Ten reasons why travel is an investment

I was quite young when my folks got divorced, therefore family vacations were pretty much non-existent.  The highlight childhood vacation for me was the cliché trip to Disneyland, but other than that I don’t recall any others—except perhaps the occasional road trip to a relatives home.  My father was not much into travel, however my mom had a zeal for it—unfortunately, there was little time or money for such extravagance.  Today, there are options for a savings account in which families can put a little away each month for such travel adventures.

It wasn’t until I was in my mid-20s that I took my first real vacation.  I was dating a woman who had traveled the world, and with whom travel was an essential part of life. I was not opposed to traveling; I just needed someone to expose its fruitfulness to me. After a week-long trip to Purto Varta, I was hooked on travel. The excitement of exploration, the adrenalin rush of adventure and the nourishment for my soul was life altering.

I have now traveled the world and road tripped across North America. These ten lessons are what travel has taught me, and, why I think travel should be a part of your investment strategies.  Travel is not an extravagance; it’s a necessity in becoming a well-rounded individual. Get details about an ISA, this could put you on your way to enriching your life.

1. Travel helps you strike up conversations with strangers.
2. You’ll become more knowledgeable of cultures, geography and history.
3. You’ll meet new friends…the more people you know, the more opportunities will come your way.
4. Travel will shape the way you think…making you a well-rounded individual.
5. Get exposed to new food…your palate will thank you. We become accustom to the local foods available to us, however the world is full of unique fruits, vegetables and culinary delights.
6. Let the rhythm move you…the music around the world can be completely different than what you’re used to. Case in point…I was recently in Quebec City for an international music festival.  It was amazing being exposed to so many different types of music.
7. If you’re a fashion trendsetter…travel will introduce you to styles you never thought possible. You can bring back clothes and be all the envy of your friends and family.
8. See globalization first hand. The world has changed dramatically with the advent of the internet, social media, shipping, etc. Don’t be surprised to see a McDonald’s in Timbuktu.
9. Witness the different political systems…how they are better/worse than your home country.
10. Finally, travel will make you a more marketable person in a world that is becoming flatter by the day.

Those are my top-10 reasons why travel should be looked at as an investment rather than an expense. What are your thoughts? Can you think of some other reasons? Or, do you disagree with me? I’d love to hear your thoughts.  Please post a comment below.