7 Reasons why you should travel internationally in your 20s

Congratulations- You made it to your 20s. Whether you are a junior in college trying to figure out the meaning of life, recent college grad with your first real job or in your late 20s still trying to figure out the meaning of life, travel is something you should be looking at. Not just traveling a few miles to visit your grandparents but perhaps international traveling. Here are 10 reasons why you should experience international travel during this impressionable time period.

1. Everything else will seem achievable

Kind of like when you were in college and had a 22 page thesis paper to write and afterwards you felt invincible? Well the same rush you got then, you will experience after your first international trip. There are so many stress factors and fears involved when some people travel internationally. It may be the fear of an unknown place or stress about how you will concur your first 12- hr flight. Once it's done you will realize it wasn't that bad! If you could handle your first solo trip to Africa you should be able to talk to your boss about a promotion!

2. You've made it across the stage

You worked hard the last few years- congrats! What reward would be better than taking time to visit a new place. Maybe you had class with a cool Parisian and it has sparked your interest in all things Paris! Take a few months and see the world before you make it into the real world.

3. Makes you well-rounded

Yes sure there are a lot of things you can do without ever leaving your hometown that could make you a well-rounded person. What fun would that be? International travel is a fun way to becoming that well-rounded individual everyone knows!

4. Not in your career yet

Depending on where you are in your journey through your 20s you may not be in your career yet. This is the perfect time to see the world. You don't have any work obligations that will interfere with you enjoying yourself.

5. No real adult obligations

We all know that the older you get the more "obligations" you acquire. International travel can be expensive, which makes it harder with the more obligations you have. You may get a house, buy a car, start a family-these are all some serious obligations! Not saying that once you acquire all of these fabulous things you can't travel. However, you should enjoy a little world traveling before fully committing to adulting.

6.The world is no longer a mystery (or scary)

Let's face it, often times you will read, see or hear things about places and think "Oh God, I'm never going there." Don't let the world (or media) determine where you will and will not go. Do your research. Take the trip. Explore other lands and learn more about the world so you can make an informed decision when it comes to world history, news culture etc.

7. Add character to your Resume/CV

You may have taken a break after college to apply to a professional program (medical/dental school, business program etc.), so a mission trip to Haiti or taking business classes abroad in Shanghai would make you a competitive applicant! Putting on your application that you spent a year or 2 in Barcelona improving your Spanish screams driven, motivated, cultured, and independent!

Of course there are a ton of reasons why anyone should travel abroad, but if you need a short list of reasons to convince your parents just give them ours! What are some other reasons 20somethings should travel abroad?

-JSD

Solo Travel: Yay or Nay?

If you love travel, then you probably surround yourself with people who love it as well. If this is the case, you've probably been told how much fun Solo Travel can be. People say it's liberating; some say it's a must for every nomad. If you are on the fence about Solo Travel, read on to see why it may be an inevitable but enjoyable experience!

You get to vacay on YOUR time

You get to vacay according to your own rules! You may want to sleep late, and tour the city after breakfast and yoga by the beach. Or perhaps you want to spend the day wandering throughout museums, or reading french books on the sidewalk in Paris. Whatever you want to do, you can. 

You will find the world is not as scary as people make it

Traveling along forces you to meet new people and potentially make new friends. Through this experience you will find that people all over the world can be genuinely nice! Having experienced talking with a native in a foreign country will allow you to make your own educated judgement on the people of the world. You may even leave feeling more connected to a place than before, if you engage with locals.

Yes, it is liberating

There is nothing more liberating than doing something major on your own with no help! Like the first time you rode your bike without training wheels or swam without a life jacket, solo travel is the first time you will ever conquer the world (or your own backyard :)) by yourself! Imagine how liberating and empowering that would feel. Coming back from a summer in Europe by yourself- you basically could tackle anything after that!

So now that you have 3 solid reasons as to why you should venture into Solo Travel, here are some helpful tips:

1. Stay Connected- With smartphones and a ton of apps, it's easy to stay in touch with loved ones and friends while abroad. Download apps like Snapchat, Whatsapp, Periscope to chat and share videos in realtime. This way you won't feel totally alone.

2. Meetups- You won't be the only one traveling solo! While you're away, search for meetup groups (e.g. meetup.com) to see if there is a gathering for people visiting the town.

3. Talk to the locals. If you are in the coffee shop or at a restaurant, ask the waiter/waitress the best places to meet new people, people watch etc. Or ask them their favorite thing to do in town. This will make it feel like home away from home instead of you being an outsider in a foreign land.

4. Try solo in your own country first. If you have never done solo travel within your own country first, try taking a solo trip to the neighboring town or visit a different coast if you're feeling spontaneous! Test the waters before you go head first into international solo travel.

So, how about adding Solo Travel to that ever growing bucket list?!

-JSD

To Cruise or Not To Cruise

What's the best way to get a bang for your buck with vacation? CRUISES! Most people are hesitant when it comes to cruising, because it's something strange about being on a boat for 3 or 5 days. What will I do at sea for 6 days? How are the rooms? What if something happens? Well we at JSD have the inside scoop on cruises!

Q. Where can I cruise to?

A. Depending on where you are departing from just about anywhere! Most ports (where cruiseships depart from) in South Florida will cruise to places like the Bahamas, Jamaica, St. Martin/St.Thomas. Ports leaving from Mobile, Texas, or even Tampa will cruise to Mexico. Check out an Alaskan Cruise if you're feeling adventurous!

Q. About how much do they cost?

A. Depending on the length of your cruise and where it's going it can cost anywhere from as low as $200 to as high as $7000 (usually the price for 5+ destinations longer than a week). All rates are based on a double occupancy, so the more people sharing your cabin the better. Also longer cruises tend to be higher. TIP: Book well in advance!

Q. What is included with the price?

A. The best thing about cruising is the price is all inclusive! Food as well as non-carbonated beverages, and activities onboard are included with the price you pay! You are well fed morning, noon, and night plus late night hours if you're still up. What's not included is your transportation to the port (unless you book a package with a site like orbitz.com), alcoholic beverages, or any off-shore excursions. So just bring extra cash for souvenirs, drinks and excursions and you're all set!

Q. What is there to do on board the ship?

A. PLENTY! You will def never have a dull moment. We cruised with Royal Caribbean on their Enchantment of the Seas, and I must say there was never a moment when we were like what's next? They had musicals going on in the auditorium, a rock climbing wall, pools, a dessert showcase, karaoke, and a nightclub! The list goes on. If you find yourself asking What Next?-Relax. It's Vacation.

Miscellaneous Info

-You can also go on Island Excursions by booking through the cruiseline before you make the stops to your destination. The excursions could be a picnic at the beach or drive down to a waterfall. Don't go with a native from the island. Your best bet to STAY safe is to book your excursion with the cruiseline.

-Also, make sure you have the proper documentation to travel-cruising is INTERNATIONAL, so you will need a passport!

-If you think you will be seasick, pick up Dramamine from Walgreens!

-YOU'RE ALL SET!