Travel isn't just a luxury; for some of us, it's a soul-stretching necessity, a tool for life enrichment that we should wield with conviction. But how does the lure of adventure change as we evolve through the decades? When life threatens to get in the way of an extended or epic experience? Let's take a look at what traveling through the decades can look like.
Freedom in Your 20s
Ah, your 20s! A decade marked by liberation, self-discovery, and a magnetic pull towards the great unknown. It's the era of backpacking across continents, living on the edge of your comfort zone, and perhaps, barely inside your budget. If you're in your 20s, with the whole world ahead of you, the time is now to travel with the tenacity of a comet. Here's how you make the most of it:
Budget Travel, Spontaneity and Friendships Across Borders
In your 20s, hostels, VRBOs, and perhaps even WWOOFing become your second homes, and you're no stranger to a midnight street food market. You're scrappy and tenacious knowing if time is on your side but money is tight, you're willing to offer a few hours of sweat equity in exchange for your accommodation fee. Remember, it's not about going cheap; it's about spending wisely.
With minimal ties, you're free to change course at a moment's notice. The freedom to say 'yes' to the unexpected is a priceless travel companion. Traveling in your 20s is a solo traveler's delight. There are so many opportunities to meet like-minded youth around the world, whether your interests lie in visiting museums and cat cafes or dancing the night away while drinking Goombay Smash until the sun comes up.
You’ll make friends just about anywhere! From the stranger on the hostel bunk below to the new friend you made on an overnight train, the bonds you forge are as transient as they are treasured. They remind you that humanity is a universal language and some of these chance relationships may remain strong many years into the future.
Personally speaking, many of my subsequent world travels were to visit people I'd met and become friends with on both trains and in hostels. Bonus, these chance encounters make for excellent travel stories to share with your friends and families later.
Wanderlust in Your 30s
Your 30s are marked by (hopefully) being more comfortable in your own skin and giving less f@ck$ about other people's opinions. By now you're starting to gain wisdom from your life experiences and are likely feeling the tugs of responsibility. Though your pace may start to slow, your wanderlust only grows stronger. Let’s take a look at how traveling in your 30s is a blend of adventure, mindfulness, and a pursuit of depth.
Planning Your Time with Purpose
In your 30s you might be settling into a career path making it more challenging to give way to grand plans – the ones that involve a year's sabbatical to visit all the UNESCO World Heritage Sites for example. Embrace this time knowing you can't enjoy life's peaks without walking through its valleys. For most, our 30s are a reminder that organized spontaneity is your new best friend.
Your 30s also mark a time when many people are settling down. Some of you may already have or are possibly considering starting a family. I’m here to remind you that you don’t have to give up your dreams of travel just because your life may look different than in your 20s. Balancing wanderlust with responsibilities, such as planning trips in advance and seeking out family-friendly destinations may simply be in order.
Lastly, savor the flexibility of this decade by exploring diverse cultures and trying new experiences. While a late-night pub session, once in a while, is always a good craic, you’re less likely to chase parties, so embrace experiences that offer deeper insight into where you are traveling.
One of my favorite platforms for booking cultural experiences when I’m traveling (and also booking a guided late-night pub crawl) is Get Your Guide. I recently booked day trips in South Korea and Taiwan with amazing results. Bonus you can nap on the bus coming back so you’re refreshed for the evening's activities. Because let’s be real, naps in your 30s are kind of amazing. And just to throw this in there, see if the city you're visiting accepts Go City Pass to further maximize your time and experiences!
Exploring in Your 40s and Beyond
Traveling in your 40s and beyond isn't about frantically ticking off bucket list items; it's about truly savoring each experience, like an aged bourbon or a fine wine. Traveling later in life offers the chance to savor the fruits of your labor, with more financial stability to indulge in unforgettable experiences. It's a time when you might relish diving deeper into the cultural nuances of a destination, appreciating the richness of each encounter. However, traveling later in life might also prove challenging especially if you’re reaching a pinnacle in your career, balancing family obligations, or facing health considerations that might arise with age. Let’s explore what traveling later in life can look like.
Slowing Down to Experience it All
More mature travelers often seek destinations that align with their interests and desires, such as serene wellness retreats, enriching historical tours, or tantalizing culinary experiences. These tailored options cater to the preferences of seasoned explorers, providing opportunities for relaxation, learning, and indulgence.
But don’t accept that traveling later in life means sitting around more. In my experience in walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, it was myself and other young travelers that were getting injured for going too far and too fast. Those pilgrims that I met in their 60s and 70s remained injury free having the time of their lives; they just arrived at the albergue a little later than we did, having stopped to enjoy their wine and tapas along the way.
Those traveling later in life are more equipped to embrace the philosophy of slow travel allowing for a more profound connection with each destination by immersing fully in its sights, sounds, and flavors. Regardless if you only have a couple days in a place or a few weeks, this approach encourages travelers to meander, to linger, and engage with communities on a deeper level. Travel now becomes a pilgrimage, quite literally or metaphorically. You might travel for self-healing, spiritual discovery, or to reconnect with the past.
Regardless of what your idea of a good time is, be sure to research potential accessibility challenges in certain destinations as well as accommodations that prioritize comfort and convenience.
My Final Thoughts
As someone who enjoyed solo travel through my 20s and 30s and has made the transition to traveling with a partner in my 30s and now 40s, I can confirm there has been a tangible evolution. If there were one constant to be identified it is that so much of traveling is stepping outside of what you think you know. It allows you to continue learning about yourself, wherever you are in that moment, just as much as you continue to learn about the world around you.
Personally speaking, travel has remained steadfast in that way over the years, and continues to educate me with each passing decade. The language of landscapes and cultures may change, but the underlying narrative of growth and enrichment remains constant. Whether we're howling at a Full Moon Party in our 20s, finding our center at a wellness retreat in our 40s, or simply sitting by the Seine contemplating life in our 70s, the world offers a kaleidoscope of experiences, confidently inspired by the age we’re in. Remember, the passport to our ages is stamped with lived adventures.
Peace, Love and Coddiwomples
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