I'm currently in Memphis for TravelCon. Thank you to everyone that came out and saw the speech yesterday. I feel inspired by you guys to create great content.
I'm about to miss my tour of Graceland, so I'm rushing to send this out. Forgive the typos.
Traveling to a large city is too expensive.
There are multiple ways to save money on accommodation and food (future issue). If locals can live in a city, so can you.
The longer the flight, the more expensive the ticket
Travel distance and ticket price have a small correlation because airlines have more revenue streams than filling the seats on a given flight. (e.g., Business contracts, transporting cargo, etc.) I often pay less for an international flight than most pay for a domestic flight.
Everyone thinks they know how to travel well.
It hurts my soul when travelers only visit touristy spots like the Hard Rock Cafe and then go home. There's so much to see in a given location, so if you're not actively planning or doing research, you will miss some things. Trying to see everything is too exhausting, but at least be aware of what is there.
Everyone thinks their way of traveling is the best.
There is no right way to travel. Some like adventure travel while others prefer luxury travel. Try different types of traveling before you decide what's best for you. You actually may be surprised.
Traveling is dangerous
Your nearest city is probably more dangerous than the location that you're traveling to. Don't be an easy target (e.g., flashing cash), and you'll be fine. You're more likely to get attacked by your loved one than a stranger. Sleep tight ;)
This "app/book/person" has the best recommendations.
Always check multiple resources for trip planning because everything has a bias. I check various sources for all of my trip planning. Even when I'm at a location, I still ask locals for advice.