What emotions can you experience during your trip?

No matter what kind of travel you take, you often experience a variety of emotions before, during and after your adventure.

Whether it's a week-long beach vacation, a trip around the world, or just a simple car ride, here are some of the feelings you might experience. I have, of course, experienced them all; no matter how many times I travel, I inevitably experience these emotions. If you don't have your own car to travel with, you can still have fun while traveling.

1. Excitement

That little seed of wanderlust grew and grew until you decided to take the plunge and finally buy a plane ticket. There is no turning back now; your dates are set and you're looking forward to the big day.

You book your accommodation, start scouring travel blogs and guidebooks, and the list of things you want to do and see while you're away fills the pages in your notebook. Needless to say, you're excited. Even with all this planning, you still don't know what will happen when you arrive, and that's often the best feeling in the world. I live for this excitement.

2. Anticipation

Anticipation can be both good and bad. While you often find yourself daydreaming about all the great things that will happen to you while you're away, you also sometimes find yourself feeling nervous. Lying in bed at night, unable to sleep, you begin to list all the things you need to do before your trip: find a good pair of hiking boots, get all your vaccinations, exchange money, pack your things, and much more.

What about everything you leave at home: work, family, friends, apartment? Everything will be fine? As excited as I am, I spend the night before every big trip worrying about all the little things that I won't be able to fix by then anyway. I don't think I slept a wink until a week before I set off on a year-long trip to Central and South America.

3. Amazement

You have left all these worries behind because you have just arrived at your destination. Maybe it's a bustling city, maybe it's a calm lake, maybe you're about to get lost in the mountains for a few months.

Wherever you are, you're probably amazed at how incredible, incredibly beautiful, incredibly different, or incredibly stunning it is. You're overwhelmed by everything you see in front of you and can't believe you're finally here. I firmly believe that if I ever lose that sense of wonder, if I ever become so jaded that a new place doesn't take my breath away, I should consider hanging up my backpack for good.

4. Joy

You chose this place for a reason. Something about it drew you here: the culture, the food, the architecture, the nature, the people. Maybe you're seeing it for the first time, maybe the tenth; either way, it brings you great happiness to be here.

You are filled with joy that you have the opportunity to see this part of the world. You've worked hard to be here and you live every day to the fullest. For me, joy comes from meeting new people and making new friends. If it's done on a beautiful beach with a plate of fresh fruit in front of me, so much the better.

5. Affiliation

Maybe you've been here for a few days, maybe you've already been here for a few months. However, you quickly found your place in this place, found your favorite cafe, the best art museum or the most peaceful place to sit and think.

The guy at the local store nods and waves as you walk by. Maybe you can live here. Maybe this feeling of belonging can last forever. I always know I've reached that point when the vendors at the local market know what I'm about to order before I even order it.

6. Disappointment

Even the calmest traveler sometimes reaches a boiling point. Everything was going smoothly, but one bad day can really mess with your mind. You were robbed, or you got lost, or no one wanted to help you at the station. It's easy to get discouraged when you're tired, hungry, sick, or lonely.

Sometimes, without meaning to, you take your frustrations out on where you are, whether it deserves it or not. I was once ready to blame Bangkok for my terrible mood, but it was not a city at all; I had a lung infection, the fan in my room didn't work, and my credit card was frozen. I've been back many times since then (with healthy lungs, air conditioning and a working credit card) and I love it.