If you want to change your world, travel. If you want to change your life, travel. If you want to change your mind, travel.
Travel truly does change the traveler in ways nothing else can. I look back on those early days of traveling, and I’m amazed at who I’ve become, all because I took that first solo trip to Japan at 20 years old. So much about me has changed, and it’s transformed me from small town girl to world traveling single parent. Here are the 10 things I’ve changed my mind about in the last 20 years (and one thing I doubt I’ll ever change my mind about–read to the end!).
Solo travel is for everyone.
Not everyone wants to travel solo. That’s cool. Not everyone should travel solo. That’s reality. Just because solo travel changed the trajectory of my life, doesn’t mean it will do the same everyone—or that everyone wants to change their life. And that’s okay. I still think everyone who wants to, should try solo travel, but if you simply prefer having companionship while traveling, that’s okay, too. When I lost my husband, I wanted company on my next several trips, and that was okay, even for a serial solo traveling woman.
More here: Quick Whit Travel’s Solo Travel Page
Carry-on only is the ONLY way to travel.
It is the most efficient way to travel—that is still true! But there are definitely trips that are best taken with checked luggage. If you’re a single parent—do what you must to make it work! I wish I could still travel with just my backpacks so I could take the stairs and navigate airports more quickly. But, that’s not the reality for my current travels as a single parent with a baby. I only have two hands, after all! Sometimes you have to take a full-sized liquid for yourself. Sometimes you just have to travel with something you can’t have in a carry-on. Whatever your reason, it’s perfectly acceptable to check a bag. Or two.
Related: The Pros and Cons of Checking a Bag
Compression socks are too much trouble.
They are a lot of trouble, but unless you like swollen legs, they’re worth the effort. I once had a 24-hour travel day home from Cambodia, and my ankles were incredibly uncomfortable and swollen by the time I arrived home. It took two days for them to shrink back down to size! Should have worn my compression socks. Now I do because I learned my lesson.
Also this: Your Ultimate Guide to Surviving Long-haul Travel
“Real” travel means traveling abroad.
Who am I to tell you what’s “real” for you? It takes a lot of effort to fly anywhere. But road trips take you to new places just as airplanes do. A domestic trip with two layovers is actually more stressful than a non-stop across an ocean! If you’re traveling, you’re really traveling. That’s all there is to it.
More here: The Ultimate Traveler’s Bucket List
You should only eat local food when you travel.
This is my personal preference, but it’s not the only way. What if you truly don’t like it? What if it makes you sick? I still think everyone should try the local fare—food is such a huge part if any culture—but if you want a good old American burger, get it! If you only want bread and cheese the whole time you’re traveling, do that. This is one of the things I’ve changed my mind about over the years, after eating local and eating familiar. Both are totally acceptable.
But still consider this: The Top 5 Reasons Why Food is Important to the Travel Experience
Fit in as many sites as you can, every day, every trip.
This is great for people like I used to be. People like my husband and me when we were newlyweds. Over time, however, I’ve come to appreciate taking my time, savoring coffee and a pastry in a cafe, and being more discerning about how I spend my time. And now that I travel with an infant, my sweet spot is one site or activity per day. Anything else I can accomplish is frosting on the travel cake! So, do as much or as little as you want. It’s your trip, give yourself permission to spend your vacation as you like.
Helpful info: How to Plan a Trip
Always buy the cheapest ticket, no matter what.
This was fine in my early 20s, when I had more time than money. But eventually, I started asking myself, “Why is this ticket so cheap?” This is possibly my favorite of the thing. I’ve changed my mind about. The multiple connections, long layovers, and worst seats on the plane were all factors that I started to care about more and more as time went on. Is it really worth saving $30 if I have to change airports during a tight connection to save money?
No. It’s not.
Related: The 7 Things You Must Consider when Booking Flights
Road trips are not real travel.
Personally, I hate road trips. They’re the worst. On that, I have not changed my opinion. What has changed for me, though, is my opinion about whether or not a road trip counts as “real” travel. I now believe that they do. Whether you’re in an RV, a minivan full of kids, or soloing on the road in your sedan, you’re definitely traveling if you’re road tripping. It doesn’t matter if you’re driving domestically or abroad, the road is like a runway for cars.
Keep reading: The Top 10 Road Trip Tips
Never go back to the same place.
Hawai’i changed my mind on this 10 years ago. Ever since that first trip to O’ahu back in 2015, Hawai’i has been calling to me. I used to believe that the world is too big to waste time (and money) going back to the same place again and again. Why wouldn’t you want to see more of the world? But then I went to a place that gave me all the good feels, held special memories, and felt like going home. Yes, I still believe you should give new places a try, but if there’s one place that makes you feel your best when you’re there, go back as often as you can.
A Special Place for My Husband and Me: The Hawai’ian Islands
Business Class is Never Worth Paying For
Um, wrong! It may not be worth paying $10,000 extra, but $500 more to take an overnight, long-haul flight in a lie-flat seat so I can actually sleep, and eat enough real food to feel full? Yes, please! This is totally up to each individual person, but I have absolutely changed my stance on this as I’ve traveled over the years. Arriving well-rested (or at least rested) is a game-changer, especially at the start of a trip. Or, the ability to sleep on the way home after an amazing, but exhausting, trip is also far better than arriving home exhausted, knowing there’s laundry and unpacking to do. This is the most life-changing of the things I’ve learned over the last 20 years.
More here: The Hidden Benefits of Business Class
One thing I haven’t changed my mind about: Tourists ARE travelers.
It’s not one or the other. When people say “tourist” like it’s an insult, it tells me that person is a travel snob. What I think they really mean is “inexperienced,” “new at this,” or “awe-inspired.” Everyone was a new traveler at some point–even me, even you, even that person who believes they’re an elite traveler! In fact, I still like to do the “touristy” things all around the world, like go up in the Eiffel Tower, get my photo with the Duke on Waikiki Beach, and get excited to fly Business Class. I hope I never get so jaded that those things are no longer fun and exciting. If you’re traveling, you’re both a tourist and a traveler, like it or not!
Don’t miss this: Why It’s Okay to Be a Tourist
So what about you? What have you changed your mind about because of your travels? Comment below!
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