Time: How Long and When?

How Do I Find the Time?

Take the opportunities as they come. Or make them

Students have it made in this respect. Students can take those long summer vacations or time after graduation to travel. Deferral of entrance into school can give you a half or full year to venture out into the wild world, or often, the flexible class schedules of higher education establishments allow for students to take a semester, or a year off during their studies. Check with your school's administration. As well, don't forget to consider the academic exchange opportunities and work abroad programs that are more than likely offered by your school.

People generally spend thirty to forty years in the work force. You are naïve before that time and wise afterwards. What a tragedy to spend all those years in between waiting for retirement before you can travel again! This is the time where the opportunities might not be so obvious. Taking time to travel for more than a couple of weeks on vacation more than likely means leaving your job. If you decide to quit your job, make sure you work your budget so that you can support yourself when you get back for the period of time it takes to find a new job. Put travelling on your resume under Interests, Hobbies or Other Information. Travelling shows an independent, open-minded and responsible nature that employers may be looking for. Also, make sure your job/career network is strong before you go in order to set you up for an easier reintegration into the work force. Leave your employer on good terms to keep the door open for being rehired into that same company. And NEVER ignore the possibility of a leave of absence. It's not a foreign concept to employers, so you don't have too much to lose by asking what the policies are. Besides, it's nice to know there is a paycheque waiting for you when you get home.

And then there is retirement. If you can tear yourself away from your tulip bulbs and crochet hooks, you've got all the time in the world!

Don't forget other opportunities too. Perhaps you can take a job that incorporates travel, and then you can work your holiday schedule to give you a few extra days in a foreign place. Or maybe you can find a job that actually is overseas, giving you travel opportunities at beginning and end, and on weekends.

How Long Do I Go For?

Travellers generally like to take plenty of time to explore their destinations. Trips can vary in length from a couple of weeks to a couple of years! Young Aussies and Kiwis are notorious for packing up ship and hopping on a plane for places far from home. They quit their jobs and sell all their possessions and often supplement their funds with a stint of employment in another country. The major advantage of a longer travel time is that you get to see more, experience more and have time to relax and really get the feel of the cultures you visit.

Having lots of time can lower stress levels by eliminating the rush factor. It can also allow for more cost-cutting measures - you can take the slower moving bus rather then the express train or air plane, you can hang around waiting to meet other travellers to share the costs of transportation and tours, or you can wait for the deals and freebies to take their course. It's also helpful to have time on your hands when you are looking to hook up with other travellers who are heading in your direction.

Time to waste may actually be a necessity in certain parts of the world where buses have been known to not show up for days at a time, to leave only when at last all seats have been sold, or break down enroute for similar amounts of time. You may need to wait for the next flight after you miss the one that left an hour early because the pilot felt ready to go. There can be countless delays from waiting for your laundry to be returned to waiting for visas to come through.

On the flip side, every day you are away costs you money. Consider this though - depending on what your individual situation is and what your financial obligations are (i.e. ongoing rent while you are away), the daily costs you incur while travelling may actually be less than what you pay in rent, food and fun back home. Try calculating your daily cost of living at home! However, every day you are away is another day you are likely away from the world of income.

As well, not everyone is cut out for long term travel. Travelling can be tiring, especially if you are ambitious with your scheduling. Depending on your plans and personality, being always on the go, always on guard and always planning what to do next can wear you out. Longer trips require some time built in for relaxation. Travelling can also be lonely at times and almost everyone is susceptible to bouts of homesickness. Solo travellers should consider this especially, that although you meet up constantly with new friends, it is possible you may long for a familiar face every now and then.

Finally, consider culture shock, for you are not immune. Culture shock, simply put, is a process you go through when travelling or living in a culture different from your own. It can be described as an anxiety which manifests itself in loneliness and homesickness, self-doubt, intolerance, impatience and a general loss of direction. These depressing feelings can kick in after a couple of months and may last for a while as you slowly become comfortable in your new environment. Many people don't recognize culture shock for what it is and the fact that it is normal and natural. It can be mistaken for just being fed up, or not cut out for travel. For journey's that move through different cultures, the effects can be compounded. Don't forget too that culture shock can hit after returning home as well. Odd concept, but true.

More important then the actual length of journey you schedule is how you plan your trip, ensuring there is enough variety and enough time to just chill out. Don't worry too much though, whatever the length of your trip, there is a pretty good chance you will have the opportunity to change your return date for little or no financial penalty. Check into this before you put money down on your air plane ticket.

When Do I Go?

There are a few things to consider when deciding when to fly away.

First, consider your preparation time. Be realistic about how long it will take for you to save your money. Be ambitious, but be realistic.

Take into account the time needed to get your vaccinations. Some require a course of two or three shots spaced over weeks or even months, but accelerated schedules may be possible. Anti-malarial medications, depending on which type you are prescribed, may need to be started two to three weeks before departure. Check with your travel medical specialist and find more information in Prepare for Your Best Health.

Arranging for a passport and various travel visas can be very time consuming, especially if you have to send your one passport away to various different embassies. Do your homework and bargain for delays. Without your passport, you can not go anywhere. For more on passports and visas, see Paperwork: Travel's Bureaucracy.

Second, consider your destination. Many parts of the world experience cold winters, scorching summers, monsoons, rainy or windy seasons. Check with guide books for details on each of your destination countries. Make sure you research all areas you plan to visit as weather patterns can vary drastically between different parts of one country.

Find out when high season is - a country full of local and foreign tourists and travellers leads to inflated prices and competition for accommodation, seats on local trains, buses and air planes and personal space at local attractions. Scuba diving off the Caribbean coast in Mexico is much better if you see more fish then other divers, as is a view of the Egyptian pyramids without having to stand on tiptoes to see over a sea of tourist heads.

As well, educate yourself on the political situations in the areas you want to visit. If there is unrest and the embassies of the countries recommend you don't visit, choose another destination or postpone your trip for another year. The latest travel advisories are available at the Canadian government's Consular Affairs section of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade web site at www.voyage.gc.ca. Follow the links to Country Travel Reports and to your specific destination countries for information.

Finally, consider when travel to your destination is more or less expensive. Busy times are more expensive times and generally include Christmas time, North American spring break and the northern hemisphere's summer time. Airfares can skyrocket in these periods. When planning your trip, consider not only your departure date but your return date too - if either flight falls within high season your fare will increase.

Exercise caution in setting your departure date in stone by booking your airline ticket. Departure dates can be expensive or impossible to change - many flights are non-refundable. Depending on how critical your exact departure date is, how soon the flight may book up or when fares may increase, you may want to delay purchase of your ticket until the last moment. Take advantage of your ability to make a reservation. You may want to consider cancellation insurance, but remember it only applies under certain circumstances (i.e. medical conditions with a doctor's note).

One final note, you may want to keep your travel plans and dates under wraps from parties with vested interests (i.e. employers!) until closer to your departure date. Remember that things can change!

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