares you just a little. Schedule something new and a little uncomfortable every day of your travel itinerary. Eat something bizarre, try an adventurous activity, and explore the secret nooks and crannies of a unique city.  

5. Travel Solo

Let’s face it, sometimes you are the best travel companion for yourself —you can do what you want, when you want to and it makes planning so much easier when there aren’t other opinions of what to do. Also, you are more open to meeting new people when you are alone; we tend to stick with our travel companions otherwise.

Though many people, especially women, will put their travel dreams on hold because they do not have the perfect companion who has the same available time, money or desire to go on an adventure. By doing so, you will not only miss out on what the world has to offer, but more importantly the feeling of empowerment you get from relying solely on yourself while on the road.

6. Share an experience with someone special

Have you ever been somewhere, seen something truly incredible and wished there was someone there with you to share that experience with? Just like traveling solo can be an enlightening experience, traveling with someone special can create cherished memories as well. A sunset that spreads over the water in Bora Bora, throwing tomatoes at the La Tomatina festival in Spain or a wine pairing dinner in Argentina set atop a hill overlooking the city can be more magical when shared with someone else.

Traveling together builds bonds.

Traveling together can strengthen your relationships by building trust and creating the opportunity to learn more about your companion. A tandem bungee jump in New Zealand can bond a relationship. A girl’s trip to Las Vegas can be one for the memory books. A weekend get away with a parent can be their most special memory.

7. Learn something new

Travel is one of the best educations you can have, it teaches you things that no textbook ever could. It is not difficult to learn something new, as many travel situations will force you to have to figure things out in a foreign destination. You’d be surprised how long it took me to learn how a Japanese toilet worked! But, where the real magic happens is when you are learning something new about a culture, a cities history and people of the land you are visiting, or even something new about yourself.

Look for deeper learning opportunities on your travels; take a cooking class in making a local dish, go on an historical tour of the city or learn to do the local dance.

8. Support the locals

Many small businesses, especially in developing countries, rely on tourism for their economical survival. Spending your dollars at an international hotel chain and its restaurant is only partially supporting the natives of a destination. These companies do create local jobs, but a substantial portion of the profits may go to the large corporation owners and not the region’s people.

Further supporting the locals in the cities and countries you travel to would mean booking tours with local guides, eating at mom and pop restaurants, staying at an independently owned hotels, shopping at the street markets or buying souvenirs directly from the craftsman that makes them. Have the travel globally; think locally mentality and it will pay you back two-fold in experience.

This will not only help the local economy, but also create a more authentic experience.

9. Nourish Your Body, Mind & Spirit

For some a true vacation means pampering themselves with deep-fried foods and glasses of sugary cocktails, plus pulling all nighters while dancing on the bar at the hottest new club. The only real physical activity is walking from their room to the pool to the bar and back. Vacationers typically return home from these types of trips needing another vacation, their body feeling tired and their belly with some extra rolls. They may have had a good time, but they’ll be paying for it for the weeks to come.

The opposite feeling occurs when you have just spent the week nourishing your body, mind and spirit. This could be as simple as practicing meditation in Bali, going to a silent retreat in India or attending a detox retreat in the Philippines. For me it was spending a peaceful week at a yoga retreat in Costa Rica . These types of trips feed not only your body, but also your soul. You return home feeling refreshed and revived, a better version of yourself.

People travel for a variety of reasons and there are several different ways to get more out of your travel. With that said, the most important thing is that your experience makes you happy. If it is bringing you into a positive frame of mind that you otherwise would not be in with a boss hovering over your shoulder or children needing dozens of time-outs than that may be enough meaning for you.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through my links, I earn a commission that helps to keep this blog running—at no extra cost to you. For more information read my full disclosure .

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17 thoughts on “9 Ways to Make Travel More Meaningful”

Hi Annette, what a wonderful experienced. Engaging yourself with another culture is the best way on how are you gonna enjoy the moment out of your comfort zone. Your way of travelling is not just to see the wonders of the world, but to experience the way people lived. I do love reading your articles. Your words are profound that connects to the soul.

Thank you Faye. There are so many different ways to travel, and I love that i am able to experience them all.

Some great ideas on making your travel meaningful. Shopping local and using local tourism companies is really important, volunteering is amazing though making sure you do it the right way and aren’t taking jobs off locals. I love doing local Shopping!

I like very much travel to world. almost i traveled more the 16 countries. Every travel trip I enjoyed. This tips very good for all travel people.

Nice post i loved the rope drive

I have like to travel on religoeuis places and visit all places of india.now planning a trip for nepal

Hello, Annette. I absolutely agree with you. Our travel could be much more meaningful if we did serious things while traveling. I mean helping poor, orphans, disabled people. I think it is necessary to divide each of our trips into two separate stages. Firstly, we should enjoy our journeys. Secondly, we should do something in order to help local people. Being selfish is not beautiful! Thank you very much for writing this awesome post. I hope it will make lives of millions of people worldwide better!.

“Being selfish is not beautiful” — what a great quote!!

Great suggestions!! Thinking responsibly can make your travels more meaningful like volunteer programs, to support local economy and small business.

hello sir, its a really a good information who are going to travel the world/state/country. very informative content thanks for sharing that type of awesome article.

Thanks for sharing these tips. For me, I always find it fascinating to see and be able compare people’s way of living in places that I visit. And what’s even more awesome is that no matter where you go, family is always part of the core of most cultures.

Another thing I’d like to visit during trips are historical landmarks and museums because they make me feel closer and gives me better understanding of the place.

Rich or poor…as long as your parents love you, and you live each day to make them proud, you have a successful life full of true wealth.

I personally liked the point.8, it’s a good thought to travel with a mindset of supporting the less fortunate without doing anything special, we go to the luxury places and spend a lot, and especially during this pandemic time, everybody needs support including the street sellers and roadside small shops. I appreciate your thought of sharing such an important thing through this article. let’s support each other in any way we can – it will come back one day to any of us in any form.

its a really a good information who are going to travel the world/state/country. very informative content thanks for sharing that type of awesome article

Thanks for sharing beautiful insights with us on how to Travel with Purpose. Will plan a Family trip soon.

I loved This Post

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Meaningful Travel

Many people are looking to add more meaning to their travels. Relaxing on a beach is nice, but every once in a while people want to get off the resort and do something that makes a difference. To us, meaningful travel is when travel enriches your life in some way. That could be done by focusing on making your own life better by discovering and learning new things about the world and yourself.  It can also be making the lives richer for the people you meet, the communities you visit and the environments you explore. Meaningful travel is about being aware of your footprint, and doing what you can to help the places that you visit.

If you are looking to make your travels more meaningful, enjoy these articles highlighting all the different possibilities there are to make a difference to yourself or someone else while discovering the world.

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How to Make Your Travel Meaningful?

Riyanka Roy

The pandemic has surely taught us one of the biggest lessons ever! – The fact that ‘life is uncertain’.

Gone are the days of carefree vacations and impromptu plans. The coronavirus has essentially turned our lives upside down with quarantines and canceled plans, lockdowns and isolation, fear and uncertainties, and above all: anxiety & stress. However, with an effective vaccination drive across the world, we’re all hopeful to step out of our homes and wander, all over again. The pandemic has taught me that traveling is an essential human activity and once we have the privilege to explore the world, how about being a responsible traveler? To be honest, it’s essential that we travel meaningfully, not just to gain unique experiences but to change our perspective and look at life differently.

So, what exactly is ‘Meaningful Traveling’?

Well, it’s a common belief that meaningful travel is essentially about opting for a volunteering vacation, but you’d be surprised to know that there are many ways to make your travel meaningful. To put it in simpler words, a meaningful journey is when you indulge in discovering deeper ways of traveling and get engaged in some sort of learning experience, exploring the world more purposefully by contributing to a local business/community, reduce your carbon footprints or choose to spend ample time at one place in order to know more about the culture, heritage, and people.

At its core, meaningful travel means enriching your own life as well as those around you in some way or the other.

Here are some easy ways to add purpose to your trip while you travel meaningfully and gather unique experiences.

1) Research about the place you plan to visit.

It’s not always about preparing an itinerary, booking your stay, or making a checklist of the places to explore – but a lot more than that! The first step towards meaningful traveling is to research about the place you’ve planned to visit, that’ll help you to forge a deeper connection with a land and its people prior to your arrival. You can flip through the pages of travelogues or scroll down the blogs written by travelers who’ve been there already, or watch movies, documentaries & vlogs. I always pick up the Lonely Planet magazine before I travel to a new country, as well as read through articles on the internet. Understanding the history, culture and traditions of your destination can really enhance your trip and help you to add some values to the journey.

2) Go for a longer holiday and travel slowly.

When you think of a ‘vacation’, it’s mostly about a quick escapade – but a meaningful journey is when you go slow, soak in the vibes of the place you are, and take a longer holiday. I understand that you’re always tempted to squeeze a couple countries or cities into your weeklong adventure, but I’d suggest you consider traveling more slowly to really get a feel for the destination. To truly experience a city — its people, its culture — take your time, and don’t rush. Having said that, I also know there are a lot of things that are to be taken into consideration – budget being one of the most important ones, but once you plan effectively, things automatically fall into place. There have been times when people get surprised when I tell them that I’ve explored Bhutan for a month or spend as much time in Kenya and often, they ask – “What did you do there for a month?” – All I could do is share as much as possible through my words, but what I experienced was unique & can’t be paraphrased. 

3) Stay, eat and shop local in order to support local business.

Yet another amazing way to make your travel meaningful is by effectively contributing towards the local economy – and what can be better than staying at a local homestay or opting for an Airbnb, eating at the local eateries and buying ‘home grown’ souvenirs? Using those credit points at 5-star hotels around the world is a great way to save money and redeem rewards on travel, but staying with a local family will give you an opportunity to get a sneak-peek of their lives – their culture and traditions, how they live, what they eat, etc. And you’d surely agree that eating at the hole-in-the-wall restaurant or a local cafe would give you a chance to savor the taste of the authentic delicacies, rather than hitting a McDonalds, while you’re traveling! Hire a local guide when you go out exploring, and they’d tell you the most incredible stories. Shop from the local markets, and you’d get superb deals there. Precisely, while you help the economy of the place you’re visiting, you’ll gather unique memories.

4) Make an effort to learn the local language.

While English is widely spoken in the big cities of almost every country across the world, there are various small towns and quaint villages where people still use the local language. Obviously, it isn’t easy to learn a new language in a short span of time, but knowing the basics will definitely help you to bond with the natives of the land. Trust me when I say this, it’s very special to see people’s eyes light up — and smiles widen — when you attempt to say even a word or two in their language. As I traveled to Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, I downloaded the Google Translate app which helped me learn how to say – good morning, hello, thank you, and a few other words in the local languages of the respective countries. It’s not necessary to nail every word, but your emotions to connect with them through the basics will make your journey meaningful. I remember how the kids I volunteered with in Kenya helped me learn Swahili as I taught them English, and in no time, I could sense the warmth in their hugs as I said ‘Nakupenda’ (which means I love you).

5) Reduce plastic usage and check your carbon footprints.

As per data, tourism was responsible for 8% of the world’s total carbon emission in 2019, which is roughly 815 million tons of carbon dioxide a year! Sounds strange, doesn’t it? Well, now it’s entirely on us to be more conscious about how we travel in the post-pandemic times and check our carbon footprints. Some of the best ways to do that are – opting for direct flights rather than hopping ones, choosing eco-friendly stays, walking or cycling more often than taking a cab, etc. Simultaneously, we also need to be conscious of plastic usage while traveling. By avoiding that mineral water bottle or choosing not to use those plastic carry bags while shopping can make a lot of difference. The world is already polluted enough, and we don’t really need to add more to that! 

I had once read somewhere – ‘It’s just a straw, said 8 million people!’ – and that has stuck with me since forever. On my part, I always ensure to carry my own water bottle whenever I’m traveling, avoid throwing litter especially when I’m on a trek or exploring a heritage site, making sure to do my bit to save the world, and I hope you’d do that too!

6) Go for a trek and connect with nature.

It’s gonna be the easiest way to maintain social distance while traveling, if you opt to go for a trek once the Corona chaos gets over! For millennial travelers like us, embarking on a meaningful travel journey is synonymous to stepping beyond our comfort zone and doing something different – of which, trekking has become immensely popular. No matter whether you choose to hop from one beach to another or walk down the hidden trails of the mountains – there’s surely no better way to connect with nature, other than this! Not just that, but setting out for a trek would also offer you the chance to tune off, detach from the digital world, soaking in the silence to  clear your head. Seeing nature’s wonders – be it the breathtaking sunsets by the beaches or the gushing waterfalls, the lush greenery of the forests or the blue skies painted with white clouds – you’ll always be reminded of how beautiful this world is!

7) Travel back to your roots.

Yet another interesting way to indulge in meaningful traveling is by going back to your roots and knowing where your ancestors came from, what’s your origin, etc. As we keep planning to explore new places every time we travel, it’s immensely important that we travel back in time and understand where our journey started from – and trust me, you never know what secrets you will discover! I’ve known that my grandmother came to India from Bangladesh back in 1947, and it has always been a closed chapter. But given a chance, I would love to go back to the village where she spent her childhood, meet people from that land and know what life is like for them. I’m sure it’s going to add some incredible values to my life and I can’t wait to set out for that epic adventure!

8) Volunteer for a cause.

Having said all of that, volunteering for a meaningful cause and making a difference in someone’s life is surely one of the best things that you can do while traveling. Volunteering as a way of travel would allow you to spend from a few weeks up to a couple of months in a foreign land, where you will have the chance to improve small communities, interact with locals, gain priceless experience and meet some like-minded people from different parts of the world. You can even become a volunteer in your country as well – join the drives to plant trees, clean up parks or organize music festivals, work at a food bank, etc. Whatever you choose, remember that an act of kindness made for someone else will immediately boost your happiness and eventually, a volunteering journey will change the way you look at life.

If I have to put it simply, meaningful travel doesn’t only fuel your wanderlust but it also provides you with an incredible opportunity to make a difference in your own small way, and develop a deeper understanding of the world around you. It’s perhaps the only way to embrace new & enriching experiences while you’re on the go, and also be mindful of yourself, as you explore the world.

This article was originally published here.

Uncategorized

24 Perspectives & Thoughts on Meaningful Travel

by Megan Lee April 14, 2023

There are as many reasons to travel as there are gelato flavors to taste-test and awe-inspiring sunrises to groggily pull yourself out of bed for: to learn, to grow, to become, to breathe fresh air, to see new horizons, to dive into new depths, to hear strange words. But, don’t just take our word for it—there are plenty of fellow travelers out there that will back us up as to why traveling is good, and just how important meaningful travel is.

Travel is all a matter of perspective—and here are some great ones.

To celebrate 20+ years in the world of making travel meaningful , we’re here to share 24 inspiring and unique perspectives on travel from our community, our colleagues, and our team. Read on!

24 reflections & thoughts on travel

1. Destiny Davis—Meaningful Traveler

Community Member | GoAbroad

Meaningful travel is the reason why I never hand individuals items with my left hand or why I would never allow the bottom of my feet to face a Buddha statue in a temple. Meaningful travel is learning respect. Meaningful travel is when you dive into a culture and leave with a greater understanding of a country, its physical atmosphere, people, and social climate. Meaningful travel is one of the most important types of travel, for not only is the traveler forever changed, but leaves an imprint and positive impact on the country he/she visits.

2. Umar Khan—Meaningful Traveler

Travel doesn’t mean leisure only, it is more than that. Travel means responsibility, care, opportunity, and learning. Responsibility for the environment—a meaningful traveler does not engage in any activity to pollute it. Care is to be given to the local community to respect them and buy from them. Opportunity is to do better at the destination, to invest in for the benefit of locals. Learning means to learn something new that you can later implement in your own life in your own country for the betterment and improvement of sustainable travel practices.

3. Amy Ruhter McMillan—International Educator

Associate VP of Marketing | IES Abroad

How has meaningful travel changed in the last 20 years? The one thing that never changes about travel is how extraordinary the people in this field are. Attend any youth travel-related conference or event, and it will be full of people to admire. People who are committed to study abroad and international exchange. People ultimately committed to international education because we believe it can and will change the world. People who have seen first-hand that it IS changing the world.

4. Kate Mosser—GoAbroad Team Member

Writer's Academy Alumni | GoAbroad

Travel creates new situations for you, where you can explore who you are in different contexts. Every time you're presented with something new, you have the opportunity to write the story of who you are. And everywhere you go, you have the opportunity to tell that story. Therein lies the magic of travel: it shapes you at precisely the same time you are shaping it. Whether this is on a camel ride across the Sahara or a bus trip into the next city, you are constantly encountering and creating the new you, and that gives meaning to all travel.

5. Charmaine Yip—Travel Blogger

Blogger | The Canadian Wanderer

Meaningful travel is stepping out of what you know into a realm that you don't know and to see the best of both worlds. 

It is the ability to compare and contrast and to see the advantages and disadvantages of both places and learning to be grateful of where you come from. 

6. Nicole Powers—GoAbroad Team Member

CCO | GoAbroad

It's important to realize these trips are not separate from our everyday lives. They are windows into shared human experience. The people we meet abroad are living their normal life each day—buying groceries, picking their kids up from school, arguing with their boyfriends, figuring out how to pay their rent. This is the most powerful and meaningful part of travel—when your perspective changes from assuming difference to discovering similarity. The only way to care about someone is to identify with them, and the quickest way to that point is on an airplane.

7. Steph Dyson—Meaningful Traveler

Travel Goddess/Blogger | WorldlyAdventurer

Meaningful travel is recognising that visiting a country is not just about the photographs you take: it is about setting aside the camera and become a participant in what you see before you. It is the recognition that travel is a two-way process: we must be willing to give something in exchange for being welcomed into communities and shown kindness by people who have little else that they can offer.

8. Alyssa Nota—International Educator

CEO/President | USAC Study Abroad

More and more people are seeing the unequalled value of education abroad, language learning and the immense personal growth that occurs when one is forced from one's "familiar" into the "unknown" or "different." Technology has made the world smaller. Financial support in various forms has made the far corners of the globe more easily reached. Study abroad programs have transformed into innumerable formats, durations, types and destinations. All of this has brought study abroad into the scope of far more students than ever before - and this can only be considered a good thing.

9. Suzanne Bhagan—GoAbroad Team Member

Meaningful Travel Insider | GoAbroad

For me, meaningful travel is not a competition to see who gets to visit the most places first. It certainly does not mean treating foreign countries like cool selfie backdrops or commodities I can tick off a bucket list. It's about me trying to engage more deeply with a location, people, and culture, which also causes me to interrogate my prejudices from home. Above all, it teaches me that I’m part of a whole—the whole of the human race.

10. Antoaneta Antonova Atanassova—International Educator

Founding President | Mexican Council for Cultural Diplomacy

If I don´t learn about the culture of the place I am visiting, I don’t feel I’ve traveled at all. The culture and the personal interactions of a new place are the object of my learning, and serve as an effective form to compare reality to the cultural bias existing in the media—and to ultimately break paradigms. Travel, interact, feel, analyze, and learn; then, your intercultural competences will grow.

11. Lara Jeich—Meaningful Traveler

Be open-minded, eager to observe, to learn, to adapt. Be open to relate with people, learn and EXPLORE! Be cautious, but don’t stop being adventurous, live the moment and take the best of it. If someone has an advice, take it, you never know when it could come in handy. GET INVOLVED!...with the places you go, the nature that surrounds you, and the people you meet. If you have an opportunity to participate in a local project, never doubt it! It will be the most rewarding experience you could ask for. Traveling can be transforming. Nevertheless, it has to be a “conscious traveling,” the kind that gets you out of your comfort zone.

12. Kayla Patterson—GoAbroad Team Member

COO | GoAbroad

Something magical happens when we travel meaningfully. When we step outside our comfort zone, intentionally immerse ourselves in another culture, and learn more about the places we visit, it changes us. Our fundamental views of the world, ourselves, and relationships shift. We realize that before these experiences, our eyes weren’t wide open and we lacked a profound understanding of our place in the world.

13. Ali Gaffey—Meaningful Traveler

While travel is likely meaningful to the traveler on a emotional level, the term "meaningful travel" refers to a purpose rather than simply the destination. As humans, we are constantly searching for meaningful interactions with each other. Travel allows us to share experiences with people and places different from our norm. Meaningful travel makes us better citizens of the world and keep us desiring for more. 

14. Sunny Fitzgerald—Travel Blogger

Founder | FROLIQ

Don't be so focused on your own journey that you forget to look up and connect with people around you that are all on journeys of their own. Other countries and communities don't just exist for your pleasure. 

Yes, of course, take time to learn and challenge yourself. But, don't forget to get to know the people and places where you travel. What meaning can any trip or life have if it's void of the connection with the journeys that are interwoven with your own?

15. Louise Lieselotte Katharina Mayer—Meaningful Traveler

Meaningful travel is not about the number of "likes" on your Instagram picture or checking off five star sights because TripAdvisor told you to. It has nothing to do with images portrayed or perception of what makes a true "traveler." Traveling with meaning comes from personal growth. It is a chance to challenge yourself and to absorb everything you possibly can, so that you can continue the cycle and give back once again to the world. 

16. Rebecca Schwab—International Educator

Campus Operations Director | Kahal Abroad

Meaningful travel means an opportunity to see the world differently than you ever have before and reflect upon how far you've have come to be standing where you are. Being abroad is a once in a lifetime experience where you develop as a person in a completely new world; I hope more students take advantage of the blank slate being abroad gifts you.

17. Sara Engelhard—Meaningful Traveler

To me, the phrase “meaningful travel” is redundant. All travel is meaningful; however, I do think that “meaningful” is a spectrum. At the highest end of the spectrum, there is travel that transforms not only you, but those who you meet. In even the smallest of ways, “meaningful travel” changes the world.

18. David Hayes—Meaningful Traveler

Don’t take that picture that literally every other foreigner visiting that place has taken, and never underestimate the power of simply "hanging out" with local folks. People shine their brightest in their moments of normalcy. Join them.

19. Vianna Renaud—International Educator

Placement Development Advisor | Bournemouth University

Meaningful travel, to me, is an international experience that makes you think and creates an impact. Even during the most difficult moments, I know that my life has been much more enriched from living abroad.

20. Kendall Dick—GoAbroad Team Member

Meaningful travel is not just a trip or a vacation, it is a journey. But it’s not always as appealing as a picture on the cover of a study abroad brochure. The word “travel” is derived from the world travail, which means painful or laborious effort. 

Meaningful travel promises trials, but in the end, it offers a life changing opportunity for someone else as well as yourself.

21. Elsa Thomasma Alingasa—GoAbroad Team Member

SEM & Content Executive | GoAbroad

Traveling to a new place always makes me realize how many extraordinary people, cultures, and places exist in the world, each one unique and beautiful in its own way. It restores my faith in humanity and the future of our planet, by introducing me to kind, generous, accepting people from all walks of life. Traveling reminds me that media reports are never representative of entire populations, ethnicities, regions, or points in history. When I travel, I find myself continuously redefining what it means to be human, and more importantly, a humanitarian.

22. Anna Vatuone—Meaningful Traveler

I love the way a stranger looks when your first approach them. The way their eyes brighten and their smile curls in anticipation for the words soon escaping your mouth. I love the feeling of a fresh conversation, the way it revives you, the way it awakens you. Crossing paths. I can tell you of nothing more powerful, to meet the very people that make up a place. So, I suppose if you were to ask me what meaningful travel is, I would tell you it’s thanks to the people you meet along the way. 

23. Mary Ellen Dingley—GoAbroad Team Member

Meaningful travel does one of two things—it puts us in touch with others, or with ourselves. Meaningful travel happens when we are open to receiving the stories of people on the other side of the globe, whether through building personal connections or through the local art or history. Meaningful travel can also, as one fellow traveler said, make us "come face to face with ourselves." While lost in strange cities or gaping at mountain ranges, I learned more of who I was. While what is “meaningful” to a traveler may change, the desire for intentional, immersive travel never will. 

24. Shelby Sage Lisieski—Meaningful Traveler

Meaningful travel for me goes beyond sight. One can travel thousands of miles to "see" a certain attraction, however, if only the sense of sight is used, are you fully taking in and embracing all that is around you? Personally speaking, I enjoy taking time to fully immerse in a new travel destination and all it has to offer. The differentiating tastes, the aromas that surround you, the continuous sounds of everyday life, the feelings of objects foreign to what you are used to, and last but not least the entrancing sights. Meaningful travel to Shelby Sage Lisieski means that I become intertwined with the surroundings (living and inanimate), and to always have my five senses strapped to me at all times!

Feeling inspired yet?

Yeah, us too—these thoughts on travel get us pumped. Excuse us while we bite the bullet and actually book one of those Scott’s Cheap Travel flights…

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7 Ways To Make Traveling More Meaningful In 2022 And Beyond

The past two years have encouraged us to re-evaluate the purpose of trips we wish to take now and in the future. from slowing it down and upping the staycation factor, to planning soulful experiences for long-lasting impact, katie berrington explores how to make your vacations mean more, celebrate locality.

Traveling closer to home has often been the only possibility during the pandemic. This has hit international tourism hard, but it has also given us the opportunity to embrace the joys and home-grown wonders of a staycation , discovering cultural and culinary delights (as well as more adventurous expeditions) near to your doorstep – and supporting local businesses at the same time. Plus, it comes with the benefit of not needing to wait until your next vacation to enjoy it all over again.

Make meaningful commitments to sustainability

With a new-found greater appreciation of the freedom to travel should come more responsibility to make conscientious choices, too. We have longer to plan, which means more time to research the eco-credentials of a potential trip (sustainability-specialist travel brands such as Bouteco, Steppes Travel and Responsible Travel are excellent for trustworthy recommendations).

Purposeful, planet-conscious travel goes beyond lightening the carbon footprint we leave, though, offering trips where it’s possible to maximize positive impacts on the places and communities visited. More hotels and travel companies are now offering itineraries that link visitors to a local project, whether it’s volunteering with a conservation program while you are there or giving long-term support to a social enterprise in the area. The Safari Collection, for instance, invites travelers to contribute to the protection and preservation of the Kenyan landscape, wildlife and communities through hands-on and educational projects. And Nihi Sumba allows guests of its breathtaking Indonesian-island getaway to visit, volunteer and partner with The Sumba Foundation, which is dedicated to empowering its local community.

A renewed gratitude for the great outdoors will see travelers seeking secluded spots to reconnect with nature. From island getaways and safaris to walking tours and adventures in the wilderness, being at one with nature will be a much-needed antidote to so much time spent indoors.

Keep it flexible

The roller coaster of changes we’ve experienced over the past two years has necessitated flexibility when making plans. For peace of mind when booking, look for easily adaptable options in case you need to alter it at the last minute. In the event of not being able to go, consider postponing your reservation if you’re in a position to do so, rather than requesting a full refund. This can make a significant difference to businesses that are already struggling in the wake of the impacts to the travel and hospitality industry – and ensures that there’s something to look forward to soon.

Plan bigger for the future

The pause in globetrotting seems to have elevated our travel desires – more time to plan means more time to fantasize about those bucket-list, once-in-a-lifetime experiences the post-pandemic future holds. If it helps to have some visualization, soak up wanderlust in as many ways as you can get your hands on right now – via books, movies , documentaries, Instagram – and mull over the trips that would make your dream-destination shortlist. Take it a step further and start to piece together ideal itineraries and what not to miss while you’re there, too.

Slow it down

The movement towards a slower approach to travel has been growing for a while now. We know that taking a train, if possible, is better for our carbon footprint, but it also adds to the leisurely experience of a trip if you make the journey part of the adventure – plus, you get to fully appreciate the surroundings as you go. Scotland’s Gleneagles hotel, for instance, can be reached by the luxurious Caledonian Sleeper train from London, while Belmond offers a variety of European routes aboard the iconic Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.

The dramatic shift towards working from home has increased the number of ‘digital nomads’, meaning that travels of the future might not be so confined to a tight slot within our annual leave. For those able to, this can mean the opportunity to stay for longer – and to immerse themselves more deeply in a different destination (if necessary, Zooming into a team meeting while poolside rather than from your kitchen table).

Get a taste of travel at home

For when you aren’t there in person, order produce from a particularly coveted hotel or restaurant (The Newt in Somerset, for instance, delivers hampers – including a full Christmas lunch – direct from its gardens, bakery, butchery, creamery and cyder press) to keep travel tastebuds tantalized.

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Solo Traveler

Solo travel tips, destinations, stories... the source for those who travel alone.

Solo Travel: Meaningful Travel

January 15, 2020 by Janice Waugh

How is solo travel meaningful?

We put this question to the Solo Travel Society on Facebook.

It's a vibrant community of enthusiastic travelers who are always ready to offer words of support to solo travel newbies, answer questions for those going to new destinations and share solo travel insights.

Not too long ago we asked: What does solo travel mean to you?

And in your replies I think we discovered many wonderful descriptions of meaningful travel.

Here's what you had to say.

Table of Contents

Solo Travel for Lifelong Learning

It's impossible to travel solo and not learn. As you navigate a new place you learn how differently the infrastructure is organized. As you eat a meal, you learn how the food tastes and, with a bit of curiosity, you learn why it tastes that way. Take a day tour and you can learn about your destination, its history and culture, in a more formal manner. Here's what readers had to say about solo travel and learning.

• Andrew – Learning new things about yourself, cultures, other people and the countries you visit.
• Karen – Seeing places I've only ever heard or read about, and learning about other people and cultures firsthand.
• Jennifer – Too much to learn, too much to see. It's always interesting to learn about new cultures and how locals in a foreign land live. And best of all, being a solo traveler I learn more, not only about other places but also about myself. That's meaningful.
• Nikoless – Surprises and awkward situations that turn out magical and educational.

Solo Travel to Let Go of Expectations, Live in the Present, and Become a More Interesting Person

It's pretty difficult to think of a million things when you need to learn how to catch your plane in a new airport, get to that special restaurant you want to enjoy, or a myriad of other things one does when they travel solo. Because you're traveling alone, you, alone, are responsible for all the details of your travels. This takes focus. You need to be in the present. Not everything will go as planned, so you have to learn to let go of expectations. All that focus, exploring, and being present in a new place makes for meaningful travel and will make you a more interesting person. Here's what readers had to say.

• Bev – It's so exciting to set off on a new adventure, every trip is different and adds to your life experience.
• Lindalee – Learning to live in the present, let go of expectations.
• Leslie – No matter how much you plan, there is always something unexpected that happens or that you see that makes the experience so much more interesting and meaningful than planned. People wonder why I like to travel solo if no one else is with me to share the experience. I say it makes me a more interesting person because I come back with great stories to tell!
• Lee – It's a journey and raises our awareness of our surroundings.
• Kanthes – The feeling of gratification especially when meeting people who become friends.
• Barbara – Being gone! I'm a workaholic. Leaving my home gives me the liberty to not think about it. It's a practice of letting go.

Meaningful Travel Can Put Life into Perspective

Oh my, how we can get bogged down in life's little frustrations. Whether it's seeing how fortunate we are by traveling to places that have less than we do, or taking a break from our routine we see how insignificant those little frustrations are, solo travel puts life into perspective. Here, again, is what readers had to say.

• Jessica – It gives me perspective and makes me realise there's a big world out there. Most of my problems seem unimportant when I'm travelling or planning a trip.
• Neeraj Ratnu – Solo travelling is magic in itself. It simply makes me more alive. On every trip I wonder, “how can this place be so beautiful?”
• David – Gives me time to reflect on things away from my normal environment, to find new surroundings and find inner strength.
• Georgie – Independence, self-worth, and self-value. I focus on the “real” world and how lucky I am to have grown up in one of the “lucky countries.”

Solo Travel Means Learning How Capable You Really Are

• Steve – A sense of accomplishment because I travel solo.
• Rob – It's not only the knowledge I've gained about other cultures but, as importantly, about myself. Traveling alone makes me realize I really can do anything!
• Maureen – Freedom, centering, expanding my mind, learning more about myself, growing as a person, adventure, so many things.
• Nikhar – Finding yourself.

Summing Up: The Meaning of Solo Travel

There were two comments that really stood out for me.

• Tuấn – meet new people, know new places, say a new “wow!”

Say a new “wow!” I love this expression. How great is it when your breath is taken away by the beauty of a landscape, the wonder of cultural dress, the taste of a cuisine? Let's say “wow” a lot!

• If I Were You – Looking back on it later is oftentimes more meaningful than the trip as it is happens.

This is so true. The meaning of meaningful is often best seen after the fact.

Thank you all for your thoughts and contributions to this post.

Sharing is caring!

Publisher Janice: info @ solotravelerworld.com

Editor Tracey: tracey @ solotravelerworld.com

Sales Simon: simon @ solotravelerworld.com

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Explore With Purpose: 13 Meaningful Travel Experiences

Can travel help a person grow? Can adventure push us to experience more meaning? We think yes. Today we’re rounding up fifteen creative meaningful travel experiences – made to push boundaries, develop ourselves and discover more through our adventures. Let’s do this!

Ancestry-Based Adventure

With ancestry research companies like Ancestry.com and 23andMe, understanding your family’s lineage is easier than ever. Discover your past and your family’s history… and discover a side of yourself that you never knew. Think of how fascinating it would be to have your own two feet on the same lands as your ancestors!

Travel To Learn

Education, like travel, is a limitless endeavor. What is it that you always wanted to learn ? Is it to learn the Japanese art of ceramics or to be a student in the historic halls of Oxford? Do you long to educate yourself on art history while surrounded by Italy’s ancient relics? Traveling to learn is a meaningful journey for your mind and spirit.

Disconnected Travel

In today’s modern world, traveling without the digital convenience may seem like a backwards way of maneuvering around the globe. But with the continuing rise of digital detoxes, traveling disconnected is a true challenge for the mind. Our strong desire to constantly be entertained by our screens is a crutch only a select few can push themselves towards overcoming. Reconnect with yourself and feel closer to nature and your surrounding environment.

Extreme Physical Demands

Climb Mount Kilimanjaro? Trek through the wild forests of Germany? Pushing yourself physically is one way to exceed your expectations and feel one with the capabilities of the human body. It’s amazing what we’re capable of when pushed to the extremes. And the feeling of accomplishment that comes with completing a journey of a lifetime is incredible!

Long Term Trip

Traveling for a week-long holiday is a completely different experience than traveling long term . Leaving behind your well loved hometowns, the places you’re most familiar with, and embracing the unknown is life changing. A long term trip redefines what “home” is to a person.

A Trip To Learn A Language

There’s no better way to learn something new than to immerse yourself in it. Fancy yourself a Spanish speaker? Travel to Spain or Southern America! Always been infatuated with the Chinese language? Spend some time in China! As much as language learning apps and classes can teach a person – there’s nothing quite like attempting (and often failing) to translate in real life.

Creative Excursion

Learn from the artistic masters around the globe. Going on a creative excursion gives us the time and the purpose to learn an art we otherwise thought we were incapable of doing. Learn how to weave, paint, act, photography, dance (or whatever else your heart fancies), from the artists you respect most. So many amazing workshops hosted around the world are popping up! Do your research and book that trip – you might be the next Picasso!

Give back. Volunteering gives our travels an added element of meaning – no matter what capacity you give back.

Reconnect With Nature

Nature has the innate ability to feel at peace and one with ourselves. A walk in the wild, whether it be for an hour or for a few days, quiets the mind and gives us connection to the world and our minds. Soak in the beauty of our globe . Push yourself to use the natural elements that surround you as a propeller to discovery and wonder. Book a trip to a remote cabin, go hiking, or camp in the wild – the possibilities are seemingly limitless. Nature beckons… answer its call.

A Road Trip Of A Lifetime

We’ve all dreamed of the perfect road trip, but have you ever considered that this type of trip could give you more purpose than a regular trip? Taking yourself on the road gives you the ultimate freedom to decide your itinerary and feed your fantasy. See an epic sunset? Pull off on the side of the road and soak it in. Heard about a quirky site you think is hilarious? Give you inner comedian the laughs you crave. Road trips give us the freedom most trips don’t offer. Determine your course and follow it through!

Overcome Your Fears

Ah… the ultimate meaningful trip. Book a trip that pushes yourself to overcome your deepest fears. Afraid of heights? Book an excursion to sky dive or scale the highest mountains. Afraid of sharks? Go deep sea diving or go swim with them. You get the idea. Intentionally deciding to push your limits in this capacity gives you the inner strength to accomplish what you fear most… giving you empowerment like you’ve never felt before. Be fearless!

Foodie Trip

Fill your spirit and your stomach. A foodie trip with lots of goodies to devour can give travelers a deep and personal look at the traditions of cultures unlike their own. They say that food has the magical ability to bring people together. See for yourself. Book a cooking lesson to learn the traditional meals and flavors of a far off destination, or create your own foodie itinerary filled with local favorites.

Last but certainly not least, a solo trip! We believe that solo adventures give travelers the unique experience of learning about themselves in more ways than they could ever expect. Venturing this globe on one’s own teaches travelers about their own courageousness, patterns of thinking and just how capable they are independently.

Have you ever done any of the above trips? What did your experiences teach you?

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Laura Jean is the editor of Dame Traveler and creator of the creative travel blog Roam + Go Lightly . She believes in traveling with curiosity and an open heart. On any given day, you can find her on her laptop, writing or furiously researching her next adventure. Laura is a world traveler and serial wanderluster, but is most passionate about one thing - writing a love letter to this world. You can find her writing, daily musings and adventures on Instagram .

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Meaningful travel: Women, independent travel and the search for self and meaning INTRODUCTION: TRAVEL AND THE SEARCH FOR MEANING

It is increasingly recognised by researchers that tourism experiences incorporate more than just physical travel to a place, as they can also involve spiritual elements, psychological and physical benefits, altruism, self-development, and life-change. Building on this recognition, this paper puts forward the idea that independent travel plays an important and meaningful part in the course of people's lives. The concept of 'meaningful travel' is defined and explored, using women's experiences of independent leisure and business travel as a context. Conceptualising travel as meaningful and relevant to everyday life reveals the complex, fluid and dynamic nature of the tourist experience, and calls for an effort to transgress simplistic and uni-dimensional interpretations of tourism, business travel and holiday-taking. Analysis of the women's stories and words revealed that 'meaningful travel' centred around three key themes: a search for self and identity; self-empowerment; and connectedness with others/ 'global citizenship'. Essentially, what the findings demonstrate is that meaningful travel is not about a mere search for authenticity and a collection of 'cultural capital'. Rather, meaningful travel involves women searching for an increased sense of self and reconsidering their perspectives of life, society and their relationships with others. Furthermore, the results also demonstrate how women are able to transfer the meaning and benefits from their travel experiences upon their return home, within their everyday lives and contexts.

Related Papers

Elaine Yang , Charles Arcodia

In response to the increasingly risk-conscious environment in contemporary society, a growing body of literature has been dedicated to tourist risk perception. While risk is widely assumed to be a negative element in tourism, this perspective overlooks the fact that risk and tourist experience are intrinsically connected. This study takes a different approach by focusing on tourist risk-taking behavior, specifically, the risk perception and risk management of Asian solo female travelers, with an aim to contribute theoretical insights to the partial, conventional understanding of tourism risk. Located within a feminist framework, this study reveals how existing tourism space remains gendered and Western-dominated, how Asian women grapple with risks through various gendered spatial and bodily practices, and how negotiating risk is also a way to negotiate gender identities. A number of recommendations are provided for future research and for the tourism industry to foster a friendlier space for the Others.

Elaine Yang , Catheryn Khoo-Lattimore

Following the rise of tourism in Asia, a growing female travel market has been observed in the region. Nevertheless, limited research has considered the travel experience of Asian women. In response to the dearth of research on Asian female travellers, this study employs a narrative synthesis approach through a postcolonial feminist lens to review the extant literature on Asian female travellers, with the aim to contribute to a cultural understanding of the historical and contemporary travel practices of Asian women. Based on this review, it is evident that Asian women’s travel behaviour is influenced by cultural identities and gender stereotypes. However, existing literature has also demonstrated the agency of Asian women in resisting discriminatory gender practices in tourism, which is represented in the transformation of the identity of Asian female travellers. Accordingly, an agenda for future research is proposed and some implications for the industry are discussed. This study addresses the western-centric and androcentric criticisms in tourism field and provides an alternative reading of women’s travel behaviour from an Asian perspective. This study has contributed to the critical tourism scholarship in Asia and has built an important foundation for future research on Asian female travellers, an area that is not well investigated.

“Girlfriend getaway” as a contested term: Discourse analysis

Liza Berdychevsky

Free access to the full paper is available until April 10, 2016 via http://authors.elsevier.com/a/1SaVHxTbMbI5h All-female leisure travel is a fast growing tourism market segment that is frequently called “girlfriend getaways.” This study explored the meanings associated with the “girlfriend getaway” term, using discourse analysis to understand the ways women build significance, activities, identities, relationships, politics, connections, and sign systems and knowledge with respect to it. Eleven focus groups and 15 individual interviews were conducted with 83 American and Canadian women. The analysis revealed that “girlfriend getaway” is a term with contested and polysemous meanings. While some women found it to be adequate, accurate, cute, and reflective of their all-female tourist experiences, others described it as stereotypical, narrow/claustrophobic, “pink,” inadequate, and unreflective of their experiences. At times, the same symbolic meanings attracted some women but alienated others. Thus, tourism marketers need to identify and engage with different strands within their female clientele to ensure that their strategies appropriately respond to various preferences and lifestyles.

Gibson Heather , Catheryn Khoo-Lattimore

In the realm of women’s travel, while the accommodation experiences and preferences of female business travellers have been investigated, little is known about the female leisure-traveller in this regard. This study investigates one of the growth sectors in women’s travel - girlfriend getaways (GGAs), which are holidays taken by females with other females. An action research approach was employed to explore the accommodation needs of these all female travel groups in the Malaysian context. Using a five stage approach which included in-depth interviews, a hotel-stay for three groups of women on a GGA, focus groups and secondary data analysis, four themes were identified. These themes address feminine comforts, facilitating friendship, safety, and shopping and the use of discount promotions with GGA. Findings suggest that the needs of female leisure-travellers are distinct from those of women who travel on business. Recommendations for hotel management are made to enhance the GGA experience for women, notably providing spaces and activities to facilitate female bonding.

Karen E McNamara

Travel, Tinder and Gender in Digitally Mediated Tourism Encounters

Donna James , Garth Lean

The heightened inclination of tourists to engage in risk-taking behaviour and promiscuity is frequently documented in the tourism literature. There is still much to be learned, however, about how the app-facilitated, sexual encounters that characterise (hetero)sexual lives in a mobile, digital world are becoming a part of tourists’ expected and desired tourism experiences. This chapter draws upon qualitative data from tourists who use the Location Aware dating application (app) Tinder, alongside a critical examination of Tinder’s User Interface (UI) and User Experience Design (UXD), to unravel the complexities of the ‘Tinder Tourist’ and the gamified ‘hook-up’ app that both drives and satiates their quest for sexual experiences abroad. Tinder Tourism is a phenomenon which can reveal much about travel and problematic power relations in digitally-mediated times.

Asian Journal of Business Research

Nor Hafizah Selamat

As a moderate Muslim nation, the mobility of Malay Muslim women in Malaysia is not legally restricted by the state. However, their movements are constrained by factors such as their roles, responsibilities, and the need to preserve values related to their religious and custom requirements. These constraints are shaped by patriarchal gender norms where women are expected to be obedient to a system of institutionalized male power. Our paper seeks to understand the constraints subjected to Malay Muslim women in travelling for leisure and study how they negotiate those constraints using technology. Based on ten qualitative, in-depth interviews conducted with Malay Muslim women aged between 22 to 37 years old, the findings showed that women are gaining the support, trust and freedom to travel via technology. Using the Hierarchical Constraint Model, the findings indicate that culture is significant wherein several constraints faced by MMW differ from those faced by Western or other Asian women. The new insights generated from this paper are unique as they reflect on the unexplored segment of Asian women where Malay Muslim women are becoming the testament of transformation. The finding indicates their departure from the gendered patriarchy norms as technology becomes their tool to negotiate constraints while facilitating the growth of female travel market. A significant association between travel constraints and negotiation illustrates that women are empowered by using technology to travel.

Adele Doran

Women’s participation in adventure tourism is growing, yet few studies have explored this group of tourists. This conceptual paper seeks to extend our understanding of female adventure tourists by examining the empowering journey women can take through constraint negotiation to enjoy the benefits of adventure tourism. Using content analysis to review the literature on women’s adventure experiences in tourism and recreation settings reveals prominent themes that have been consolidated to propose constraint, negotiation and benefit categories. A conceptual model is presented that illustrates the opportunities for women’s empowerment within these categories and examines the interrelationships and interdependency between them. The model shows that constraints, negotiations and benefits can be experienced simultaneously, at different points in a woman’s adventure tourism journey and used as a vehicle for empowerment. Women will also re-evaluate these categories before, during and after their adventure tourism experience. Therefore, the categories are not fixed and evolve each time a woman participates in adventure tourism throughout her life. Suggestions are made for further study in this under-researched area.

in Laura Peja, Nico Carpentier, Fausto Colombo, Maria Francesca Murru, Simone Tosoni, Richard Kilborn, Leif Kramp, Risto Kunelius, Anthony McNicholas, Hannu Nieminen, Pille Pruulmann-Vengerfeldt (eds.), Current Perspectives on Communication and Media Research, Bremen: edition lumière

Simone Tosoni , Valentina Turrini

Drawing on the preliminary findings of an ongoing case study of female solo travelling in Italy, the present chapter intends to propose some methodological considerations about addressing media activities in social practices. In this way, it intends to contribute to the attempt to decentre media studies advocated by authors like David Morley, Shaun Moores or Nick Couldry. With this aim, it focuses in particular on the practice's 'media territories' and on the temporality of media activities that participate in articulation of the practice. An analysis of what Theodore Schatzki defines as 'objective' and 'subjective' time reveals how solo travelling in Italy contrasts with the ongoing tendencies of transformation related to the pervasive mediation of tourism.

Girlfriend Getaways and Women’s Well-Being

Liza Berdychevsky , Gibson Heather

"This study explored girlfriend getaways (all-women leisure-based travel), focusing on the importance and meaning of such experiences and their potential contribution to women’s overall well-being. Data collection involved 11 focus groups and 15 individual interviews, resulting in a sample of 83 women from diverse backgrounds. The data were analyzed using constructivist grounded theory. The threads evident in the link between girlfriend getaways and well-being can be classified into four interrelated domains: escapism, different gender dynamics, existential authenticity, and empowerment. The women particularly noted a sense of freedom from social structures and gendered expectations. Links are made to feminist scholarship in leisure and tourism studies, and attention is drawn to the importance of all-women localized leisure spaces for empowerment and well-being."

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Journey of Kindness: Inspiring Volunteer Travel Stories and Articles

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Passing Thru Travel

10 Best Travel Tattoo Ideas for the Avid Wanderer

Posted: March 24, 2024 | Last updated: March 24, 2024

Embarking on a journey often leaves a significant impression on our souls, transforming us in ways beyond imagination. For many, capturing these profound experiences becomes essential, and what better way to do so than with a travel tattoo? These tattoos are permanent reminders of the places we’ve been, the cultures we’ve embraced, and the adventures that have shaped us.

Choosing a Meaningful Tattoo

Image Credit: Shutterstock / ArtFamily

When deciding on a meaningful tattoo, it’s essential to reflect on what specifically draws you to a design. Question the intent behind your choice: does it hold significant meaning to you, and is there a story that underpins this decision? The permanence of a tattoo necessitates careful consideration to ensure its lasting value. Will this piece of art continue to resonate with you years down the line? Given its permanency, making a thoughtful choice is paramount.

Travel Tattoo Ideas for the Explorer

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Soloviova Liudmyla

Travel leaves an indelible mark on our lives, whether it’s through overcoming personal barriers or fulfilling long-standing dreams of visiting specific locales. These personal experiences, such as a thoughtfully chosen travel tattoo, deserve a commemoration.

Incorporating elements like a memorable quote in the local dialect, the coordinates of a special place, or imagery that reflects your journey, travel tattoos can serve as a unique testament to the memories and experiences garnered through your adventures. Here, we highlight a selection of ideas aimed at commemorating those invaluable travel experiences.

1. Compass Rose

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Popartic

The compass rose has long stood as a navigation symbol, guiding travelers across uncharted territories. When tattooed, this timeless emblem signifies a wanderer’s quest for exploration and the constant journey through life’s metaphorical compass points. It’s a reminder that you possess the innate ability to find your way no matter where you are.

Insider’s Tip: Opt for a design that integrates personal elements or destinations that hold special meaning to you. Customizing the compass points to represent significant locations can add a layer of personal significance to your tattoo.

2. World Map Outline

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Jacob Lund

A world map tattoo is the quintessential choice for globetrotters, encapsulating the essence of wanderlust. It serves as a visual bucket list, a canvas waiting to be filled with colors or markers at each new destination visited. This tattoo invites conversation, storytelling, and a lifetime of adventure.

Insider’s Tip: Consider a minimalist design or selective detailing for a more elegant, timeless look. Adding a dot or a small symbol at the locations you’ve visited can make your tattoo evolve with your travels.

3. Native Flora and Fauna

Image Credit: Pexels / Ithalu Dominguez

Tattoos featuring the native flora and fauna of a destination offer a unique way to commemorate a specific trip or place. These designs can capture the beauty of a locale’s natural environment, embodying the essence of the destination and your connection to it.

Insider’s Tip: Research local artists specializing in botanical or wildlife tattoos for the most authentic representation. Their insight can lead to a more meaningful and accurate design.

4. Cultural Symbols

Image Credit: Pexels / RDNE Stock project

Incorporating cultural symbols into your travel tattoo can pay homage to places that have significantly impacted you. Whether it’s a Maori Koru for new beginnings, found in New Zealand, or a Celtic knot symbolizing the interconnectedness of life, these tattoos carry deep meanings and respect for the cultures they represent.

Insider’s Tip: Always approach cultural symbols with respect and ensure your tattoo does not appropriate or misrepresent the culture. Engaging with a local artist from the culture can enhance the tattoo’s authenticity and respectfulness.

5. Coordinates

Latitude and longitude coordinates are a subtle yet powerful way to mark a special location on your body. This could be the place where you felt a significant shift in your life, a memorable adventure, or where you left a piece of your heart. Coordinates are a conversation starter and a personal reminder of moments that matter.

Insider’s Tip: Choose a font that matches the sentiment of the location – elegant for a romantic spot, bold for a life-changing destination.

6. Local Architecture

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Cast Of Thousands

Immortalizing a piece of local architecture through ink celebrates the beauty of a destination’s design and preserves the memory of the moments spent there. From the intricate details of a Gothic cathedral to the sleek lines of a modern skyscraper, these tattoos are a tribute to the places that have captivated your heart.

Insider’s Tip: Work with an artist with a strong portfolio of architectural designs to ensure the intricacies and proportions are captured accurately.

7. Travel Quotes

Image Credit: Pexels / Matej

Sometimes, words can encapsulate the essence of travel more powerfully than any image. A quote that resonates with your wanderlust spirit can serve as a daily inspiration and reflect your journeying philosophy.

Insider’s Tip: Choose a font that reflects the mood and meaning of the quote. Script fonts evoke a sense of adventure and elegance, while typewriter fonts offer a vintage appeal.

8. Passport Stamps

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Peter Gudella

For those who wish to wear their travels on their sleeve—quite literally—passport stamp tattoos are a creative and detailed way to document every destination. Each stamp can represent a chapter in your travel story, making this tattoo a living document of your adventures.

Insider’s Tip: To keep the tattoo visually cohesive, consider designing the stamps uniformly or arranging them in a specific shape or pattern.

9. Aircraft or Travel Icons

Image Credit: Shutterstock / oneinchpunch

Simple yet iconic, tattoos of airplanes, ships, or other modes of travel symbolize the joy of journeying and the freedom it brings. These designs are perfect for those who live for the thrill of departure and the promise of new experiences.

Insider’s Tip: Personalize your tattoo by incorporating elements that reflect your favorite way to travel or a memorable trip.

10. Constellations

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Lucky-photographer

A constellation tattoo can hold significant meaning for the traveler who also looks to the stars for direction. Whether it’s Ursa Major for those who navigate by the North Star or a zodiac sign under which a special trip took place, these tattoos connect us to the universe and our place within it.

Insider’s Tip: Consider adding a subtle glow effect or dots to represent the stars for added depth and realism.

The Bottom Line

Image Credit: Shutterstock / PeopleImages.com – Yuri A

Tattoos are a powerful medium for storytelling, and for those bitten by the travel bug, they offer a unique way to hold onto the experiences that shape us. Remember, the journey of choosing a travel tattoo is deeply personal.

It’s about finding a design that speaks to your soul, reminds you of the vast, beautiful world out there, and inspires you to explore further. So, as you embark on your next adventure, consider how you might carry a piece of it with you, forever etched in ink.

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The post 10 Best Travel Tattoo Ideas for the Avid Wanderer republished on Passing Thru with permission from The Green Voyage .

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Stasia04.

For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.

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New York TSA workers get contract boost: What does it mean for travel?

• April 1, 2024 5:25 AM / Updated: April 2, 2024 6:19 AM

New York transportation safety officers will see improved working conditions thanks to  a newly ratified contract .

The new  American Federation of Government Employees and the Transportation Safety Administration agreement  creates an engaging workplace for employees.

Some points in the agreement include a new grievance and arbitration process to resolve cases quicker and better leave conditions.

Mark Schumacher, chief union steward with AFGE Local 2222, said this contract will also help with employee retention.

“We have had a lot of attrition through the years,” said Schumacher. “A lot of young employees get into the TSA and then they jump to other agencies, because the pay is not commensurate with the difficult work that we do, nor are the benefits.”

Between late 2022 and mid-2023,  TSA attrition rates dropped 61% , due in part to a new compensation plan.

The contract is significantly longer than the 2020 contract, with 37 total articles. It may seem like a lot, but even something like uniform rights can have meaningful impacts on these workers’ lives.

The new contract is valid for seven years, with an option to be extended for another year if both parties agree. It’s currently under review by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

Schumacher noted that feedback has been highly positive to the contract. He said he’s glad this contract recognizes TSA employees’ challenging work and some conditions they do them under.

He said they have to work during government shutdowns without pay, and have had certain funds directed away from the agency.

“Those monies have been funneled off to other government agencies to pay down debt,” said Schumacher. “We just had the good news that those ticketing fees are going to be put back into TSA where they should have been and they’ll help pay our salaries. That’ll help get better technology to protect the flying public.”

More than $4 billion in fees were collected in 2023 .

Some contract elements almost didn’t remain.

During the contentious federal budget process, Republican lawmakers introduced  legislation to reverse pay increases  for TSA workers who weren’t transportation safety officers. But, it wasn’t in the final budget.

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Edwin is a reporter and producer in North Tonawanda, New York. He’s previously reported for the Niagara Gazette and the Ithaca Times. Edwin got an early start in radio interning for WBFO-88.7FM, NPR’s Buffalo affiliate. In 2018, he graduated from SUNY Buffalo State College with a B.A. in Journalism, and in 2022, graduated from Syracuse University with an M.S. in Communications.

• Entertainment

The Meaning Behind Beyonce’s ‘Blackbird’ Cover on Cowboy Carter

B eyoncé's eighth studio album Cowboy Carter , the second act of her three-part project, released at midnight on Friday. One of the most striking songs of its 27 tracks is a soulful cover of the Beatles' "Blackbird," which features a quartet of Black country singers: Tanner Adell, Tiera Kennedy, Brittney Spencer and Reyna Roberts.

The inclusion of "Blackbird" (styled as "Blackbiird" on Cowboy Carter , in keeping with the act ii theme) may come as a surprise to some; for one, in recent years, Beyoncé has rarely done covers of other artists' songs. For another, though Beyoncé has been clear that her new album "ain't a country album, this is a Beyoncé album," many of the songs on the album are firmly in the country space, making her inclusion of the decidedly folk rock classic "Blackbird" especially significant.

Read more: Everything We Know About Beyoncé’s New Album Cowboy Carter

"Blackbird," which was written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon and included on their 1968 self-titled album, is a song about hope and survival, with lyrics that encourage the titular bird to "take these broken wings and learn to fly." However, throughout the years, McCartney has been vocal about the song being inspired by the American civil rights movement and specifically the Little Rock Nine , the trailblazing nine Black students in 1957 who faced immense discrimination after they enrolled in a formerly all-white high school following the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education ruling.

In a 2019 interview with GQ , McCartney detailed how this struggle for racial justice inspired him and Lennon across the pond.

"I was sitting around with my acoustic guitar and I'd heard about the civil rights troubles that were happening in the '60s in Alabama, Mississippi, and Little Rock in particular. So that was in my mind and I just thought, 'It'd be really good if I could write something that if it ever reached any of the people going through those problems, it might kind of give them a little bit of hope,' so I wrote 'Blackbird.'

Read more: ‘I Had a Right to Be at Central’: Remembering Little Rock’s Integration Battle

He also shared that he wrote the song specifically with Black women in the civil rights movement in mind, which makes Beyoncé's decision to cover it with all Black female country artists especially significant.

"In England, a bird is a girl, so I was thinking of a Black girl going through this—you know, now's your time to arise, set yourself free, and take these broken wings. One of the nice things about music is that you know a lot of people listening to you are going to take seriously what you're saying in the song. So I'm very proud of the fact that the Beatles output is always really pretty positive," he said.

In 2016, nearly 60 years after "Blackbird" made its debut, McCartney met two members of the Little Rock Nine, Thelma Mothershed Wair and Elizabeth Eckford, after performing a concert in North Little Rock, AR.

"It's a really important place for us because this is, to me, where civil rights started," McCartney said during the concert . "We would see what was going on and sympathize with the people going through those struggles, and it made me want to write a song that if it ever got back to the people going through those struggles, it might just help them a little."

Incredible to meet two of the Little Rock Nine--pioneers of the civil rights movement and inspiration for Blackbird. pic.twitter.com/QrnOQnqrFX — Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) May 1, 2016

The song has been covered extensively over the years, by everyone from the Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl to Sarah McLachlan. Now, Beyoncé's version featuring Adell, Kennedy, Spencer, and Roberts serves as a reminder of the Black women at the forefront of the racial justice movement. It also draws a parallel between the ways in which Black artists and particularly Black women artists still have to fight for space in the industry, especially in the country genre, which has historically been less than welcoming to non-white and women artists .

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Write to Cady Lang at [email protected]

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When is the 2024 total solar eclipse? Your guide to glasses, forecast, where to watch.

Editor's note: An updated cloud forecast for the April 2024 total solar eclipse is in. Read the latest eclipse forecast and news as of Wednesday, April 3 .

We're less than two weeks away from the astronomical event of the decade: A total eclipse of the sun , which will grace the nation's skies from Texas to Maine on the afternoon of Monday, April 8 .

Millions of people are expected to travel to see the spectacle, which will also attract scientists from across the country to study its unique effects on the Earth and its atmosphere . (Meanwhile, brands such as Burger King, Pizza Hut, Applebee's and Sonic are getting in on the eclipse excitement too.)

The full total solar eclipse experience will plunge people along a narrow path into darkness midday, but people outside the path of totality could still use eclipse glasses to see the moon pass in front of the sun. It's an awesome and confusing sight on the ground and in the sky.

It should go without saying: Don't drive while wearing eclipse glasses

One task to do now is to get yourself a pair of special eclipse glasses (and luckily there's still time to score a free pair of eclipse glasses ). They're important eyewear during an eclipse because they will block out the sun's harmful rays, which could damage your eyes when you're looking at the sun — even if it's partially blocked.

Solar eclipse glasses are still readily available from plenty of vendors across the internet as of Thursday, March 28. But be wary of counterfeit or fake glasses , experts warned.

The other big factor everyone's anxiously awaiting is the weather forecast, which most experts say is still a bit far away for a specific forecast. But more detailed, realistic forecasts will start to roll in over the next few days.

Of particular interest will be the cloud forecast , as a deck of thick, low clouds would likely ruin the entire event. But if the clouds are higher up in the atmosphere, such as thin, wispy cirrus , they'd act to diffuse but not ruin the eclipse.

USA TODAY 10Best: 10 solar eclipse fun facts to share with your friends

There's plenty to know before the big day, which won't happen again for about two decades . Read on for answers for all your eclipse questions, including how to watch the eclipse , understand the eclipse and use eclipse glasses to stay safe .

WATCHING THE APRIL 2024 ECLIPSE

How do i watch the 2024 solar eclipse.

There are a few ways of watching the eclipse:

• Get the full experience in person : If you're in a narrow band of U.S. land that spans from Texas to Maine, you could see the moon block the sun and its shadow cast a night-like darkness over Earth for a few minutes. You'll briefly be able to look up without eye protection and see the moon block the sun.
• Watch from outside the path of totality : Much of the U.S. is set to get a partial view of the eclipse that isn't nearly as impressive as being in the path of totality. Earth won't be plunged into complete darkness and you'll have to wear protective eyewear to see the moon partially block the sun.
• Watch a livestream : Check back on April 8 for a video feed from the path of totality. It's not the same as being there in person, but hey, at least you won't have to sit in traffic .

Totality explained: The real April 2024 total solar eclipse happens inside the path of totality

What time is the solar eclipse on April 8?

The eclipse will begin in Texas at 1:27 p.m. CDT and end in Maine at 3:35 p.m. EDT, but the exact time of the eclipse varies by where you are in its path.

You can search by zip code to find the exact time for your location.

Where will the April eclipse be visible?

All of the lower 48 U.S. states will see the moon at least clip the sun, but that sight is a trifle compared to being in the path of totality.

Because the narrow path includes or is near some of the nation's largest cities, expect millions of people to crowd into a band of land a little over 100 miles wide that spans from the Texas/Mexico border to the Maine/Canada border.

Here are the major cities in each state where you can expect to experience totality (note that the included times do not account for when the partial eclipse begins and ends):

• Dallas, Texas: 1:40-1:44 p.m. CDT
• Idabel, Oklahoma: 1:45-1:49 p.m. CDT
• Little Rock, Arkansas: 1:51-1:54 p.m. CDT
• Poplar Bluff, Missouri: 1:56-2:00 p.m. CDT
• Paducah, Kentucky: 2-2:02 p.m. CDT
• Carbondale, Illinois: 1:59-2:03 p.m. CDT
• Evansville, Indiana: 2:02-2:05 p.m. CDT
• Cleveland, Ohio: 3:13-3:17 p.m. EDT
• Erie, Pennsylvania: 3:16-3:20 p.m. EDT
• Buffalo, New York: 3:18-3:22 p.m. EDT
• Burlington, Vermont: 3:26-3:29 p.m. EDT
• Lancaster, New Hampshire: 3:27-3:30 p.m. EDT
• Caribou, Maine: 3:32-3:34 p.m. EDT

Will clouds block the April 2024 eclipse?

It's too soon to say for sure, but history offers some clues.

Chances of cloudy skies are pretty high along much of the eclipse's northern path, and some areas such as Buffalo have about a 1-in-3 chance of clear skies in early April.

Skies are usually more clear to the south. Right along the Texas/Mexico border, chances of a clear sky can be nearly 75%.

However, early forecasts tell a different story — although forecaster caution it's too early for truly accurate forecasts.

Keep in mind that clouds don't always ruin an eclipse . High, wispy clouds won't spoil the show in the same way that low thick clouds would. In that case, you wouldn't be able to see the moon pass in front of the sun, but you would still notice a sudden darkness in the path of totality.

What dangers are associated with the eclipse?

The  eclipse , as exciting and fun as it promises to be, comes with a growing number of safety warnings — both for what will happen in the sky and what will happen on the ground.

In addition to the dangers of looking at the eclipse without proper eyewear, we've heard warnings about potentially dangerous  fake eclipse glasses , the possibility for increased  car  c rashes  around the time of the eclipse — and possible  air travel headaches  due to delayed or cancelled flights.

Where is the best place to watch the eclipse?

In the weeks leading up to the eclipse, Texas was considered the best state for eclipse viewing . Historically, there's a good chance the skies will be clear and its location along the southern path of the eclipse means totality will last a little longer. That could change as the forecast evolves .

A few lucky travelers will also have a front-row seat with unobstructed views — from a plane .

Will traffic be bad?

Most likely, yes — especially after the eclipse ends . Millions of people will crowd into the narrow path of totality, then many will attempt to leave all at once as soon as the eclipse is over.

When a total solar eclipse passed over the U.S. in 2017, reports say some traffic jams didn't fully clear for more than 12 hours. Even worse, a recent study reported that the 2017 eclipse "was associated with increased risks of a fatal traffic crash" – potentially as much as a 31% increase, the study said .

Also worth noting: The eclipse is expected to have impacts for air travel as well.

Cities across the eclipse's path of totality are also bracing for an influx of visitors who are already booking up hotels and short-term vacation rentals , officials have told USA TODAY. "Hotels are almost sold out," said Shalissa Perry, the chief marketing officer for Downtown Dallas.

Why are schools closing for the eclipse?

Primarily out of a concern for students' safety, schools across the country have given students  the day of the eclipse, April 8,  as a day off, a half day or a chance for e-learning. In Tennessee, for example, officials also say it gives students a chance  to experience the eclipse with their family and friends .

What's it like to watch a solar eclipse from space?

Ever wondered what it is like see the  solar eclipse  from space? NASA scientist and veteran astronaut Terry Virts has witnessed the spectacle in space .

"When I was in space in 2015, we saw an eclipse over the North Atlantic," Virts told USA TODAY this week. "It was an eclipse that very few humans saw I think, but it was a really unique experience to look down and just see this big black circle kind of moving across the planet."

"It was unlike anything I've ever seen," Virts adds. "I joke I'm glad they told us there was an eclipse because it would have been unsettling to look down at Earth and see this black spot moving across. It was really cool."

Virts, who is the face of  Sonic's eclipse-themed Blackout Slush Float , said that though he's seen one eclipse from space and many from Earth, he is super excited about the upcoming one on April 8.

UNDERSTANDING THE 2024 ECLIPSE

What is a solar eclipse definition explained..

A total solar eclipse happens when three celestial spheres — the sun, moon and Earth — line up in a specific way in space.

According to NASA, a solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth. That alignment casts a moving shadow on Earth that either fully or partially blocks the sun's light in some areas. This leads to a period of partial or full darkness on a narrow stretch of Earth. 

The path is so narrow because of the huge distance and size of the sun — as well as the moon's distance from Earth. That focuses the moon's shadow on an area of land much smaller than the moon itself. The movement of the shadow across the land happens as the Earth's rotation interacts with the orbit of the moon.

A total eclipse only happens occasionally because the moon doesn't orbit in the exact same plane as the sun and Earth do. In addition, a solar eclipse can only happen during a new moon.

What's special about a total solar eclipse?

The total solar eclipse on April 8  is causing such a stir because the rare event is an astronomical experience like no other that will be unusually accessible to millions of people.

April's total solar eclipse will fall over more places in the U.S. than the total eclipse before and after it. And the broad length of the path of totality – where Americans have the best shot of getting a clear view – is "much wider"  than it was for the eclipse in 2017 , according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

A total solar eclipse is also far more impressive  than a lunar or an annular solar eclipse. During an annular eclipse, the moon covers the Sun but leaves an outside ring some call a "ring of fire" — it darkens the sky instead of plunging Earth into a night-like darkness, which is what happens during a total solar eclipse. And a lunar eclipse – the appearance of a red moon – happens when the moon passes into the Earth's shadow, according to NASA.

Total solar eclipses can have spiritual significance, too . Ancient cultures viewed as a sign of the gods' anger or impending departure. Some religions today are hosting eclipse viewings and services.

Historically, eclipses have left major marks on religious and spiritual civilizations. In Christianity, an eclipse has been associated with the darkness that accompanied Jesus' crucifixion and in Islam, the passing of the Prophet Muhammad's son Ibrahim.

When was the last solar eclipse?

The USA's most recent total solar eclipse was on August 21, 2017, and stretched from Oregon to South Carolina.

When will the next solar eclipse happen?

The  next visible total solar eclipse  to cross over the U.S. after April will come in more than two decades on Aug. 23, 2044, according to NASA.

And that eclipse won't be as accessible as the 2024 one: The path of totality in 2044 will only touch the states of Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota, according to the Planetary Society, a nonprofit involved in research, public outreach and political space advocacy. Another total eclipse  will pass over the U.S. in 2045  that will be more accessible to Americans, including for people who live in California, Florida and Nevada.

ECLIPSE GLASSES AND SAFETY

What are eclipse glasses and why are they needed for the eclipse.

Gazing at the bright rays from the eclipse without  protective eyewear  can seriously damage your eye, so wearing a pair of protective glasses is important.

There's a technical standard for eclipse glasses, which are designed to block out most light and let you safely see the moon pass in front of the sun: It's called ISO 12312-2 after the International Organization of Standardization.

While there's concerns that not all glasses marketed as eclipse glasses live up to that standard, experts say in the past, the shortcomings haven't been significant .

But as the 2024 eclipse approaches, the American Astronomical Society  has warned that there are some counterfeit and fake eclipse glasses being sold from unverified vendors that would be unsafe to use during the eclipse. They recommend buying from a vetted vendor and testing the glasses before the eclipse.

How do I get solar eclipse glasses?

You should buy from a reputable source who can ship the glasses to you in time for April 8. A guide to last-minute eclipse glasses explains more.

Heads up: The online marketplace is flooded with retailers selling solar eclipse glasses they claim have the NASA seal of approval . Consider that a red flag to look elsewhere.

How can you test eclipse glasses?

NASA shared an easy method to check eclipse glasses at home.

Buyers should put on their glasses and look at a bright light, like a flashlight. If the light is "extremely dim," or doesn't appear at all, the glasses are safe, Susannah Darling, of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, said in an instructional video. Viewers should be able to see the filament of the lightbulb, not the glow surrounding the bulb.

Can you really go blind watching a solar eclipse?

You could severely damage your eyes . Directly staring at the sun before and after the total eclipse, or watching a partial eclipse outside the path of totality without proper eye protection, can result in permanent damage including blurred and altered vision.

While rare, eye damage from watching a partial eclipse happens in part because a person's natural response to squint when looking at sunlight does not get triggered. In the lead-up to the  April 8 solar eclipse ,  doctors and a rare set of eclipse watchers are warning about  watching this planetary event without adequate eclipse glasses or with the naked eye.

It’s hard for experts to know or even estimate how many people experience eye damage from solar eclipses. Since looking at an eclipse does not cause complete blindness, people with permanent damage may not know they have it or report it to a doctor. The 2017 eclipse , which passed from Oregon to South Carolina, is thought to have caused about 100 cases, according to the  American Astronomical Society .

How can I watch the eclipse without glasses?

If you don't have access to eclipse glasses do not use regular sunglasses — You need a more creative solution for safe viewing, like a pinhole projector .

Welding glasses are not recommended for eclipse viewing .

Should I take dogs or cats to see the eclipse? Is it safe for pets?

An eclipse itself isn't dangerous for domestic animals such as dogs and cats, but experts say it's probably best to not bring pets .

Experts' biggest concern is not what’s happening in the sky but on the ground as crowds of excited and anxious people gather, said Dr. Rena Carlson, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

“Rather than the effects of the eclipse, I would be more worried about the excitement and all of the people,” she said.

Another fun way to experience the eclipse: disco balls

Don't just reach for the solar glasses; a disco ball might be a fun and safe way to enhance the total solar eclipse experience .

Inspired by a research paper from European scientists, the Round Rock Public Library in Round Rock, Texas, near Austin, used disco balls during the annular eclipse in October and recommends people do the same for the April 8 eclipse. Officials said the use of a disco ball creates a "party-like atmosphere" to make a solar eclipse event more fun.

The mirrored ball can be placed outside where it can catch the sunlight and reflect it on a shaded wall at least several feet away, or it can be inside near a window to cast reflections of the sun around the room. Youth Services Librarian Andrea Warkentin recommends people get disco balls that have smaller mirrors on them as they will create bigger and better images.

"It's a way to make it really memorable and fun for little kids who may not really understand what's going on in the sky," Warkentin said.

-Fernanda Figueroa, Austin American-Statesman

Contributing: Ramon Padilla, Karina Zaiets and Janet Loehrke