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  • Travel Fears and how to overcome them!

    Travel Fears and how to overcome them!

    Travel fears are real, especially if you are younger. Just because you are older and more travel-wise it doesn’t mean that the fears are gone at all. The travel fears are super real and can be apparent even for the most experienced travelers. Anywhere you go will offer new challenges and create new fears. But the real question is, how do you overcome those fears?

    A lot of fears from travel come from the unknown and unexpected outcomes. This can be new locations, new people or new activities. But there are definitely ways to not only overcome them, but thrive during this time. It’s not simple at all but if you follow these steps then you will be well on your way to getting there.

    Fear Identification

    First of all you have to identify the fear. This may seem very obvious but it isn’t as straight forward as you may seem. If you are looking to book your first solo travel trip and come to a sticking point when booking – even though it’s the perfect trip, it is most likely due to fear/worry. You know you haven’t done this before, and I’m sure you have friends or family who are worried on your behalf which hasn’t helped. This seems pretty obvious what the fear is. But for other circumstances it may not be so clear.

    You have to figure it out the problem before you can look to solve this problem. The solving can be mighty difficult if you don’t know what you are supposed to solve.

    The fear could be an activity you have done previously and enjoyed thoroughly, or a place you love. Sometimes it’s the things you can be most comfortable with that can include or build up fears. Maybe it’s a previous experience or maybe a high expectation that you’ve set or maybe it’s slightly different? There’s many factors that can alter and develop old feeling and turn them into fear.

    So the best way to identify this would be to break the idea down. Split it into parts to help see where the fear is located. If you are worried about going to a conference, then is it due to meeting new people, or having to do a speech, or maybe something simple like eating in public? There will be an isolated fear somewhere, you just may have to dig further down into the activity or place to locate it.

    Gradual Exposure vs Instant Exposure

    Now these two cannot work hand-in-hand but is the main two ways in which people can overcome a fear which is preventing them. They both work towards the same goal of breaking that fear and reaching that ultimate goal. But it’s done in different ways so let’s delve deeper into what they mean and how they can help.

    Gradual Exposure

    Gradual exposure is the art of taking things slow to reach the goal. This will be part exposure to get comfortable. An example would be if you are scared of spiders, you would start with being in the same room with one. Once this becomes comfortable, you will then get a little closer and with time, get to the point you can stand by them without sprinting out the room. This is a ‘gradual’ process that can take up to weeks or months to master. It allows your body to be at ease with whatever your fear is.

    This is aimed towards more reserved people who are less impulsive and spontaneous, but still have a desired goal at hand. They are to edge closer at their pace where they can comfortably go and make progress this way as they aren’t able to move any quicker. Which leads perfectly into Instant Exposure.

    If we use a bungee jump or sky dive for example, someone who looks to use gradual exposure may start of with a small ledge, then onto diving in a pool. All the way up to a cliff jump and then onto the idea, the final fear.

    Once they reach this fear, they will see it as a 3 metre dive or a cliff jump. In an attempt to trick the brain and reassure that we have done something similar before. The brain is more comfortable as it’s done something that’s somewhat similar, regardless of the scale and becomes more confident

    Instant Exposure

    Instant exposure is the simple decision to throw themselves into it in any means. This may not be directly into the fear, but into something similar that can massage that fear and allow for an easy jump next time. An example of this is a visiting a new place. A new place is scary and way outside your comfort zone. However, booking a flight may not be, neither is getting on a plane or being in an airport.

    The idea of a new place is what you focus on though. But you know it’s very similar to what you have done many times before. You may even be staying at a hotel/hostel chain you have stayed at before, just at a different location. These familiarities is growing the confidence your body has.

    For the instant exposure, it’s more of ‘faking it till you make it’ and being spontaneous by dealing with the ‘fear’ later. You are to trick the brain that you can’t go back as you have booked it. Another example would be an interview. We have all been nervous and wanted to cancel an interview right before attending it. Your brain will come up with excuses or reasons why you shouldn’t go, but these aren’t real reasons but more-so any excuse not to turn up.

    The actual hardest step of conquering that fear is to simply accept you are doing it. Just booking it in, whether it’s a scary sky dive or an interview. Your body will kick in and complete the fear, but booking it can be the real sticking point. So sometimes your brain works better when you just book it and deal with the fear once you are in front of it.

    Examples of Travel Fear & Overcoming Them

    Skydiving

    Sky Diving or any sort of fear that drives from height is tough to overcome. We know people who have legitimate crippling fear of heights and it’s not fun to watch. However, if you take the gradual exposure approach, you will start with something that’s comfortable, your limit which may be a 2 metre ledge or looking down out of a 3/4 story window. As you are in control of the situation, you are likely to get comfortable and feel safe at some point which allows the opportunity to increase the levels. You are to increase it as close to the fear as possible. So, if you are comfortable with the height but don’t like the jumping aspect, you start with diving in a pool and work your way up.

    You end when you feel ready to book that sky dive and feel satisfied that what you have achieved so far, is close to the overall goal.

    For instant exposure, it’s the hurdle of booking it. A good way to get comfortable with the idea of booking it is speaking with people who have done it before. A positive response will lower the fear a little, and make you one step closer to booking that skydive. When it comes to the sky dive, you will recite what you have learned from either of the types of exposure and use that to fuel the almighty jump. Remember, there will be many reasons flowing through your brain on why you shouldn’t do it. Such as what if the parachute doesn’t pull or you faint. But in reality, this is there to put you off so just focus on the end goal.

    Instant exposure is the task of small steps in the process, whereas gradual is small experiences towards the process.

    Solo Travel

    Solo travel is probably one of the hardest to overcome for travelers, as it combines many different fears in one. It’s worrying how to meet friends, or reacting to any problems that may occur, or even visiting a new place which adds further fear. For gradual fear there are a few ways to dealing with this. You can tackle the fears individually or at a scaled level.

    Individually might be visiting a new place in locally for you, with a friend or family member. You are likely to be comfortable with this and enjoy it. You then can build it up by visiting this place again but by yourself. This will allow you to be more confident in your own presence and learn to enjoy your company. The next step could be to visit somewhere close-by on your own which you haven’t been before. You can just do a small time there or just a walk to get comfortable. Maybe even stop for a coffee or a small lunch here.

    You will become accustom to being in your own company and in new/different places which is imitating the feeling of what you are likely to feel when you solo travel. So you are forced to ask for help if you need or ordering food at the bar to strangers, it’s all a step in the right direction and will build up your confidence in being a solo traveller.

    Instant Exposure is a simpler path but a lot harder to conquer, it’s all about mental reassurance and attempting to book the experience and ‘go with the flow’. Doing it this way can be helped by speaking to people who have experience solo travelling or even reaching out to groups online who are planning to be in the same place as you at the same time. If you meet fellow travellers, you can support each other in booking that solo trip and making that leap into the fear. After all, the booking is the hardest part. If you can create friends who are to be there when you are, it will feel like you are travelling with a friend rather than being a solo traveler meeting strangers.

    Conclusion

    These examples and types of exposures can be assigned to any type of fear you have when travelling. You either need to imitate a scenario and almost role play to get comfortable, allowing your body to understand the task and how to overcome it. Or rather find ways of booking the opportunity with the support of others and using your own experiences as you know booking the fear, is usually always the hardest part.

    We have both experienced many travel fears in which we have overcome many. This includes solo travel, meeting new people, new experiences and so much more. It’s becoming accustom to venturing outside your comfort zone and a whole lot of f**k it moments.

    So you are aware, Aimee runs off instant exposure and normally books before realising what the fears are or look to face them head on. Whereas Jack is somewhere in between depending on the scenario. You have to find what works best for you and decide on how you want to attack the fear. As no one can conquer it for you but you!

    Thank you for following the blog and we hope this truly helps you overcome those long or newly developed fears with travel or even other aspects of your life. If you did find this helpful, do like the blog and subscribe for more blogs to come!

    Do let us know what your travel fears are in the comments below! We may talk in another blog regarding our experiences of overcoming our own fears and how we did it so if you want to know more, let us know.

    You can follow our daily travels and experiences using our social media’s below! Do check it out as we are heading off to Thailand soon with a whole lot of Thai content to come!

    Find our Travel Essentials!

    We have a full list of recommendations for any travels! Check out our:

    We also recommend using these when planning your next trip!

    • Trip.com – Find amazing flight deals, with over 2 million flight routes, and being one of the world’s leading online travel agencies.
    • Airalo – With over one million people using Airalo, it is our go to eSIM provider for our worldwide trips! Having data packs from over 200 countries, find combined area packages and deals to suit your travel style and data needs!
    • Booking.com – Offering over 28 million accommodations to book, we will always use booking.com! Having a rewards system built in, the more you book, the more perks you get!
    • HostelWorld – You cannot budget travel without hostel world! Having over 17,000 hostels, boasting over 13 million reviews, hostel world is one our of top websites for budget travel! They are now offering more ways to meet people abroad, with meet ups, group chats and more available!
    • Get Your Guide – Book unique (and common!) experiences and activities worldwide, including skip the line tickets to big attractions worldwide!
    • Eat With – Experience authentic travel experiences with locals worldwide! Use eat with to book unique and intimate dining experiences, such as dinner parties in big restaurants, big feasts with a local family, cooking classes with a local and more!
    • ETKA – Every age from 3 to 85 can buy ETKA’s travel insurance, offering multilingual 24/7 chat support, and your insurance policy within 2-3 minutes!

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  • Ultimate Backpacking Packing Guide: Essential Tips for Your First Adventure

    Ultimate Backpacking Packing Guide: Essential Tips for Your First Adventure

    Let’s be honest, that first time packing your backpack ready for travelling is both exciting and daunting- excited for what is to come, but overwhelmed with knowing what you need (and don’t need), especially if you are going for a longer period of time.

    So, please read on to see our top tips on things to pack for your first backpacking trip! We always forget things, but having a list as a guide is always a great start!

    We believe these are great things to pack, but everyone differs, and we are sure you will find your own packing style with time; some don’t like packing smaller amounts, and will opt for larger bags to take more, whereas some are just happy with a small bag and simplistic packing list.

    *This post includes affiliate links, which means we can earn a commission- however, this doesn’t cost you any extra, and all opinions are genuine and our own 🙂

    Bag options

    A great start to packing is essentially what will hold it all! You may already have your bag, but if you don’t this is our small guide.

    We prefer to backpack rather than bringing suitcases, and we also try to opt to handheld luggage rather than checked in bags. For us this keeps costs lower and makes the travel experience more enjoyable. The last thing you want to be doing is walking around with a heavy bag on your back on tiring yourself out!

    There are many opinions online about what bags to use, what size, what brand etc, so here is our top list!

    Osprey Farpoint 40 – This backpack is a staple amongst many travellers! Being a lot cheaper than the luxury brands, this is a quality backpack from a well known brand. It boasts quality durability, is lightweight with a great framework and is a great option for most people! This backpack has a hip strap to help carry the bag, a breathable harness strap, and comes in multiple colours! Check it out here.

    Peak Design Travel Backpack – This backpack is more expensive, however many call this the best travel backpack they have owned! Featuring up to 45l of storage, is can be compressed down to a smaller 30l bag, making it suitable to be a handheld bag for most flights (check individual airline separately)! It features designated laptop space, hidden pockets, a waist/hip belt amongst many cool features! Check it out here.

    Cabin Max Ryanair Bag – This budget friendly backpack is a great option for shorter trips! We understand many do not have the funds to buy expensive bags, so this option is a lot cheaper than many mainstream options. This bag fits the Ryanair measurement constraints for hand luggage so no need to pay for booked luggage! It comes in some really fun colours AND patterns, so you can really choose what fits your aesthetic most! There is also an option to get a bag with a built in handle, similar to suitcases, so is great for those unable to carry a bag all day! Check it out here.

    How to pack

    This probably sounds a strange title. However, travel packing can be a skill in itself! Especially for those longer trips for weeks/months+, you want to take the necessary items without using too much space.

    Packing cubes are a necessity to us when we travel! There are a few types of packing accessories you can buy, so we will list some of our favourites below!

    Normal Packing Cubes – Packing cubes are a great way to keep your stuff organised when packing for big trips! This set we found here included 11 different packing accessories, with 6 cubes, a shoe bag, underwear bag, toiletries bag, a laundry bag, toothbrush holder and a small items flat bag! It also comes in a few different colours.

    Compression Packing Cubes – Compression cubes are our favourite packing accessory! These cubes are similar to the normal packing cubes, but feature a compression zip, meaning you can compress your clothes down… this makes packing easier, limits the space you are using, and means more room for souvenirs etc! We would recommend better quality ones like these ones here as cheaper ones can mean the zip breaks easier!

    Toiletry Travel Pouch/Hanger – This isn’t necessarily an essential, but for many it is extremely helpful! This toiletry bag comes with a built in hanger, so when you get ready in your accommodation you can hang it up on the door, which can limit the chance of ruining your things! It can help make getting ready less stressful – no need for countertop space since everything can be arranged and stored in different compartments! Find it here.

    Travel Essentials

    There are some key items needed for travelling, that normally works out a lot easier (and sometimes cheaper) to sort prior to your trip! We are keeping in mind the budget traveller more so here, with some recommendations being suited to hostel-based accommodation.

    Padlocks – Keeping a few padlocks are great for keeping your stuff safe when travelling. Most dorms come with locker space to keep your items safe, however barely any come with their own locking system. This is where your padlock comes in! It is also great to use one on the zips of your bag if this makes you feel safer. We have never been stolen from whilst travelling, but it is always best to stay on the safe side. Find some TSA approved padlocks here.

    Carabiners – This is another small item that can come in handy! Carabiners are a great addition to keep, as when you are struggling for space, or you don’t want something held in your bag, you can attach your carabiner to your bag and hang an item outside your bag – i.e. your dirty hiking boots! Find some multicoloured ones here.

    Universal Travel Plug Adapter – Most backpackers/travellers visit multiple countries during one trip. And that means it isn’t guaranteed you will be using the same plug head during each place. A universal plug is great as it lets you switch between each plug head style all in one item! We love ours, it has USB slots meaning multiple items can be charged at once. Find similar to ours here.

    Ear Plugs – We know a part of dorms means you are open to hearing people snore (some people don’t mind, others really struggle), so ear plugs are great to overcome that! You might even want to shut off from people around you (and that’s okay)! We have recently seen a massive hype for loop ear plugs, due to offering multiple styles of ear plugs (for different noise levels). Find a cool one here.

    Water Bottles – we are going to suggest two types here! The first is a filter water bottle – while travelling it can be difficult to find suitable drinking water. This filter system water bottle is meant to help eliminate any harmful bacteria that can come from regular drinking water. Read about it yourself here! Our second recommendation is a collapsable water bottle which can fold down to a very compact size – this is a great space-saving option, and one we have used ourselves! Find it here.

    Portable Shower Head Filter – This won’t be for everyone, however in many Southeast Asian countries (guaranteed), tap water is extremely damaging to your hair and skin. People have reported of travelling Bali and experiencing hair loss and damage from the harsh shower water. You can now buy a filter to attach to the shower head that will help remove harsh chemical and will add in some extra vitamins. Find one here.

    Basic Medical Kit – This is easily made from home! Check medication requirements for each country, but pack some basic painkillers, anti-diarrhoea medication, and anti constipations meds, electrolytes (especially for when you get a bad belly). Some plasters and basic medical supplies. We found a great starter kit here.

    Head Phones – We also love to take headphones wherever we go! Sometimes you need time to yourself, or you just want to chill and catch up on some YouTube in your down time (please feel free to watch our videos here). We would recommend wireless options, just for ease of charging your phone and carrying your items. Find a great recommendation here.

    Laundry essentials – If you are travelling for longer periods, you will need to wash your clothes! We found these through a friend of ours in Costa Rica, you can get laundry detergent sheets that simply go in the washing machine to clean your clothes! They are budget friendly, and can be found here. We would also recommend a separate laundry bag… you do not want smelly clothes mixed in with clean clothes (the smell can get bad). We have found a cute one here.

    Bumbag / Pouch – We always love a bumbag to take all your daily necessities along, without needing to drag your big backpack out with you! We love flat ones, that can be easily hidden underneath your tshirt for day to day use. This one here is a great option, it comes in many colours and is discrete for travelling in busy places.

    Spare Cards – We would always recommend to take multiple bank cards when travelling. Jack made this mistake… and lost his one travel card the day he left for Southeast Asia (luckily his friend had one he could use). We use revolut but there are many great travel cards!

    Razors – There are many hair removal techniques, and you may be able to find what you need while away! To stay on the safe side, maybe take a few back up options. You can buy compact razors like the ones here, or maybe try taking an electronic razor if it’s not too heavy/bulky!

    Sanitary items for women – For those who choose to have their periods while travelling, it isn’t always straight forward to buy sanitary towels and tampons. It can either be expensive, or just difficult to find! We would just recommend taking a decent supply for your trip, as they don’t take up too much room! There is the option of trying period underwear (not too sure how these will be for people with heavier periods), also many opt for the eco-friendly alternative of a moon cup, which can be found here.

    Waterproof Playing Cards – Yes, we understand this may not be a necessity… but we all know how much a game of cards can be appreciated (especially on your travels). We have found a cool pack of WATERPROOF cards (they look cool too) which are great for any location and occasion, find them here.

    Powerbank – Don’t lose power when travelling! It isn’t always guaranteed to find charging ports, so we would always suggest carrying a spare power bank, just incase you do run low on power when you need it! Jack really recommends this one here.

    Travel Toothbrush – It’s always great to freshen up, so carry a compact toothbrush and paste so you always feel ready for the day ahead! Find a great one here.

    What clothes to take

    This will solely depend on the person. Jack likes to pack little, and isn’t majorly fashion focused… however, I myself (Aimee) love to take a few extra options to change up my outfits! Plus, we always try to get some really nice travel photos, and I want to look nice!

    We do recommend to not take as much as you think you might need! A great tip we have seen before is put out what you think you need, then half it, and half that again! Apparently that is the right amount!

    We won’t give a big list of what clothes to take as that does vary. But we suggest taking these on top of your essentials :

    • Swimsuits (at least one full costume for women)
    • At least 1x long top/trousers for places you need to cover
    • A shawl can be a great option as a cover up!
    • Sandles
    • Walking shoes
    • A proper hat for the sunny days
    • Sun glasses
    • A jumper/hoodie/cardigan for chilly nights
    • A rain mac for all weather and activities

    Walking Shoes

    We do suggest trying options on if you have never previously brought walking shoes! However, our recommendation for men’s walking shoes would be these Soloman walking boots, and for women’s we suggest checking out some of the Mountain Warehouse ranges like these ones here.

    Sandals can also come in walking-approved formats (how fun)! We have seen a massive hype over Teva sandals, which Aimee will be buying some for our next trip! Find a nice pair here.

    Apart from that, maybe take a pair of comfy trainers or flats to have a bit of variety!

    Packing is different for everyone

    Just like travelling is different for everyone, so is the packing! We have put this list together as a rough guide, however it will vary SO much trip to trip, person to person!

    We hope this list will help you for your first backpacking trip!

    If you would like to support our own travel Journey, please check out all our other blogs, and subscribe to the newsletter where we are currently uploading daily blogs!

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    Finally, share this post with your friends! Let’s build those travel plans!