My First Actual Holiday
I’ve always considered myself a backpacker. I travel solo. I like being alone and doing things alone. When you go off on a trip where the only thing you need to think about is the weight of your backpack excitement is linked to a certain level of fear which is extremely inebriating. On most trips I’ve only really known where I was going to sleep the first three nights. After that, well, it was all left to chance.
Not knowing what’s going to happen and trying to figure out solutions in a country you’ve never set foot on before is stressful but it’s a kind of stress that makes you feel in many ways suprior.
“I was stuck in Cancun during a storm and last minute decided to take a plane to Chiapas where I met two spanish girls and went on a 10 day road trip around the region — how was your holiday in Portugal?” Was kinda my attitude.
After being stuck in Guatemala for over a year and a half due to Covid I thought I’d relax a little. You know, “settle” and what not. I’m not particularly familiar with the concept of stability but professionals say it’s good for you so I thought I might aswell give it a go. You might be surprised to know that to the level I am capable of I’m doing alright at this whole stability thing. I found a job I’m decent at in a place I don’t hate which is not a transatlantic flight away from my family, score! I even started saving up for a house because investing is a “good thing”.
Then with the help of some dissapointments and a little bit of extra money I decided to go on a good old adventure. I didn’t want to do this alone this time though. Maybe it’s turning 30 but I really didn’t want to go through the hassle I once thought made me a better traveller than everyone else.
So I paid someone else to do it for me!
A good friend of mine is a coordinator for WeRoad soI asked him for some advice. He replied with a discount code. I booked the trip the next day.
In these kinds of voyages you go off to a destiation with a bunch of strangers and do a tonne of different things and hopefully, if in the right group, have a decent amount of fun.
Spoiler: I got one of the good ones.
What I enjoyed was not having to think about everything, for that we had our splendid coordinator. He was a bit demanding, especially with wake up times but that enabled us to do as much as we did with the little time we had. So, all is forgiven.
We went to beautiful beaches, took a trip on a catamaran, did all the touristy things and also went for a dip in freezing cold waters at some waterfall, somewhere, in Crete. Beautiful. Great time.
It’s definately more expensive than travelling solo, no doubt. However, I think the whole stability thing also comes with a certain level of comfort that I don’t really think I’m willing to give up on. At the end of the day when you’re in a big group you can also make some decidions that are budget friendly. It’s not when you’re there that’s the issue. It’s how much you spend without really knowing what you’re paying before ever even leaving. You don’t know how much of you’re money is going to the company and how much is going to the structure you’ll be staying at, the car rental etc… That’s pretty annoying. All things, admittedly, I was willing to overlook at the end of it all because of the amazing time I had.
Now, I’m the one that’s thinking about week long holidays in Portugal. I’m even thinking that, brace yourselves, I might never use a backpack again. Insane, I know.
Until next time,
Sarita ❤
