Since before I started my travel blog, I’ve been amazed by the idea of traveling the world and experiencing different ways of living. Now that I’m on a travel blogging journey, I’ve been looking at other ways to travel and different travel experiences or lifestyles. I’m determined to try out as many different types of travel as I possibly can. I’ve created this list of different types or modes of travel. I sincerely hope you enjoy it and hope it inspires you to start your dream travel experience or itinerary!
Different Ways to Travel and Experience New Cultures:
Volunteer Abroad
I’ve been wanting to volunteer abroad since I was in high school. Back then, it started as an idea to afford to travel abroad. Then, it became more of a goal to be able to give back to a community in need abroad while forming deeper connections to places while traveling. There are a number of organizations that coordinate volunteering abroad, you can find programs to volunteer abroad here: https://www.gooverseas.com/volunteer-abroad
Test out Van Life
Van Life was definitely one of the most popular travel trends over last summer. When I was younger, my dream was to live in a tiny house. So when I learned about Van Life, I was highly interested in it. Van Life specifically appeals to me because you can travel slowly and see more of the country. A van is also easier to park and drive than a bigger camper or RV would be.
Teach English Abroad
Teaching English wasn’t something I ever considered prior to this year. I’ve always felt that learning a new language has been a barrier when it comes to complete cultural immersion. Since I’ve started practicing Spanish (for the third time), I’m beginning to feel comfortable with teaching English abroad. I would love to speak another language fluently and this would be the perfect opportunity to do that.
To teach English abroad, you need to have a TEFL certification. This can be accomplished by taking a course and completing an assessment. You can learn more about this here: https://www.tefl.org/en-us/
Join the Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American government program that funds volunteering in communities around the world. The country destinations are where the US has interest in developing peaceful relations. Volunteer opportunities through the Peace Corps include education, agriculture, economic development, and healthcare. The opportunity to live and work in a community abroad is incredibly appealing to me.
There are specific criteria volunteers need to meet to volunteer through the Peace Corps. Some health problems or concerns may stop you from being able to volunteer. To read more about the Peace Corps, click here: https://www.peacecorps.gov/
Study for a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree Abroad
Studying abroad to get my Master’s degree is something I’m highly determined to do. After studying in Scotland to get my Bachelors degree, I’m completely sold on completing another degree abroad. Studying abroad allows you to be completely immersed in a new culture while having support from a university. It’s also easier to meet people and connect when you’re part of an educational institution.
To learn about studying in the UK, check out my guide: How to Study in the UK as a Self-Funded Student
Live in a Tiny House
As I mentioned above, I’ve been fascinated with living in a mobile tiny house. The fact that in a tiny house you have everything you need and nothing more is perfectly in line with my sustainable lifestyle goals.
With a tiny house on wheels you can experience something similar to van life but there are more amenities in a tiny house. I don’t know that I would be able to live in a tiny home forever as I want to have a family some day but it’s definitely something I want to try and experience.
Try House Sitting Internationally
House sitting internationally is high on my travel bucket list. This type of experience would give you a glimpse into living in another country and there are some amazing locations that you might not experience otherwise. Pet sitting internationally is also a great option!
For my first house sit, I want to stay in the English countryside or the Scottish Highlands. I’ve heard great things about Trusted Housesitters and plan to use their platform for my first house sit. Learn more about them here: https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/
Travel While Staying with Local Hosts
I am very curious about this mode of travel and feel like it would be great for making connections with locals while traveling. I recently found a platform for solo female travelers that allows you to make connections and book stays with background checked hosts.
It’s a membership platform that requires annual fees but you then get free homestays for a year(or however long your membership is for). It’s called HerHouse and I’m hoping to try it out this year! Check it out here: https://herhouseapp.com/
Live as a Digital Nomad for a Year
This is a huge bucket list item for me. I love the thought of slow traveling and working remotely for a year. I would love to spend more time in my favorite cities and think long-term travel would allow me the perfect opportunity to do that. I’ve done quite a bit of research on this mode of travel and it requires a lot of planning and can get very expensive if you don’t pace yourself.
The goal with digital nomad living is to work and never spend more on expenses than you are making from remote work. I mainly have seen entreprenuers be able to live this type of lifestyle as they are able to run online businesses and make this work. I’m not nearly ready for this type of travel but hope I can experience it one day!
Have you considered or experienced any of these different ways to travel? I’d love to hear about your adventure! Comment below or send me an email at sarahelizabethmanagement@gmail.com to share your story!
