Ah, the beauty of wanderlust. It just sneaks up from behind,
and from that moment on, nothing matters except hopping on
the next plane to anywhere—Australia, China, Europe or the
Bahamas. All that matters is getting the best bargain flight
and finally—the world is right at your fingertips.
Thanks to the intense competition between airlines,
travelers can go virtually anywhere in the world for much
less than one might have ever imagined. In fact, a flight
to London may actually be cheaper than a flight from New
York to Los Angeles.
Travelers are able to find incredible deals if they keep
their eyes and ears open. It’s a fact that many airlines
actually overbook their flights because inevitably travelers
don’t show up. The great thing for the traveler, who has the
time and likes adventure, is the time everyone does show up,
and there are a shortages of seats. The airline will
usually ask for volunteers to give up their seats—often
offering monetary compensation and maybe even a ticket to
anywhere the airline flies. It’s often well worth the time
and the money to volunteer to get off the flight and wait
for the next one.
These many bargains and opportunities for budget travelers
are only a few of the many reasons the travel industry is
booming. This ease of traveling closes the gap between
people and cultures. Indeed travel expands horizons, opens
minds and brings together people who might never have
crossed paths otherwise. People of different cultures begin
to understand one another much better, and the opportunity
for adventure and excitement is always around the corner.
As a result of the increase of travelers heading to all
parts of the world, the travel industry as a whole has
experienced its own boom. Publishers print magazines
catering to every style: luxury and budget travelers,
families and singles. Travelers can go abroad to immerse
themselves in another language or to volunteer with locals
on a community project. Every magazine is filled with
glossy advertisements geared specifically toward the target
audience. Magazines for budget travelers will feature ads
for budget hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, backpacking
gear and cheap ways to travel once abroad. There are often
ads for tour packages that include airfare and accommodations.
Today’s travelers can travel to even the most remote parts
of the world including Bhutan, the mountain kingdom in the
Himalayas whereas previously only locals were able to
experience the kingdom. Other spectacularly beautiful
remote locations—such as Mongolia, the islands of British
Columbia and Tibet—are becoming increasingly popular with
travelers. Along with that popularity comes concern for
the natural beauty of these places. Unfortunately, the more
travelers visit such remote locations, the remoteness will
begin to disappear until it is eventually gone. Land
developers often sink millions of dollars to develop the
land in these remote areas, further threatening to destroy
the natural beauty and environment. That is the catch 22
with the ability of travelers to now travel almost anywhere
their hearts desire.
Still, the good news is the world continues to get smaller
and smaller as travelers can virtually go anywhere they
want. Traveling the world in 80 days is possible—but who
would want to do it all in a mere 80 days? Travelers like to
be out there discovering the world for as long as they can.
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