Travel

Traveling Means Different Things to Different People

Travel is basically the movement of individuals between different distant geographic locations. Travel can be by land, air, sea, car, train, bicycle, boat or any other mode of transport and is one way or another. For people, travel can mean the opportunity to visit another country, to visit a new culture or to simply escape from one’s day-to-day responsibilities and stresses. For companies, travel represents the opportunity to expand its market share by expanding into new areas or to reduce costs of doing business by reducing operating costs. And for the average person, travel represents an opportunity to experience a once in lifetime opportunity to get away from it all, relax and take in a new culture. In short, travel can mean different things to different people and has different purposes for different people.

But not all travel is created equal. Some forms of travel are inherently more enjoyable and more rewarding than others. There is a basic difference between a journey between two locations as defined by Wikipedia: “A journey within the same country over a long distance, such as between Paris and London, or between two closely-related countries (e.g. between Ireland and Scotland), is a journey within the same country.” A journey within a country is typically shorter than a cross-country travel.

So what constitutes a “good” travel? To define it more accurately, we would have to ask ourselves whether or not travel enhances or depresses our personal development. A long walk in nature, a serene evening walk, a leisurely drive down the countryside, or simply getting out and meeting new people are experiences which help us to grow and mature. While we might not like the outcome, we can benefit from the circumstances that led us to the point of travelling in the first place.

The best way for us to determine whether or not travel is good for us is by deciding whether or not we are looking forward to seeing different places or doing things which help us to grow emotionally and spiritually. It might be hard to decide against a long, relaxing, or spiritual drive across town to meet friends for coffee or dinner, but it would be better than being at a party with loud noise that makes us want to turn the radio on and scream until our throats bled. We might also enjoy travelling from one place to another, whether it is for work or pleasure, depending on the destination. Getting away from the hustle and bustle of life to get lost in the beauty of a different landscape might be exhilarating for some, while for others; it might be the total opposite!

So how do we define travel? When we say that travelling is the transfer of one place to another, does this mean that we are literally taking our shoes and socks off? What about when we take our clothes off? Does this mean that we’re taking baths naked? Probably not.

What I’m trying to get at is that when we talk about travelling, we have to take into consideration not just the destination but the whole process of travelling. Let’s start with the journey itself. When we travel, we go from one place to another, whether it is walking from the bus stop to the train station or driving from the airport to our destination. Traveling is something we do all the time and it is very common, so let’s not complicate this with our own definition of what travelling is.

What I am trying to get at is that there are many different places that we can go, and there are many different things that we can do when we travel. There is no one thing to put into the definition of travel because travelling is an extremely broad topic that includes business travel, adventure travel, cultural travel, road trip, romantic holiday, spa break, cultural immersion, sightseeing, etc. So the easiest way to sum up all of the different types of travel is “any travel that can take you to a new place”. Now, this is a bit of a generalization, and depending on your purpose for travelling will help determine whether you should include yourself in this or not.

Another aspect of travel that we need to consider is this: the journey itself is an essential part of the whole travel experience. If you take a great trip with your friends and family, it will definitely be memorable and you will have many good stories to tell for years to come. If you take a short trip to see friends or have a business meeting in another country, it will not be so memorable if it is a quick business meeting that does not involve much travel. As a traveller, it is important that you consider each aspect of your trip so that you can create a truly unique travel experience for yourself and everyone you go with.