Is 30 Too Old To Start Traveling by Yourself?


Are you 30 and thinking of traveling the world, but you feel you are past the right age to travel? Or are you a woman feeling frightened and worried about visiting strange places alone? Many people think they are past the age to travel independently after their 30th birthday due to some societal stigma, but should this be the case?

Thirty isn’t too old for you to start traveling alone because age is just a number. Traveling excites, fulfills, educates, rewards, and helps you to unwind, especially after work. Therefore, you cannot deny yourself all these just because of age, gender, or being alone.

This article discusses a few topics, including why it is better to travel in your 30s than at an earlier age and what you need to know about traveling solo.

Why You Should Start Traveling in Your 30s

Most people graduate from school in their early 20s. While some may start traveling the world and living their adventures at this age, others may choose to build their career first. If you choose the latter, your time to discover the world will happen in your 30s. 

Traveling in your 30s comes with several benefits, such as:

You Are More Experienced and Confident

As you grow older, you gain more wisdom and experience. Hence, you’re matureOpens in a new tab. at 30. No books can teach as experience can, but it comes from making mistakes, especially in your 20s, and learning from them. 

So, you can research and plan your trip better in your 30s.

Although you might still make mistakes at this age, they will not be as frequent as a younger traveler might make. Moreover, you have likely left your youthful excitement and propensity to take unnecessary risks behind at this age.

You Can Afford To Travel in Style

If you think you are too old to travel, think about this; 30 might be a perfect ageOpens in a new tab. because you’re most likely to have the financial muscle. When traveling in your 20s, you would probably have to borrow money from your parents or do a part-time job as you save for the trip.

But what happens if you exhaust the money in the middle of your trip or get an emergency requiring more money? You will still reach out to your parents for help. Right?

However, as an older traveler, you should have some savings since you have been working for some time. In addition, you can budget better and save money more wisely. The only question you will need to answer is how much of your savings you are willing to spend. 

If you want to learn more about the costs of traveling alone, check out my article, where I talk about the factors that can make your solo trip more expensive than one with friends. [XX Reasons Why Solo Travel is So Expensive]

Therefore, it would be wise to research how much you need for the places you intend to visit and draw a budget. 30 is an ideal time to treat yourself to the trip of a lifetime—having spent your earlier years working and saving,

You Can Handle Uncertainties Better  

Uncertainties happen in everything, including during a trip or vacation. However, age comes with the experience of dealing with unexpected circumstances. At 30 plus, you can remain calm in difficult situations. 

In addition, you can apply common sense to work through an issue just as you do when negotiating at home as a parent or in boardroom meetings at the workplace.

You’ll Appreciate Your Travel More

Most things that fascinate us in our 20s include indulging in alcohol and hanging out in clubs the whole night. So, these are the same things you might find yourself doing while on a trip at this age. 

However, after 30, drinking will mostly happen in the backseat to give room for more vital activities. As such, Instead of rocking out in a city up to 2 am, you may enjoy a few more sunsets or go for a cycling tour which is even healthier.

How To Go About Solo Travel After 30

In our 20s, most of our agemates aren’t so busy and preoccupied. Therefore, you’ll have many of them willing to accompany you any time you plan to go on a trip. However, this is not the case in your 30s when most friends are busy with work and family. 

Sometimes, you want to have a break from your job and take a breather before your next assignment. You may not have somebody to travel with, but that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying your trip. 

Here are some tips on how to go solo traveling after 30:

Plan Your Travel Ahead 

It’s best to plan your travel based on where you want to go. You can get information on different places you can visit from the internet or use platforms like Nomadic MattOpens in a new tab.. Therefore, traveling alone will bring you so much flexibility and freedom that you will wonder why you’ve never done it before.

At 30 years old, you don’t have to please anyone but yourself. So:

  • Enjoy your time alone.
  • Think and meditate.
  • Get a new life perspectiveOpens in a new tab..
  • Renew your sense of purpose in life

Solo traveling will be an opportunity for you to build your character. And you can be sure to get out of the trip with a new level of resilience and independence.

Try the Hybrid Approach 

The hybrid approach entails planning your trip independently, including booking a flight and accommodation. However, you also identify places where you’re likely to meet other people along the way. For example, you can stay in a hotel where other people in their 30s can share life experiences with you.

On the other hand, you can book some day tours through which you will visit some places with other people, but still have room for personal time. You can also hook yourself with a local who will help you to understand the destination you are visiting in detail.

Join an Online Travel Group

You can find travel groups like solo travel societyOpens in a new tab. on the internet that cater to people looking for opportunities to travel solo. These sites provide resources and valuable tips to solo travelers. Moreover, some travel groups even organize trips that you can join with other like-minded travelers. 

Age is also a concern for young travelers. I discuss the best age to start solar adventures in a separate article. Click on the link to read it. [What Age Can You Safely Travel Alone?]

Final Thoughts

Like in relationships, age is just a number in solo traveling. You can start touring the world at any age with the required resources. Also, you don’t need to be in a group to discover and enjoy new experiences. 

Whether a man or a woman, planning your journey and accomplishing it is pretty fulfilling—but you can allow yourself a bit of spontaneity.

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