Americans are used to the myths that travel to Europe and beyond is very expensive and maybe only an annual event. I would say that statistically, Americans are slowly beginning to explore the rest of our planet. For Americans have just discovered that there is a world out there - and that we won't fall off 'the edge' if we go too far.

I grew up in a relatively small family, I would say. Besides my parents, there was just me and my brother. We did our annual vacation of a week or two every year to some continental US getaway. Disney World, Bush Gardens, Sea World, and Las Vegas among others. A couple times during my childhood my folks got reaally adventurous and we made it across that great big ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, to Cancun. Don't get me wrong, all of these trips were great family fun and all, but I would like to see it more common for Americans growing up, and even in young adulthood to see more of the world. You know...to become more globalized. We need to see that there is a whole entire world out there to explore besides the obligatory sites we are accustomed to.

One of the preconceived notions is that it is just to expensive to travel overseas regularly. This is not true. For instance, I am travelling to Dublin this summer to attend school there in the fall. (Among some other holiday trips around the world!) My ticket, that was purchased only a week or so ago in mid May was only about 450 USD for a departure date in mid July. That's a steal! I'm flying across the Atlantic ocean for less than 500 dollars!

The first thing people seeking travel from the states need to do is plan their trip. What they would like to see, etc. Something along the lines of an outline or a tentative itinerary. Later, depending on lodging prices, as well as travel expenditures, this list will be whittled down into something a bit more REALISTIC, MANAGEABLE, and most importantly - AFFORDABLE.

One obstacle we Americans have is getting across the 'pond'. Either the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans. For the sake of this article, I will focus on traveling across the Atlantic, since that is what I've done more of. People searching for flights must use every resource they can muster. Albeit, the Internet, word of mouth about good websites, websites recommending other websites for cheap travel, etc. The person needs to become a virtual sleuth of travel websites, researching the best sites for cheap airfare, train tickets, last minute travel and so

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