Trudy
Ask any person their biggest regrets in life, and wishing they had traveled more will often be high on the list. We live on such a huge, incredible planet and staying in one place really is a shame when there’s so much out there to be discovered, places to explore and things to learn. You gain a whole new perspective on life, meet new people and get opportunities that you probably wouldn’t have any other way. The only downside, however, is missing the people we leave behind. If you’re traveling for many months, you might find yourself getting homesick and missing your friends and family. If you’re quite young and this is your first time away from home it can hit you particularly hard. However, there are ways you can stay in touch without having to spend a huge chunk of your spending money on phone calls.
Use Snail Mail
Snail mail is often overlooked in the age of instant communication. However it’s something that shouldn’t be lost, and writing a letter is completely different to conversing online. In a letter you get to speak freely, there are no interruptions or changes of the topic from the other person you can properly write from the heart. Plus, it shows the person that’s receiving the letter that you really thought about them and took the time out. If you don’t want to write a full letter or have lots of people you want to send mail too, how about sending a postcard? You could use a postcard app to easily transform your travel snaps, or you could pick up a few if you pass any tourist areas along the way. Unlike instant communication, these are things that can be kept and looked back on in years to come.
Utilize Social Media To Keep In Contact
If you’re able to get 3g, 4g or Wi-Fi while you’re away, you’re in luck as you then always have your network right there. This can be strangely comforting, even if you’re a little lonely in the middle of the night there will be someone around on Facebook chat or Twitter to speak to which might be all you need. Instagram is a great platform to get on while you’re traveling since you can use it to post all of your snaps without it taking up phone or camera memory. If you don’t want to spam all of your followers, set up a new account and then only people who are interested in your travels can add you. When you get back home, you will have so much enjoyment scrolling through them all.
Use Whatsapp and Skype
These days, you really don’t need to spend lots of money on expensive phone calls. As long as you have access to the internet, you can make phone calls and video calls using Skype and Whatsapp. Find out if any of the hostels, motels, campsites and other places you will be staying at will have Wi-Fi. And before you leave, find a good sim with an international data plan giving you plenty of data for your money.
How do you keep in contact with your loved ones at home when you travel? Do you use apps or snail mail? What about Skype or FaceTime? There are many options out there. Let me know your favorites in the comments below. Maybe, I will find a new favorite from your suggestions?
Until our next rendezvous…
XOXO
Trudy
This post was a collaboration.
Great post Trudy. I think you hit it with the snail mail. Not everyplace worldwide has wi-fi. Trust me on this. The apartment we stay in every summer in France does NOT have it and I find myself gloriously happy that I don’t have it but I like to keep in touch with family. So it’s usually off to McDonald’s to wi-fi up. Snail mail is a great way to keep in touch.
As far as regrets –I also think you are spot on with the fact that a large number of us regret not traveling more. I’m always telling my kids–Hey, go travel while you are young and not married. And they listen!
But, in this day and age of workaholicism and corporations not giving enough personal time–add to the fact that the airlines charge ridiculously large sums of money to fly overseas, it’s hard for a lot of people to travel. We were thinking of going back to Paris–just for three days for Thanksgiving and nixed the idea. I refuse to pay over three thousand bucks to fly to France for three days. The airlines have you by the short hairs!
I need to start researching more on how I can write about traveling!!! XXOXOXOXO!!!
Yes, at some jobs you feel guilty about taking vacation time or that job security isn’t there if you leave unlike in other countries.It’s hard to feel carefree then to just hop a flight. But I like snail mail most because it becomes a memento.
It is much easier nowadays to keep in touch. One of my friends opened an Instagram account, just so she could keep in touch with her daughter who was travelling to Costa Rica!! It’s smart!
Trudy, This is so great, since its easy to feel lonely when you travel, especially if you’re solo. I love the idea of FB. I also love the old-fashioned idea of writing a letter of sending a postcard.
Great tips! More travel is definitely something I want in my life!
I have been using Whats App for a number of years and it keeps me in touch, esp with the petsitter!
Great tips. We have family around the globe and modern technology makes staying in touch (for free!) so much easier.
These are all great tips. Love how you found an app to help with the snail mail option!
I video chat with my daughter almost daily when she isn’t with me, even when I’m traveling with my wife without the kids :). I just tend to get a tad when I get to hear about another boring day with mom :). #LawyersSuck
Aaw, Sloane knows that Daddy loves her.
Good tips! So many options for staying in touch these days!
Thank you so much! Yes , I think it is easy to forget the oldest ways because we are inundated with new technology.
I enjoyed this post Trudy. I use a postcard app and manage to send postcards of m6 photos home whenever I’m away. It saves looking for stamps, post office and I get to share my own pics. I’ve been known to send myself a postcard home so that it will be there waiting for me when I get home. ? messenger and what’s app is good too.
I didn’t know that there was a postcard app before this. I love postcards, if they are beautiful enough I treat them like a photo and put them in an album. I love getting snail mail.
I love snail mail too. I use TouchNote for my postcards.
Whatsapp is definitely my go-to app nowadays to connect with friends in the U.S. I still use FB messengers occasionally with some friends.
Skype is my favorite thing, especially when my husband is away for work. Makes me feel less lonely.
My brother loves Skype and Google Duo for keeping in touch!