Travel Your Way: Rediscover the world, on your own terms

by Nathan James Thomas

Travel is the opposite of prejudice it is curiosity, openness, and connection. Now, when our world is in flux, travel matters more than ever. How we travel has changed, but why we travel has not. With barriers and restrictions coming and going at a dizzying rate, now is the time to learn how to make the most out of whatever travel opportunities we are able to seize. With the right techniques and attitude, travel can open our eyes to new cultures and dispel stereotypes. It can force us out of our comfort zone. However, the benefits travel can unlock – increased understanding of the world, greater courage, better connection between cultures – don’t come automatically. Truly experiencing foreign cultures is something we need to work at. From advice on how to accurately understand new places to practical tips on meeting with locals, overcoming the language barrier, and asking the right questions, Travel Your Way shows you how to discover the world on your own terms. The result is a more rewarding journey and a greater sense of connection to everywhere you go, whether you’re on a business trip, or backpacking across the globe. Learn how to make the most of every place you go by seeing the world with open, curious eyes, plan with excitement for future journeys, and reflect with greater appreciation on the travels you have experienced so far.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

232 pages, Paperback

Published April 19, 2022

Reviews

[Carmel Audsley]

I have a friend who likes to travel, but will only stay in five-star hotels. She never leaves the city, and complains about the heat, the cold, insects, wait staff who don’t speak English, cold coffee and food that isn’t the same as what she eats back home. She is the nightmare tourist, not a true traveller. In 2019 the author of Travel Your Way set out to write a manifesto for ambitious travellers who wanted more depth from their experiences. In early 2020 it was ready to go to print, but the world he had written about ceased to exist. No one was travelling and the urge to connect with other travellers grew stronger. The author found himself and his partner locked down in Albania. He came out of the experience knowing that travel, now more than ever, deserves to be done well. To get the best from your travel experience, he advises, you need to listen to the environment around you and make an effort to learn the language and connect with the people who live where you visit. The author writes about places he has experienced, the thrill of first stepping on a plane, the innocence of not understanding a country’s politics or history, and finding depth and meaning in immersing himself in the life of the local people. Reading this book makes you want to cherish the wonderful experience that travel is, and plan to get the most out of every destination. If you want to be a true traveller rather than just a tourist, you will find some great advice in this book. The influence of social media means that so many people travel to be seen, rather than to connect. If you are focussed on yourself, you can miss the whole experience. Perhaps it will not be the selfies you took, but the people you met and experiences you had, that you will always remember. A book written from experience, with practical tips for your next adventure.

[Harry H]

I loved this book - I read this book in about 3 sittings, which I don't usually do! This book is a great mix of story-telling, introducing some ideas or concepts around the way we can travel, and then useful 'tips' or 'travel practice' to apply these ideas. Some I have done, others I have not but am going to try. It's a great book for anyone who loves to travel, and wants to get better at immersing into a place, meeting new people, or uncovering hidden gems that 'tourists' won't. It's not a 'let's hate on tourists as travelers are better' sort of book - in fact, if anything it acknowledges that there are lots of different ways we can (and do) travel, and it is up to you to pick the best way for you. Interesting, entertaining, often funny, and very well written - I'd genuinely recommend it as a great read.

[Lesa]

Interesting

[Kathi]

I picked this up on a whim at the library, and thought it would be an alright little read, but it was so much more. I really enjoyed the insights and perspectives of the author.

[Tina]

A thought provoking read, with anecdotes and practical suggestions for new ways of experiencing travel no matter where you are.