How can I start traveling?

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travel

How can I start traveling?
May 26, 2008 12:57 PM Subscribe

I really want to travel - how can I get started?

I am a 20 year old female college student with little-to-no REAL responsibilities. I'm almost done with school and have a job in the service industry that's very flexible.

I want to start traveling.

The problem is that I feel such an overwhelming sense of freedom that it actually paralyzes me. Not physically, of course, but mentally, for sure. I am interested in almost all locales (beach, mountains, desert, etc), cultures (down-home, downtown, down and out, etc), styles of traveling (camping, hotels, hostels, etc). The amount of options is daunting. I know this is a great problem to have. I don't have limitless amounts of money, but since I don't plan on settling down for a while, I feel like I can spend my money somewhat recklessly.

Another issue that I have with traveling (or something that keeps me from getting out there): I don't like the idea of just staying in a place for a couple of days. If I go somewhere (esp. abroad, but also in general) I want to be able to REALLY experience the culture, the people, etc.

I just really don't know where to start: what to do, where to go, what to read, how to go about it. I am kind of waiting to get inspired, but even when I think I've decided where I want to go, I get the sinking feeling that I'll be missing out on something somewhere else. I know that's just indecisiveness, though. How did you get started traveling (if you are a traveler?) Advice, please?