I’m writing today from a small cafe in Arezzo, Italy. I started traveling on March 5th and will be returning home on March 30th. I’m visiting my parents in Italy, then traveling to Qatar to see my sister and her family and ending my adventure in Paris for a few days.
Living with less makes room for more traveling.
Travel today is much different for me than it was a few years ago.
Now, I can be away from home longer because I can work from anywhere. I never check a bag so I don’ t have to wait for luggage or worry about losing it. I don’t shop for souvenirs, so no time or money is wasted in shops and stores. I don’t have an elaborate itinerary, so I don’t have to rush or feel disappointed if I miss something.
Visiting the Uffizi, The Last Supper, The Ponte Vecchio, beautiful churches, and stunning cities were not the main purpose of my trip, but have made it even sweeter.
While I have great appreciation for the grand things that I’ve seen, my favorite moments have been spent enjoying beautiful views, delicious meals, and time with family.
Since arriving in Italy, I’ve witnessed beautiful landscapes from train windows, accidentally adopted a neighbor’s cat, enjoyed a perfect espresso each morning, made dinner while enjoying views of the city, and have had several occasions to write and people watch at small cafes.
How to travel more with less
Living with less will allow more resources for travel and these tips will help on your next getaway.
Pack less. Instead of bringing enough for your entire trip, pack for 1/2 of your trip or less. Chances are you will end up wearing the same thing day after day, so why bring extra?
Choose an apartment instead of a hotel. I booked apartments in Italy and France using Airbnb.com. There are housing options that are more affordable than hotels and they include amenities that you might miss in a hotel like a kitchen and washing machine.
Less paper. It’s rarely necessary to print anything anymore. Organize your travel documents in Evernote or in another digital format and have it available when you need it.
Plan less. Of course you want to see everything, but you will appreciate what you experience more if you take time to learn about it, absorb it and enjoy it. Fewer plans mean less disappointment and more opportunity to be surprised.
Less FOMO. If your Fear Of Missing Out takes over, you’ll really miss the beauty available to you just by looking around.
When you have less to worry about at home, it’s easier to leave and see the world. When you travel light and bring less on your journeys, you can move more freely and focus on the most important things.
If you are open, travel will teach you so much. Of course you’ll learn about the places and people you visit, but you’ll also discover that you don’t need much to be happy, planning is overrated, and if you move with an open heart, you won’t miss a thing.
