Travelling In Your 20s: Advice And Understanding Apprehension 

Most people write such posts when nearing 30, which is fair enough. A decade of adulthood teaches you a lot about life. However, through years of exploring different cities, from Saigon to Santorini, and engaging with a variety of cultures, there is much I’ve learnt about travelling in your 20s or being a young traveller in general that can serve as valuable pieces of information and advice for any traveller at any stage in their life. 

Are you a sucker for disappearing on a weekend to seek out great food and thrilling adventure? How about challenging yourself to create life-long memories through life-changing experiences? 

Or…   

Do you feel the pressure to travel just because you are in your 20s and it’s expected of you? Does life have a chokehold on you even though you’re expected to feel the most liberated you ever have and will be?

The mixed emotions of travelling in your 20s are well-known.

Here is why you should or shouldn’t travel and what you can do to make your experiences worth the time and money.  

Advice For Travelling In Your 20s

Embrace ‘The Now’

Much easier said than done but use travel to disconnect from everyday life. We spend so much time worrying about 50 different things at work, but why carry that with you while in the mountains of Baden-Baden or the caves in Cappadocia? Metaphorically speaking, travel light and pack your suitcase with memories rather the memorabilia. 

Travel With Different People To Know Who’s Worth A Second Trip

Very early on, I learnt there are two types of people: travellers and vacationers. 

Travellers want to embrace life and experience as much as they can. They’re the ones who are up for the sunrise, ready for the hike, excited by the history and fall in love with the culture. Vacationers, on the other hand, are escaping life. They want to relax by the beach, look for their alcohol fix and explore at a relaxed pace to soak it all up slowly.

Both are valid in their choices. 

However, sometimes it is difficult for these two personalities to travel together because neither of you will get what you want from the trip. Therefore, travelling in your 20s is all about finding the people you want to continue to explore the world with – trust me, it’s a lot easier than you think. 

Interact With The Locals

The one thing we all have in common in our 20s, no matter where we come from, is that we’re all trying to figure out who we are and where we want to be. A great way to do this is by taking. Head over to viewpoints, bars, and parks to meet locals and strike up a conversation. 

No one said you have to become friends or ever see them again, but I’ve found that speaking to strangers has meant I’ve learnt something new (about the city, a career, a favourite book etc.) and has helped me build my confidence.

Some of my favourite cities where I’ve done this include London, Lisse, Venice and Copenhagen. 

Travel Solo At Least Once

The idea of travelling solo in your 20s can be daunting, but I believe everyone should do it at least once. It can be a day trip or a week away, but spending time with yourself while doing something you love allows you to discover new parts of yourself and how strong you are. It’s a rewarding experience, to say the least.

The best part? You get to do anything you want to, exactly as you want to, without having to compromise. 

Read my tips for solo travelling here.

Travel Slow

Most of us are attached to the grind. The need to be doing something every second. To feel purpose and feel accomplished. These are not bad qualities – far from it. Plan every hour of your day if you need to. But remember to slow down at the same time. Take a walk or ride a bike to give yourself time to breathe between each exciting attraction.  

Always Research 

I’m all for spontaneity; I’ve had some of my best memories come out of it. However, doing your research on a foreign destination is important. It’s not just about the visas you may need or places you want to see – research means staying safe, understanding your surroundings and being aware of your financials at every point throughout the trip. 

Learn A New Skill

While this is not possible on every trip you may take, wherever possible, learn a new skill or improve on an existing one. You are truly a malleable piece of playdough when travelling in your 20s, and there is still so much to learn from the world around you, so use that to your advantage. What better place to perfect your pancake-making skills than in Paris or strengthen your core for kayaking than in the Algarve? 

Document Your Journeys

Blessed with technology, recording your adventures is easier than ever before. So, take those endless pictures, write notes to yourself, and buy a souvenir – it all adds up to form a time capsule to look back on with a smile. 

Understanding Apprehension About Travelling In Your 20s 

A Quarter-Life Crisis 

After the safe building blocks of school and university falls away, we are sent out into the world to make a life-altering decision – decisions we’re not ready for – and face the unpredictability of the workforce alone. It’s, therefore, no surprise that we often face a quarter-life crisis, and the fear of failure latched on tighter than ever. In such a state, it’s very easy to be impulsive or feel like you’re doing something wrong by not travelling.  

Every travel blog I’ve read tells you that if life is not going according to plan, travel. Quit your job and turn to the skies. Ignore a grad scheme opportunity for a suitcase. I think that’s terrible advice. 

Instead of throwing everything away to jump into the deep end, use travel to figure out what you want out of life. Plan a weekend getaway or take a week off to gain perspective in your bucket list destination to come back refreshed and ready to face the real world again. 

Don’t get rid of your belongings and move half away across the world. Sometimes, we simply need time and space to process the changes taking place and accept a new phase in life. 

The Pressure To Travel 

In the age of Instagram, it’s normal to feel the pressure to travel. You may be thinking –  ‘my friends are in Greece, so why aren’t I?’ The pressure to travel in your 20s is something I feel all the time. But you don’t have to! I have learnt, ironically, while travelling, that we all live life at our own pace and there is nothing wrong with staying at home. Give yourself a chance to breathe.