Traveling, a hobby of some people and a hassle to others. With all of the uncontrollable factors that come along with it, not being in control can not be enjoyable to the friends with Type A personality. Traveling offers many benefits and downfalls.

Some of the benefits of traveling are escapism. It gives the traveler the opportunity to escape the everyday downfalls that we experience in our lives. Whether it is a boring job, a relationship, or just the need to get away, traveling can give us the feeling of getting rid of our problems. Along with escapism, the opportunity for adventure and spontaneity arises. Adventures can come our way, planned or not, and if willing, they can be part of the best experiences while traveling.

Learning is another positive experience that comes along with traveling. Seeing other parts of the world and different cultures can be eye opening and have someone learn things they never would have imagined. Going along with learning about other people, traveling gives us the opportunity to learn about ourselves. It can lead to self discovery and reinvention. Being taken out of your comfort zone can lead to some remarkable discoveries.

The downfalls of traveling seem endless to some. Many expected and unexpected things can occur that can ruin an experience while traveling. One that I can relate to is being homesick and missing family milestones. Since Wi-Fi and phone connection is not as easy, or cheap, to come by while traveling, keeping in touch is much harder. If it is a long trip, it can feel even longer without that connection with your home.

Money is an issue that college students face when wanting to travel. Plane flights, bus rides, train fare and hotels can all add up to an expensive total. Some of us are not capable of affording everything that we want to be able to do. The cost of traveling is definitely a setback for some people. Another pitfall is the unexpected annoyances that come along with the process of traveling. Flights can be delayed, a screaming baby can be sitting behind you, and motion sickness is real. There is not one person that enjoys their luggage getting lost or stolen. The amount of layovers and time spent in time traveling delusion can definitely take a toll on anyone’s body.

Although the pitfalls may dissuade anyone from traveling, it is a truly an amazing experience that is highly encouraged for everyone. There are ways to work around the annoying aspects of travel to help enrich all of your experiences.