SHORT TRIPS VERSUS LONG TRIPS

Short Trips versus Long Trips by Burton Jones

If you travel a lot, one of the issues you will run into is how long to go for? The difference between short trips and long treks are massive.
Short Trips versus Long Trips
For the purposes of this article, I think it is wise to define the difference between short and long trips. A short trips is a jaunt where you get to experience a few days or weeks away from your life. A long trip is a total immersion in the destinations in question. In this case, I am talking about renting a real place to live or actually cooking for yourself. Another way of looking at it is whether you have to put the stuff from your home in storage! If you do, you are on a long trip.
Most of us take short trips. Life gets busy from family issues to working for someone else. The advantage of a short trip is it tends to be an immediate escape with a minimum of fuss. You figure out what you can afford, where you want to go and make the bookings. The major issue is usually only money.
I have taken many short trips and enjoyed them all. I rarely do so anymore, however. The reason has to do with the fact I just don't like the see and dash approach. I've seen enough museums, churches, buildings, parades, beaches and so on. These days, I prefer to take the long trip where you come face to face with living in another culture.
The advantage of taking a long trip of three or more months is you tend to get a real feel for locations. Instead of feeling like a cow being herded along the tourist trail, you can plop down and meet the locals. Frankly, they are far more interesting than any church or museum. Well, usually!
While everyone probably thinks a long trip sounds at least enticing, the sad fact is they are hard to put together. Time and money tend to be the biggest problems. Simply put, where do you find them? Most companies are unwilling to let you take a sabbatical for six months, and they certainly aren't going to pay you while you are gone! The only answer seems to be to save up a nice stash of cash and become self-employed. There isn't a lot of security in it, but you can get out and go...
Taking a lengthy trip abroad is something a highly recommend you do at least once in your life. Whether it is tomorrow or when you retire, you will not regret doing so.
About the Author
Burton Jones is with TravelYeti.com - get daily travel tips.