Many people travel in their 20s after graduating from high school or during a post-college gap year before they start their careers. If you feel as if you’ve missed the boat, rest assured that people in their 30s can still enjoy traveling the globe. In fact, traveling at this age is even better.
In This Article
- 10 Reasons Why Traveling in Your 30s Is Better
- You Have More Cash to Spend on Excursions
- Traveling Solo Is a Lot More Thrilling
- Your Friends Are More Interesting
- You Can Enjoy Other Activities Besides the Party Scene
- You Appreciate the Opportunity to Travel
- You’re More Likely to Soak It All In
- Travel Is a Form of Self-Care
- You Can Work on the Go
- You’ve Earned a Vacation With Your Own Money
- It’s Becoming More Popular to Travel in Your 30s
- Browse Cruises for 30-to-40-Year-Olds
10 Reasons Why Traveling in Your 30s Is Better
Your 30s bring a wide variety of new vacation opportunities to enjoy. Whether you’re thinking of solo traveling or taking a group of friends abroad, explore these ten reasons why 30-something travel is better than traveling in your 20s.
1. You Have More Cash to Spend on Excursions
Twenty-somethings typically lack the financial freedom to splurge on a vacation. While there are certainly benefits to saving money by staying in cheap hostels and opting for the least expensive places to eat, shop and explore, you might want to enjoy your vacation with a little more cash on hand. Since you’re established in your career and may have stored up some cash, you’ll be able to spend more money on activities and excursions while you’re away.
Having more money at your disposal gives you peace of mind if you decide to spend a few extra dollars on a fun excursion that you enjoy. If your 30th birthday is approaching, instead of roughing it while backpacking through Europe, consider investing your resources in a hotel room or a trip on a cruise ship to celebrate, with complimentary amenities to make your stay more pleasant. While there are ways to travel inexpensively — or even for free — splurging a little on upgrades can make a huge difference in your experience.
2. Traveling Solo Is a Lot More Thrilling
Group travel is common and exciting when you’re in your 20s. At that age, you probably preferred to stay in your group rather than go by yourself to try something off the beaten path. Even though it’s great to travel with other people, there may be some activities that you want to do on your own. All you need is some confidence to do things your way. Traveling by yourself gives you the power to decide what you want to do and when and where you want to do it.
Think of a destination you’ve always wanted to visit and imagine everything you want to see there. Choose intriguing excursions and experiences that allow you to embrace a culture fully. If the only person you need to consider is yourself, you can book the adventure of your dreams based on your schedule and interests. As you embark on your solo trip, you’ll most likely end up meeting some new friends along the way.
Now that you’ve lived a decade more, you know how to entertain and take care of yourself. Since you’re more confident than you were in your 20s, you can travel anywhere you want and navigate new challenges to grow and develop even further.
3. Your Friends Are More Interesting
As you progress through your life, it becomes easier to make friends and connect with people from different walks of life. Your travel companions in your 30s have a deeper connection with you than your party friends or the person you talked to once in your math class in college. You’ll also find more interesting people in your age group who have lived lives with novel-worthy backstories.
Most travelers in their 20s either recently graduated from college or are taking a year off from school to do some exploring. People in their 30s might be married, celebrating a milestone anniversary or taking a break from filming a TV show for the season.
There are also lots of ways to plan trips with people you know. Gather a group of your co-workers or friends you’ve known since high school. You can also find people with similar interests on social media to build a vacation filled with activities that you’ll enjoy. Now that you’re in your 30s, you know who you’d like to travel with and who you’d rather leave at home.
4. You Can Enjoy Other Activities Besides the Party Scene
Traveling in your 20s often involves late-night drinking and dancing, followed by an unpleasant morning when you roll out of bed. Alcohol can be a relatively cheap method of stress relief when you’re traveling in an unknown place.
In your 30s, you can skip the embarrassing mornings and cringe-worthy escapades you want to forget after a night of partying. You’ve learned over the last decade that it’s wiser and healthier to indulge in other activities to relieve your stress and help you have a good time. You’re also probably more comfortable around the other participants because you know that you’re all there for the same reason. Instead of overindulging in alcohol, you can be present and enjoy all the fun excursions you’ve planned for your vacation.
When you want to enjoy some alcohol responsibly, your 30s are a great time to check out some interesting new cocktails.
5. You Appreciate the Opportunity to Travel
Most people in their 20s have more limited resources but have more than enough time, energy and friends to take an impromptu trip anywhere in the world. Nowadays, more of your time is probably tied up in work or family commitments, and a vacation requires careful planning, budgeting and communication with those you love. When you finally book a trip, your experience becomes more meaningful because of the time and effort you spent to make it happen.
Certain life events may have prevented you from traveling in your 20s, such as losing a job or going through struggles in a relationship. Now that you’re older and have waited years to take your dream vacation, you’ll appreciate the trip much more than if you had booked the trip on a whim in your 20s.
A vacation in your 30s involves navigating a busy schedule and full household, so when you do get the opportunity to see a different part of the world, it feels like a true gift. Now that you’re a little older you understand that time is precious, and every minute you spend doing something you love is one to be treasured. You’ll savor each moment of your time away, and the memories of your trip will last a lifetime.
6. You’re More Likely to Soak It All In
In your 30s, you have the self-confidence to experience more of your vacation.
A decade ago, you might have gone on a trip to discover yourself and try to figure out what you like and dislike. Since you likely know yourself better now, your trip will revolve instead around enjoying your hobbies and exploring new interests in another part of the world. Walking through art museums, galleries or cathedrals in an old town may thrill you, or you might want to change things up and indulge in some water sports during your trip.
Instead of packing your itinerary with a list of sites you want to visit, you understand that you can’t see everything. As a result, you’ll appreciate more of your trip and enjoy the activities and experiences you decide to include. You’ll also make some meaningful friends along the way or enjoy the friends you brought with you.
7. Travel Is a Form of Self-Care
As you get older, you have more responsibilities and mundane activities in your personal and professional life. A vacation at this age is more than just an experience to check something off your bucket list — it’s an opportunity to take care of yourself and get a break from your typical routine. Let someone else take care of you as you treat yourself by booking a refreshing vacation.
Self-care promotes a sense of contentment as you live in the moment and rebalance your professional and personal life. Walk around your vacation site and take in all the sights, sounds and smells, basking in the change of scenery from your office or neighborhood. If you feel burned out and ready for a change, travel may shift your perspective on your life and allow you to appreciate what you have waiting for you back home.
Traveling in your 30s allows you to reset in a new location and get a fresh start. It gives you some much-needed rest away from life’s stressors and helps you be grateful for what you have. As you embark on this new journey, make new friends and get out of your comfort zone to stretch yourself and embrace change for the better.
8. You Can Work on the Go
A vacation in your 20s typically means a break from school or a job you may have just started. As a result, you might not have as much money saved, and you need a strict budget for your trip. However, once you’ve gained work experience or established a career, you can be more flexible with your job, allowing you to work and get paid during your trip.
Since remote work, flexible schedules and career breaks are becoming more common, you can work from anywhere in the world for as little or as long as you’d like. If you’ve built up experience in a set skill, you could even become a freelance worker or start your own business when you come home.
Though your schedule may allow for you to take time off from work, you may also want to bring your laptop when you’re on the go. If you plan to embark on a cruise ship and spend a few days at sea, make sure you choose an all-inclusive package with unlimited Wi-Fi as you travel from place to place. Discuss your options with your supervisor and plan whether you’ll work while on vacation.
9. You’ve Earned a Vacation With Your Own Money
Since most 20-somethings on vacation have recently graduated college, the money for their trip most likely came through a gift or prize. Even if they pay their way through their vacation, they’re likely to choose cheaper options during their stay.
However, when you’re in your 30s you typically have a career and the opportunity to save more money for yourself. You also have the wisdom to budget properly and prepare for trips with enough savings to pay immediately and directly. As lovely as it may be for the universe to smile on you with a gift or lucky break, there’s a sense of satisfaction in paying your own way instead of relying on someone else’s resources.
When you pay for your vacation yourself, you’re in complete control of where you go and what you do. You’ll also feel a sense of accomplishment in using your hard-earned money to book a trip you’ve always wanted to take. As a result, you’ll take the opportunity to savor every moment.
10. It’s Becoming More Popular to Travel in Your 30s
Even though it’s 20-somethings who have the reputation for being the world travelers, there’s also a thriving population of 30-something travelers. Twenty-somethings used to travel more because of their ability to take time off school or work. Today, the demographic has shifted to include people over age 30 because of their newfound financial stability. In fact, from 2002 to 2017, the percentage of backpackers over age 30 has increased from less than 5% to about 10%.
This shift makes it easier to meet new people and feel a sense of belonging. With the travel industry beginning to accommodate older people, you can also take advantage of more of the opportunities that 20-somethings enjoy. When you visit a bar, nightclub or beach, look out for people of different generations to find friends from all over the world.
Find a travel group online that allows you to meet people your age before you embark on your vacation. You may also want to book a cruise on a small ship where you can meet people from all walks of life on board. A cruise vacation is an excellent way to make new friends and fit in with people who have similar interests and backgrounds to you.
Browse Cruises for 30-to-40-Year-Olds
Now that you’re fully confident in your ability to take a vacation in your 30s, it’s time to book an elegant cruise. Windstar Cruise’s small, intimate ships allow you to check out many destinations that other cruise lines can’t reach. Our attentive staff will give you one-on-one attention and bring you exactly what you need when you need it. Plus, you’ll have a more sophisticated experience than younger or party-oriented cruises and have the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals.
Visit a part of the world where you can explore iconic sites or relax on a pristine white-sand beach. Choose from our dining packages and immerse yourself in the culture by trying local cuisine. You might also splurge on some on-shore or onboard excursions that cater to your unique interests and desires. Find a cruise and contact us today to start booking your exciting trip in your 30s.
