Afraid to Travel Internationally? You’re not Alone

Paris. Venice. Tokyo. The Costa del Sol. Chile. Norway. It all sounds so wonderful — culture, beauty, food, architecture, the ocean, fresh sushi, music, fashion, gondolas. But maybe you are afraid to go to the destinations of your dreams because you've heard stories of cancelled flights, missed connections, travelers stranded, changing vaccination and test requirements, getting sick and being stranded far from home.

As a travel journalist, I hear from many travelers and get frequent updates on sites and online groups about the travel industry. Some people are traveling and in spite of hassles they are having marvelous and memorable voyages. Others have cancelled their trips and are waiting for a less fraught and turbulent time. You may also be one of the many who are fearful about flying far from home and frustrated because they can’t scratch their travel itch.

Before sharing with you a possible solution, I’d like to ask what your definition of “traveling” is. Does it entail flying to another country? Experiencing a different culture? Eating new foods? Does distance equal a great trip? Is a trip in your own country somehow lesser? Does it lack the caché of going abroad?

In my travels around the United States, I have had exotic experiences that matched those in remote locales. The trips have involved food from Korea, India, Venezuela, Italy, Japan, the Caribbean, and Africa.

Source: Paul Ross, with permission

The destinations included world class geological formations and hikes with stupendous views.

Source: Paul Ross, with permission

I have watched shepherds on horseback with their flocks.

Source: Paul Ross, with permission

I've attended spiritual ceremonies, art festivals, food events, wineries, gaped at architectural marvels, walked through ancient ruins, listened to world music, seen the fall colors and snow carpeting the earth, and watched butterflies arriving in the desert in spring.

Source: Paul Ross, with permission

I've witnessed spectacular sunsets ...and learned about birds and bees.

Source: Paul Ross, with permission

When people ask me if I’m frustrated that I can’t travel, I assure them that I am not frustrated because I am traveling. “But don’t you want to go out of the country?” “Sure, when the time is right.”

Somehow the idea of travel has been confounded or conflated with the idea that travel is only exciting if it’s far away. I have crisscrossed the globe many times and I can tell you that I feel excited, stimulated, and soothed by local and regional travel. I am not worried about being stranded. I am not throwing money at rising prices from inflation. My body is thankful that I’m not scrunched up in uncomfortable seats for 10 or 12 hours at a clip, and that I am hiking and walking every day and getting exercise and fresh air. I’m so free from travel worry that I can just be present and enjoy everything I am doing. I’m exploring new neighborhoods and restaurants, meeting folks of different ethnicities, cultures, ages, styles, with different cuisines and music.

Source: Paul Ross, with permission

I am marveling at the adaptability of refugees in a new land and culture.

Source: Paul Ross, with permission

I am not tense about missing flights, changing hotels, or the price of rental cars.

Am I traveling? You bet. I’m writing about it and turning readers on to what’s in their own state or region that they know nothing about. My husband is a photographer and he is getting glorious photos. I’m visiting sites with ancient pictographs, learning words in different languages, sampling foods from many immigrant communities and chefs honoring their ancestral cuisine, going to a santur concert (traditional Middle Eastern stringed instrument) and a flamenco recital.

Source: Paul Ross, with permission

I'm hiking through a slot canyon, meeting locals on a patio at a winery, buying crafts from South Africa, and hanging with barrel racers.

Source: Paul Ross, with permission

I'm going to a Native American sacred celebration, making collages, and listening to street music.

Source: Paul Ross, with permission

Will I travel out of the country again? Of course, when the time is right and I am ready. My nervous system thanks me for not sitting around, disgruntled, waiting for future travels but enhancing the quality of my life every time I set out to explore new things in my country and share them with others who think there is nothing to do if you can’t travel abroad.

Maybe we need to rethink what travel means and how our town, city, state, region and country are filled with delights just waiting to be sampled and savored.