Get There Your Way: Why There's No Right or Wrong Way To Travel

Get There Your Way: Why There's No Right or Wrong Way to Travel

Stop Chasing Someone Else's Journey

Travel has become strangely competitive.

Open almost any social media platform and you'll see influencers boarding first-class flights, couples sipping champagne on private beaches, families posing in matching outfits at famous landmarks, and backpackers climbing mountains before sunrise. Travel magazines tell us about the "50 Places You Must Visit Before You Die," while travel experts insist there's a perfect itinerary, a perfect budget, or a perfect way to experience a destination.

Without realizing it, many of us begin comparing our lives to these carefully curated images. We start believing that if we can't travel like that, perhaps we're doing it wrong. We tell ourselves we'll travel when we have more money, when we're healthier, when we find someone to travel with, when the kids are grown, or when life finally slows down. To explore this more, check out my article, Stop waiting for the perfect time to travel: Why you should take that vacation now even if you're single, sick or broke!

But here's the truth that inspired this entire blog:

There has never been one right way to travel.

There never will be.

Travel isn't a competition. It isn't a race to collect passport stamps or cross destinations off a bucket list. It isn't measured by how much money you spend, how many countries you've visited, or how impressive your Instagram photos look. Travel is deeply personal. It reflects your circumstances, your dreams, your limitations, your priorities, and your definition of joy.

That philosophy is at the heart of The Single, Sick, and Broke Traveler and the reason our motto is simple:

Get There Your Way.

Those four words aren't just a catchy tagline. They're an invitation to stop apologizing for the way you travel and start embracing the journey that fits your life.

The Myth of the "Perfect Traveler"

For decades, the travel industry has quietly sold us an image of what a "real traveler" looks like.

According to the advertisements, travelers are young, energetic, healthy, financially comfortable, and almost always accompanied by smiling friends or a romantic partner. They wake before sunrise, hike ten miles without breaking a sweat, eat at trendy restaurants, book expensive excursions, and somehow never seem tired, stressed, or worried about paying next month's bills.

It's beautiful marketing.

It's also completely unrealistic for millions of people.

The truth is that many travelers are navigating challenges the brochures never mention. Some are managing chronic pain while packing a suitcase. Others are calculating every dollar before booking a hotel. Some are grieving the loss of a spouse who once shared every vacation. Others are caregivers squeezing in a weekend away between doctor's appointments and medication schedules.

These travelers don't appear in many advertisements.

But they exist.

In fact, they make up a much larger part of the travel community than most people realize.

You don't have to fit someone else's definition of adventure to deserve one of your own.

Life Doesn't Wait for Perfect Timing

One of the biggest lies we tell ourselves is, "I'll travel someday."

Someday, when I have more money.

Someday, when my illness is under control.

Someday, when I find someone to go with me.

Someday, when work settles down.

Someday, when the caregiving responsibilities aren't so overwhelming.

The problem with "someday" is that it keeps moving.

Life has a way of replacing one challenge with another. Bills turn into medical appointments. Medical appointments become family responsibilities. Family responsibilities become unexpected emergencies. Before long, years have passed, and we've spent more time waiting for life to become easier than actually living it.

That doesn't mean everyone should book an expensive international vacation tomorrow. It means we should stop believing that meaningful travel only counts when every circumstance is perfect.

Sometimes your adventure is a weekend road trip.

Sometimes it's visiting a small town thirty miles away.

Sometimes it's sitting beside a lake you've never seen before.

Sometimes it's simply saying yes to an experience you've been postponing because fear convinced you that it wasn't enough.

The size of the trip doesn't determine its value.

The memories do.

Traveling While Single Isn't Traveling Alone

One of the biggest misconceptions in the travel world is that solo travel is somehow incomplete. Society often celebrates couples exploring Europe together or families creating magical vacations, while the person traveling alone is sometimes viewed with sympathy rather than admiration.

I couldn't disagree more.

Traveling while single isn't about what you're missing. It's about discovering what you're capable of.

When you travel by yourself, you make every decision. You decide when to leave, where to stop, what restaurant to try, which scenic overlook deserves another twenty minutes, and whether you'd rather spend the afternoon wandering through a museum or watching waves roll onto the shore.

There is an incredible sense of freedom in realizing you don't need permission to explore.

Of course, solo travel isn't always easy. There can be moments of loneliness. There are times when eating dinner alone feels uncomfortable or when you wish someone were sitting beside you to share a beautiful sunset.

But solitude and loneliness aren't the same thing.

Solitude creates space for reflection. It teaches independence. It builds confidence. It reminds us that we are capable of creating meaningful experiences without waiting for someone else to make them happen.

Many people postpone their dreams because they're waiting for the perfect travel partner.

Sometimes the perfect travel partner is the one already looking back at you in the mirror.

Traveling with Chronic Illness Requires Strength Most People Never See

If you've never traveled while living with chronic illness, it's easy to underestimate the amount of planning involved.

A simple weekend trip may require medication schedules, backup prescriptions, mobility aids, accessible accommodations, dietary considerations, extra rest days, and contingency plans for unexpected flares.

It can feel overwhelming.

People often assume these preparations take away the spontaneity of travel.

In reality, they often make travel possible.

Living with chronic illness teaches flexibility in a way few experiences can. Spoonies become experts at adapting when plans change, finding creative solutions, listening to their bodies, and celebrating victories that others might overlook.

Maybe your victory is walking farther than you expected.

Maybe it's making it through the airport without a flare.

Maybe it's watching the sunrise after finally getting enough rest.

Maybe it's simply having the courage to leave home despite uncertainty.

Those moments deserve to be celebrated.

Traveling with chronic illness isn't about pretending you're healthy.

It's about refusing to let illness write every chapter of your story.

Your Journey May Look Different—and That's Okay

If you travel with chronic illness, your vacation may include naps, slower mornings, accessible transportation, or fewer activities than someone else's itinerary.

That doesn't make your experience less meaningful.

It simply makes it yours.

Instead of measuring success by how much you accomplish in a day, consider measuring it by different questions:

- Did I experience something beautiful?
- Did I create a memory I'll treasure?
- Did I listen to my body instead of fighting it?
- Did I allow myself to enjoy this moment?
- Did I prove to myself that I can still explore the world?

Those answers matter far more than how many attractions you managed to squeeze into a weekend.

The goal has never been to travel like everyone else.

The goal is to get there your way.

The Journey Doesn't Have to Be Expensive to Be Extraordinary

One of the biggest misconceptions about travel is that it belongs to people with money.

Scroll through social media, and it's easy to believe that every memorable vacation involves luxury hotels, first-class flights, five-star restaurants, and exotic destinations halfway around the world. The travel industry often focuses on experiences that most people simply can't afford, creating the impression that meaningful travel is reserved for those with large bank accounts.

For people who are already struggling financially, that message can be discouraging. It whispers that until your income changes, your adventures should remain on hold.

I don't believe that.

Some of the richest travel memories are created on the smallest budgets.

A scenic drive through your own state. A picnic beside a quiet lake. A weekend spent exploring a town you've never visited before. Watching the sunrise from a beach an hour from home. Walking through a historic district while imagining the stories hidden inside old buildings. These experiences don't require thousands of dollars. They require curiosity.

Money can certainly make travel more comfortable, but it doesn't automatically make it more meaningful.

Some of the happiest travelers I've met weren't staying in luxury resorts. They were simply grateful to be somewhere different, breathing fresh air, slowing down, and reminding themselves that life exists beyond work schedules, medical appointments, and unpaid bills.

Being Broke Doesn't Mean Your Dreams Have to Stay Home

There is a difference between being financially responsible and giving up on your dreams altogether.

If your budget only allows for one overnight trip every few months, that's okay.

If you're saving for an annual vacation instead of taking four expensive ones, that's okay.

If your adventures happen close to home because that's what your finances allow right now, that's okay too.

The point isn't to compete with someone else's travel budget.

The point is to create a life filled with experiences that fit your circumstances.

Travel has taught me that creativity often stretches farther than money. You begin discovering free museums, scenic byways, public gardens, hiking trails, local festivals, farmers markets, community concerts, and charming small towns that many people drive past without a second thought.

Sometimes the greatest adventure isn't finding someplace famous.

Sometimes it's finally noticing the beauty that's been close to home all along. Read: The ultimate guide to local road trips for spoonies: How to travel solo, save money and explore close to home will give you some ideas when planning your next trip.

Budget-Friendly Travel Ideas That Create Lasting Memories

You don't need a luxury budget to create unforgettable experiences. Consider trying:

- Scenic drives with no strict itinerary.
- State parks and national forests.
- Small-town festivals and seasonal events.
- Historic downtown walking tours.
- Beaches, lakes, and rivers with public access.
- Botanical gardens and nature preserves.
- Local museums with free admission days.
- Farmers markets and community celebrations.
- Weekend road trips within a few hours of home.

Many of these experiences cost very little, yet they often become the stories we tell for years. My article: 17 hack to save money on vacation--The ones no one tell you will give you some great ways to save money on your next trip so your vacation will be amazingly fun.

Caregivers Deserve Adventures Too

Caregivers are some of the most selfless people in the world.

They give their time, their patience, their emotional energy, and often their physical strength to someone they love. They become advocates, chauffeurs, medication managers, appointment coordinators, companions, and emotional anchors—sometimes all in the same day.

Some caregivers do this for months. Others do it for decades.

Somewhere along the way, many begin believing their own needs should always come last. Travel can start to feel selfish.

But here's something every caregiver needs to hear:

Taking care of yourself is not abandoning someone else.

Rest is not selfish.

Joy is not selfish.

Creating memories for yourself is not selfish.

In fact, caring for yourself often allows you to care for others with greater patience, compassion, and resilience.

Whether your adventure is a quiet weekend alone, a road trip with friends, or an accessible vacation that includes the person you care for, your experiences matter too. Read: When the caregiver needs care too: Chronically ill caregivers and their ill loved one can strengthen their bond through travel. Will help you plan a vacation with your ill loved one and find time to enjoy for yourself.

You are more than your responsibilities.

You are still a person with dreams.

The Little Things Become the Biggest Memories

When we're young, we often imagine travel as one spectacular moment after another.

The famous landmark.

The perfect photograph.

The breathtaking view.

Those moments are wonderful.

But they aren't usually the memories that stay with us the longest.

Years later, what many people remember isn't standing in front of a famous monument.

They remember laughing until their stomach hurt over breakfast.

They remember finding a tiny bookstore tucked into a side street.

They remember watching birds fly across the water while drinking coffee on a chilly morning.

They remember the waitress who recommended homemade pie.

They remember the stranger who offered directions with a smile.

Travel has a beautiful way of reminding us that ordinary moments often become extraordinary simply because we were fully present.

For those of us navigating illness, financial hardship, grief, or caregiving responsibilities, these quiet moments become even more precious.

When life is difficult, we stop taking simple joys for granted.

A cool breeze.

The smell of pine trees.

The sound of waves.

Fresh mountain air.

A peaceful sunset.

These aren't "small" things.

They're reminders that life is still filled with beauty.

Slow Down Enough to Notice the World

Our culture encourages constant movement. We rush through airports, race between attractions, and fill every hour of our vacations because we're afraid of missing something. Ironically, that's often when we miss the very experiences we traveled to find. Some of the most meaningful trips happen when we slow down.

Sit on the park bench a little longer.

Watch the sunset without checking your phone.

Take the scenic route instead of the fastest one.

Spend an extra hour talking with local people.

Browse the antique shop even if you don't buy anything.

Notice the flowers growing through the cracks in the sidewalk.

Travel isn't just about seeing more places.

It's about seeing more deeply.

Your Story Is Unlike Anyone Else's

No two travelers begin from the same place.

Some start with perfect health.

Others begin with chronic pain.

Some have generous retirement accounts.

Others are stretching every paycheck.

Some travel with spouses they've loved for forty years.

Others travel after losing the person they planned to grow old with.

Some travel because they're celebrating.

Others travel because they're healing.

Every one of those journeys matters.

There is something incredibly beautiful about a travel community where everyone arrives with different stories, different challenges, and different hopes for the future.

That's why comparison never works.

You can't compare someone else's Chapter 20 to your Chapter 3.

You can't compare someone else's financial situation to your own.

You can't compare someone else's healthy body to yours.

Your journey deserves to be measured by one standard only:

Did it bring you joy?

If the answer is yes, then it was worth taking.

And that's what matters.

Your Journey Is Enough

There is one habit that quietly steals more joy from travelers than almost anything else.

Comparison.

It happens so naturally that we often don't even realize we're doing it. We compare our budget to someone else's. We compare our health to someone else's. We compare our photos, our destinations, our adventures, and even the number of countries we've visited. Before long, we begin believing our own experiences aren't "good enough."

Social media has made this even easier. We scroll through carefully edited highlight reels that showcase luxury hotels, exotic beaches, perfect sunsets, and flawless vacations. Rarely do we see the delayed flights, the aching feet, the medical flare-ups, the arguments, the financial stress, or the unexpected disappointments that are also part of travel.

The result is that many people begin measuring their own lives against someone else's best moments.

That's a comparison nobody can win.

The truth is that every traveler begins from a different starting point. Some have financial freedom. Others are working overtime just to afford a weekend getaway. Some wake up healthy and full of energy. Others carefully ration every ounce of strength they have. Some travel with lifelong partners, while others are learning how to rediscover the world after divorce, widowhood, or years of putting everyone else's needs before their own.

Those differences matter.

They shape the way we travel, but they should never determine whether we feel worthy of exploring.

Stop Measuring Your Journey with Someone Else's Map

Imagine standing at the beginning of a hiking trail with a group of strangers. One person is twenty-five years old and training for a marathon. Another is recovering from surgery. A third is pushing a stroller. Someone else is using a walking stick because of arthritis.

Would it make sense to expect everyone to hike at exactly the same speed?

Of course not.

Travel works the same way.

Every traveler carries different experiences, responsibilities, dreams, fears, and limitations. Yet we often expect ourselves to keep pace with people whose lives look nothing like ours.

Maybe your journey requires more rest stops.

Maybe your budget limits how far you can go.

Maybe you need accessible accommodations.

Maybe your anxiety makes solo travel difficult.

Maybe caregiving responsibilities only allow short trips close to home.

None of those realities diminish your adventure.

They simply make it uniquely yours.

There is incredible freedom in accepting that your path doesn't have to resemble anyone else's.

Travel Isn't About Impressing People

Somewhere along the way, travel became something we perform instead of something we experience.

We worry about taking the perfect photo before we've even enjoyed the view.

We rush from attraction to attraction because we're afraid we're not doing enough.

We plan vacations around what will look impressive instead of what will actually bring us joy.

But when you think back on your favorite travel memories, are they really the moments that impressed other people?

Or are they the moments that changed you?

Perhaps it was the quiet conversation with a stranger who reminded you that kindness still exists.

Perhaps it was watching the sunrise after a season of grief and realizing hope was beginning to return.

Perhaps it was taking your very first solo road trip and discovering that you were stronger than fear had convinced you.

Perhaps it was laughing until you cried over something completely unexpected.

Those moments don't need an audience.

Their value isn't determined by likes, comments, or followers.

Their value comes from the way they become part of your story.

The best journeys change something inside us long after we've unpacked our suitcases.

What Travel Has Taught Me About Life

Travel has a remarkable way of stripping away distractions and reminding us what truly matters.

It teaches patience when flights are delayed.

It teaches flexibility when plans unexpectedly change.

It teaches gratitude when we discover beauty in places we never intended to visit.

It teaches humility by showing us how large and wonderfully diverse the world really is.

Perhaps most importantly, it teaches us that happiness isn't always found in perfect circumstances.

Many of life's most meaningful moments happen while life is still messy.

While we're still healing.

While we're still grieving.

While we're still paying off debt.

While we're still managing chronic illness.

While we're still figuring things out.

Travel doesn't require a perfect life.

Sometimes travel is what reminds us that life is worth living even when it isn't perfect.

Living the "Get There Your Way" Philosophy

At its heart, "Get There Your Way" isn't really about travel.

It's about permission.

Permission to stop apologizing for doing things differently.

Permission to travel slowly if your body needs it.

Permission to choose road trips over expensive flights.

Permission to explore nearby places instead of chasing bucket-list destinations.

Permission to use mobility aids without embarrassment.

Permission to take naps on vacation.

Permission to spend an afternoon sitting beside a lake instead of racing through attractions.

Permission to travel alone without waiting for someone else to join you.

Permission to build a life that reflects your values instead of someone else's expectations.

When we stop trying to earn other people's approval, something remarkable happens.

We begin to enjoy the journey again.

Remember These Truths

Whenever you begin doubting yourself, remember:

- Your budget does not define your worth as a traveler.
- Your illness does not erase your sense of adventure.
- Your age does not place an expiration date on your dreams.
- Being single does not mean you have to wait for life to begin.
- Being a caregiver does not mean you should never care for yourself.
- Small adventures are still adventures.
- Slow travel is still travel.
- Local travel is still travel.
- Your story deserves to be told.

The Journey Begins Exactly Where You Are

There will always be reasons to wait.

More money.

More time.

Better health.

A travel companion.

The perfect opportunity.

But life has a funny way of reminding us that tomorrow isn't guaranteed.

If this blog has one message, it's this:

Don't wait for the perfect moment to begin living.

If all you can manage today is a scenic drive, take the drive.

If your energy allows a quiet afternoon at a nearby park, enjoy every minute.

If you've been dreaming about taking your first solo trip, start planning it.

If your finances only stretch to a weekend getaway, make it a weekend you'll remember.

Adventure doesn't begin when everything in life becomes easy.

Adventure begins the moment you decide your life is worth experiencing exactly as it is.

Get There Your Way

That simple phrase is more than the tagline for The Single, Sick, and Broke Traveler.

It's an invitation.

An invitation to stop comparing.

To stop waiting.

To stop believing that someone else's version of travel is somehow more meaningful than your own.

Whether you're traveling with a backpack or a cane, a suitcase or a wheelchair, a full tank of gas or just enough money for a day trip, your journey matters.

Whether you're traveling to heal, to celebrate, to grieve, to reconnect with yourself, or simply to breathe a little easier, your journey matters.

Whether you're single, living with chronic illness, caring for someone you love, rebuilding after loss, stretching every dollar, or simply looking for beauty in the little things, your journey matters.

Because travel has never been about how far you go.

It's about what the journey gives back to you.

So take the trip.

Take the scenic route.

Take the slower path.

Take the road that fits your life instead of someone else's expectations.

The world doesn't need another perfect traveler.

It needs more people who are brave enough to travel authentically.

That's what this community is about.

That's what this blog is about.

And that's why, no matter where life takes you, there will never be a right or wrong way to travel.

There is only one way that truly matters.

Get There Your Way.

The Single, Sick & Broke Traveler

Travel stories for the brave and budget-conscious.

Contact Me!

nessa@singlesickbroketraveler.com

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