The world has never been more accessible to those who want to get out there and see it.

These 46 adventurers have made travel a priority in their lives and it has changed them for the better. Here’s how they have been impacted along with some of their favorite travel spots.

Chris Christensen – Amateur Traveler

How travel has changed me
Even as a child, even though my travels were mostly domestic, I felt that travel gave me a wider perspective. There is nothing like a visit to a foreign place to show you that just because you do things like that at home does not mean everyone does. And that can be true if the foreign place is your grandmother’s house in Wisconsin or a mosque in Istanbul.

One of my favorite travel spots
There are so many. For some reason Crete comes to mind because I have not talked enough about how much I enjoyed that part of Greece. It is a beautiful island with some of the best beaches in Europe, wonderful food and also is the home for the oldest of the European civilizations – the Minoans.

Andrew Evans – National Geographic’s Digital Nomad

How travel has changed me
Travel always keeps me guessing myself and what I know about life so far. It makes me raise my hand and ask questions everyday. It is the eternal kindergarten.

One of my favorite travel spots
One of my favorite spots I’ve visited is Lake Malawi, in south central Africa. Filled with tropical fish like jewels, the water and beaches of this freshwater inland sea are the definition of all that is right and beautiful in Africa.

Chris Guillebeau – Art of Non-Conformity

How travel has changed me
It taught me to stop making assumptions about other people. Before I traveled, I thought I was fairly open-minded, but I didn’t know much at all about other cultures or religions. Being confronted with the unfamiliar is very helpful in learning that not everyone is the same, and that’s OK.

One of my favorite travel spots
There are so many! But at the moment, I’m thinking of Vilnius, Lithuania. It’s at the top of my list of places to return after I finish visiting every country (188/193 at the moment).

Gary Arndt – Everything Everywhere

How travel has changed me
The biggest change has been how I view owning possessions. I am much happier now just having a bag of clothes and some camera gear. Having gone for so long without all the trappings of a house, I no longer need nor want to have too much stuff.

One of my favorite travel spots
As for my favorite places, I’d say Palau is pretty high up on the list. It has the best SCUBA diving I’ve seen anywhere in the world as well as having the jellyfish lake, which was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had.

Geraldine DeRuiter – The Everywhereist

How travel has changed me
My family is quite international – my mom came over to the U.S. from Italy right before I was born, and my father lives in Germany. My cousins and aunts and uncles are from all over the place. I feel like travel has enabled me to understand them all better. I see the places where they were born, where they grew up, and where their accents, expressions, and mannerism originally came from. It’s a crazy thing: the more I venture out in the world, the more I understand my family back home.

One of my favorite travel spots
I’m smitten with Italy. It’s where my mother and her family are from, and can’t help but feel at home there. In particular, I adore Venice. I know it’s touristy and a little over-hyped, but there isn’t any place like it on earth, and it won’t be around forever.

Yamile Yemoonyah – Creative Web Biz

How travel has changed me
Travel has been a huge influence in my life since I got on a plane for the very first time when I was just 16 months old. Seeing and experiencing different cultures and yet still recognizing the similarities we all share as human beings has made me aware of the fact that country borders are just imaginary lines drawn in the sand. In reality we are all children of Mother Earth and we all just want to love and be loved.

One of my favorite travel spots
I’ve been to many beautiful places but my favorites are always in nature. The national parks in the U.S. like Yellowstone and Redwood are just gorgeous. I also love the beaches on the west coast of Portugal and the surrounding mountains of Medellin, Colombia. All these places make you take a deep breath and forget about the ridiculous little problems you worry about in your daily life.

David Garland – The Rise to the Top

How travel has changed me
I could give the cliche answer here that I’ve realized the world is soooooooo big and has made me appreciate everything, but I’m not going to do that. Honestly, travel changes me by energizing me. I love taking in a culture, seeing what the people are like and in the end always appreciating home even more.

One of my favorite travel spots
Santorini in Greece. Most. Beautiful. And. Relaxing. Place. Ever.

Laura Roeder – LKR Social Media Marketer

How travel has changed me
I love visiting places that are more relaxed than the States. (That would be most places!) Seeing that you don’t have to rush, you don’t have to worry, that things will work themselves out in due time is freeing. When I’m feeling stressed I try to tap into that way of life!

One of my favorite travel spots
One of my favorite places was Cape Town, South Africa. I ended up spontaneously spending a week there by myself and it was my first time to travel alone. It’s a beautiful city with a unique design scene and inspiring nature.

Sean Ogle – Location 180

How travel has changed me
Traveling has taught me to be a more patient person. When you’re on the road, you get held up a lot, experience things beyond your control and you learn to deal with it and treat it as all being part of the process. This has benefitted just about every aspect of my life.

One of my favorite travel spots
That’s tough with so many favorites, but Buzios, Brazil and Railay Beach, Thailand are definitely up there on the favorites list.

Annie Fitzsimmons – Hotel Belle

How travel has changed me
Travel has made me feel both more powerful and insignificant. Powerful because of what I have experienced around the world, things that have been both challenging and inspiring. And insignificant because I am only one of billions of personalities all living incredibly varied lives, with different beliefs and reasons for their choices. Nothing but leaving your home can do this.

One of my favorite travel spots
I recently spent a weekend in the Isles of Scilly 28 miles off the coast of Cornwall in England and fell in love. It’s a land where time has stood still, where everyone is friendly, funny, and engaging and the natural beauty is stunning. It’s a favorite of the royal family, yet barely anyone outside of England has heard of them. The Star Castle Hotel quickly became one of my favorite retreats. Out of 140 islands, 5 are inhabited. I just loved how I felt while being there.

Tyler Tervooren – Advanced Riskology

How travel has changed me
Travel has showed me how biased my worldview is. Seeing first hand that not everyone thinks the way I do and that there are many ways to look at the world has been a very humbling but important experience.

One of my favorite travel spots
I like every place for different reasons, but Russia was truly beautiful.

Alexis Grant – The Traveling Writer

How travel has changed me
It has certainly made me more thankful for all the opportunities I have in life. When you interact with people who aren’t quite as lucky, it makes you really want to take advantage of those opportunities! Now more than ever before, I want to make the most of what I’ve been given.

One of my favorite travel spots
Madagascar! Absolutely loved it — such a cool mix of African and Asian cultures. Lots of French speakers visit, but not so many Americans – probably also because it’s such a long trip for us to get there. But while the flight is expensive, traveling on the island is pretty cheap, and so worth it.

Andy Hayes – Sharing Travel Experiences

How travel has changed me
Without question, I think travelers – myself included – have a bigger world view. Travel has changed me because I better understand others and better understand myself.

One of my favorite travel spots
The South Island of New Zealand I always note as one of my favorites. It’s one of the few places in the world where I’ve spent not hours, but days, not seeing anyone else. The outdoors and hikes are incredible, but so are the food and hospitality.

Bianca Gignac – Italian Fix

How travel has changed me
Travel has given me two massive philosophical bents that have forever changed the way I live: gratitude and compassion. From my fist travel experience in my mom’s VW van to my last adventure in Italy, travel lifts me into new ways of thinking, communicating and living: and that is an incredible way to experience your life.

One of my favorite travel spots
That’s an easy one! My favorite spot in the world is the Cinque Terre in Italy. It has to be: I met my husband there, we have a beautiful daughter and living in the region for a couple years inspired me to start my Italian travel company. It rocks my world to see my guests faces light up when they get off the train in the Cinque Terre. It motivates me to help them travel in style and have an incredible experience that will be the highlight of their decade!

Corbett Barr – Think Traffic

How travel has changed me
Travel has helped me re-prioritize what is most important to me in life. I took a long-term traveling sabbatical a few years ago, and it dramatically changed the course of my life. Instead of thinking about career and life as two distinct things, I’ve decided to better integrate the two and to do it in a way that gives me the freedom to work from anywhere in the world.

One of my favorite travel spots
One of my favorite places in the world is Mexico. I don’t mean the big gringo-friendly resort towns, and I’m not talking about any one place in particular. Mexico has so much to offer when you get into the smaller, more interesting and real towns. It’s so close to the United States and yet people know so little about the real Mexico. Yes, it has an element of danger at the moment, but there are plenty of areas unaffected by the drug violence, especially if you stay away from the border towns.

Greg & Rachel Denning – Discover Share Inspire

How travel has changed me
Travel has helped me to become a better person – more compassionate, capable and caring. It has forced be to grow by pushing me out of my comfort zone, and given me an expanded view of the world.

One of my favorite travel spots
One of my favorite places in the world is Las Galeras, Dominican Republic. It’s at the end of the road – quiet, remote, peaceful and absolutely beautiful. White sand beaches, coconut groves and amazing sunsets.

Rachel Rodgers – Her Virtual Law Office

How travel has changed me
My first overseas trip was a summer study abroad to London after my freshman year of college. It was so inspiring to be in a different country encountering a new culture and different way of life. Taking in the scenery, the people, the food was exhilarating. When I went home after that trip I knew I had been forever changed. That trip led to many more trips from studying abroad in West Africa to doing volunteer work in Ecuador to backpacking in Thailand. That first travel experience created an insatiable desire to see and experience the world. When I am traveling, I feel like I am truly living.

One of my favorite travel spots
My absolute favorite place is Provence in the South of France. I am in love with the people, the language and the culture. Everywhere you turn is sensory overload – the beautiful visual from vineyards to old churches, amazing, fresh cheese from the Sunday morning market, strolling through fields of lavender and great conversations in my broken French at the cafe in the center of town. It really is a magical place.

Sean Keener – Bootsnall Travel

How travel has changed me
It’s changed the trajectory of my life in every way. Travel has been the best “teacher” about life, love, and my small place in the world. It led me to co-founding the BootsnAll Travel Network which has been my primary professional and personal development outlet as an adult.

One of my favorite travel spots
India – It’s in your face. I love the fact that walking down the street is chaos. Some folks sh*tting on the side of the road, while a BMW drives by. Beautiful Mountains, beaches and wonderful people.

Cathy Goldner – Solo Travelers Alliance

How travel has changed me
Travel has made me a more confident person and taught me that people are more similar than different.

One of my favorite travel spots
One of my favorite places is Tenerife in the Canary Islands. It has something for everyone. In the north you can go to the top of a volcano and freeze then go to the southern part of the island and sit on the beach and tan.

Chris Staudinger & Tawny Clark – Captain & Clark

How travel has changed us
Travel has enhanced the way we view our world and the people around us. It’s made us more compassionate, understanding, and adaptable. It’s opened our eyes to new adventures and customs in ways that one can never get from a text book.

One of our favorite travel spots
A few of our favorite destinations have been Bahrain, the Galapagos, and South Korea. We hold a special place in our hearts for all of the countries that we’ve visited.

Katie Prentiss – Katie Prentiss Photography

How travel has changed me
Travel has changed me in the way it offers a new view on life. By seeing another person’s world and daily surroundings, I’m able to process more about my own life~ circumstances that were given to me that I don’t deserve as well as my own choices to live the way I do. Even the opportunity to travel is a gift that many in the world don’t have. I love stepping out of my life and looking into others’ in this way.

One of my favorite travel spots
One of my favorite places I have visited is Viçosa Brazil. I believe I have such fond memories of visiting there because it’s the longest I’ve ever stayed outside of the country. (We were there for two months.) Because of the duration of the stay, I was able to know the city and some of it’s people in a way that you can’t know a place when you visit for a week. I wouldn’t exchange that experience for anything. And now, I want to plan another trip like it if I can only figure out how to pull away from life that long…

Daniel Noll & Audrey Scott – Uncornered Market

How travel has changed us
Oh, this answer could be a book. Travel has changed us in so many ways, but perhaps most in the appreciation of the little things in life and the value of personal connections. We’ve been humbled so many times by people who have connected with us and given us so much even though they have very little as well. And often we’ve experienced this incredible hospitality in countries that are considered “dangerous” back home.

One of our favorite travel spots
This is another tough one. Can we go for a top 5? Some of our favorite countries have included the Republic of Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Guatemala and Peru. All of these countries have beautiful scenery, but what really makes them special to us are the people. That’s what has left the biggest impression on us.

Jeffrey Trull – Money Spruce

How travel has changed me
Travel has really changed my perspective of the world and on life. It’s made me realize how large, diverse, and interesting our world is, and how without travel, I truly know and understand so little. Travel has really given me a better sense of meaning for everything I do now, no matter where I am.

One of my favorite travel spots
I’ll definitely always have a special place in my heart for Barcelona. Yes, I know it’s a lot of peoples’ favorite, but I loved just walking the streets and seeing all the amazing work of Gaudí and Picasso. Barcelona is the place that made me realize how important travel is to me and why visiting new places needs to be a priority in my life.

Anita Horton – Art Teach Travel

How travel has changed me
I’ve only been traveling internationally for 6 years. I won my first trip to London and Paris and that trip completely, in every way, changed me. Although I never enjoyed studying history in school, history came alive for me when I was able to see bullet holes in walls from the French Revolution, for example. I am an artist, and since my first trip to Europe my artwork completely changed, both in subject matter and in materials. I am also a teacher and I began building my curriculum to include geography and an understanding of people groups different from my own. Travel, and the love of other cultures, has so changed me that I am actively pursuing opportunities to live overseas in the near future.

One of my favorite travel spots
There are many memorable spots I’ve visited, but one favorite is going through the Spice Market in Istanbul, Turkey. Piles and piles of freshly ground spices, of all kinds, were available for onlookers to see and smell. The vivid colors and textures begged closer inspection.Traditional candies, such as Turkish Delight, were available in an assortment of flavors and colors. The bright colors, sounds of languages and calls to prayer were intoxicating and I long to go back.

Jeff Goins – Goins, Writer

How travel has changed me
Travel has changed me by teaching me that life is a journey. The point of a voyage is to teach the traveler that he has not yet arrived. Traveling has taught me I’m not yet done, that there is still growth that needs to happen in me. I am reminded of this every time I get on a plane or take a road trip.

One of my favorite travel spots
Florence, Italy. I’m a sucker for art cities with good food.

Mary Jaksch – Goodlife Zen

How travel has changed me
My first big travel adventure was when my parents let me fly from Germany to England on my own. I’ve got a photo showing me emerging from the aircraft with a wrap-around grin, clutching my teddy. I’ve traveled all over the world since then. Yes, travel has changed me. I’ve learnt not to regard my way of life as the ‘right’ way. Traveling has also made me grateful for the amazing advantages I’ve had in life. I’ve many brilliant people who never had the chance to go to university – or even to school. They use their talents to better not only their own life, but the lives of their family and their tribe.

One of my favorite travel spots
I once visited a tribe deep in Darién – which is a vast, wild area between Colombia and Panama. My brother and I were the first Europeans to visit the tribe which we reached by traveling upriver in a canoe for days on end. At first the tribe was quite hostile because they feared we were like the bandits who had in the past plundered the village and killed members of the tribe. But once they realized we came with peaceful intent, they embraced us and included us in their daily village life and special festivals.

Nora Dunn – The Professional Hobo

How travel has changed me
My last 5+ years of full-time travels have been filled with beautiful (and random, and almost always unexpected) experiences of human connections, often despite linguistic and cultural barriers. I’ve learned that it’s a big planet, but a small world, and 99% of people are fundamentally good.

One of my favorite travel spots
Most travelers grit their teeth at the (very common) question of what is our favourite place. But it’s a good question; and although I believe travel is very contextual (as outlined in this post), I will also admit that New Zealand and the Caribbean island of Grenada are two places that I consistently return to.

Matt & Erica Chua – Living If

How travel has changed us
Traveling continuously for two years, with another year to go, we struggle to notice our changes. We are very interested to return home after three years of traveling to see how it has changed us. I think the most important lesson we’ve learned is gratitude. We are very thankful for the opportunities we’ve had and supportive people that helped us take the opportunities. We realize how rare of an experience we’ve had and will take the lessons and empathy for others with us wherever we go.

One of my favorite travel spots
It’s hard to choose a favorite spot as the places have been so different. It is hard to compare Hong Kong to hiking in New Zealand to the beaches of the Cambodia. The place that surprised us most? China, we found travel there to be comfortable, rewarding and would recommend everyone to see it for themselves. The place that awed us most? Nepal, we did 40 days of hiking through the Himalayas and will never forget it. The place we had the most fun? Tokyo, our fantastic Couchsurfing host showed us the time of our lives. The place we will definitely return to? The Philippines, we’re not beach people, but beaches like those could convert us.

Kirsten Alana – Aviators and a Camera

How travel has changed me
Frequent travel has taught me more about myself, the world, and my place in it. Most notably, I am not as high strung and uptight as I once was. I’m more mellow and willing to accept life as it comes, including the good and the bad.

One of my favorite travel spots
I could never choose just one place. My favorite city is Paris. My favorite country is Spain, specifically the Costa Brava region of the country. My favorite island is Mauritius, off the coast of South Africa.

Javad Shadzi – 034 Motorsport

How travel has changed me
Travel has opened my eyes to the incredible variety the world offers. It has made me more understanding of others who are different and it has made me more empathetic to their needs and to why we are all legitimately like we are.

One of my favorite travel spots
Living in Iran as a small child (until I was 7) had profound effects on who I am and how I see the world. My dream is to go back and visit and spend some time in the places I grew up as a child.

Amy Scott – Nomadtopia

How travel has changed me
Travel has changed my entire life. It opened me up to new experiences and new ways of living, and showed me that I could create my ideal lifestyle rather than following along with what we’re “supposed” to do. Traveling encouraged me to travel even more, and eventually to move to another country (Argentina), where I became fluent in the language, connected with the culture, and met my husband.

One of my favorite travel spots
There are so many, it’s hard to choose! Machu Picchu is definitely high on the list. When I arrived there at sunrise after hiking the Inca Trail, I realized how little you can get a sense of a place just by looking at a picture. Seeing something yourself, in full-color, 360-degree views, with sounds and smells to boot – there’s just nothing like it.

Benny Lewis – Fluent in 3 Months

How travel has changed me
I am now very much aware that the world is smaller than you think. Many chance encounters have emphasised how true this is. And after meeting people from dozens of countries and vastly different cultures, I have found that deep down we all want the same thing and share many common traits as humans beyond the superficial. On a more personal level, I have become more open, extroverted and less shy because I was forced out of my shell by arriving somewhere on my own with no choice but to walk up to people to make friends. This has been fantastic for my social skills in general, as well as allowing me to make even more interesting new friends on the road.

One of my favorite travel spots
Brazil! I love the people, the culture, the food, the dances, the scenery, the language, the ethnic diversity, the open mindedness and the genuine friendliness. It’s my favourite country on the planet!

Caleb Wojcik – Pocket Changed

How travel has changed me
My international travels, specifically my study abroad in college for a month in Japan and a missions trip to Honduras, changed my outlook on the world more than any other experience. I had culture shock when I returned from these trips and viewed how Americans lived in a whole new light. My life path and long-term “legacy” that I want to leave has been greatly influenced by these trips.

One of my favorite travel spots
The most memorable spot that I’ve visited would definitely have to be Tokyo. It stands out in my mind above even Hong Kong or Taipei because how different and unique every single subway stop is from one another. I felt like I was in 10 different cities entirely over the course of a single weekend. My favorite districts were Akihabara and Shinjuku.

Cheryl & Roland Magyar – Handcrafted Travellers

How travel has changed us
Toasting bacon on a wooden skewer in Torockó, Romania while watching the mountain range turn pink with the setting sun – we began to think about the world and all the things on it and we realized we didn’t need so many material possessions to make us happy. Travel and life are about experiences – but one must slow down to truly enjoy them.

One of our favorite travel spots
The romantic, winding, narrow brick streets of Siena, Italy.

Jenny Blake – Life After College

How travel has changed me
Travel brings me back to my most inspired, thoughtful, curious self. I’m very grateful to my family for always encouraging me to travel and setting up many trips as a child – from my earliest days travel has been a source of joy and wonder. It continues to change me by reminding me what a global, connected world we live in. Every trip opens up a Pandora’s box of possibility about life, work and personal growth. It keeps me fresh and energized, and even just getting there (and back) provides an amazing time for reflection and recharging.

One of my favorite travel spots
I absolutely loved Morocco – I traveled there with my family during college and was fascinated by how vastly different the culture was from anything I had seen before. Some highlights: the crazy Medina marketplace filled with spices, people, donkeys and chickens; a gourmet dinner of couscous and chicken at a glitzy palace with a show in the center of a field, drinking the most delicious Mint tea I’ve ever had in the back of a carpet shop, and even almost getting ripped off my a snake handler in a courtyard. Every moment of that trip was rich and eye-opening.

Noah Fleming – NoahFleming.com

How travel has changed me
Travel is the ultimate drug. It’s not the idea of seeing new things that excites me. It’s travel’s profound ability to teach us about ourselves, expand our creativity, and foster personal growth that makes me tick. Being able to see the world is great, but being able to discover yourself? That’s the true magic of travel.

One of my favorite travel spots
One of my favorite travel spots was the Swiss Alps. There’s something special about dangling 10,000 feet high over jagged rocks in a metal box held up by a 2 inch cable. Surreal.

Andrea Spirov – Inspiring Travellers

How travel has changed me
Travel has made me more aware of the world and my place in it. It has given me a new perspective on how people live in different countries and also made the world feel smaller to me. I definitely have more confidence since I started travelling.

One of my favorite travel spots
I really enjoyed our time in Colombia last year. South America was an incredible experience but Colombia was really special and I hope we’ll get to go back again, especially to Bogota.

Chelsea Ingram – Our Sonny Life

How travel has changed me
It has made me realize how family is truly the only thing that matters. When we are all alone in a strange and wonderful new world, I look around at my beautiful boys and loving husband and I am at home. I love sharing this journey with them.

One of my favorite travel spots
Vang Vieng, Laos. Cheap food, lots of fun things to do, and the most beautiful place we have ever seen.

Angela Wheeler – Productive Flourishing

How travel has changed me
Travel has changed me throughout my life, in both expected and unexpected ways. While in college I backpacked Europe one summer as a way to earn course credit for an Honor’s College I was a part of. I learned so much about the area’s history, culture, and people and gained a much broader knowledge of the areas I visited.

As well, I had the honor of working for the summer in Honduras while I was a college student. I earned course credits and participated in community research. It was an eye opening experience to be a part of a community with such rich tradition and beautiful practices, while struggling with poverty and related concerns. Lastly, travel as an adult has also made me more aware of and comfortable with where I live. I still have lots of the world to explore, and am excited for the adventures. That said, I’m happy with where I live and making “vacations” happen in my own city and state.

One of my favorite travel spots
Hands down…Greece. I spent a couple of weeks there with my wonderful hubby. We fell in love with the laid back culture and people and even more in love with each other.

Michael Hodson – Go See Write

How travel has changed me
I am not sure travel changed me, but it reinforced some of the good things in my personality that I think were there to start with. The confidence that I can manage my life on my own terms. The knowledge that people around the world are all generally good and just want a good life. And the overwhelming awe at the vastness and pure amazingness of our planet. It’s wonderful out here.

One of my favorite travel spots
Such a tough question, but I’ll try to pick one that perhaps some of your other interviewees didn’t choose: Namibia. It has some of the best African wildlife in the world and the sand dunes and deserts are uniquely spectacular. Plus, as a former German colony, the beer is damn good also.

Lauren Aloise – Spanish Sabores

How travel has changed me
Travel has made me a more tolerant person overall – it has made me uncomfortable at times and opened my eyes to new and different ways of doing things. I now realize that “right and wrong” are often subjective terms, and extremely culturally based. Traveling and living abroad have allowed me to make friends I never could have met otherwise, and they have enriched my life in so many ways.

One of my favorite travel spots
Granada, Spain will always be one of my favorite spots. The mix of cultures and religions that have called the city home have left a vibrant and fascinating Granada for visitors today. The Alhambra is magical, the food and nightlife is fantastic, and if you venture into the mountains you’ll never want to leave.

Johnny Jet – JohnnyJet.com

How travel has changed me
Travel has changed me in so many ways. The biggest is probably when I was cured of asthma by a Chinese doctor in Malaysia. It’s a long story but I never ever thought I would stop taking my medication but thanks to travel I have.

One of my favorite travel spots
There are so many spots I don’t know where to start. Seriously! It all depends on the time of year and my mood. I really love Southeast Asia for the weather, food and exotic fruits. Closer to home my favorite place in America is Manhattan Beach, California.

Jason Van Orden – Internet Business Mastery

How travel has changed me
Traveling to foreign places has really opened my eyes to the diversity of the world. It’s very easy to end up with homogenous ideas when you live and stay in one area most of your life. Yes, it feels very safe, but it is also very limiting. Interacting with other cultures has helped me to appreciate differing points of view. I feel I am a more empathetic person because of my traveling experiences.

One of my favorite travel spots
Paris, France is easily in my top three places that I’ve visited. I can’t get enough of the culture, language and yummy pastries! I know that the French get a bad rap for being rude. The truth is they have a very polite language and culture. If you learn just a little bit of French, it goes a long way to getting a warmer welcome. I find the French people passionate and fascinating. Also, Paris is one of the only cities where you can hop on a boat tour and see over a dozen world-class monuments and buildings in under an hour.

Robert Bruce – RobertBruce.com

How travel has changed me
I don’t travel. I don’t even leave the house all that much. But, if I did, I’m sure it would change many things about me. Not the least of which would be the wonderful alternating hotel bathrobes.

One of my favorite travel spots
My backyard.

Sarah Kathleen Peck

How travel has changed me
Getting out of your normal context teaches you a lot about who you are; so much of our personality and habits are driven by the spaces we occupy. When we change it up, we free ourselves to learn new things, become different people, and grow in new areas. As I travel, sometimes for a couple days and often for longer, I learn so much about the way the world is built and how we all fit into it – I couldn’t imagine my life without traveling.

One of my favorite travel spots
I love anywhere that has water integrated into the site in a beautiful way – be it a lake, a hot spring, a water fall, a river that you’re forging. I love to spend as much time as possible in and around water, because I find it resting for the soul to lay on top of a gently moving surface. When I’m in the water, I feel free again.

Dave Dean – What’s Dave Doing?

How travel has changed me
Travel has made me a more confident, happier and far more tolerant person than I ever was before I left home. Things that used to get right under my skin in the past now don’t even raise my pulse rate…

One of my favorite travel spots
One of my favourite spots has to be somewhere I’ve been very recently, actually – Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia. Despite its war-torn recent past, it is a beautiful and incredibly multi-cultural little city. I loved it, and desperately want to spend far longer there.

Thanks to everyone for contributing!

Featured image via Unsplash.