Travel is undoubtedly the best way to experience something new, to change perspectives and broaden your horizons. At momondo, we believe that travel opens our minds and is the door to a world where our differences are a source of inspiration and development, not intolerance and prejudice. We put travellers first and believe that travel should be for everybody no matter age, gender or financial situation.
Travel is a very individual affair, which is why we got in touch with some passionate travellers to hear their thoughts on why travel is so important. Read more about them here and learn about our mission and initiatives on Let’s Open Our World.
What does travel mean to you?
Alexander & Christine (Swedish Nomad & Alien Chris): “Travel is a way of connecting to the world, it means that we can share our differences and learn from them. Nothing beats the real experience where you get to stand in front of mother nature and be amazed, or just trying to have a conversation with a person who speaks another language; or eating something that you’ve never tried before. Travel is the best education out there.”
Clint McLean: “Travel is a luxury that lets me put myself in exhilarating, strange and sometimes uncomfortable positions in the interest of trying to learn a little more about these places and myself as well.”
Amy van Drunen: “Travel means finding yourself lost in the most obscure and beautiful ways. It’s learning the local language, and sometimes it means that you’ve spoken broken English for so long that when you try to speak it fluently, you stumble. It’s taking risks, trusting strangers and most importantly, trusting your gut. Travelling is opening your mind to new ideas and possibilities. It’s a time to reflect, observe and branch out. To travel is to fall in love with the world and find that we are one. It’s activating your mind and soul to be fully awake and engaged and seeing the world through the lens of a child – with anticipation and excitement.”
Sebastian (Off the Path): “Travel means growing – it means getting to know yourself better and becoming the real you.”
“Life’s not a race to tick off as many sights and countries as possible, but rather to savour them.” Andrew & Emily © Along Dusty Roads
Andrew & Emily (Along Dusty Roads): “For us, travel means an openness to new discoveries, new experiences and different approaches to life. It also represents when we’re at our happiest.”
Can you share one great experience from your travels?
Sebastian: “There’s one story I always tell, even though it’s been almost 10 years now. During my travels in Australia, I was visiting a friend who was working on a farm. It was a few days before Christmas and the first time ever that I wasn’t home during the festive season. When meeting the farmer, Mario, he asked me what plans I had for Christmas and when I told him that I had none, he immediately invited me to his Christmas party with friends and family. I was totally stunned by his openness and hospitality.
We celebrated the Aussie way with beer and barbecue when his cousin Pedro told me that I should join him swimming with wild dolphins the next day. I got really excited, but unfortunately, I had a plane to catch the next day and changing the flight would have been too costly, so I declined. Half an hour later Pedro showed up with a few hundred Australian dollars in his hands. “We are more than 30 people, all working full-time, so 10 dollars is really not much to ask from each of us.”
I was able to change my flight and go swimming with dolphins the next day. It was an incredible experience and I still get goosebumps telling this story. On that very day I decided to become more like Mario and Pedro – open and always friendly to strangers, because strangers are just friends you haven’t met yet.”
Maria: “My visit to Oman surprised me in every way.” © Maria’s Adventure
Maria (Maria’s Adventure): “Choosing one experience is difficult, but if I have to name one, it must be my trip to Oman. I visited the Arabic country a couple of years ago and I didn’t know what to expect. It’s not a country frequently visited by tourists, and the media mostly cover the negative sides of the Middle East. My visit to Oman surprised me in every way.
The chaotic markets in Muscat, the beautiful beaches all along the coast, watching the sunset over the desert – the country had so much to offer. But, most of all, the people impressed me so much. Everyone was extremely friendly, open and welcoming. The trip to Oman opened my eyes and made me realise that even though you haven’t heard much about a destination, it can turn out to be the place of your dreams.”
Clint: “One of my most vivid memories is riding in the back of a donkey cart outside of the Siwa Oasis in Egypt as the sun went down. The path was lined with little pockets of what looked like snow and ice but turned out to be salt. It was the first time I’d seen natural salt and it seemed magical. Years later I began photographing salt and salt harvesting around the world as part of an ongoing project.”
Chris likes to interact with the locals when he travels: “I skip about 50% of planned activities because of other places that I get to know thanks to the locals.” © Chris on Tour
Chris (Chris on Tour): “One day in Laos, I was hitchhiking to the Tad Fane Waterfall with a friend. The guy who picked us up not only gave us a little tour of the waterfall, but he also invited us to stay at his organic farm. We prepared a great dinner with the freshest ingredients you can imagine and had a great time getting to know many wonderful people.”
What is the most inspiring destination you’ve been to?
Alexander & Christine: “Travel is the best education out there.” True words!
Alexander & Christine: Japan – because never have we seen such an incredible mix of old and new. They know a thing or two about maintaining the old heritage and history even though they advance the society. It’s also one of the safest places we’ve ever visited, and the Japanese people are so kind and polite.”
Chris: “That would have to be Antarctica. Simply breathtaking, mainly because of the unique location, but also because it is still so well-preserved and far away from mass tourism. Seeing those snowcapped mountains and imagining that nobody ever stepped foot on them was great, as well as sitting next to the cute penguins.”
Sebastian: “New Zealand! Not only is the landscape stunning, but the people are stunningly friendly! It’s a truly inspiring country and every time I visit, I feel like coming home.”
What have you learned while travelling?
Sebastian: “Travelling really taught me to be more open-minded and to appreciate the world we are living in. It has also taught me to accept that we humans are all different yet we all have the same dreams and fears, which I think is incredible!”
Chris: “Though I love planning, one thing I learned and totally accepted is that I would never be able to do all the things I put on my to-do list. Nowadays I skip about 50% of planned activities because of other places that I get to know thanks to the locals. You should always expect the unexpected on the road – it’s all part of the journey.”
Amy: “I keep my schedule open for unexpected adventures with people I meet along the way.” © Amy Van Drunen
Amy: “The more I meet people, the more stories I hear, the more I realise how similar we are: our backgrounds, our struggles, the way we rejoice. There are courageous, kind and flat-out inspiring individuals in every corner of the world – those who are on their own travel adventure and those whose hospitality leaves you in awe. Travelling opens your mindset and we learn how connected we truly are.”
Clint: “I’ve learned that you’ll always fill whatever backpack you bring and that you can always get by with a smaller backpack.”
Where do you plan on going on your next journey?
Alexander & Christine: “We are travelling to Paris to see why it’s one of the most visited destinations in the world, and if it’s so special and romantic like so many claim.”
Maria: “I’m heading to Sri Lanka in March. Living in Norway, I need to escape the winter a couple of times during the season. In addition to having beautiful beaches and loads of sun, Sri Lanka is known for its stunning nature and exciting culture. I have been dreaming about visiting Sri Lanka for a few years now and it’s finally happening!”
Clint: “My next big trip will probably be driving from the south of Spain to Denmark in the spring with my wife, baby and two dogs. We’ll take our time and get a taste of as many places as possible on the way. We’re slowly relocating to Denmark, but taking the long way around.”
Andrew & Emily: “We are heading to Puglia, Italy in a couple of weeks. It’s a region we really loved last summer, and we want to discover a little more of it during off-season. Then, we’re off to southern Africa (Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania and Malawi) for three weeks of overlanding and camping – we can’t wait!”
How do you explore a new place?
Clint: “I’m more interested in ‘the living city’ than the historical one.” © Clint McLean
Amy: “My international adventures so far have been solo. There’s normally something drawing me to the destination, whether it’s work, to experience the culture or see a landmark there. I’ll have a rough guide of things to do. From there, I keep my schedule open for unexpected adventures with people I meet along the way. Personally, I think travelling alone or with few people forces you to be more open but in return, it gives you the most authentic experiences and the opportunity to make friends across cultures.”
Clint: “I generally try to take in a new place slowly and on foot. I’m not one to try to see too many cities or places in a short time and I often miss famous sites altogether. I’m generally more interested in ‘the living city’ than the historical one and would rather hang out with the fishmonger than the tourist guide.”
What’s your best travel advice?
Andrew & Emily: “Don’t go as fast as possible on any trip. Whether that’s on a long weekend in a small city, a month in a country or a year in a continent, your travel experience will always be richer, deeper and more memorable if you focus on going slower. Life’s not a race to tick off as many sights and countries as possible, but rather to savour them and appreciate that the unscripted and unknown moments on your travels will be the ones you’ll think about for years to come.”
Amy: “Invest in memories. Say yes more than no. Don’t be afraid to be uncomfortable because it’s how you grow. In many cases, it may be your only time there – your only opportunity to try the local food, see what’s around the corner. You made it this far, why not push the boundaries?”
Contributors’ bios
Swedish Nomad & Alien Chris: Full-time travellers Alexander Waltner and Christine Wedberg often visit places off the beaten path and mix their travels from budget to luxury. You can often find them on some paradise beach or enjoying a meal at a hidden local gem – but no matter what they do, they’re sure to share their experiences on their blogs.
Sebastian – Off the Path: Half Spanish and half German, Sebastian decided back in 2011 that it was time to turn his biggest passion – travelling – into a job. So far he’s lived in 10 countries and travelled to nearly 100. He speaks 5 languages fluently and can have basic conversations in many more languages. A few of his favourite places are New Zealand, Scotland, South Tyrol, Bali, Brisbane and Bangkok.
Along Dusty Roads: Along Dusty Roads was founded by Andrew & Emily in 2014 as they set off on a one-way flight to Mexico, with enough money to last them two years in Latin America and a dream to create something wonderful for modern day explorers. Since then, Along Dusty Roads has grown to be one of the UK’s best-read travel blogs, and an inspiration manual for those looking to travel more, travel better and travel more beautifully.
Amy van Drunen: Amy is an activist, artist and adventurer seeking to connect communities through meaningful media.
Chris Heil – Chris on Tour: 33-year-old Chris is a full-time traveller since 2014 and has visited over 100 countries so far. Besides travelling, he loves playing the guitar and climbing.
Maria Meland – Maria’s Adventure: Maria is a 26-year-old management consultant and avid traveller from Norway. She’s managed to visit over 65 countries to date, but there are no plans to stop here.
Clint McLean: Clint is a Canadian writer, photographer and dad living in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.
