Ishtar Darlington
Be flexible with where you want to go
When I began my travelling I was certain I wanted to go scuba diving in the Algarve, get a boat from Malta to Greece and spend new years in the Arctic Circle watching the Northern Lights. Now that might seem a bit over ambitious to you (and, believe me, it was!) but as a novice adventurer it all seemed within the realms of possibility. And maybe it would have been – if I had a bank account as big as my imagination!
I ended up doing none of those things and getting really frustrated with myself for not having achieved my goals. I guess some lessons have to be learned the hard way. Instead, it’s taught me to relax and not become too fixated on my destinations. Plans change and, with the right frame of mind, you’ll have a ball wherever you go.
Flights: The flight comparison sight, Skyscanner, has become invaluable to me. Living in Ireland, flights within Europe can be unbelievably cheap and if you’re really not too choosy about where you end up you can pick up some amazing deals – I once flew to Brussels for just €4.99.
Hitch-hiking: While, obviously, you have to be careful when getting into a car with a stranger (there’s nothing wrong with saying no to a lift if it just doesn’t feel right!), hitch-hiking can be a great way to get from A to B while meeting some interesting people along the way. I like to carry a funny sign to attract the drivers attention (like in the picture above). Sometimes you can be lucky and get picked up within a matter of minutes but, be warned, long hours of roadside waiting may also be ahead of you. Bring a book!
BlaBlaCar: Similar to hitch-hiking, but with a small payment involved, BlaBlaCar is a safe and reliable way of getting where you want to go. You can check the driver’s reviews on the website and the cost of the journey is usually minimal. If you want to meet new people, and don’t mind forking over a little money to avoid the indefinite waiting involved in hitch-hiking, this can be a great way to travel.
