Before we start with how to become an addicted traveller, we should take a look at the actual definition of a traveller.
Let’s see what google has to say:
A traveller is:
1. a person who is travelling or who often travels.
2. a person who holds New Age values and leads an itinerant and unconventional lifestyle.
Good news, because the definition basically means that we all are travellers already. YEAH!
What you just need to love about travelling
It would exceed any kind of article to list the endless reasons, you’ll love travelling.
Therefore just a few:
- It makes you truly happy.
- Travelling makes you brave.
- It makes you curious and will keep it that way.
- Travelling teaches you more than a teacher ever can.
- It’s stress- realising.
- Travelling opens your eyes, tastebuds and your heart to a new and different life.
- It makes you understand cultures and countries in the purest way.
How I became an addicted traveller
The ways and times to start travelling are endless, but as soon you do you’ll become addicted straight away. I want you to know: It’s never too late to start taking that drug called travelling. Everyone gets and definitely should get on that trip along the way.
May I introduce you to the big wide world
Before I can even remember I set my first steps into this beautiful world. My first holiday was 1991 and I spent it on Zakynthos together with my parents. Regarding my mum, I didn’t behave in a strange way (not sure if that’s even possible for me). What she probably meant, I was able to cope with the flight, temperature change, etc. even when I was a one year old toddler. Also I enjoyed my first flight very much and didn’t scream my guts out during take- off. Being on a plane is ever since one of the most spectaculars things in the world for me. All aspects of it are so fascinating for me. Should I’ve become a pilot? NO- I’m not smart enough and enjoy it too much to stay at places I find myself in.
One of the greatest pleasures in my life are my parents, who are both addicted travellers as well. It was always a priority for them to take us (my two younger siblings and me) out into the world and they still see travel as a very important part of education. In this point I couldn’t agree more, nor could I be more thankful for all the amazing trips we were able to experience together.
To make one thing crystal clear, even when I couldn’t care less about people, who may think differently. I was NOT a spoiled child!
All my life my parents were self- employed in the hospitality industry with a 6-day week (every week!!!) and exact 18 days of holiday per year. No surprise they wanted to spend that precious time away from home. The rest of the year they worked their bums off to be able to open our eyes to new destinations with our 2-week summer vacation and a week to incredible skiing adventures. Together we explored beautiful places, like Egypt, Cyprus, Florida and Italy. Check out all my destinations here.
An addicted traveller was born
From a young age I was able to learn about other cultures and countries in the purest way. Meeting the natives, eating the local food and listening to the country’s own special story are just a few things I loved about being abroad right away. On the other hand, I was really attached to my family and my home, which is a little village in the Saarland (smallest state) in Germany. I grew up in the best way a kid can grow up. Protected, loved and simple- hearted with big dreams and no fear what’s waiting out there.
Almost lost the plot during my first trip alone
In 2003 my own travel saga began in Vrilissia, a suburb of Athens in Greece. Part of a pupil exchange I travelled abroad the first time without my parents. Thinking about it now makes me still laugh.
The first two days over there were an absolute nightmare and I cried constantly. I never experienced homesickness before and I’m proud to say, I never ever experienced it like that again.
Lucky enough… I probably wouldn’t travel anymore, if that would still be the case.
Dumbo (my favourite cuddly toy of all time) and my Mum’s voice over the phone finally made me stay in Vrilissia. The rest of the trip was actually quite decent, I had a lot of fun with my class mates and life- time memories were made.
The educational aspect of a student exchange is clearly to improve your foreign language(s). Unfortunately, I didn’t improve my English skills at all during the trip. It definitely would have done me no harm, but my fortune was a different one. In between around 30 Greek students was a single one, who could speak perfectly German. Guess who’s exchange buddy that was? Right! Mine.
You may wonder if I learned at least a bit Greek!? No, sorry to disappoint you! Oh wait there’s one word I still remember- Profylaktikó. But I’ll leave the translation with you.
From the educational point of view my parents couldn’t have spent their money in a more unnecessary way. Sorry folks, but what was of so much more importance to me is that this trip was the beginning of something so much bigger.
“Leaving home in a sense involves a kind of second birth in which we give birth to ourselves.”
Robert neely bellah
Time to fly the nest
In 2008 it was time for a big change and my childhood finally came to an end. I moved to my favourite city in Germany, Frankfurt, to study Business Economies and to climb the management ladder at the same time. Suddenly a whole new world opened it’s gates for me and I was overwhelmed by all things I practised now for the very first time.
Managing my first own household, moving all by myself to the 5th biggest city in Germany and gaining the respect of my employees in my role as a shift leader with my sweet 18 years. This is still one of the biggest challenges I ever handled.
Since I become a teenager Frankfurt was always the city I wanted to live in. My big- city- life experience fundamentally changed my personality, my views and my approach to life. Without the years in this buzzing city I wouldn’t be the open- minded, adventurous and curious person I am today.
In my opinion the development of a person needs a contrast world outside the comfort of “home”. Even if it’s just for a couple of years or for a long- term trip to a destination on the other side of the world. For a fact every single person I know, who left the comport zone never returned to their village life’s (at least not for long).
No offence to village lovers (I count myself as one), but I promise you, you won’t regret trying out a lifestyle outside the box. To go back is easily done, to move forward is far trickier. Our village will always be our HOME anyways and most importantly we should never forget where our roots are.
Without my brave decision to leave my protected nest I would never have become so open for everything new, what comes my way. Being now a fearless addicted traveller is just one result I’m thankful for.
Ready, steady, explore
After I graduated in 2011 it still took me 2 more years to decide to finally take my kind of travel to a new level.
Just after 2,5 months planning, I shot off to a (Work)+ Travel trip to Australia. The working part not really worked out the way I hoped for. After my tiny amount of savings was quickly spend and just after 3 months I needed to leave Down under. This is an experience, which was incredible and disappointing at the same time, but I wouldn’t want to miss it for the world. When I returned, my travel style and my whole travel mindset had changed forever. After Australia I started to plan all my trips by myself.
What can be scary at times. Mainly because there’s no one to blame, but yourself, if something goes wrong.
The beginning was rocky and it’s a never-ending learning process. But it will allow you to travel so much more and in so many different ways.
My busiest travel year so far was 2018 with 19 flights, 13 amazing journeys in 6 different countries. Keep in mind I was employed full time and needed to cope with 25 holiday days (+8 bank holidays). And no, I didn’t had a lottery win in my bank account. At times you just really need to relay on your credit card.
Why I’m now a full- time travel addict
Lockdown made me finally realise, that life is much more than just paying bills. Even when I knew that deep down for quite a while I didn’t had the balls to pull myself out of a 9-5 job and that conservative life they want to box us in. It’s fair to say, they’re doing a good job. What’s the reason the most of us will never be brave enough to literally say: Fuck this! I’m going to Wonderland.
Don’t think for a second, it’s too late for you, you aren’t able to do it or you’re too old for trying. Like Nickelback once said: “It’s never too late to write the rest of your story!”
So get ready and start writing the rest of your incredible and groundbreaking story! Want to read a bit more about me and my story.
How do you become an addicted traveller
Finally we’re coming closer to answer the question from the beginning. The answer is quit simple. Start travelling in whatever way. NOW!! We never imagined we’ll find ourselves in a Lockdown. And made us realise we should do so much more of the things we love and make us truly happy.
Travelling is one of the strongest and healthiest drugs you can get out there (apart of love). So don’t miss out!! Just do it! Throw yourself out there. Explore the hell out of our wonderful and unique planet. You will regret, if you don’t.
It doesn’t need to be an Africa Safari right away! What about starting with a weekend in a country you never been before, but always wondered what it be like. How the natives are? If the food tastes different there? Or simply how it feels to be somewhere, we don’t call home.
Long story short! It’s so super easy to become an addicted traveller.
Everyone can be it and needs to write their own story, but if you let travel be part of it you won’t get disappointed. That’s a promise!! Travelling taught me how and why to live under my own terms. Let me inspire you to do the same!
Help awaits
As more places you discover, the more places you want to see. That isn’t a lame saying, it’s the truth!
What I can do to help you to become an addicted traveller, you’re wondering? With my blog I want to inspire you to discover your very own addiction to travelling. You will realise (sooner or later) it’s possible for everyone and I accept the challenge to show you it is!
Therefore it doesn’t matter, if you’re an experienced traveller or the whole subject is a complete new one for you! Join me on the way and I’ll show you the most amazing, adventurous and breathtaking places around the world. The places, which just waiting for you to be discovered. If it’s a life- changing trip to Thailand, camping along the coast of South England, the first skiing trip to Europe or an amazing weekend in Madrid, you’ll find it in my blog.
Stay tuned and you’ll become an addicted traveller quicker than you can say: “Travel addict”.
Are you ready to get started? Check out my destinations for some inspiration right now.
Be brave, be kind and always stay curious !!!
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