1. I don’t want to.
Well, fair enough. If you don’t want to, why bother? Watch the Discovery Channel instead.

2. I can’t leave my [insert person/job etc here].
This may be the case. Maybe you have someone physically dependent on you and can’t leave. Maybe you have an awesome job you can’t bear to part with. Fair enough. But ask yourself this: would it be possible to take a break, even if just for a short time, if you put backup systems in place first so things ran smoothly without you? Think about it.

3. It’s dangerous.
Yes, a visit to Baghdad would be dangerous, and so are other places. Crime happens. But it also happens where you are right now. If you travel smartly, having researched the area and taken pains not to buy drugs from strangers or wander round at 3am, your chances of doing okay are much higher.

4. I don’t have anyone to travel with.
Lots of people don’t want to travel alone, and travel can definitely be more fun when you have someone to share your experiences with. Try one of the following: ask your friends and family if they’d be interested in coming, or join a travel community online to find people in the area you want to visit, or head off alone and make friends with fellow travelers along the way!

5. It’s too expensive.
Travel can indeed be expensive, but consider this: if you go to a cheap country, and have rented out your flat/house to cover expenses while you’re away, you can end up spending less while traveling! Do some calculations. What would your dream trip cost? Start making it happen by opening a travel account, and take on some freelance work for extra cash, every bit helps.

6. No one in my family travels.
I know people whose families were slightly less than encouraging of their travel plans. They were ’supposed’ to settle down and get a good job, etc. But who are you living your life for? If you travel responsibly and come back with new skills and experiences, you’ll show them how awesome travel can be and maybe even encourage them to give it a try. You can be a role model!

7. I don’t know where to go.
These days there are so many options it can be hard to start. But the best start is research. Buy some travel books and magazines, watch travel shows, search the web. Do you want adventure, or relaxation? Culture or partying? You’ll soon see where your interests lie.

8. I’ll be homesick.
Probably, especially if you’re a newbie traveler. Consider it part of the growth process. And these days it’s so easy to keep in touch with home. I’ve used wireless in some random locations (the middle of Laos!).

9. I’m too old.
I’ve seen plenty of ’senior’ travelers on the road. It could be the best time to travel! Retired, kids have left home… There are plenty of senior packages and discounts. You don’t need to haul a backpack around the world, there are tailored tours if that’s what you’re looking for. 

10. I’m scared.
This is the main reason people don’t travel, even if it’s not articulated. I’ve lost count of the times people say to me, “One day…” It probably won’t happen. To them, it seems an intangible, enormous dream. To make it real you have to plan, to ask questions, to start by doing something concrete.
And travel can be scary. I was terrified the first big trip I took. But I was mostly terrified before I began. Once I started, it was just exhilarating.

What other excuses have you heard? How can they be overcome?