Travel is a controversial topic. Some 40% of Americans have never been abroad, and another 11% have never left their home state. Whenever I visit the US, a surprising number of people think I work for the CIA. For many, the idea that their talking with a James Bond type (minus the charm or good looks) is more plausible than the idea that someone would simply work for themselves and travel around to whatever cities interest them. Because of this, today’s article takes a look at three travel myths and debunks each one.
These are some of the most common questions and concerns I hear, and I wanted to explain each one.
Enjoy!
1. No Other Country Has America’s Freedoms
(Thai Delivery Truck With Hitler Bumper Sticker)
This will be something of a hot button topic and it is one that’s hard to discuss. The main reason? “Freedom” really differs from country to country. In a country like China, criticizing the government puts you on thin ice. You could, however, be a massive racist and suffer zero social repercussions.
In other countries you can’t own a gun, but prostitution is legal.
Most countries are pretty similar in terms of personal freedom on an individual level. I’ve lived under communism, monarchy, capitalism, and oligarchy. None of these ever had a particularly big impact on my day-to-day activities. And, in some cases, the levels of local freedom might surprise you.
Communist Vietnam has less Internet regulations than Democratic South Korea. Thailand has mandatory conscription, an equal number of gun owners (per capita) as the US, and a strong sense of nationalism. But transsexualism is also a non-issue and nobody bats an eye over who uses which public bathroom. It’s easy to cherry pick data or information a vacuum when you want to argue for or against something. However, most countries that I’ve personally visited have about an equal level of personal freedom to what you’d get back home.
Some of what is (and isn’t) allowed may be different, but overall the countries you’d want to visit or live in long-term have many of the same liberties that you’re used too.
2. You Must Be Very Poor (Or Very Rich) To Live Abroad
The average suburban man in America probably earns more than 99.9% of all “Jet-Setter International Playboy Millionaires.” Why? Because many developing nations or emerging markets have unfathomably low costs when it comes to essential items like food or housing. In San Francisco the average rent is $3,690 per month. You can rent a penthouse apartment for less in Southeast Asia, Latin America, or Eastern Europe.
And things get even cheaper if you want a one-bedroom or studio apartment. In Southeast Asia you’ll often see properties (in a nice, safe neighborhood) for $500 a month.
(Every Building In This Picture Is An Apartment, They All Charge Around $500/Month)
Groceries, cafes, taxis, and utilities are also cheap. As such, it’s incredibly easy to build up a vast disposable income.
I personally save or invest between $3,000 to $5,000 per month. And that’s entirely due to the fact that my cost of living is super low. In a place like San Francisco or London, I couldn’t do the same.
Lastly, I want to quickly address quality of life overseas. Many countries (the ones you’d want to live in at least) are virtually on par with whatever you’d enjoy back home. For years I rented this one-bedroom apartment costing $500 a month (including daily housekeeping and laundry):
In the US, you couldn’t find a comparable deal.
Most of the people (I know) living abroad aren’t making executive at Goldman Sachs money, but they do have a lot more disposable income than the majority of people out earning them back home.
If you can work remotely (or have a freelance job) I highly suggest spending some time overseas.
3. Foreign Countries Are A Hotbed For Pedophiles, Gangsters, Hookers, Drug Dealers, Etc…
Easily one of the dumbest travel myths and one which is constantly pushed by the media. You go on vacation to some other country, only to discover the whole place is a massive ghetto. And then you’re promptly robbed, murdered, or sold into slavery.
This happens all the time in movies like Taken, Hostel, No Escape, The Hangover Part II, and so on…
Some regions are more dangerous than others (Central America springs to mind), but most areas with a stable economy welcome foreigners. Locals know that tourists and expats bring more disposable income, benefiting them in the long-run. The biggest difference between the USA and other nations, is that a lot of places are more open about their vices.
(Soi Cowboy, Setting Of The Hangover Part II, Is One Street And About The Length Of An American Football Field)
Many cities around the world have a very easy to identify red-light district. If you live in America, illegal and taboo activities are generally harder to find. Oddly enough, many of these foreign countries also have less random crime. Seoul and Bangkok have thriving red-light districts and are far more “seedy” than your typical IHOP-Outback Steakhouse corporate sanitized American Midwest city. However, I feel much safer walking around either of these places at night than I do in Cedar Rapids or Des Moines Iowa.
Likewise, most “bad areas” are a small part of the overall country. Your average capital city (even in a developing nation) generally has neighborhoods which are nicer and more upscale than entire American States. Realistically speaking, when you move abroad you’re going to live in an area like this. As such, you’re not going to face much street crime.
Unless you are visiting someplace that’s in economical ruin (and locals are desperate), the majority folks around the world are good people. Basic common sense is enough to keep you out of trouble.
Final Thoughts On Common Travel Myths
Everyone should spend at least a few months of their life traveling abroad. If you’re in school, try a semester overseas. If you have a job, go on vacation to another country. Same goes for families. A trip to Europe, South America, or Asia is far more memorial (and often more affordable) than the lame checklist trip to Mount Rushmore or Disneyland.
(This Four-Star Hotel Cost $65 A Night, Less Than An American “Super 8”)
Classic travel myths like foreign countries being dangerous or oppressive are bunk, unless you’re headed to Mogadishu or Pyongyang. For the most part, the places you’d want to go are already safe and Western friendly.
Likewise, travel (even in comfort) is pretty reasonable. All those “International Ballers” you see on Instagram or Facebook spend about $2,500 a month for food, housing, etc… You’d spend way more than that on a standard American holiday (or to simply maintain your standard of living in most mid-size US cities). I highly recommend treating travel myths with a grain of salt, and going out to see the world for yourself.
