Myths about travel that prevent you from enjoying your trip

Many people believe that organising a trip is almost a separate profession, requiring weeks of reflection, comparison and reading endless reviews. In reality, preparation takes exactly as much time as a person is willing to devote to it. Most destinations allow you to choose tickets and accommodation in one evening, and you can refine your itinerary as you travel. The habit of planning ‘perfectly’ often prevents people from hitting the road and seeing that simple solutions work just as well as complex ones.

List of common misconceptions:

• Preparation must be as detailed as possible;
• Any spontaneity will lead to failure;
• Without a pre-planned route, it is impossible to feel confident.

However, practice shows that flexibility offers no fewer advantages than meticulous preparation. Simple itineraries are easier to adapt to circumstances. And the absence of overloaded plans allows you to notice things that rarely make it into guidebooks. Sometimes it is an ill-considered step that turns out to be the best moment of the whole trip.

The financial myth is one of the most persistent. The idea of high costs has long been out of touch with reality, especially with the growth in the number of airlines and competition between destinations. The cost of a trip often depends on the flexibility of dates, peak periods, and basic knowledge of seasonal pricing. In some destinations, such as Tbilisi, a comfortable holiday can easily fit into a limited budget with a sensible approach.

What really affects the cost:

• The season and demand for the destination;
• The method of purchasing tickets and early booking;
• The choice of holiday format and meals.

When a person stops focusing on outdated ideas, it becomes clear that there are many more options than it seems. Financial planning for travel has long since ceased to be limited to large expenditures. Even a short change of scenery can be affordable with minimal investment. Ultimately, budgets are adapted to different needs, not the other way around.

It is often said that you have to travel to distant countries to have a rich experience. However, the quality of your holiday is not directly related to the length of the flight. Nearby destinations, such as Almaty or Dushanbe, offer just as many emotions and allow you to travel usefully without the exhaustion of a long journey. Such trips are especially convenient when you want a change of scenery without spending a lot of time travelling.

Common misconceptions about ‘faraway countries’:

• The further away, the more interesting;
• Short flights are only for everyday holidays;
• Nearby destinations cannot surprise you.

In reality, new cities impress first and foremost with their atmosphere, not their distance. The variety of routes within the region is growing, and many of them are in no way inferior to popular tourist centres. In addition, short trips allow you to travel more often, which in itself broadens your horizons more effectively than rare long-distance flights.

The myth that children automatically complicate any trip has been around for a long time and does not take modern conditions into account. Today, the infrastructure of most destinations is designed for families, and many resorts, including Sharm el-Sheikh, offer convenient programmes for children of different ages. In reality, it is not a question of difficulty, but of choosing the right type of holiday and pace of travel. Family itineraries have long ceased to be something exceptional.

Common fears of parents:

• The child will find the flight difficult to endure;
• Choosing food and accommodation will take too much effort;
• The itinerary will have to be built entirely around the needs of the children.

Practice shows that children adapt to travel faster than many adults. Family trips help them to accept change more easily, develop curiosity and teach them to interact with new spaces. Modern services simplify the organisation, and the experience of one or two trips completely removes any initial doubts. The main thing is to remember that a comfortable family holiday is possible in any format.

The stereotype about solo travel is often based not on real experience, but on general fears. Many cities are so convenient for independent travellers that they allow you to feel confident from the moment you arrive. An example is Dubai, where transport, navigation and a high level of service help you travel with peace of mind without company. Solo trips reveal new aspects of leisure that are difficult to notice in a group.

What most often scares those who have not yet tried it:

• Lack of communication and loneliness;
• Potential difficulties in an unfamiliar place;
• Fear of getting lost or planning the route incorrectly.

However, it is independence that helps you better understand your own interests and rhythm. Solo travel develops independence and gives you confidence that will come in handy far beyond your holiday. Such a trip becomes a way to get to know yourself, not just a change of location. And experience shows that many people return to this format again.

There is a belief that a holiday is only complete when it is planned down to the minute. But the constant desire to do everything turns travel into a marathon, depriving a person of the opportunity to relax. Everyone has their own need for rest, and one eventful day is sometimes more beneficial than a week of exhausting activity. Many destinations are valued precisely for the opportunity to do nothing.

The main reasons for overloading itineraries are:

• The desire to see as much as possible in a short period of time;
• Relying on other people's expectations and advice;
• The fear of missing something important.

A holiday can be peaceful and fulfilling at the same time. Pauses allow you to truly feel the atmosphere of a place and notice details that do not fit into a busy schedule. This format helps you recharge your batteries, rather than just collecting a collection of impressions. Ultimately, the value of a trip is determined by the quality of time spent, not the number of items ticked off a list.

The widespread desire to capture every moment makes a holiday more formal than lively. Photos often begin to replace emotions, and the expectation of a beautiful shot forces you to tailor your itinerary to the picture rather than your own interests. Meanwhile, the best memories rarely end up on camera – they appear during unexpected encounters, walks or random routes. Travel becomes rich when a person allows themselves to be inside the moment, not just above it.

When a person stops focusing on visual standards, travel changes. It becomes calmer, more sincere and much freer. Emotions cease to depend on how ‘successful’ the shot turned out to be. And this brings us back to the main goal of any trip – to experience a new space, not to photograph it.

Myths about travel have been formed over the years, but most of them are based on outdated ideas that do not reflect reality. Today, travel is not so much about complicated preparations as it is about choosing a convenient time and a suitable destination. It is useful to ask yourself a simple question: what do I want to get out of this trip? The answer will help you weed out unnecessary fears and focus on what really makes the trip meaningful.

Openness to new routes, flexibility in your plans, and a willingness to abandon stereotypes will allow you to enjoy the journey rather than struggle with expectations. Not only will you save time and energy, but you will also discover a world full of unexpected discoveries. With Centrum Air, which is regularly expanding its flight network, the first step towards a real adventure is easier than it seems. After all, travel is not a destination, but a way to live more vibrantly today.