There is something wonderful about the moment you commit and book a trip. You have done the research, debated the location, you have planned, you have budgeted, you have organized the date, you have researched some more and then "click" you have committed.
From the day you click and commit, until the day you actually travel there is a sweet anticipation of travel. You are going. There is a fixed date and fixed destination on the calendar. Exploration is on the horizon. The excitement mounts as fine tuned planning starts.
In reality for many of us, times have changed. The click to book is not so simple. Prices for air flights and hotels have dramatically increased, as has the basic cost of living. Booking a trip away may not be attainable, time and cost might be against us - but we can attain that feeling of anticipation and exploration. We can be an un-ticketed tourist and here is how;
1. Reframe your mind:
Recreate the excitement of travel? With a little reframing of our expectations and our daily lives we can enter the state of mind of being an 'un-ticketed tourist'. Travel' can start from your home, there is no need for budgeting, a ticket, suitcase or that final "click". You can enter your new state of mind and feel the excitement of travel from your very front door.
2. Plan like a tourist.
Schedule:
Choose a day or a weekend or even today to plan. Put the 'planning' date on your calendar. While you are on your calendar - block off the day/days/week you will be "traveling".
Get everyone involved in the planning:
Invite friends and family to get involved. Consider using a spreadsheet to coordinate--invite friends and family to edit or comment.
3. Prioritize
Gather Intentions for your itinerary:
Write down the things which interest you.
Ask any family members or friends coming along to add their ideas. Get everyone involved to go through the list of why to travel but add to the list too. Remember why we travel is personal.
Most Privileged Tourist list of why we travel:
Food
Historical sites
Hikes
Architecture
Nature
Art
Museums
Neighborhoods
Adventure experiences
Discovering different cultures
Learn new things
Discover yourself
Relax
To meet new people.
Explore Available Resources:
Many of us use Tripadvisor or yelp all the time when we are in a new location. Now is the time to look on Trip advisor www.tripadvisor.com or Yelp www.yelp.com in your own backyard.
Plug in the results for your intentions and see what tripadvisor says.
Have you been too all the recommended locations? Try a new one.
For adventurers and explorers:
Use www.alltrails.com to search local hikes.
Use Find a park to find a park near you. In the UK Parks .
Find a park ranger for a free park tour
See if your city has a walking free tour
Find a Bike tour
For culture seekers
Tour a local museum
Travel to a different part of your city/town
Check the local calendar for festivals in or near your town **
Find out if there are any music or theater events for free nearby.
Act like a tourist.
On your day of travel - imagine you have never been in your neighborhood. Open your eyes to your surroundings as though you were someone from another state, country or culture.
What would you photograph to show your friends and family when you returned home ?
What local food or drink would you try ?
What shop window decorations would catch your attention ?
What is special about the architecture you see ?
Are there trees or flowers unique to your location?
Take time, go slowly. Sit in the cafe or park a little longer. Watch the people around you. Soak in the atmosphere which you may have been too busy to have seen before.
Act as though you are showing a visitor around your town/city for a day.
Personally there have been many times that it has taken having a visitor for me to tour the tourist areas nearby. Going to museums or places of interest demands time and energy. But it is always rewarding. Even if you have been to the places before, return again. Places are not stagnant they change with seasons and the people who maintain them, visit them and influence them.
In truth our lives are un-ticketed - reframing your mindset is to become a most privileged tourist everyday. Which is what this website is all about. This reframing can help your sense of well being. Travel is and not the ticketed tourist kind, it is a state of mind. You are the Most Privileged Tourist of the world around you, you just need to reframe and open your mind.
Extra ways to save money
Museums
Check with your local museums to see if they have free days or if your library has a collaboration program with local museums where you can book for free with advanced notice.
Find events in your area
Check local radio and television sites for their events page. Find your local stations HERE