Around and Round We Go

When starting to look into traveling. It is very easy to get swept away by the videos, social media, and other opinions on where you should go. Though you can get multiple opinions from others, they aren’t you. There are things that you might value, do, or believe differently from them. Finding a destination that matches them while maintaining your safety is the most important.

With that in mind I came out with the acronym, C.A.W., to figure out what destinations are a best match for you. C.A.W. stands for Capability, Affordability, and Want(s). I will break each one below.

Capability: Can I go?

The name seem simple enough, but there’s a bit more information that comes along with capability. First is legality. This means that can you as national of your country are allowed to visit via your national permission and the destination’s permission. We see this take form as visa and travel bans that are placed on different countries. I will discuss Visas and bans in another article just because of the nuance . To put it simply, if the answer is no, you legally cannot go.

Second is physicality and mentality. For some people, they think the physical part comes from just getting on plane and landing at the destination. However, that is only half the battle. Depending on the destination, you might have to walk long distances, have different allergens, dietary restrictions, etc. If you are the type of person that is sensitive to certain things or take medication, then you would need to more research. If you aren’t allowed to take medication that you deemed as vital for you to function at the destination, then you cannot go. Those factors can add up and create an environment that won’t be the best for you. However, that is up to you to decide and do at your own risk

The third is culture, spirituality, ethics, and values. Each country does something differently, and it might not align with the things that you value for your life. There are places that might discriminate against some of the spiritual and cultural aspects of your life. It might be a legal law enforcing or a social structure; either way, it is barring you from those needs. For the sake of mutual respect, you can’t (shouldn’t) go to a country that is going to make you act of those value nor try to force your values on the local/residents. Prioritize yourself by deciding on the destination that aligns with that.

Affordability: Can I afford to Go?

This means do you have the financial assets to have a safe trip. This means being able to eat regularly, accommodations, transportation, emergency funding, air travel, and travel insurance, as needed. If you plan on going on a trip, and you don’t have the money for lodging nor created the logistics for it, I recommend not going. You shouldn’t be going in to survival mode in an area that you are meant to enjoy/thrive in while you are there. I suggest that you should have the funding to cover your visa, all meals, housing, bus, and airline as bare minimum before placing the trip. The other items (i.e. souvenirs, excursions, concerts, parties, etc.) can be earned before traveling out.

If you are taking out a loan, I would recommend not taking more than you can chew. I recommend doing something that doesn’t take more than a year to pay off. The longer it takes you to pay it off the more money that would be leaving your pocket overall. I would say not to take a loan that is more than 10% of your year disposable income (33% for rent, 15% for food, 10% for savings, 10% for insurance, 5% for utilities, 10% for car gas, with 7% breathing room). It allows you to pay it back at a pace that doesn’t fully drain your pockets check by check. The trip shouldn’t cost you an arm and leg if it is not for longevity.

Want(s): Does it complete what I want out of this trip?

What is that you want out of the trip? What is the goal? To explore more cultures? To relax? To party until the sun comes up? Job searching? Group Travel? All of these wants are valid, but it might not fit your first pick. Each destination is great for one thing and terrible for another. Understanding the main want(s) of your travel will allow to pick which countries to prioritize and research.

Conclusion

Use the C.A.W. method to screen your destinations and to find which countries might be the best fit for you. You can use these letters in any order that best helps. This can also be used for a comparison of other destinations. The end result should be to narrow your countries down some more, if not to one.