There’s something in the air at the moment.
A subtle shift.
A sense of things feeling a little less certain again.
You might not even be directly affected by what’s happening in the world right now — but the headlines have a way of reaching us anyway. Of settling quietly in the background of our thoughts.
And then, almost without warning, they begin to influence how we think about our own lives.
Especially travel.
Should I still go?
Is it safe?
What if something changes?
And before long, it can start to feel like there are only two options:
Go anyway… and ignore everything.
Or don’t go at all.
But that’s rarely the truth.
One of the things I keep coming back to — something many of us learned (whether we wanted to or not) over the past few years — is that there is a middle ground.
Travel doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
It can be flexible.
It can be responsive.
It can shift as the world shifts.
I remember how, during Covid, everything changed.
Plans fell apart overnight.
Borders opened and closed. Vaccines were required, tests needed, certificates mandatory.
Trips were postponed, reshaped, sometimes let go of completely.
And yet… we adapted.
Not always gracefully. Not always easily. But we did.
We learned how to hold plans more lightly.
How to book with flexibility.
How to have a plan B (and sometimes a plan C).
We learned that a trip doesn’t have to look exactly as we first imagined for it to still be meaningful. (If you are interested in reading more about my experiences and what I learned from travel during that whole debacle, you can read all about it HERE.)
And while none of us are in a hurry to return to that level of uncertainty, there’s something valuable in remembering that we can move within it.
That we don’t have to default to extremes.
If you’re thinking about travel right now — or you already have something booked — there are more options available to you than it might first appear.
It might look like choosing somewhere closer to home, where things feel more familiar.
Or opting for slower travel, with fewer moving parts and more breathing space.
It might be booking accommodation that allows you to change or cancel without penalty. Or giving yourself permission to wait a little longer before making final decisions.
Or even reshaping a trip entirely so that it better fits how you’re feeling now.
None of this is about fear.
It’s about being in a relationship with the reality of the moment you’re in.
There’s a difference.
I think sometimes we tell ourselves that being a “traveller” — especially later in life — means being bold, decisive, unshaken. That we should just get on with it. Not overthink. Not hesitate.
But that kind of thinking can quietly pull us away from ourselves.
Because the truth is, being thoughtful doesn’t make you fearful.
Being flexible doesn’t make you weak.
And changing your plans doesn’t mean you’ve failed.
It simply means you’re paying attention.
Travel has never really been about control.
If anything, it teaches us the opposite.
Flights get delayed.
Weather changes.
Plans unravel.
And somehow, within all of that, we find our way.
Not because everything goes to plan — but because we learn how to respond when it doesn’t.
So, if things feel a little uncertain right now, perhaps the question isn’t:
Should I go or not go?
But instead:
What kind of travel feels right for me in this moment?
Because there are so many ways to keep moving.
Even if they look different from what you originally imagined.
Even if they’re smaller, closer, slower, or more tentative.
They still count.
They still matter.
You don’t have to stop your life because the world feels unsteady.
But you also don’t have to push ahead as if nothing is happening.
There is a way to move forward that honours both.
And often, it’s found not in the extremes…
…but in the space in between.
So, what kind of travel feels right for you in this moment?
Over on YouTube
And if slowing down and going back to a simpler life, without all the global events that feel out of your control sounds interesting, then have you ever considered walking the Camino de Santiago? If the simplicity of getting up, walking, eating, sleeping, then doing it all again appeals to you, my newest offering on YouTube is worth a watch. I have pulled the experience together for my latest video series, taking you with me week by week, step after step across 500 kilometres in Northern Spain. You can watch Week One as it unfolded HERE.
In addition, my short series of solo hiking tips continues with a quick rundown of what I carry when I’m hiking. You can check out the whole series HERE… I’m already up to tip 5!
Finally, I got an amazing message the other day on Instagram “Earlier today I booked my first long weekend trip as a solo traveller. Was excited. Now overthinking. About to cancel.
Googled to gain confidence and found your video from two weeks ago.
So, thank you. I’m not going to cancel. I’m going to allow myself to feel awkward and will go and make memories over the Easter long weekend. Again, thank you. Your video meant a lot to me.”
I was blown away! And this is exactly why I started this journey of sharing my story all those years ago.
If you need that extra push to book something, or just keep a trip that you are thinking of cancelling, you can watch the video HERE. And hopefully, gain that little bit of confidence you need too.
Until next time,
Safe travels,
Sue x
This email may contain affiliate links. If you choose to use them, I may receive a small commission — thank you. You’ll never pay more, and my opinions are always my own.
P.S. Helpful travel resources I genuinely use can always be found below:
🏠 For accommodation, I use Expedia and Booking.com primarily. They have their own loyalty schemes which is easy to progress through the levels for better discounts and inclusions.
🚍 For tours and activities, my preferred supplier is Get Your Guide.
🗺️ For multi day or week tours, check out G Adventures. I used them for trips in Costa Rica, Peru, and Galapagos.
🧳 For luggage storage on your travels, I recommend the service by Bounce.
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