Many people think that traveling is just having fun and having a good time with those you love the most. In fact, it can be all that, but much more. If we learn to make the best of each trip, we will see that they can become valuable experiences, with new activities, open to new emotions and feelings and a lot of learning.
 

Especially the way we look at the world. And how we look at ourselves.

Main reasons - Why travelling is important:

o The Adventure of the Extraordinary
o Meet other cultures
o Social Awareness
o Communicate Better
o More Trust
o Enrich our lives with travel experiences
o Develop ecological awareness
o Fiction or Documentary becomes Reality
o Knowing the History of the World and our Own History

THE ADVENTURE OF THE EXTRAORDINARY
 

Do you remember that excitement and even nervousness before a trip? Well, it is because you were leaving your daily life for the adventure of the extraordinary.
It is not always easy to leave comfort, who we know, what we already know. But it is precisely this search for the new that makes much of a trip what it is. An opening of horizons and experiences.

And adventure doesn't just mean adrenaline or dangerous activities. It can be new flavors, new aesthetics, monuments or details, different people, nature never seen; new timetables, transport, places to sleep; sharing, creating memories, stimulating new feelings and emotions; more confidence and independence.

The adventure is really embracing the extraordinary!

KNOW OTHER CULTURES

There is a tendency to perceive other cultures from our own. This trend is natural, because we always start from what we know best, but we have to be careful. Sometimes it leads us to comparisons and value judgments, such as: “my culture is superior to others”. This not only reveals ignorance but also a pernicious centrism that can be realized in harmful and unfair attitudes towards others.

Culture shock can be scary, but most of the time it teaches us a different perspective on things. Maybe you like it, maybe you don't like it, but first we have to know. Eliminating taboos, prejudices and precisely instead gaining more consideration, understanding and respect for other cultures is a great advantage of traveling.
When one returns from a trip, can ask: “Why do we not do this or that in my country? It would even be better… ”.

Learn before you judge.

SOCIAL AWARENESS 

Unfortunately not everything in the world is happiness, health and beauty. There are many places with serious problems that we sometimes see on our travels. Being aware of this, going beyond the beautiful words and pictures of Tourism, gives us a sense of existence, makes us realize that the world is not limited to ourselves, and helps us understand our place in the universe.

As opposed to cultural centrism, it also transforms our self-centeredness and makes us think more about others. Teach us to respect other people and realities. It makes us less selfish and more empathetic.

COMMUNICATE BETTER

While traveling we have a great chance to learn other languages. And to practice some that we already know, like the English language, which is very international. Why is it important to learn local words and expressions? Because this is how we better understand the reality of those who live there.

And it is much better to learn in everyday contact than perhaps taking an intensive course. Although classes are always a good option.
Many people ask themselves, "How am I going to travel (or even live) to a country where I don't know the language?" Perhaps the correct question is "Do I want to communicate with people in the place where I am going to travel?" If the answer is yes, and you are willing to try, you will see that in one way or another people understand each other.

Traveling greatly improves our verbal and non-verbal communication skills.

MORE CONFIDANCE

A trip always has a little planning, organization, management, and adaptation to an unknown environment. Being able to do so will increase the way we deal with unforeseen circumstances, with expectations, with different opinions, with other types of necessary things. It will increase confidence, the sense of living for ourselves.

And if in your trip everything does not go as planned, leave it. How often does dealing with certain difficulties on the road, turn into memories told to friends with fun?

ENRICH OUR LIFE WITH TRAVEL EXPERIENCES 

Growing up means several things. Throughout life we grow not only in centimeters, but also in our interior, in our mentality. In our way of seeing the world and seeing ourselves.

That is what defines us and our personality and character. Traveling offers unique experiences, where you have the chance to experience, learn and even incorporate new ways of seeing, doing and being.

This is one of the great charms of the Journey: the transformation that works in ourselves, with the potential to enrich us as human beings.

DEVELOPING ECOLOGICAL AWARENESS 

We all have to be more and more aware of the Planet Earth, where we live. And that with us humans live many other species of animals and plants.
Now we can see without damaging, many of these species in their natural habitat, more authentic, probably happier than in a Zoo. We can observe beautiful landscapes, feel the elements with all their vitality, admire the enormous variety of life forms that coexist with us .

Sense of preservation, ecology, sustainable future, beauty of natural life, are some of the things we develop on the road. That make us believe, and even fight, for a better balance between all natural forms of life.

FICTIONAL OR DOCUMENTAL BECOMES REALITY 

Fiction or documentary are great ways to perceive reality. Whether for books, films, other art forms, science, everything helps to develop our curiosity for the human and natural environment in which we live. But it's different to taste tasty food than to see it in a photo, right? It is different to see a monument or event in a film, or experience it in the real place. It is different to smell a place or people, than the smell of paper or a tablet.
 

Traveling exposes the openness of our senses and minds to physical or metaphysical stimuli in the real. And that gives us that feeling of being able to say, "Yes, I know where it is, and how it is." It happens when we experience the world in its terms, in its most complete and concrete realities.
So, when we travel, we make our narrative, “our film”, live, in the place, preferably without filters.

KNOWING THE WORLD ´S HISTORY AND OUR OWN 

If traveling is to know the world then traveling is also to know our own world. Learning and discovering the history of countries, peoples and cultures, always brings us a sense of comparison. We started to see our country's history with a new perspective. That there are many stories, many people, a lot to know. That we are not the best at everything, and our environment is not the only measure to understand what is around us. That the wealth of the human being exists in me everywhere. That not everything was always the same as when we were born.

Knowing the past is a great way to situate ourselves in the present, perhaps even guessing parts of the future. It is an adventure full of interest.
If you want to know more about the history of your country and its people, travel.
If you want to know more about yourself, travel.

We hope we have helped you better understand why traveling is important or why we should travel. With all the positive reasons, we believe there is only a decision on where to start or continue.

And you? Do you already know which is your next destination?

If the option is Portugal or Spain, Living Tours is ready to welcome you, with the best experiences and activities in the Iberian Peninsula.