30 Changes To People’s Travel Style They Themselves Couldn’t Have Foreseen

Bored Panda got in touch with Paul from TravMonkey and Chloe Gunning, blogger and creative producer from WanderlustChloe to ask some questions about travel and what tips they would have given a younger self. Paul had a pretty straightforward answer for “himself”: “Don't compromise. Do what you want to do, not what others want or how it's perceived. Life is short and to have the freedom to travel without the responsibilities and pressures at a younger age is a privilege and a life-changing experience.”

“Be more adventurous! I wish I'd said yes to a few more experiences on my earlier travels. If I could go back and do things again, I think I'd be a lot more carefree!” Chloe shared with us, both emphasizing the fact that travel stress can overwhelm so many people that their trip never actually leaves them satisfied. 

A lot of the responses in this post come from people who have reevaluated their spending habits on a trip, so we wanted to hear Paul’s opinion. “I think it's a balance, if your money is unlimited then why not pay? I tend to do so within my own budget when traveling. For example, I'd definitely rather pay a few pounds/dollars to take cash out where I am rather than have to get to the other side of a big city to find an ATM that doesn't charge. It'd potentially cost me a few pounds/dollars to get there and an extra hour to find the ATM. Pay a little more for the convenience and I could be relaxing by the beach or sitting in a bar sipping a cold beer instead of rushing around a city getting stressed.”

Chloe thought that these preferences might be a result of aging. “In my 20s I was so happy to have experiences on my travels, but I'd often be on a budget. In my 30s, I've felt happier spending more money in order to cram more into my trips. It's interesting though, as sometimes the slower, more budget-friendly options lead to more interesting experiences,” she shared with Bored Panda.

Lastly, we asked each of them what are the best things someone can do to prepare for traveling to a new destination. Paul stated that “before traveling to a new destination a little bit of research is required. I'm not massively into planning and like to go with the flow much more but any traveller really needs to know the basics before they go. Check country entry requirements, visa requirements, your passport (make sure it fits the requirements, has enough pages, etc), healthcare/vaccinations, the currency, and the rough costs before you land.”

“It's always good to know how much the taxi from the airport when you land should be costing you before you get there. Also, it's worth reading up on the latest scams in certain destinations if you are backpacking for a decent length of time. If you have the opportunity in life to travel, do it. It's the best investment you could make in yourself. It's cliched but it does broaden your horizons, gives you a different perspective on the world whilst finding out more about yourself along the way.”

Chloe shared her advice. “Read as much as you can before you go so you're not glued to your phone when you get there. Plot out a few activities for your week, but leave plenty of free time too. Also, check information about safety - sadly, this is more relevant to women, but it's important to be prepared. I don't think you'll ever regret traveling! Pack in as much as you can in your 20s when you don't have much responsibility! Life changes a lot as you get older.”