Plan A Trip
By definition, an independent traveler is someone who chooses to plan the details of their own trip without or with minimal aid from a travel agent or packaged tour company. This can be both frightening and simultaneously liberating. Not surprisingly, the advent and continued growth of the internet has made the process of planning one’s own trip incredibly easier than it used to be.
The benefits of do-it-yourself, independent world travel are numerous. The personal enrichment that comes from totally immersing oneself in a foreign culture offers unparalled experience for personal growth.
For one, being in a foreign culture where things are done much differently that in your own culture pushes you beyond your "comfort zone". Things you normally take for granted such as ordering food or finding a place to sleep for the night can sometimes take a disproportionately long time and a great deal of frustration. But it is these simple experiences that often stick with us the most—even beyond any spectacular sights you may see. It is through these experiences that we grow the most and come to see ourselves in relation to the rest of the world.
Travel allows you to better define yourself as citizen of the world, of your home country, and as an individual. For a far more inclusive discussion on the positive benefits of independent travel, we highly recommend that you read some of the books available in our Offline Resources section.