| What is an Independent Traveler? | | | | place or culture when you are sheltered in a tour bus, |
| There is a certain philosophy that the independent | | | | or in a fancy hotel. The only way to maximize the |
| traveler adheres to. While the tourist looks for comfort, | | | | experience of new things is to step into them and |
| convenience and a home away from home, the | | | | participate with an open mind. One travels to a foreign |
| independent traveler prefers to become part of the | | | | place to experience the foreign. Yet, too often the |
| culture as much as possible. The independent traveler | | | | tourist erects shields to become isolated from the |
| likes to leave home behind. | | | | foreign experiences sought. The independent traveler |
| There are many different terms in use to describe | | | | does not fear what is foreign, but seeks it out and |
| independent travelers. A hobo, in this sense, is | | | | slowly, courteously, attempts to let it become a part of |
| someone without a home, spends very little or no | | | | his or her life. |
| money, and travels to work. A backpacker is a | | | | 5) Goes with the Flow |
| traveler on a budget who's luggage is usually a single | | | | Worry kills enjoyment. Time schedules, tasks and |
| backpack. A flash packer has more money to spend | | | | material things contribute to worry. When worry |
| than the hobo or backpacker, but still prefers the | | | | pounds away in your head you cannot truly |
| lifestyle of independent travel. | | | | experience what is there. It is easy to see with the |
| Regardless of the term used, independent travelers | | | | eyes, it is an art to understand with the mind. The |
| share a common philosophy. | | | | independent traveler knows that not everything always |
| The Independent Traveler: | | | | goes to plan; a flight might be canceled, a bus could be |
| 1) Does Not Like to be Pampered | | | | delayed, the weather may not be ideal. With a tight |
| Independent travelers have a distaste for typical, | | | | schedule these things could ruin a trip. With flexibility |
| over-priced packaged tours. They avoid rigid itineraries, | | | | one can actually learn to enjoy them. Sometimes |
| instead preferring to plan their own trips. Rather than | | | | things happen for a reason. Sometimes you can find |
| being pampered during their travels, independents feel | | | | without seeking. |
| more comfortable on their own. When one is told | | | | 6) Believes that a Vacation is an Education |
| when to eat, where to go and how long to stay, it is | | | | When one continues to do the same things one has |
| like putting a noose on experience. Independents rely | | | | always done, he or she will continue to receive the |
| on their own judgment, they do not let others think for | | | | same results. Travel to the independent is more than a |
| them or tell them what to do. | | | | vacation, it is an education. Independent travel allows |
| 2) Spends Less Money to Enjoy More | | | | the individual to try new things, to see beyond one's |
| The less money an independent traveler spends, the | | | | mental and cultural background, to experience, to learn |
| more he or she enjoys the trip. Big spending tends to | | | | and to grow. When one travels with an open mind |
| isolate the traveler from new, vibrant experience. | | | | learning becomes a delightful activity. Acquaintances |
| Rather than getting caught up in the consumer trap of | | | | learn from the traveler, the traveler learns from them, |
| buying expensive souvenirs, paying for useless | | | | and therefore learns more about his or her person |
| accessories and the "convenience" of doing what you | | | | than otherwise would be possible. Learning extends |
| are told to do on a tour, independents do more of the | | | | beyond the four walls of a classroom to include the |
| things they enjoy doing, rather than buying things that | | | | world. |
| distracts one from the experience of the trip. | | | | 7) Enjoys Freedom |
| 3) Travels Light | | | | To achieve freedom one does not need more. One |
| Traveling with lots of luggage is a huge inconvenience | | | | needs less. The independent traveler has very few |
| that costs the traveler time, money and worry. All | | | | time constraints, material possessions, itineraries and |
| those things that tourists take with them on vacation | | | | lists of things to do. The independent is free to take |
| actually impedes the trip, rather than enhance it. One of | | | | advantage of any opportunity that comes along. The |
| the purposes of travel is to enjoy what is there, not | | | | independent may stay up late to watch the sun set, |
| what is at home. Traveling light provides more | | | | wander into an isolated village, discover healing rituals |
| freedom for the traveler and instead of baby-sitting all | | | | of a disappearing culture, enjoy extra time with old |
| those "important" material possessions one can focus | | | | friends and accept the gracious hospitality of new |
| on experiencing life. | | | | ones. The independent traveler understands that |
| 4) Becomes Immersed in the Culture | | | | baggage should be left at home. |
| It is very difficult, even impossible, to experience a new | | | | Leave things behind to take the world with you. |