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Dreaming about traveling here's what it means, according to experts.

When it comes to dream interpretation, so much of it depends on the context and finer details of the dream. To dream about traveling is no exception, with a myriad of variations that can change the meaning of the dream . So, we asked experts about a few of their top interpretations for travel dreams—here's what they had to say.

Dream interpretation.

Before diving in, it's worth noting that any scientific validity to dream interpretation is sparse. Generally, dreams are thought of as a means of memory consolidation and potentially even "predicting" the future (i.e., our brains running through potential scenarios that could happen).

Nevertheless, we've all had dreams that seemed a bit too relevant to our waking lives, raising the question, What was that dream trying to tell me? Only you can truly understand what the symbols in your dreams mean to you, but there are still some common tropes in dreams that interpreters take to have specific meanings.

7 reasons you're dreaming about traveling:

You're craving freedom..

According to dream expert  Leslie Ellis, Ph.D., dreaming about travel can indicate that you're on a quest for freedom. "In this pandemic era where travel has been so restricted, travel dreams could be some form of vicarious way of gaining freedom of movement," she says, adding, "Freud was not entirely wrong about dreams being a form of wish fulfillment, at least some of the time."

You're experiencing some kind of movement in your life.

Along with a craving for freedom, travel dreams can also suggest there's some sort of movement or momentum happening in your life. "Traveling usually represents forward movement—progress in some area," notes professional dream interpreter  Lauri Loewenberg . And as Ellis adds, this "movement" could be personal or professional, as well as actual geographical movement.

You feel in control.

If you're traveling in a vehicle in your dream and it's running smoothly, Loewenberg tells mbg that can mean you feel in control of some aspect of your life. "You want to be driving the car, for example, because that's letting you know that whatever issue this dream is commenting on, you're in control of it," she explains.

You feel out of control.

On the other hand, Loewenberg says, if the car is having some hiccups, such as malfunctioning brakes, "that's a good indication that you're having a hard time getting something started in your real life, or you don't have a good handle on whatever path of progression this is connected to."

She adds that if you're driving a car in your dream and get into an accident, this can mean you're experiencing a sort of emotional or energy crash in your life.

You're experiencing some sort of ending.

Crashes or accidents in travel dreams can also mean something is on the verge of coming to an end in your life (or already has), Loewenberg notes.

The theme of endings existing within travel dreams can also relate to life stages and death, Ellis explains. "They can, at the far end of the journey, indicate preparation for death. There are many accounts of dreams easing people into the final stages of their life , preparing them in ways that tend to be calming and spiritual," she notes.

You're advancing in your career (or thinking about it).

According to Loewenberg, dreams about traveling in a plane , more often than not, are related to your career path, "because the plane takes off and we want our careers to take off and reach new levels." Planes can also represent your spiritual or religious path , she adds.

You're searching for something.

And lastly, depending on your destination, travel dreams can mean you're looking for something in your life. "If your destination is a beach, for example, that means you're trying to reach a place in your life where you are having peace of mind," Loewenberg explains. Or maybe you're traveling to a hospital, which would indicate you're on a healing path, she adds.

Interpretations based on travel companions:

Family members..

With the previous interpretations in mind, it's also important to consider who's accompanying you in the dream. In the case of family members, Ellis says, this could relate to feeling of moving on, or moving forward, as it relates to the family members in the dream.

A romantic partner.

Loewenberg says dreaming about traveling with a partner can offer good insight into how the relationship is going and how you both are reacting within the relationship. "Pay attention to who's behind the wheel and how well the vehicle is moving forward," she suggests, for example.

If you're on a boat, she adds they often represent our relationships. (Relation-"ship," get it?) "A ship or a boat will be commenting on a relationship more than any other vehicle because it travels on water, and water tends to represent the emotional self," Loewenberg explains.

In that case, are you on an extravagant cruise liner that's sailing smoothly? Or are you in a broken-down boat that's sinking fast ? You can guess which one indicates a relationship is heading south.

Co-workers.

If you're dreaming about work colleagues, Ellis says this situates the dream story in the world of work. "Again, it can be telling to look at the mode of travel, ease of transport, and nature of the destination," she notes. Ask yourself if you're getting to where you want to go. "This can be a big life question. Are the people you are with helping or hindering your progress?" Ellis adds.

Traveling solo.

Of course, there's a chance you'll be traveling solo in your dream, as well. Loewenberg says a common vehicle in travel dreams is a bike or motorcycle, which are, of course, single-passenger vehicles. This would be a dream about a path you are on alone that doesn't affect anyone else, she explains.

"You also have to have good balance to operate a bicycle or a motorcycle, so take a good look at your emotional balance or anything you're trying to balance in your life," Ellis adds.

The bottom line.

Dreaming about travel isn't uncommon—and interpreting these dreams always comes down to their context. With these potential interpretations at the ready, you're all set to open your mind to the world of your travel dreams—and consider how they relate to your reality.

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Simply put, we have resources that an online booking engine simply does not have.  It’s the personal touch.

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They will invite you into a conversation.  This is probably the most important part of the process.  We call it “Dream Discovery”.

Your Designer will learn about your hopes, dreams, and desires so that they can craft the perfect vacation experience for you.

After our Dream Discovery consultation, we will do the right research, work with our world-wide partner network, and consult within our team to create your personalized vacation.

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Travel Goals: How to Envision and Achieve Your Travel Dreams

Have you ever noticed how two people can visit the same place with similar hopes and dreams have dramatically different experiences?

One person will return home with life-changing memories of adventure and reflection, whereas another will return home disappointed, feeling as though they'd failed to accomplish what they set out to achieve.

Why is this?

While nothing is guaranteed on the road, travelers who consistently have exceptional experiences share a common trait: they set travel goals. 

Setting travel goals to improve your next trip might seem counterintuitive to some. After all , isn't the objective of travel to get away from the to-do lists and schedules of daily life?

Yes, and no. Although travel is a great opportunity to escape from our day-to-day routines, it's not an alternative universe within which the general rules of life don't apply.

Just as they do at home, when traveling goals provide you with short-term motivation and long-term vision. They help you to better organize your time and energy so that you get the most out of your trips.

Goals ensure that you’re life on the road follows your own personal values. And by setting and completing goals, you take the steps necessary to fulfill your purpose, or Why, for traveling.

Without goals, it’s easy to get lost. With no clear direction on what to do next or which way to go, we can become overwhelmed with the number of novel possibilities travel presents us with on a daily basis.

Having good travel goals is like having someone guide you along your journey, ensuring you take the proper next step every time.

Fortunately, as you will see, creating—and accomplishing—major, life-changing travel goals isn’t just for the hyper-motivated or über-persistent. There are a number of straight-forward steps that anyone eager to learn and grow can follow to design and fulfill their travel dreams.

How To Create Amazingly-Effective Travel Goals

OK, so you’re convinced that setting goals is useful. But how do you go about doing this? How do you create good travel goals?

The best, most-effective travel goals are SMART goals. No, I don’t mean that they are members off MENSA (what’s with the acronyms today?).

Rather, great travel goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Based. Let’s explain that a bit more.

CC BY-SA 4.0 , Dungdm93 .

Great travel goals are clear and specific, which helps to remain focused and motivated.

To make your goals more specific, try and answer the six ‘W’ questions:

-What do I want to accomplish?

-When do I want to accomplish this goal?

-Where do I need to go?

-Who should be involved?

-Which resources or limits are there?

-Why do I want to accomplish this goal?

Great travel goals are also measurable, allowing you to easily track your progress and know when you’ve succeeded.

Being able to clearly see both how far you’ve come and what you need to do to finish helps you to stay motivated and creates excitement around the thought of accomplishing your goal.

When setting measurable goals, ask questions like:

-How will I know when I've succeeded?

A good measurable travel goal for someone shy would be to have a 5+ minute conversation with a local 3x over the course of one, week-long trip. A less-effective goal would be to "meet new people" or "open up".

Great travel goals should also be attainable. You should be able to see a realistic path you can take to success. You should feel challenged and your abilities should be stretched, but everything should remain possible.   If your goals is so difficult that it starts to feel unattainable, then you’re more likely to just give up.

Achievable goals answer questions like:

-Given my current situation (financial, mental/physical health, time constraints) how realistic is this goal?

-How can I accomplish this goal?

Great travel goals need to be relevant. They need to matter to you, aligning with your greater purpose in travel or life.

Having a deep sense of purpose behind your goals ensures that you’ll never run out of motivation, even when the going gets tough and helps to keep things in perspective. If you goal isn’t relevant to you, you will lack the fortitude necessary to handle adversity when it undoubtedly appears.

Relevant travel goals answer ‘yes’ to these questions:

-Is this something that matters to me?

-Do I really want to accomplish this?

-Will completing this goal improve the world in some way?

-Am I improving my life by succeeding?

-Is this the right time or place for me to try and achieve this goal?

Great travel goals have a target date. They have a deadline for completion that you can stick to. This helps ensure that one temporary, short-term goal—which is supposed to be a single step on the way towards aiding greater goals or your purpose—doesn’t become a massive time-suck or permanent hinderance.

Time-based travel goals can usually answer these questions:

-What can be done today to help accomplish this?

-What can I do six weeks from now?

-What can I do six months from now?

A good time-bound travel goal for someone afraid of flying would be to take one flight without the aid of anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping pills, or alcohol in the next 3 months.

In addition, the best travel goals are performance, not outcome, based. This means that the goal is to complete the process rather than to achieve a specific end result.

As all great performers know, the only thing you ever have full control over is your effort. There’s no guarantee that a well-struck golf ball won’t end up in the water in a tournament or that a perfectly-sung ballad won’t be eclipsed by another song during a talent show.

You can’t force the weather to be nice, a museum to be open, or a local to be friendly, but you can wake up in the morning ready to take that hike, prepare yourself to see some art, or have the courage to start a conversation at the nearby cafe.

You can't control whether or not the ticket office is open while traveling through Italy—it rarely seems to be—but you can make sure you're at the train station on time.

While there are no guarantees, consistently putting in the effort—following a process that you know can work—leads to the best long-term results.

How To Figure Out What Goals to Set

If you’ve read what we wrote on travel with purpose , you know how important it is to find your Why for travel. Purpose gives focus to your planning, inspires action on the road, and provides strength in difficult moments—both before and during trips.

Once you’ve identified your purpose for travel— here’s a refresher on how to do that —you’ve already done much of the work necessary to set great travel goals. You have a clear idea of which direction you want to take. Now you just have to map out the specific steps you will take to get there.

Once you know what your final destination is, it becomes much easier to determine what path you want to take to get there.

Sometimes the route you need to take will be obvious, and goal-setting will be simple. Other times the path might not be as clear. If that’s the case, ask yourself the following questions, with your Why in mind:

-Image that you’ve had a successful trip filled with purpose. What would that trip entail? Can you work backwards from the end to the start?

-What’s the smallest possible first step you could take towards achieving your Why?

-Has anyone else traveled with a similar purpose? What did their journey look like?

-What’s the most important problem you could tackle on day one of your trip?

-What’s one thing that would get you to jump out of bed?

-What do you want your obituary to say?

-What would you never regret trying even if you failed?

-What could you do to ensure that you’re living a satisfying life?

Choosing between paths is often part of the fun of travel planning and goal setting.

Not every goal for your trip has to—or even should—be purpose-driven. Adding a few for-fun, less-serious goals helps to lighten the mood and provides additional motivation along the way.

Examples of some fun goals could be visiting all the Trappist breweries in Belgium, learning 5 words in Portuguese each day during a month-long trip to Brazil, and trying 20 different flavors of Kit Kat while in Japan.

Just a few of the hundreds of flavored Kit Kats available in Japan.

Deciding How Many Travel Goals to Have

When trying to determine how many goals you should set for a trip, there are a number of factors to consider.

How long will you be gone? How much time will you be able to devote to accomplishing your goals? Will you have other obligations or responsibilities on your trip? Does reading over your list of potential goals make you feel overwhelmed?

It can be helpful to think of travel goals as items in your mental backpack. Pack too few and you'll be ill-prepared. Pack too many and you'll be overly burdened.

In general, it is better to pick a smaller number of meaningful goals rather than a large number of goals that you’re less enthusiastic about. Your time and energy on the road is limited, and there is only so much you can concentrate on.

Changing Your Travel Goals

Having fewer goals allows you to create new goals when you’re traveling based on what you see and do. As you travel, you will undoubtedly realize new things about yourself and your prioritizes might change. Perhaps you came to South America to learn Brazilian Capoeira only to learn that you’d rather practice Argentine Tango.

Argentinian Tango dancers. CC BY 2.5 , Carlos Luque .

Your goals don’t have to be inflexible. Sometimes unexpected things happen when you’re traveling. Allow yourself the latitude to jump into the adventure that is unexpected possibilities. Don’t let your original goal of visiting the top 5 Sachertorte coffee houses in Vienna keep you from accepting an invite from new friends to spend the weekend at a music festival in Bratislava. The best part of travel is the unexpected and the unplanned, and objectives should never get in the way of a good story.

Expectations Versus Hopes

To help make this easier, make sure your goals are not expectations. Expectations are absolute and unmovable. When we expect something, we move an accomplishment from being something to be celebrated to being something mundane. After all, we expected it to happen so why be happy? And if they don’t happen, then we get upset.

In contrast, if you view your goals as hopes—things you want to have happen but also recognize that they might not—then you are free to change or abandon goals when necessary. The quality of your travel experiences are not contingent upon how many of the goals you set out at the beginning are accomplished blindly.

Don't underestimate the benefits of having the freedom to explore with hope.

How to Achieve Your Travel Goals

There are a number of things you can do to help you to accomplish your travel goals.

1.) Make sure your travel goals are SMART

As mentioned above, if your goals are not specific, measurable, actionable, relevant, or time-bound, your chances of success will be greatly diminished.

2.) Review your travel goals regularly

Review your goals every day when you wake up. One way to do this is to create a travel journal within which you actually one big goal for the day and three ways in which you are going to make it happen.

Also remind yourself everyday of your overall purpose for traveling. Write this down on a piece of paper and bring it with you during the day.

3.) Prioritize your travel goals

At the beginning of your trip, sequence your goals based on priority. Know what is most important to get done first and what you most want to accomplish. Not only does this set you off on the right foot, but it makes it more likely that you will have done the things you most want to do in case something happens that cuts your trip short or otherwise changes your plans.

4.) Keep track of your progress

Before you go to bed each night take a moment to write down your successes. Note what steps you took to achieve your goals and how much progress you’ve made since yesterday.

Somedays you’ll take great leaps, whereas others days it may feel like you’ve only advanced a little. Don’t worry about this. Remain consistent in the process and the results will eventually show.

5.) Celebrate your success

Be sure to enjoy the moment when you accomplish your goals. Fully embrace the feelings you get and let them soak into you. Hold onto that feeling as long as you can. Think about the hard work and dedication it took to get to where you are.

Take a photo to memorialize your accomplishment and let other people know on social media what you’ve done. Don’t worry about coming across as boastful—in general, people want other people to succeed, and if your joy is genuine your friends and family will be supportive. And who knows, you may even inspire someone else to take on their own challenges.

The joy one gains from a hard-earned achievement is addictive, and you’ll naturally want more of it. Ensuring that you take the time to properly celebrate your successes is critical when building the work-reward loop that drives future performance.

6.) Reflect

Throughout the goal-achievement process, remain reflective. Ask yourself how things are going? Are your goals too easy and you’re not feeling challenged? What are you learning about yourself? Use this information to adjust your future plans and goals.

Things to Avoid: What Prevents You From Achieving Your Travel Goals

Don't let your next trip be filled with regret and disappointment due to unmet travel goals.

There are a number of reasons people don’t achieve their travel goals. Some of the biggest road blocks include:

1.) Impatience

You want results right away and get frustrated and quit when you don’t see the results immediately.

2.) Perfectionism

You want everything to be done perfectly the first time and if that’s not the case you get upset and quit.

3.) Failure

You are unable to deal with failure on a first, second, or tenth try. Those who stick with it are those that achieve. 

Even the best fail sometimes.

4.) Focusing on the end results

When you shift your attention from the process to final outcome, you’re more likely to make mistakes, not give it your full effort, and overlook crucial steps. Also, the process is often quite fun—especially in traveling. Imagine not enjoying the hike up a mountain side because you’re focused exclusively on what it will feel like when you get to the top.

5.) Excuses

Sometimes excuses are what prevent us from achieving our goals.Your mind likes to stay in a comfort zone and so it will say and do whatever it can to prevent you from moving out of that. Do you hear yourself saying some of the following? If you do, stop for a moment and think. 

-I’m not good enough.

-It’s not the right time.

-I’m too old/young.

-I don’t have the money.

-People will laugh at me.

-What if I fail?

6.) Overly-large steps

If you bite off more than you can chew in one chunk it can be demoralizing and daunting. This is common. Instead of committing to visiting all the countries in the world when you first start out traveling, perhaps start by visiting one.

Every great journey starts with a single step.

7.) Procrastination

Now is the best time to act. It’s easy to say that you’ll travel one day or achieve XYZ in the future when you feel right. Don’t wait until you feel ready, or when the time is right. If you do that, you risk that time never coming. If you can’t complete the whole goal right now, create a mini-goal that you can finish that when done will help you to achieve your larger goal. Any progress is good progress!

8.) Distractions

People, at home, social pressure. These can all distract you from your goals. Remember why you’re trying to achieve your goals, and this can help you keep on track.

9.) Lack of consistency

Are you not doing the same things every day to help achieve your goals? Do you work hard one day and then slack off another?

Show up everyday with effort and you’ll be rewarded. The more consistent you are, the easier it is to achieve goals as they become habits. Get in the habit of talking to locals when you wake up each morning and you’ll find it second nature after a while.

Keep showing up and you'll eventually catch a ride.

10.) Expectations

More on this next week!

As you've learned, if you're interested in consistently having exceptional travel experiences, you should to set goals. The best travel goals are SMART goals—Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Based—and are often steps towards fulfilling a greater purpose or Why. Such goals provide travelers with the motivation, vision, and resiliency. By following a few straight-forward steps, anyone can design, develop, and—ultimately—live their travel dreams.

Eager to take the next step towards achieving your travel goals? D ownload my FREE guide   The Traveler’s Mindset: How to Mentally Prepare for Journeys of Adventure and Growth !

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• How to make your travel dreams come true

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Download your Sustainable Travel Checklist and show the world you care

1. create a travel budget, 2. start saving for your trip, 3. book smart and shop around, swapping or trading your assets/skills/time, what about your other travel costs, 4. pay for your trip (without getting into debt), smart use of credit and savings.

• Finally – Keep an eye on your (actual) spend

How have you made your travel dreams come true?

Author: sandra rosenau.

Whether you spend your holidays overseas or you stay closer to home, travelling (almost) always costs (at least some) money. Today’s article shows you how to make your travel dreams come true – in four easy-to-follow steps.

Travelling can actually be cheaper than living in some places , and you certainly don’t need to be rich to travel.

As travellers, we should all be aware of our travel behaviour and its environmental, economic and social impact; and make conscious decisions about it. Too often, we hear negative stories in the media about tourists behaving badly.

Here is your chance to tick some boxes and check out what it really takes to travel with a sustainable mindset.

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There are plenty of people who get the idea to travel someplace and then just go ahead and book their next holiday. Travel advertisements on television and glossy Instagram pictures of exotic destinations can be very persuasive (especially if you had a hard day at work). There is nothing wrong with it… if you can afford it.

If you need to watch your pennies, we strongly recommend you don’t get into debt to make your travel dreams come true. Creating a travel budget is the first step to turning your travel dream into reality – whether it is to take your family to the Gold Coast for two weeks over the school holidays or to explore the world for a year. And it’s not as difficult or cumbersome as it may sound.

Where would you like to travel next? How about Gold Coast in Australia ?

Think about your last trip… What did you spend money on?

Well, I bet you paid for some form of transport to get you (and your family) there (and back) and to travel around at your destination. Even travelling in your vehicle isn’t free. Then, you likely paid for accommodation , groceries and dining . And you paid for activities – after all, you travelled to see and do some cool stuff. If you travelled overseas, you may have also paid for travel insurance, visas, to exchange money , buy a SIM card and the like.

Voilà… these are the five expense categories for your travel budget:

• Travel and ground transport
• Accommodation
• Food and Beverages
• Experiences
• Other such as travel insurance.

Depending on where you want to go, what time of the year and for how long, where you stay and what you do while there, your budget will obviously differ. So, how do you know how much you might spend?

We like to do a bit of research before we book anything – just to get a feel for our likely spending in each of the above categories and each country.

So, let’s use the Gold Coast family holiday as an example (using our travel budget calculator):

Example: Travel budget for Gold Coast holiday (Family of 4)

If you don’t have the time for a bit of upfront research, there are several websites out there that provide data on the cost of travel per country:

• Numbeo provides the price of specific items.
• Lonely Planet and Budget Your Trip provide daily averages based on your travel preferences – from budget to luxury.

If you are planning to travel to countries we’ve been to, check out our travel cost articles .

Depending on how much you earn, seeing how much your next trip will cost on paper might come as a shock or will be smiled upon. If you belong to the former group, don’t give up on your travel dream just yet. There are many ways to bring that number down to something more palatable (more on that shortly).

Even if you cut your (travel) costs, you won’t be able to travel for free (unless someone sponsors you). So, start saving… NOW!

Knowing your travel budget helps you set your savings goal. You can then work out what amount you need to save (daily/ weekly/ monthly) to be able to afford your next family holiday or exploring the world, without becoming enslaved to a financial institution. And our 40 ways to cut your day-to-day spending may help you achieve your savings goal faster.

Start putting money aside for your trip - the earlier the better

Let’s stay with the Gold Coast holiday example, and let’s assume you want to do this trip with your family in six months’ time.

Both your partner and you earn a decent income. You have a small amount of savings but you prefer not to touch it. You have calculated roughly how much this trip will cost you (in this example just under NZD11,000). You have six months to save up for it. Your savings goal is, therefore, NZD60 per day.

Sounds achievable? Good. Set up a regular automatic transfer into a separate savings account, and your travel budget will accumulate in the background.

If the amount you need to save is more than (you think) you can afford and you need more time to save up, start saving anyway (whichever amount you can afford). Then look for ways to

• cut your day-to-day expenses
• earn some extra money (by doing a garage sale, taking on a few extra shifts – the possibilities are endless); and/or
• make your travel plans more affordable (more on that below).

Delaying your travel plans could be another option, but you’ll be surprised how much you can save if you really put your mind to making your travel dream come true.

So, how can you make your travel plans more affordable? Let’s go through the different expense categories in your travel budget and see where you can save money.

How to save money on transportation

Being flexible is what really pays when it comes to transportation and air travel in particular. Travel outside of peak season if you can. If you can't, fares might still be cheaper during certain times of the week and even hours of the day, so check websites like Skyscanner and Google Flights that allow you to see a whole month and all the options on any given date.

If there are several airports in the vicinity of your home (or in the vicinity of your destination) compare the prices between the different options. For example, flying to Mykonos and taking the ferry to Santorini might end up being way cheaper than flying from your home airport straight to Santorini .

We use and recommend the following online travel agents and service providers for our transportation needs:

To find good flight deals, we use one-stop travel sites or travel aggregators. Each shows the cheapest airfares on any given day, so you can choose to fly a day/week/month earlier or later, pending your flexibility.

If you find a good deal, book it there and then as prices change constantly. Ideally do your research with your browser in incognito mode, as cookies will show booking sites how keen you are to do a certain trip, which may affect the price quoted – that goes for all online travel bookings (not just flights). The best fares generally go first, so planning ahead is important when it comes to (air) transportation. The same is true if you want to use air points/miles, as there is only a very limited number of seats available for any given flight. We tend to not actually go through the flight aggregators, but book with the airline/s directly . The price is usually the same but we have a direct contract with the airline (rather than with the middleman) in case something goes wrong.

If you plan to travel across multiple continents, you may want to compare passes that offer several destinations as a package (such as around-the-world fares offered by One World or Star Alliance members) vs booking each leg of your trip individually. If you are travelling during peak season those multi-destination packages may be a better deal than booking each leg individually. You can do overland sections on around-the-world tickets too, which means you could supplement your around-the-world ticket with cheap flights, bus and train rides in between destinations.

Vehicle rental (including relocations)

Unless your trip takes you across oceans, another way to save on transport is to look for vehicle/motorhome relocations . There are websites in many countries offering massively discounted one-way rates (often including fuel and/or insurance) to those driving a vehicle/motorhome from A to B within a certain period. These deals are fairly last minute, and A and B are usually bigger transport hubs, but if that’s an option just search for vehicle/motorhome relocation at your destination.

Speaking of vehicles: If you are planning to hire a vehicle at your destination, it also pays to shop around. We use and recommend Discover Cars , an aggregator website that allows you to search across major car rental companies at once. And you don’t have to pay for the hire until you pick up the car.

Hitchhiking

A final option to save on transport costs is… to hitch a ride. While Paul and I did it safely in Dominica on a public holiday (when there was no other option), and we have taken plenty of people along in our campervan in New Zealand , there are many countries we wouldn’t feel safe hitchhiking. Judge for yourself where and when you can and can’t do it.

Just by choosing (slightly) different travel dates you can save heaps

How to save money on accommodation

For accommodation, as with any other travel expenses, it’s worth shopping around. When we book accommodation somewhere, we tend to look across a number of booking platforms to find the best value for money option. Wherever you book, do make sure you read the fine print to make sure you compare apples with apples. For example, your stay may incur extra charges (like local tourist taxes or cleaning fees). Some booking platforms include them, while with others, you have to pay them to your host upon arrival.

Nightly rates are generally cheaper outside of peak season. If you can only travel in peak season, look for accommodation options that are a little further away from the main tourist attractions, yet have good connections by public transport.

We use and recommend the following booking platforms.

Our Oktoberfest experience. We stayed with friends so were able to reduce some costs

In our Gold Coast holiday example, we looked for apartment deals via Booking.com . A quick browse of short-term rental accommodation platforms reveals that the family could rent an apartment of equal quality and location (minus concierge and daily maid) for NZD100 less a night. This would shave a whopping NZD1,400 off their travel costs .

Finally , relocating a motorhome would also reduce your accommodation costs. You may not be able to freedom camp on your route but paying for a campsite usually costs (significantly) less than staying in a hotel or motel room. And in those countries that offer motorhome relocations, the campsite facilities are usually pretty good.

How to save money on dining and groceries?

Dining out all the time can quickly get expensive. We always try and book accommodation where we have access to a kitchen - either our own little kitchenette or the kitchen of our host. That way, we can store food in the fridge and make our own meals. We usually have breakfast and one other meal at our accommodation, and one meal when we're out and about.

Restaurants (even in tourist hotspots) often have special lunch offers (for example, a three-course meal for EUR10). Portion sizes in many parts of the world are usually quite substantial, so we often share a three-course meal. The same applies if you go out for dinner: Order a starter or salad and a main, and that's usually enough for two people. An added benefit: there is less food waste.

As for groceries: every country has more expensive and cheaper supermarkets. Ask your host what the cheaper options are (for example, Aldi or Lidl in many European countries) and avoid convenience stores as much as possible.

Experiencing the local cuisine is one of the reasons why WE travel… Paul and I tend to only eat out once a day (sometimes only once a week), usually at lunchtime. This allows us to try local dishes while taking advantage of awesome lunch deals. It also means we don’t have to roam around unknown parts of town every night in search of a restaurant.

Local markets are great for buying fresh and inexpensive produce

If you cook at your accommodation, you get to experience local markets (unless you bring all your groceries with you as my mum did). We love going to markets, and trying fruit and veggies we don’t get at home.

Cooking at your accommodation gives you some home comforts (especially if you live on the road as we do) and your stomach a break from the local cuisine (there is only so much rice and beans one can eat in a lifetime). And if you are staying at shared accommodation, cooking at home could introduce you to new friends – your hosts and fellow travellers.

In our Gold Coast holiday example, we assumed the family would eat breakfast at home. That could be an option if you want to save money but don’t want to cook while on holiday. Given breakfast prices in a Gold Coast café are (almost) the same as lunch prices, having breakfast at home saves this family NZD15 per person per day (or NZD840 over two weeks).

While not suitable for everyone (and every trip), there are options to make your travel dreams come true by thinking creatively. Swapping or trading something you have (your home, skills, time) for something you need (food and shelter) means you don’t even have to pay (money) for (parts of) your travels.

You could swap your home (and potentially car) with someone who would like to visit your hometown at the time you are visiting theirs. Love Home Swap and Home Exchange enable you to find a suitable place and put you in contact with potential swap partners.

Other options that don’t cost you a single cent for accommodation (only an annual subscription fee) are couch surfing or house sitting . House sitting usually requires you to look after animals, keep the house tidy and sometimes also means some gardening work.

We use and recommend the following platforms:

• Aussie House Sitters
• Kiwi House Sitters
• House Sitters Canada
• House Sitters UK .

For the rest of the world, we use and recommend Trusted Housesitters as a platform to seek out house sitting opportunities.

If a few hours of work a day are not an issue for you, you could offer your skills more broadly – whether it be in hospitality, in an office job, by practising English with your hosts or helping out on a farm – in exchange for meals and a roof over your head. Check out websites such as HelpX , Workaway or WWOOF .

The added benefit: You live among locals and get to experience real life at your destination. Just make sure your visa allows you to work in the country you are visiting. The last thing you’d want is to be thrown out of the country for a visa violation and (potentially) banned for life.

How to save money on experiences

Free activities or experiences.

Many activities (and some of our most treasured experiences) are free or cost very little. On our journeys, we have

• Visited many museums free of charge (including the Colosseum and Forum in Rome which are free on the first Sunday of the month )
• Joined Al Green’s Baptist Church Service in Memphis (rather than pay the exorbitant entry fees at nearby Graceland)
• Attended free guided walking tours around the world (you pay a tip at the end based on your budget and how much you liked the tour)
• Did countless self-guided walks and used public transport to get to know a city
• Hiked in the Andes in Ecuador and climbed volcanoes in the Caribbean
• Swam and snorkelled at countless beaches, using tree shade rather than paying for parasols; and
• Attended free performances and danced with locals in  Cuba .

Just search for free activities in your destination and chances are someone has made a nice list for you already.

Paid Experiences

Paying for experiences or activities can add up quickly, especially if you're travelling as a family. Make use of family passes (if available). Look out for special deals and discount coupons. If you travel in a group, it may also pay to book a private tour and share the cost. Shop around - here are some of the service providers we have used and can recommend:

We’ve already shared our top travel money tips – so check them out if you haven’t. A future post will look at how to compare (and save on) travel insurance.

Make sure you check the entry requirements for your destination to avoid costly surprises (or worse: being made to return home). Paul wasn’t aware that he required a visa when we visited Trinidad and Tobago earlier this year. He ended up being penalised with TTD400 (about USD65 at the time). Ouch.

Make sure you check the entry requirements for your destination to avoid costly surprises

Even if you’ve saved some bucks by shopping around and booking smart, you still have to pay some money.

As mentioned above, we do not encourage you to get into (or increase) your debt to afford your trip. What we mean with smart credit is to use the advantages of credit cards (interest-free periods, ability to dispute transactions, rewards and travel insurance) without being penalized by the disadvantages (particularly exorbitantly high-interest payments).

Our credit card statements are issued at the end of the month. So if we can, we time bookings to occur just after the last statement has been issued so that we maximize the interest-free period. We apply this approach to any bigger purchase. The money we don’t pay straight up earns us interest in the meantime. It may not be much but it all adds up in the long term. Once we have the statements, we pay them in full. Every. Single. Month.

Let’s look at the Gold Coast family holiday again: You have created your travel budget, and you have set up an automatic transfer into a separate savings account, saving NZD60 a day. Now, just after your next credit card statement has been issued, you book your flights. By the time your credit card statement has to be paid, your travel savings have grown enough to cover your flights (Cost of flights: NZD1,800; savings after 30 days: NZD1,800). Easy, right? If the process is repeated two months later for accommodation, and finally for activities, your family will be able to pay for the trip without (further) debt.

Finally – Keep an eye on your (actual) spend

You have determined your travel budget and achieved your savings goal. Well done!!! Now you only need to stay within your budget, and Bob’s your uncle. Learn how to track your spending .

Withdrawing cash overseas can be expensive but it doesn’t have to be. We can show you how to avoid unnecessary fees and make your travel budget stretch further.

How do you determine which card is best for your overseas trip? Using the right one can save bank fees and make your travel budget stretch further.

Ever been caught out by the bad FX rates and exorbitant commissions charged by FX bureaus? These tips allow you to minimise these charges in future . We also recommend XE Money Transfer to keep more of your money when you complete a transfer.

Interested in further readings? Here are some links we have come across during our research:

• Money Helper: Saving Money for a Holiday
• Trip Savvy: How to Book Cheap Airline Tickets and Last-Minute Flights Online
• The Guardian: 10 of the best home-swap and home-sharing websites
• 8 Easy Ways to Choose a Home Swap Club and Enjoy a Dream Vacation for Half the Price

These are what we did and everyone is different. Can you share any other tips you have for saving for your dream trip?

Passport full of dreams

I don't know where I'm going but I'm on my way...

Friday, March 22, 2024

An australian adventure.

My whole body trembled and sweat poured down my face as I walked up the stairs at the Stamford Plaza Hotel in Sydney, Australia on 7 March 2024. My head was buzzing with nerves and excitement. It marked the first day of Neuro Transformation Therapy, the training that I had traveled all the way across the world for. At the top of the stairs, 110 unknown faces awaited me, along with one familiar face that I had only seen on Zoom. 

I always said that someday, I would go to Australia to fulfill my lifelong dream of hugging a koala. So when my other plans for this year were suddenly cancelled, I decided to turn "someday" into "now". Only to quickly realise how little I know about Australia. The visa requirements and the sheer vastness of the continent took me by surprise, and much to my dismay, I learned that holding koalas in New South Wales is illegal.

Nevertheless, I happily boarded a long flight to Sydney, arriving one week before the NTT event. As I navigated customs, my sister's warnings about Australia’s strict border control echoed in my mind and when a security guard waved me in a direction where no one else was going, I swallowed loudly. Would I be fined for the chewing gum and aspirin in my bag, or denied entry for some unexpected reason? Luckily, he led me towards an exit, where friendly blokes and sheilas greeted me with "G'day darling." 

Hoping to defy jetlag, I immediately went for a long walk, taking in the large city and strangely feeling at home. With six months of winter behind me, I eagerly soaked up the sunshine, and then finally, I saw it - The Opera House, as white as my skin, shining brightly against the blue sky. I had to pinch myself several times to make sure I was awake. As the sun slowly set, the hustle and bustle continued, with people strolling around and live music filling the air. 

The next morning, I crossed the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which reminded me a lot a of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. After the walk, I sat down at a French café to devour a delicious galette , which fuelled me with enough energy to continue my stroll through the beautiful Botanical Garden. Despite my fears, the only "spider" I saw in Australia was the large bronze statue outside the art museum. And I only saw one snake, a live one up in the mountains. I did see many, many bin chickens though (a local name for the Ibis birds that use their long beaks to pick up food from bins).

My third day was one of pure bliss as I finally got to meet the koalas. Not only that, my guide had an arrangement with the family-run farm so we could enter before other visitors to help feed the animals. The biggest smile spread across my face as I saw their cute little eyes and soft leathery noses. We were also allowed to play with the adorable wallabies and kangaroos, who enjoyed a firm belly rub when they weren't too busy munching on grass or surveying something in the distance. 

After the wildlife park, we visited other areas south of Sydney, such as Wollongong and Morton National Park, and despite the windy and foggy weather that day, I fell in love with the coastal towns framed by mountains. Believe it or not, they looked exactly like the places I see when I visualise my dream future! The tour ended with a wine tasting at a local vineyard where I enjoyed meeting and chatting with other travellers. 

The following day, my friend from Canberra joined me for an exploration of Newtown, where we discovered the stories behind the exquisite murals and tasted food from all over the world. I really enjoyed digging into some vegan gluten-free tacos at a Mexican restaurant, while Mark preferred the meat pies at a local café. Our favourite, however, was a Turkish ice-cream with a sticky bubblegum texture and a strong rosewater flavour. 

In the evening, we were warned about a thunderstorm and considered canceling our tour to the mountains, but fortunately, we didn't as the clouds passed over night and we ended up having a gorgeous day in the Blue Mountains. The smell of the eucalyptus trees reminded me so much of Ecuador and the breathtaking views and cascading waterfalls filled my soul with joy. 

As if hiking in the mountains wasn't enough exercise, I embarked on a coastal walk from Bondi to Bronte the next day. Arriving at Bondi beach, Australia's most famous beach, was a surreal moment. Seeing the massive waves rolling in, the suntanned bodies, the surfers, the lifeguards and the warning signs for dangerous currents made me feel like I was in a movie. The coastal walk was extremely picturesque, with spectacular views at every turn. 

Sunday, October 15, 2023

From black hole to shining star.

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Between heaven and earth, the ocean and the sky.

Flower island, pearl of the Atlantic, the Hawaii of Europe... the volcanic island of Madeira goes by many names, and this is what drew me to venture here for a week at the beginning of July. While usually offering a mild climate all year round, Madeira's weather can be unpredictable. "You will get rained on," my guide book said and sure enough, as the plane descended, the raindrops danced on the windows.

Madeira's allure, however, extends far beyond idyllic sunbathing and leisurely swims. In fact, most of the beaches here are made of pebbles so if you're looking for sandy stretches, you may want to head to the nearby island of Porto Santo, where sand has been imported from the Sahara desert. Not a typical beach enthusiast, I had instead planned a holiday filled with activities, from climbing volcanoes and swimming in secluded lagoons to diving with dolphins and learning how to surf.

While the stunning scenery was certainly rewarding, it wasn't enough motivation for me. To persevere with heatstroke and aching joints, I had to tap into my inner strength, my Finnish "sisu." What also helped was seeing butterflies gracefully flutter around me throughout the hike. These insects bring so much colour, lightness and joy. As symbols of powerful transformation, they also remind us to welcome change without trying to control the outcome. At the end of our journey, we will inevitably emerge different than when we started. 

Unaware of how challenging the hike would be, I had booked a surfing lesson for the next morning. So after only a few hours of sleep, I headed towards Machico beach to meet Roberto, the surf instructor. We began with dry land practice, honing our technique before plunging into the water. "Only one thing is certain," Roberto said. "You will fall." And fall I did, over and over again. But each time, I crawled back up on the surfboard and paddled out to wait patiently for the next wave to arrive. Eventually, I started to make progress and managed to stand up for shorter moments. 

"Believe in yourself!" Roberto shouted as he gave my surfboard a push. "This wave has been waiting its whole life for you to ride it. The only thing worse than falling would be not trying." Encouraged by his words, I gave it my all and in doing so, wholeheartedly fell in love with the practice of surfing and everything that it entails. It may have been my first lesson, but it will definitely not be my last. I can't wait to return to the ocean, catch more waves and immerse myself in the joy of surfing.

Staying in our comfort zone is not how we learn. Hence, for my next day of adventure, I impulsively booked a tour with Joao, a guide known for his spontaneous approach. "I never make plans," he texted me beforehand, "so you should be prepared for anything." He picked me up at 7 a.m. and off we went, driving along the winding roads of Madeira. A native of the island, Joao brought me to mesmerising waterfalls, hidden away from the crowds. We swam in the crater of a dormant volcano, walked along the ancient  levadas (irrigation channels), hiked up a mountain and all in all, had an enchanting day. Twelve hours later, I arrived back at my apartment, utterly exhausted but deeply content with a sense of fulfilment in my soul. 

As a final adventure, I signed up for a dolphin and whale watching tour with seven fellow travellers. Early morning found us huddled together on a tiny speedboat, ready to embark on our ocean quest. "Look for birds," our guide Natascha advised us. "Where there are birds, there will be fish and where there is prey, there will be predators." Far away from the shore, a flock of birds started circling our boat and soon after, dolphins were jumping all around us. What a delight! One by one, we were instructed to slowly and silently glide into the water, clinging to a rope attached to the boat and breathing through a snorkel. 

I waited my whole life to swim with dolphins in the ocean, and the initial moments of my experience were absolutely incredible. Then, the dizziness hit me like a ton of bricks in the head, leaving me gasping for air. I tried gesturing to the people on the boat, but no one noticed as they were all too mesmerised by the ballet of sea creatures. Panicking, I hit the side of the boat and Natascha finally pulled my shaking body out of the water. "You have vertigo," she said gently. "Sometimes the depth can trigger it. Give it another try and I'll stay close to you this time." With her reassurance, I put on the goggles, grabbed the rope, slid back into the water and swam behind the dolphins while Natascha held onto my wrist. "I'm so proud of you," she whispered, beaming as she helped me climb back onto the boat. 

A mixture of pride and relief washed over me. I felt dizzy and nauseous for the rest of the day, but seeing the beauties of the ocean was definitely worth it. 

On this trip, I came to a profound realisation - embarking on adventures is as essential for me as breathing. I may not know what the road ahead looks like, nor am I sure of my destination, but I'm willing to embrace the uncertainty and take chances. The path is never linear, nor is it ever entirely smooth. There will be moments of rain, and there will be times when I stumble and fall. But I never feel more alive than on top of a mountain or far out in the ocean. These experiences serve as a reminder of how insignificantly small we may seem, and yet how remarkable and interconnected we are. In the words of 13th-century poet Rumi: "we are not mere drops in the ocean, but the entire ocean in one drop."

Monday, April 5, 2021

Passport full of dreams - a travel journal turned into a survival story.

It's finally here!

I have put my whole heart into writing this book and I hope that it will bring my readers joy (along with a few tears) and perhaps encourage more people to share their own story. 

My self-help memoir is about traveling, adventure and yoga, falling in love, falling apart, falling down and rising back up.

It would mean the absolute world to me if you wanted to read the book. Part of the royalties will be donated to organisations that support mental health and/or education for young people in Ecuador. 

Please leave a comment or reach out me through social media if you would like to buy a copy.

Friday, July 31, 2020

May you go further than the stars.

Saturday, July 11, 2020

Waves of change.

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

New beginnings.

• michael r olsen

Dreams about traveling – what do they mean? (Dream interpretation travel)

To be traveling in a dream is something a lot of people dream about. And no wonder, because “travel dreams” are often about our own journey of life – our movement forwards (or backwards) in life, that is . The following describes various aspects of what it means to travel in dreams.

To be traveling in a dream as a symbol of movement in life/journey of life. When seeing yourself traveling in a dream, either by car, by train, by ferry, etc., well, then it is usually about your own journey in life – the inner (and outer) development you are going through. Which mode of transport you use can also be of significance – see for example the blog posts about driving a car and riding a bus . The interesting thing, then, is what you experience on these night-time travels; is there something which prevents you from getting there? Are you struggling to make it in time (see the blog post about being late )? And where are you actually going?

A classic theme in travel dreams is that you are carrying a lot or too much (heavy) luggage, making it difficult or maybe even impossible for you to catch the bus, train, ferry, plane or whatever it may be in your dream. The main question for the dreamer could then be; is something we are carrying with us in our life story somehow pinning us down in our current situation, and making it difficult for us to move on before we let it go? (See the post about luggage in dreams )

Dreams about being scared of losing your passport (your identity papers) are also common when you are at a point in your life when you are about to move into the unknown, for example in your career. In real life, the fear of losing your identity (status etc.) can of course prevent you from taking the plunge into the unsafe and unknown. You can also encounter various barriers on your (dream) journey. These often symbolize your own mental barriers, but they can of course also be barriers that someone else puts in front of you (for example your partner or your parents trying to talk you out of doing something). However, always look inwards before you look for outside reasons. – When trying to understand your dreams it is important to know that your dreams are… your dreams. As such, you are the best person to figure out the true meaning of your dreams.

However, it is important to learn how to generally approach your dreams. Dream dictionaries like this one are only a supplement, and if you want to fully utilize the potential of your dreams, you should start at a different place.

My online course “ Unlock your DREAMlife ” gives you a great foundation for understanding (and recalling) your dreams. – As mentioned, the mode of transportation in your dream is often important. If you’re driving a car, it seems that you are well on your way in life – in a car, you decide where you go – but if you are a passenger in a car someone else is driving, it may mean the exact opposite. In this case it might be this other person (in the outside world) or what this person represents within you that have taken control.

The car is often also a symbol of your body (the body that brings you around). If you drive a bus (public transportation), it may mean that you live your life in keeping with what others are doing and what they might expect from you – you are not following your own path. Traveling by ship represents a somewhat larger perspective on your life’s journey than traveling by car and bus – you can dream about shipwrecks, giant storms, etc. And you can also experience taking the ship to sea – this may symbolize a break from the family or the life you have lived until now.

The road you travel – if by land – can curve and bend and suddenly split in two, and you may be unsure about which way to choose. This will then usually equal a similar dilemma you face in your life right now – which way should I go? There are very many aspects of dreaming about being on the road, and only you – the dreamer – would know which of these is right for you in your life right now.

As a last point, I want to highlight the importance of your destination in the dream . Are you heading to unfamiliar countries? In this case, this will often be a picture of you in your waking or conscious life (including home life) where you might be exploring uncharted territories. Or it may be new aspects of yourself, a new leisure activity you wish to start, etc. You might be experimenting with new sides of yourself. If, in your dream, you are sure that you are heading towards your “final destination”, then it may be a warning about your own death – your final destination in life.

Dream dictionaries are a very helpful tool when interpreting dreams. However, generally learning how to approach your dreams, will give you a better foundation for understanding them. My online course “ Unlock your DREAMlife ” teaches you how to much better utilize – recall and understand – your dreams.

Return to the index of dream themes and symbols:

Dream interpretation A-Z  ↵

Also read:  Why I no longer interpret dreams for free

NOTE:  Dreams are 100% individual, and when you dream about traveling, it’s almost certainly about something else for you than it is for your friend, who has also dreamed about traveling. Dream interpretation / dream analysis is sometimes a difficult art, and a particular interpretation of a dream is only correct if you feel “affected” by it. Therefore, it is not certain that the above mentioned interpretations are relevant to you.

I had a dream that am traveling with my family with a car but there was a lot of people at the station so we couldn’t get the car. We were carrying all our old stuff in our old house.

My colleague and I were having a road trip with her car and she was the one driving.along the road while we were buzy talking,I was surprised by the which started to go zig zag while there other traffic coming. I asked what is she doing and tell her she cannot do that in huge traffic as she might hit other cars.unlike her she did not respond but the car still moving zig zag. When I look at her as I was surprise why is she not responding, and for a second something like “is she having a seizure” passes my mind,i realize that something is not right. Her face was loosing shape and immediately stroke comes into my mind.when holding her hands, were very stiff and notice same thing on the legs. I tried to hols the sterring so I can try to control the car. I think the other drivers noticed that there might be a problem because I saw them coming but none of those passed us, not sure if they stopped or were moving slow. At last the car managed to stop crossing the road. As I went out of the car, other driver did the same but they never reach our car. I took my friend to passenger’s seat so that I can drive her to the nearest doctor. When going to driver’s side, other drivers went back to their cars. As I start the car, my colleague started the conversation by saying look they are also going to their cars and driving off. I was like are you OK but never got the answer for that. As I drove off too, I woke… Really!!! Was this a dream? Please help with the meaning.

In my dream,a friend I had issues with and don’t talk to anymore came to me and said she wants me to travel somewhere with her.I agreed and we started heading to the park to get a bus…two other friends followed us just to see us off to the park.

On our way to the park,she got a call to come attend a burial then left saying she’ll be back.

I waited for her to come back but she never came back and we didn’t embark on the journey!

First in my dream, i had my bag and my school transportation , feeling good then all of sudden we stopped at unfamiliar place, i saw a cat and i pat him but she smack my hand then suddenly i was traveling in a car in passenger seat, i saw a panguin walking in a green high land and driver told me it is traveling to the north , then the north i saw was a huge mountain,a little snowy.i kinda felt good cz i had that feeling that i was also going there..and after that i don’t remember much.. i was watching skyy full of starss . Then they all felt like a picture of stars. I felt disappointed… I don’t remember after that…

I dreamt of going to Norway on a boat then in a tour bus 9n a snowy slow bit dangerous narrow road the scenery was beyond amazing at times the colors of the night sky were hidden by the huge mountains blending in with no border of mountain and sky.. amazing.. exciting, then little villages in the valleys way up high..

I saw my self and my two sis traveling in my dream and all of a sudden the road became divided and the driver passed the wrong way and in that wrong way there was a pit infront that stood as a blockage for us to cross.

My uncle just died so l dreamt that I was travelling with my aunt to our hometown to have the funeral there and we were carrying a lot of luggage and my aunt told me we should take a taxi but I told her we should take the bus, after putting our luggage in the bus the bus speed off and left us , so we had to walk and after a while the bus driver asked a taxi to bring us, there were two other people in the taxi , we got to where we supposed to board the bus and we realized the bus has left us .

In my dream I woke up on a plane…I was cleaning the area out and then the plane started moving… I told the ticket guy I wasn’t supposed to be on ther and he tried to stop the plane fore me but I told him its okay its a free flight to Tokyo…. but I didn’t have anything with me … I had to work the next day and my friend and family had no idea that in 3 hours I’d be I n Tokyo and … I was really worried about my job and everything but just let it go because I was excited to be going somewhere even if it was by accident…even thought about just quiting my job… my dream felt so real even though the way it transition wasn’t

I’m interested to know what you make of you dream? What do you think it means?

You have many plans that could have been stopped or having disturbance in your life. Someone is stopping your plans by getting into your head. For example you want to invest in business(your plan) and you son expences is cutting you off. You see like your son’s expences there different factor that is affecting your life. Stop the negative thoughts keep doing what you do. It’s easier to say but way hard to do, it’s stressfull and on the way could bring mental breakdown. Never give your hopes down. And never other control your life, listen to them but plan your way. People give advices not you life plan. You are the one to keep or not. Finally, clear your thoughts. For example somebody broke your heart shouldn’t let you forget your plan. Happiness is within the sorrows. Keep smiling, be positive and let’s gooo.

i keep having dream where I’m travelling by multiple means, boat and plane. I am bringing way too much stuff with me. and every dream when I travel, I lose my stuff, and i lose either my dog or my son who is travelling with me. Its very stressful, as i always lose my passport, and no one will help me, and i end up sitting on a curb crying, with nothing, lost. ugh… wake up with my jaw nearly locked, cuz of the anxiety in the dream.

Hi my name Kesner Leon I just had traveling dream for the first time in my life.. so I didn’t travel by car or airplane but be I make my trip the guy the told me I might end up on the other side of earth maybe next to a volcano or maybe another country fresh start so I told him I’m willing to take the risk and there was ball I had to get inside ball fast I couldn’t find my way or the door to get inside the ball but every second I wasted the door closing finally I find the door I travel to the other side of the earth so I met this women and she had 2 kids and I met her husband they told they was going be moving so I can’t stay with them but Before the lady left she told me to humble myself and she had a turkey 🦃 the turkey bit me so I choke the turkey push it to floor

Im dreaming that I’m in the ocean swimming to a boat that i can never get to I been dreaming this for about 3 weeks

Frequently dreaming of travelling, by car, train, running (feels great).

Also frequently dreaming of being in malls, and a town that’s futuristic & non-existent.

Weird coz it kept coming.

No idea what it means though.

Hi I had a dream of traveling with my friends in a ship it is very big . Our group divided into two groups . I am in the ship the other group went into the ocean without informing to the other group which is in the ship . They had a business deal with some illegal immigrants , due to which our whole group was sent back stating we are not allowed into international borders. I came back To my house . I don’t know how I traveled back to my family. All of a sudden I was with one of my friends near our college . Then I am in a restaurant with some friends and my parent’s are continously calling me. I knew it’s a kind of weird but I am constantly getting the same dream.

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12 Dreams About Traveling : Meaning & Interpretation

Every person has traveled at least once in his/her life. Millions of people across the globe aspire to travel and capture the beauty of this planet before they bid their goodbye. Considering traveling an essential part of our life, it is not uncommon to dream about traveling.

Traveling from place to place allows you to be introduced to new cultures , landscapes, and philosophy of living.

Dreams about traveling indicate a new journey in life, a new destination to achieve, or a new ambition to conquer.

There are countless places and destinations, one can dream about traveling; therefore, it is essential to note the destination where you have journeyed to, in your dreams.

Carefully observe the context of the dream, the emotions which the dream induced along with any companion /accompanying you while traveling .

What Does Traveling Represent In A Dream?

Traveling in a dream can refer to a diverse range of events. Dreams about traveling may indicate your inner struggles to reach to a specific solution, multiple ideas swirling in your mind waiting to be executed , or it may refer to your journey towards self – discovery to unveil your true potential .

Symbolic Of Escape From Your Daily Routine

Dreams about traveling often indicate that you are feeling bored and tired of repeating the same monotonous routine in your life.

You are a thrill-seeker who is passionate about testing your limits to the fullest. Traveling away from your home in a dream indicates that you need adventure in your life.

You want to get away from your boring life and seek something new and exciting , which gives you a sense of accomplishment and makes you want to live.

You are in dire need of change in scenery. Take a break from your life and explore what life has to offer you. Seek and explore new things, to have that sense of thrill and excitement back in your life.

Desire To Escape From Problems In Your Life

Dreams about traveling sometimes indicate that you want to escape from the problems in your life. Things have gotten so overwhelmingly for you that you are unable to handle the stress and burden which is weighing you down.

You are looking for possible escape routes so that you do not have to deal with the anxiety and pressure to correct things anymore.

The dream is a reflection of your subconscious of needing an escape, but it is also serving you as a reminder that overlooking your problems or looking for an escape route is not going to solve any problems for you.

You need to take things in your hand and work to find a solution instead of abandoning your life. Be smart and critical about your choices, so that you can successfully deal with these temporary hurdles in your life.

Symbolic Of Struggles Towards Success

Traveling in a dream might be symbolic of your struggles towards success. You are an ambitious person with a goal set in his mind and are willing to give your all when you have set your mind to do something.

Traveling in the dream is a reflection of your journey, which is full of ups and downs. Sometimes you encounter success and are happy about it, and yet sometimes you have to overcome various blockages which often lower your morale but also makes you more determined and stronger.

You need to keep a sound mind and enjoy the journey as it continues. Appreciating small achievements and pulling yourself back up after a downfall will only help you move forward more forcefully and firmly in life.

Symbolic Of Transformation

Dreams about traveling stand symbolic of personal transformation . They represent your journey towards maturity as you encounter different experiences in your life, which makes you wiser and stronger to deal with future problems in life.

Traveling an endless road with occasional bumps in your dream represents that you are going to come across multiple challenges in your life, which will make you sturdier than before.

You are continuously under evolution were a part of yourself is always transforming with every passing day.

Facing the challenges is not going to make you weak instead, it will prepare you to meet more significant problems in life as you mature into an adult.

Symbolic Of New Beginnings

Traveling in a dream often indicates that you are about to en-route a new journey in life. Multiple interpretations are attached in this context, including spiritual transformation, where you have adopted a new set of ethics and principles to guide your way, or you could be starting a new career path.

The dream indicates that you are mentally prepared to explore unfamiliar pathways and transform yourself into the person you want to be in the process.

Seeing yourself traveling a new road is a positive omen that you should embark new paths in life to help you thrive and succeed in life.

Common Situations In Which You Dream About Traveling

Dreaming of traveling while carrying excessive luggage.

To dream of traveling while being burdened by excessive luggage indicates that you have been useless baggage of the past, which is stopping you from moving forward in life.

You are holding on to the memories of the past, which is causing you excessive stress and anxiety . The dream is a reminder that you need to let go of the past and start living in the present.

Forget what has happened and move on so that you can live your present life without any unwanted disturbances .

Dreaming Of Traveling Abroad

To dream of traveling abroad is a sign that you need to bring order and stability in your life.

The dream indicates that you are living a chaotic life where you have taken upon excessive responsibilities but you are unable to fulfill any of them successfully.

The unreasonable burden and stress are causing you to lose control over your life, and everything is falling apart.

You wish to abandon everything and escape from the mess you have created, but the dream is reminding you that instead of looking for an easy way out, you need to start managing things one by one.

Sort everything out and let go of the responsibilities which have been weighing you down.

Dreaming Of Traveling With Family Members

To dream about traveling with your family members is a negative omen. It indicates that you will soon get into financial troubles along with your family.

Monetary issues will cause you to fall indebted . The stable source of income for your family might be cut off in the future, leading you to worry about even the basic necessities.

Take this dream as a warning sign and start taking preventive measures to avoid falling into more significant trouble.

Dreaming Of Traveling To An Unknown Destination

Traveling is a dream to an unknown place is a positive omen. It indicates that you will come across unexpected opportunities and prospects in life, which will help you turn your life for the better.

Your life will change significantly . You will find perfect chances to boost up your professional career or will find an opportunity to start a business of your own.

Dreaming Of Traveling Thorugh Dark And Unfamiliar Places

Seeing yourself traveling dark and eerie places in a dream is an ominous omen. Such dreams are the carrier of bad news, especially related to your health and financial circumstances.

The dream symbolizes that you are going to get trapped in dangerous situations which might cause substantial damage to your life.

You may end up losing someone close to you or your monetary status will significantly decline .

Unfamiliar and dark places in dreams also indicate that your health will unexpectedly fall or you may end up catching a terminal illness.

Dreaming Of Traveling Through Mountains

Traveling through a mountainous region in a dream and being surrounded by breathtaking landscapes is a positive omen.

The dream is the carrier of happy news indicating that your miseries and problems are soon going to end . You will soon embark on a journey which will take you closer to happiness and prosperity .

You will be pleased and spiritually content in life with how things turned up in your life. Sit back and relax ; your joyful times are not far ahead.

Dreaming Of Traveling Across Oceans

Traveling across vast oceans in a dream is an ominous symbol. The dream is indicative of troubling times ahead.

You will see yourself trapped in relationship issues , which will cause you immense emotional and mental stress .

The disturbance in your private life will also affect your professional life, and you will find yourself struggling with dealing with the projects assigned to you.

The dream is a warning indicator that you need to be careful in dealing with your loved ones to avoid any unwanted disturbance affecting your life.

Dreams about traveling indicate a period of transformation, the beginning of a new journey or brings with them news of prosperity and peace.

In negative connotations, these dreams serve as a warning symbol, indicating that you need to reevaluate your behavior and life choices to avoid certain troubles disturbing your life.

Make Your Travel Dreams Come True

Think you can’t afford to head to the Mediterranean or wander through a Turkish market this summer? A seasoned traveler shares budget hacks so you can make it happen.

When you think about budget travel, you might envision backpacking around the world and staying in run-down hostels where you have to share a bathroom with 20 other (probably smelly) people. That’s definitely one way to do a budget trip, but, thanks to the internet, you can find ways to skim hundreds — if not thousands — of dollars off a more comfortable trip by simply being savvy, patient, and, most importantly, planning ahead.

I’ve traveled to many international destinations, including pricier spots like Paris and Santorini, on low budgets. Remaining positive, determined, and flexible, and preparing in advance, is how I made these travel dreams come true.

And don’t think budget travel is second best to first-class. Staying in spots like the Ritz or the W might seem like the finest way to travel, but keep in mind Anthony Bourdain’s famous words: “Be a traveler, not a tourist.” I’ve found that traveling on a budget offers far more opportunities to truly connect with the people and cultures of the locales I visit. Frugal travel can also lead to more unexpected adventures than a fancy five-star trip can ever afford. Sure, it sucks getting lost in the middle of China on a train going to you-don’t-know-where because you couldn’t afford a cab, but, hey, when you get back to the States, you’ve got a great story to tell.

Ready to pack your bags and jet-set across the world? Here are some hacks to get you there.

Get a travel-rewards credit card

Use google flights or skyscanner.

If you’re not familiar with Google Flights or Skyscanner, now is the time to crack open those apps. Both of these platforms allow you to search for flights whilst seeing all of the prices according to travel dates on monthly calendars. Many times, if you fly out just one day earlier or later from your preferred travel date, you can save hundreds of dollars. This does require flexible travel plans, but if you’re on a tight budget, it’s the best way to book air travel. Before I had my travel-rewards points, I booked roundtrip air travel to Barcelona from L.A. for $500 total and a flight from L.A. to Chiang Mai, Thailand, for $500.

Airbnb is still a great way to go

Much of my international travel has been made possible through Airbnb. If you’re traveling with a significant other or friends, you can just split a whole apartment, which saves a lot of money. If you’re traveling solo, you can pick a cozier spot, like a studio, or share an apartment with a local. I shared an apartment on the aforementioned trip to Barcelona for an entire month when I was on a budget and working remotely. It wasn’t a fancy spot, but it was still clean, comfortable, right next to Park Güell, and it came with an amazing Catalan roommate. Not only was I able to stay in one of the top international destinations on the globe for less than half the price of an apartment in my hometown of Los Angeles, but I was able to connect with a real local who helped familiarize me with the best the city had to offer.

And given that food is one of the biggest costs while traveling, having a kitchen where you can cook will save you tons of cash. It also allows for leisurely, relaxed mornings where you can avoid crowds and just relish in some downtime before heading out to see the sights. It’s also great to visit the local grocery stores to really absorb the local vibes.

To really capitalize on Airbnb, you want to plan ahead as much as possible. For my upcoming trip to the Amalfi Coast ( revenge travel at its finest), I booked a charming two-bedroom apartment in Amalfi with a breathtaking panoramic view of the Italian Mediterranean — and it cost me a total of $180 a night. Not bad. The catch? I booked the place two months in advance. This is key to finding a great deal.

Use Booking.com and Expedia for hotel booking

You can use any site that’s similar to book a hotel. I stayed in the most darling boutique hotel in Montmartre, Paris, for $70 a night a few years back, cheaper than a stay in a Motel 6 in any part of my Southern California homeland. The room came with a free, delicious French breakfast, was right next to the Moulin Rouge and the hotel had this wonderful little café with live music in the evening. Plus, it had a killer name: Le Chat Noir.

When I planned a trip to the Greek island Santorini in 2019, I spent a good three hours scouring Booking.com to find a room in the iconic — and stupidly pricey — village of Oia. Most of the rooms were priced at around $500 a night, but I refused to believe I couldn’t find something more reasonable. I hunted and hunted and finally found a room for $70 a night. It was tiny — super-tiny — but who cares? This charming boutique hotel was right on the water. I was able to sip champagne from my little balcony and watch a gorgeous deep-orange-red sun sink into the glittery Aegean sea at sundown, a truly priceless experience.

Skip the city centers

If you’re staying in a huge international city, or a U.S. city like New York, San Fran, or Chicago, you don’t have to stay right smack in the center to have a great time. Try some neighborhoods just outside of the center to save some money. This is especially smart when a city has a great public-transportation system that’s easy to navigate. When I visited Greece on a budget, I stayed in a gritty, punk, quasi-anarchist but super-cool, very reasonable neighborhood called Exarcheia that had awesome street art, cool used bookstores, a show by Alice in Chains, and an honest subculture vibe that was both charming and, well, just plain cool. It wasn’t full of tourists, and, as a result, I saved money, caught some awesome shots for the Gram, and truly experienced the local. One hop on public transport took me to all the tourist traps like the Acropolis and the city’s main square.

Splurge on street food and city markets

Sure, you can throw down a small fortune to hit up a three-Michelin-star restaurant while you’re on the road, but some of the best food I’ve had while traveling has cost less than a dollar — and I’m not exaggerating. This one hunk of spanakopita I got off a cart in Exarcheia was hands down my favorite bite of all time (yes, I keep a list). You can search out the hot spots for street food through places like Tripadvisor, or through a Google search or Reddit, but part of the fun is just stumbling on spots as you encounter them. Another delicious alternative to sit-down restaurants are city markets, like the Mercato Centrale in Florence and the Nang Leong Market in Bangkok, Thailand. If you cook yourself some eggs or pour some cereal for breakfast, hit up a street cart for lunch, and then do a moderately priced dinner, you can set your per-diem food budget on the low side without sacrificing any deliciousness.

Facebook is your friend

For all its evils, Facebook is a great way to connect with locals and travelers in cities, especially smaller destinations in more off-the-beaten-path countries, like those in the Caucasus. I immediately picked up a crew of friends in Yerevan, Armenia, of all places, through an eco-touring company (that was just two gals who became close friends, plus their guy friend who had a van), and we had wonderful, hilarious, amazing experiences together exploring local haunts and the natural wonders of the country. The non-tourist spots are often far cheaper than the touristy ones, so this is a great way to not only save money but really soak up the culture of wherever you visit.

In Chiang Mai, when a Facebook group posted about a free, five-day meditation retreat that culminated in a Yee Peng (the famous flying-lantern holiday) celebration happening in a small village outside the city, I went. The huge, famous celebration in the city center with a $100 entrance fee was sold out. That retreat was one of the most profound and precious experiences of my entire life, and releasing those lanterns into the sky alongside Thai villagers instead of Western tourists was the ultimate honor.

Plan your transportation ahead

The fastest way to blow through your per-diem travel budget is through emergency cabs. I’ve done this so many times, and usually it’s because I’m running tight on time to catch a flight or ferry ride or train due to poor planning. Many destinations, especially cities, have robust public-transportation systems that can save you hundreds of dollars in cab and Uber fees if you just plan ahead and time things right.

Google Maps is a lifesaver whilst traveling, and the navigator is great, but see how much transportation research you can do before you land in your destination. Sometimes renting a car for $40 a day will prove far more economical than taking cab after cab or Uber after Uber in a large city that has poor public transportation.

If you’re really tight on funds but want to travel anywhere, pick a destination that’s set up with excellent public transportation.

March to the beat of your own traveler

You don’t have to visit tourist-overrun hot spots just because everyone else is doing it — you can get creative and consider destinations that aren’t super-popular and expensive just yet. In the late ’90s and early aughts, Prague — a stunning city full of baroque architecture and 30-cent beers — was all the rage for college students and budget travelers. In the mid-aughts, Turkey took off. In 2017, The New York Times listed Mexico City as the destination of the year. Now, a lot of American wanderlusters and digital nomads are buzzing about the Balkans.

But why not think outside the box and start your own trend? Reflect a bit on what you’d like to do and see and eat, and what brings you joy. Think of someplace unexpected, and take the plunge. And if you need some help, consider the Caucasus. Georgia — the country, not the state — is heating up in popularity among internationals. Specifically, Tbilisi, the capital. Consider a trek there, because life is short and revenge travel is very real, and don’t forget to take a big, memorable bite out of Georgia’s signature dish, khachapuri.

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Plans are afoot to breathe new life into a ghost town on the fabled Route 66 in the U.S.

Marooned in the Mojave Desert of California, the tiny settlement of Amboy was a thriving way station on the arterial route from Chicago to Los Angeles. But it fell into long-term decline with the opening of Interstate 40 in 1973, which bypassed the town first settled in 1858 as a mining camp.

All that remain today are a neglected mid-century gas station and a handful of unoccupied one-storey buildings. Its population is zero. But tourists willing to go off the beaten track are still drawn to Amboy, sparking plans for its revival. Kyle Okura’s father Albert Okura bought Amboy’s physical assets for $425,000 in 2005 and pledged to the previous owners he would rejuvenate it.

“It is the true symbol of Americana,” Kyle, 31, told The Times of London. “Our car culture, the American dream, freedom.” As a 12-year-old boy, Kyle recalled being underwhelmed when his father gave him the grand tour of Amboy, roughly 320 km west of Los Angeles. “It was way more run down than it is today,” he said.

“There was clutter and trash everywhere. It looked like it had been closed for decades.”

Roy’s Motel and Café, which opened in 1938, still exists and is the only operational business left in town. For Kyle, the rejuvenation of Amboy became personal when his father died last year. “Dad believed it was part of his destiny. Now I realize it’s part of mine, too.”

Tour guide Jan Kuzelka described Amboy’s appeal to the L.A. Times. She said: “You sink into the ’60s here. It’s like a live museum.”

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Luxury-travel advisors are in demand as Gen Z and millennials splurge on stress-free, meaningful vacations

• Careers in luxury-travel advising are growing as travelers seek stress-free, high-end experiences.
• Gen Z and millennials are driving the growth, seeing vacation spending as a worthy expense.
• This article is part of " Trends to Bet Your Career On ," a series about trending professional opportunities.

The internet has revolutionized the way people research and book travel. Travelers now have access to hotel- and flight-booking platforms, travel content on social media, travel blogs, and travel publications.

Today's travelers, especially those seeking luxury experiences, don't always want to wade through all that information. Consequently, the travel-advisor industry has experienced significant growth in recent years , especially among Gen Z and millennial travelers . According to Grand View Research, the global luxury-travel market is worth an estimated $1.3 trillion and expected to grow 7.9% from 2024 to 2030 .

Luxury travelers are not necessarily looking for the best deals but the best way to plan a trip without the hassle. This is where a luxury-travel advisor comes in. Agents can provide personalized itineraries, access to upgrades and selective experiences, and support throughout the trip.

Business Insider talked to three luxury-travel advisors about the industry's growth and how to transition into travel advising.

Why the luxury-travel industry is booming

Diana Hechler, the owner of D. Tours Travel , said the luxury-travel industry has grown because travelers have access to more luxury-level properties, and more people are willing to pay luxury prices. Also, a vacation is seen as a necessity for Gen Z travelers .

"People are booking vacations more than ever and want them to be stress-free and restorative. And nothing does that better than luxury travel," Hechler told BI. "Despite the higher prices, the segment of travelers that want luxury and are willing to pay for it has grown as well."

Angela Adto Tepper, the owner of AZA Luxury Travel , said that the shift toward luxury travel had increased since the pandemic, with more Americans prioritizing travel.

"The luxury-travel sector has evolved to prioritize wellness, health, sustainability, and transformative experiences, and people are now prioritizing meaningful travel experiences and pursuing bucket-list trips," Tepper said. "Advisors have adapted by curating journeys tailored to each client."

Why travelers work with advisors

One of the biggest advantages of working with a travel advisor is that it helps travelers cut through the noise and information overload. Traveler agents work on commission, getting a percentage of hotel, cruise, or tour costs, which is paid after a trip is over. Many agents also charge an up-front fee for research and planning.

"The internet was supposed to be the death of advisors, and instead, it's made us more valuable than ever," Hechler said. "While some people love to spend time researching their vacations and doing it themselves, many don't have time to 'waste' on the internet starting from scratch. Saving time is problem-solving for almost everyone; anytime you can solve people's problems, you can have a successful business."

Travel advisors can also offer complimentary upgrades and have access to experiences that might not be available to the public.

"Working with a travel advisor can be summarized by three E's," Tepper said. "We can provide expertise and insider knowledge, extras with personalized service, and emergency assistance."

With the prevalence of Instagram and TikTok, it might seem like everyone is going to the same places. So booking luxury hotels or making reservations at Michelin-starred restaurants is no longer enough; travelers want advisors to curate one-of-a-kind experiences.

"The luxury-travel sector is not just about opulence and indulgence but also about creating meaningful, enriching experiences that leave a lasting impact," Maurice Smith, the founder and CEO of the luxury-travel agency Eugene Toriko , said. "Sustainable and regenerative travel practices are becoming increasingly important, focusing on preserving and enhancing the destinations we visit."

Tips for transitioning into travel advising

If you're ready to move into the industry, it's worth taking stock of your skills first. For example, Tepper said people with event-planning experience might transition well into travel advising since itinerary planning and familiarity with booking platforms are part of the job. She added that soft skills, like interpersonal communication, problem-solving, and adaptability, would also come in handy.

Tepper recommended contacting an advisor before switching over. "If you're considering the career change, one of the best things you can do is secure a reputable mentor," she said. "A mentor can offer invaluable guidance, accelerating professional growth and enhancing skill development, leading to greater success and higher earnings."

It also helps to study travel trends, have a deep knowledge of a destination, and build expertise around types of travel, such as multigenerational trips , cruises, or honeymoons. Tepper said that prospective advisors must also remember that they're not necessarily looking for the "best discounts" for clients but creating tailored trips with impeccable customer service.

"To maintain the quality of our personalized work, we occasionally have to turn away a client," Tepper said. "Not every client is the right fit for our service. This selectivity ensures that we can devote the necessary time and attention to crafting great experiences for everyone while upholding the high standards we have put in place."

The benefits of travel advising

Travel advising provides valuable services to travelers, but agents can also receive perks like complimentary trips sponsored by hotels and tourism boards and travel discounts.

"One of the biggest perks of this job is the opportunity to explore the world and indulge in my passion for travel," Tepper said. "Imagine waking up in a new city, tasting exotic cuisines, and immersing yourself in diverse cultures while doing what you love. For me, it's a career that blends passion and purpose."

The job also comes with a few challenges. Smith said that agents must stay on top of ever-changing travel regulations to ensure the safety of their clients. But ultimately, he said, it's a rewarding career that prioritizes relationships.

"Travel advising offers flexibility and the potential to work remotely, allowing for a good work-life balance," Smith said. "Additionally, the satisfaction of helping clients create unforgettable memories and the joy of turning their travel dreams into reality is incredibly rewarding."

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