3 inspiring tips for travelling more in your 30s
There’s a cliché in the media that all backpackers are feckless teens or twenty-somethings rushing from country to country before the real grind of adult responsibilities kick in. But, as those who’ve been out on the trail recently can tell you, that’s actually only a fraction of the travelers you’ll meet. The fact is that people can seek adventure at any stage of their life – and, increasingly, they are.
Why? Well, everyone will give you a different answer to that. But we’ve put together some good reasons why anyone in their thirties and beyond should never feel as though their traveling days are behind them. The whole world’s still out there!
1. You know who you are
Traveling the world as a very young person is an incredible experience, it’s true – and it’s certainly to be recommended as one of the best ways to open your mind, whatever your background. But the intensity can also be overwhelming. If you listen to people recount their youthful adventures on the trail, there’s rarely much of a plan and often many gaps in the record.
Those who come to travel later, for whatever reason, are much more likely to set off on their journey with a clearer sense not only of where they’re heading but also what they’re looking for.
As a more mature adult, you can decide for yourself whether to finally experience a place you’ve dreamt of, or to venture outside your comfort zone. You have the maturity to plan, or you may prefer to just take it as it comes. The real difference is you now have that perspective, that balance, and that choice.
2. You can do it in style
Again, one of the downsides of traveling before you’ve established yourself in life is that it means the whole experience tends to be on a tight budget. Now, this need to improvise can lead to some unplannable, unrepeatable experiences – but, on the other hand, sometimes it’s nice to be comfortable even as you’re exploring.
You may not have amassed a fortune in your thirties, but – no matter what your financial situation – you will have developed more of an ability to save and spend money wisely. And having time to put money away can be all the difference between winging it and doing it in style.
If the young often have to compromise where they go and how they get there due to a tight budget, the more mature traveler has the means to plot the perfect itinerary.
3. Feel young again
As anyone who’s lived long enough knows, it’s not time that makes us feel our age – it’s when we get stuck in a routine that never seems to change. It’s when we see the same faces – and places – each and every day. It’s having to play the part of the person everyone thinks we are.
The good news is seeing the world always has the potential to challenge our perception of ourselves, no matter our age. If you go somewhere where no one knows you, you’ll find you don’t feel any pressure to behave as you usually do. Out there, where you don’t know the rules, you may change – and that’s OK.
Because today, adulthood no longer has to mean just having one job, one home, and one holiday somewhere hot once a year. Indeed, 30% of workers polled said they’d consider less pay in exchange for greater travel opportunities. If that sounds like you, maybe it’s time you took the plunge into the world of travel, too.
