What Travel Taught Me In 2016 – Lessons From Badass Female Travelers

UPDATED MAR 2020. It seems like 2016 was not quite the best, right? Many people I talk to had a rough year. If what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, then I imagine being surrounded by superheroes in 2017. Before we jump into this superhero world, I wanted to close out the year with a post on some real-life superheroes. I follow these badass travel women on social media and I’ve included their links so you can too. For this post, I wrote ‘what travel taught me’ and asked them to share their stories. Let’s get inspired.

What Travel Taught Me in 2016 – Lessons From Badass Female Travelers

Monica – From Here To Sunday

This year I took a giant leap.

I quit my job to travel the world and blog about my experiences! Since April, I’ve been to 18 countries across Central America, Europe, and Africa.

Naturally, I’ve learned quite a bit this year about myself and the world.

As an American, I chose an interesting time to travel given I was abroad during the election. Because of this, I had many opportunities to have conversations about the global economy and hot topic issues.

I’ve appreciated each of these conversations because they have broadened my mind and perspective and I learned more about how other countries operate around the world.

I’ll forever feel grateful to have learned so much from so many – from Spain to Norway to South Africa!

Travel overall has taught me to appreciate the little things, to feel grateful and it has broadened my mind to think more globally.

Follow more of Monica’s adventures on her Instagram

Katie – What’s Katie Doing

My travel to Saudi Arabia in 2016 taught me that whilst you need to respect the culture of the place you are visiting, underneath the abayas we are all the same!

I’ve never felt unsafe traveling in the Middle East, but I do respect the local culture and dress appropriately.

My abaya was only needed when I was in public and it wasn’t a big issue to wear it to fit in (although the blonde hair stands out!)

Having visited a salon whilst in Damman, I can confirm that we are all the same underneath.

All women love to keep fit, have their hair and nails done, and enjoy a massage at a spa. Don’t forget this just because they don’t show it in public.

The photo I am sharing is my colleague and I wearing our abayas at the office in Saudi Arabia (I visited for work).

It was important to our team to show that Ernst and Young, the company I work for, was diverse and would embrace a team made up of all types of people, not just white, middle-aged men.

Follow Katie’s adventures on her website and Instagram

Cassandra – The Quirky Pineapple

Travel has taught me a few things!

It’s taught me to be patient, to be more spontaneous, and to be more open.

This past year, travel has taught me to be A LOT more open to people, adventures, and places. There are a lot of areas that people tell you aren’t safe to travel to. There are a lot of people that let that fear scare them into ruling out a country or a city.

Of course, there are some countries and cities that aren’t stable at the moment. But, travel has taught me to push boundaries anyways, and always go to a place with an open mind and a willingness to learn.

I’ve learned more about a country, culture, and the history of an area because I was open to learning! I wanted to experience everything that I could, just to have a taste of how a local lives.

Travel taught me that travel goes much deeper than taking the pretty pictures and crossing a destination off of our bucket lists.

Another big aspect that travel has taught me is being open to meeting people.

Naturally, as a female traveler, I’m always cautious and wary. The other part of me loves to make connections and build friendships.

In 2016, everywhere I met, everyone was so friendly! With a simple “hello”, I was able to befriend someone and learn something new.

Some of those friendships have lasted even after I left the country.

Travel breaks down my barriers and has taught me that when you’re traveling, meeting people is half the fun (or even more fun)! Now, whenever I travel, I always try to meet up with someone from the area.

This could mean through Facebook groups, Couchsurfers, or Instagram! I love making new connections, and ultimately friends, in new areas!

Follow Cassandra’s adventures on her website and on Instagram

 Sonja – Migrating Miss

In 2016 I learned to travel more with purpose.

Travel for travel’s sake can be fun, but if you have someone to travel with, or a home to return to, then it can be even better.

Over the summer I traveled extensively and at the end of my trip, I added on 2 days in Copenhagen before returning to my summer base where my fiancé lives.

Although I enjoyed Copenhagen I found myself wishing the whole time that he was there with me, and thinking about coming back with him.

I realized that I don’t need to always add on extra destinations just because I can, that sometimes it’s worth waiting.

Travel can help us to grow, change our perspective and open us up to new opportunities, but in 2016 I learned it’s not a race to the end because there isn’t one, it’s the journey that counts.

Follow Sonja’s adventures on her website and Instagram

Verushka – Spice Goddess

Travel in 2016 has taught me to live light and not carry excess baggage.

This is not only literally but figuratively. I have started to change the way I view the world as well.

Surrounding myself with like-minded souls is another lesson 2016 travels have thought me.

I had the honor of traveling with 29 bloggers from around the world for two weeks in Kerala, India.

I came back a different person.

Having never traveled with such a diverse and large group, every day brought new lessons and the bond of friendship strengthened.  Every journey we take we learn something new.

Follow Verushka’s adventures on her website and Instagram

Rebecca – Bee Wanderlust

The year 2016 has been a big year for me, it may sound cheesy but I could say it’s the one year that really has changed me.

I have traveled before, but in 2015/ 2016 I moved from Wales to Australia.

Throughout the year I learned a few things. Firstly I can do hard work to support my travels, work I would never normally do (farm work I’m looking at you!)

I have become a lot more patient and chilled.

I feel like I have learned more about what I want in life, mainly to travel.

My travels in 2016 really have made me grow as a person, I appreciate the little things, my interests and knowledge have broadened, I have learned new skills I would never have normally.

It was only once I returned home to Wales that I realized all of this, sat in my old room. I am not the same person.

The only bad thing? I now can’t stay in one place. So, I booked a one-way ticket right back to Australia for January 2017!

Follow Rebecca’s adventures on her Instagram

Hannah – Getting Stamped

2016 was a crazy travel year for me, I boarded 74 flights alone this year!

I’ve learned a lot of things this past year but most importantly that I can live without wifi at my fingertips at all times.

I spent two weeks traveling in Cuba, where I didn’t have wifi 24/7.

And you know what, I survived!

I remember the night in Trinidad Cuba when I went to the city square and there were hundreds of people on their phone connecting to the wifi hotspot.

I realized I can live on an hour a day if I really needed to.

Oh and Cuba is amazing, I can’t wait to go back and explore more.

Follow Hannah’s adventures on her website and Instagram

What travel taught me – yours truly

As for me, in 2016, travel taught me that incredible experiences can be our reality if we want them.

We don’t have to only look at epic landscapes in magazines or watch amazing experiences from around the world on TV. It doesn’t all have to be a far-off dream.

When I was on the summits of the Swiss Alps I was in complete awe of what I was seeing. It seemed so unreal to me because all around me were such incredible views that you would usually see in a magazine.

While I was up there freezing my buns off, I kept thinking that if we really want to experience these things, we actually can.

It takes hard work to save money instead of eating out all the time or buying all the latest gadgets, but the sacrifice is always worth it for moments like that.

What travel taught me – extraordinary moments are for us ordinary people too

I hope these insightful stories inspire you to take the plunge and travel somewhere new in 2017, even if it is somewhere close to home.

Let’s make 2017 the year you go on that weekend away, book your dream trip or drive to somewhere you’ve never been!

My travel planning guides to help you plan your trips

• Bad Travel Advice That You Should Probably Just Ignore

• Save Money For Traveling With This Ultimate Guide Of REAL LIFE Tips

• How To Stay Healthy While Traveling – Practical Tips That Don’t Include Detox Tea

• 30 Trips To Take Before You Turn 30 – The KSB Edition

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