In my 20s I wanted to just go drink. Now I’m mostly looking for cool hikes and sights with a more relaxed pace mentally even if it is taxing physically. E.g. in my 20s going to Cancun vs. hiking mountains in New Zealand in my 30s. How’s it changed for other people?
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I used to love the journey in my 20s, airports and long train journey fascinated me. I was thrilled with the process of planning and exploring and seeing everything possible, Now in my early 30s, I want teleportation to be a reality, I just want to walk around in solitude and keep it slow and easy.
Leaving the house for a flight or train is one of the most anxiety inducing things for me.
At my age I’m looking for quite, peaceful, relaxing and a little splash of luxury.
A good gym and decent food selection is essential.
I don’t stay in hostels anymore. Used to be fun meeting people but now it’s kinda just dudes looking to go clubbing and get laid. I don’t really feel old so much as I feel like we’re traveling for different reasons. If I could stay in a hostel where it’s guaranteed to be people who just wanna eat food and explore and then I’d gladly stay there but that hasn’t been the case in a long time.
I also try to go to fewer places for longer stays rather than try to cram as many places as possible into a small amount of time.
32 now and my travel style is the same as it was in my 20s but with more cash for activities which makes it so much better.
Still sleep at hostels and enjoy meeting fellow travelers and local people.
Still adjust to the vibe of the place, hikes and nature? Big yes! Big nightlife and partying to 5am? Big yes! Sometimes both at the same time? Yes!
But now I can afford more expensive destinations like New Zealand, Norway so that’s the only real change for me so far. And intend to keep it that way
I stay in far nicer places now.
But as for what I like to do on vacation, that hasn’t really changed at all. Still love exploring cities and doing all the things.
At the risk of answering a question not meant for me, but it’s useful for collecting data: I did very little traveling in my 20s, mostly just to a different city a couple of times for concerts; now pushing 40 I’m now even less willing and able to travel. I don’t have the money, the time, and the act of traveling makes me extremely anxious and panicky for no enjoyment whatsoever. I just want to stay home.
Vacation is no longer about me getting a break. Its more about spending quality time and reconnecting with family.
Parents getting older, investing in my micro family. I may end up more stressed than I started, but that’s ok.
I have traveled enough in my 20s and plenty for work. So seeing sites is boring. Much more interesting in living like a local. Getting the vibe and culture of a place. Looking where can I retire. Connecting and reconnecting with people.
Get much more enjoyment travelling if I take time to know the history of a place. Understand what has made this place what it is.
Used to love “ruffing it”, hostels and living off the cheapest street food. But now, that attitude limits the experience.
P.S. New Zealand is great. Traveled several times for work. RVed across south island with my dad. Then visited again and saw the rest.
Edit: Spelling
All that’s changed for me is I get better accommodations and meals. I’m still going to adventurous places and traveling all the time.
I went from hostels in my 20s to staying in JWs and boutique hotels in my 40s. That’s what happens when you get wealthier.
in my younger years it was trips to places like amsterdam or barcelona where i could get stoned and such, at 31 i finally had the resources to do something id wanted to do my entire life, go to Japan, since then everywhere else just felt a bit meh, ive now been back 5 times (3 of those trips solo) travelling all over the country, i spent my 40th birthday hiking to the top of mount Roku in Kobe after which i stayed in a hotel where my room had a climbing wall and a curly water slide that took you down to the bathroom.
Its a lot more tiring these days. Its always your job to ensure everyone’s wellbeing when on vacation. Everybody looks to you for answers, for troubleshooting. Some days, it felt like a military exercise.
On the plus side, I no longer worry as much about spending on food and attractions. I still try to save up whenever possible, and take public transport if available, but I also no longer let the costs of food or tickets restrict my experiences as much.
I’m based in Norway
Traveled a lot for work in my mid to late 20s, more or less killed all travel enjoyment for planes, hotels and new places. The “new food” novelty thing has also severely decreased(guess this is more due to the increased accessibility of it at home).
At this point just being at home and relaxing as a vacation (do things around town), or a tiny trip(3-4 day weekend trip) is amazing.
I also never used to have a travel itinerary when traveling(outside of work) now it’s more required while visiting certain places.
I like to divide places into “fun to visit ones”, “better places to live than visit”, and a combination(medium-sized cities hit this spot for me).
Well, in my 20s I liked to travel to new places, visit museums, try local food, and occasionally get mildly drunk. Then in my 30s I got married and had kids; so now it’s mostly about going somewhere the kids can swim and play and eat ice cream. I do still enjoy trying the local food though.
I food travel. Go to interesting places and eat the cuisine. Prefer a base camp setup with day trips and hikes vs daily between town travel.
I had an ex who I call a “serial tourist”. They would set up an agenda and literally every hour of the day was planned. It was like we were rushing from point A all the way to point Z each day. It didn’t feel like a vacation. And it was part of the reason we ended things. We couldn’t see eye to eye there.
I recently went on a solo trip to NYC for 5 nights and had perhaps the best time in my life. Was a completely laidback agenda doing the things I wanted on my own time. I’m looking forward to my next solo trip.
I’ve always enjoyed seeing attractions, museums, historic sites, ghost tours, etc.
In my twenties I enjoyed doing these things with an alcohol buzz. In my 30’s I enjoy doing them on psychedelics lol
It didn’t.
I can drink locally, on vacation I might drink an old fashioned, but that’s it.
I’m 45 and my ideal vacation is taking a few days off work and just staying at home with zero responsibility beyond watching tv and feeding myself. I hate traveling. It’s too expensive and too much hassle especially if you have to fly somewhere. I just want peace, quiet, and to do as close to literally nothing as possible.
In my 20s I only travelled for work. Weekends in cities are nice when you got an allowance going. In my 30s I started bringing wife and kids along and going more for beaches and sightseeing. In my 40s I’m kid free again and going for adult entertainment again I was too prude for in my 20s and just less alcohol and more drugs.
I only travel if my job covers the cost. Scheduled days off while traveling are always a plus.
Less about the party/getting laid. More about the activities and scenery. No more hostels or shared dorms, I get my own room hotel room now.
Now I travel with kids… It’s quite a different experience.
If we do go to an all-inclusive resort, I am not drinking as much as possible anymore, and not spending all morning in bed
Both my 20s and 30s vacations were/are at the ocean. The difference is I had no money in my 20s and now have money in my 30s.
Went from cheap hotels and motels in OCMD in my 20s to all inclusive resorts in the Caribbean in my 30s. From $150/night shitty hotels to $1k/night room with a private pool in Cancun.
Still drink plenty. I’m sure less than in my 20s but it’s still a part of our vacations.
Traveling with young kids isnt a vacation, its just parenting in an unfamiliar environment without access to your normal parenting resources.
Now we try to stay away from super touristy stuff but I do want to see some stuff. FWIW I really wanted to see the Acropolis in Athens. Wack af tourists everywhere. We had a way better time just exploring the city. I get why more locals hate Americans.
Traveling is stressful for me honestly so when I finally do get somewhere my wife and I just want to chill.
Going to Hawaii for my 50th. It’ll be hiking and a lot of scuba diving and relaxing. I want to try surfing again (being from Tennessee I’ve always wanted to do it).
We have no desire to go drinking, bar hopping, etc. etc.
Basically only fly business or first class, nicer hotels, Michelin restaurants, more expensive places, not willing to Jam Pack a schedule of activities because I can simply go back.
That’s honestly the biggest one for me, being able to go and not be slammed with actives because I can simply go back is the one that led to the most noticeable life improvement.
I just don’t want to go at all anymore. The novelty of a new place doesn’t outweigh the hassle of travelling. It’s more relaxing to stay home.
Same as you. We stay in more hotels VS camping as well. It’s nice being able to come back to a hot shower and nice bed vs wipe down and sleeping on the rocky ground after a day of hiking.
I started actually doing it. I never made good enough money in my twenties and only travelled once to a resort in Cuba. I’ve travelled every summer since turning thirty two.
More cool hikes and sites to see. Less travel overall hahaha.
Non existent until my youngest is at least 5.
If we are going anywhere? We need to have them at the point where they can communicate and less likely to run off.
Even then it’s a lot less appealing now that I am paying for it. If family is paying? Happy to go.
4-5* hotels and i fly up front.
While I have dialed the partying back a bit, I really only travel to find food, beer, decent cocktail scene.
I never went to party places in my 20’s since it seemed dumb to me to go to places where a bunch of Americans went that was basic just to drink, hook up, and party with mostly other Americans.
However I was in Med school and residency in my 20’s so the little time I could take was spent exploring Europe, and Asia.
It’s a lot more expensive as I have kids to pay for as well.
I now like to drink on my hikes. Bring a couple tall cans
I rarely traveled in my 20s. I shut myself down and just worked. In my 30… more specifically at the age of 32 (this year) I’ve traveled so much and it’s changed a LOT. Japan, Vietnam, Canada, Las Vegas, Seattle, and later this year, Taiwan.
Experiences to share. I always didn’t have anything worth talking about in terms of personal life experience, until I traveled. This helped me SOCIALLY. Now when I’m making new friends, I have a lot to talk about. “Oh I went to Japan earlier this year, and I did this… and that… it was so amazing!” It really broadens your social ability and depth.
Freedom. Think of it like traveling in your 20, but you have money. A lot of my friends tell me traveling in your 30s or even 40s is bad because of the lack of energy that you would have in your 30s, but I completely disagree. Being the healthiest I’ve been in the last decade, I have even more energy than I did. Now with more energy and money, I can do anything I want traveling.
Socially. Besides having stories to talk to your friends and family back home, it reduces your availability and people start seeing you in a different light. Well-traveled— as they say. There’s a level of envy and respect when you get to do it in your 30s. People see you in a different light too. You also get to meet and talk to new people in other countries and learn from them, and even potentially develop a connection with them. The ones who do stay connected to you later on are relationship gems.
No money for good trips in twenties trying to make up for lost time. Went to Japan and Mexico this year going to Hawaii next year
It started happening.
Never traveled in my 20s. Went to grad school, worked, traveled home for holidays every couple years or so. The idea of spending a a few hundred on flights was absurdly expensive. We drove from time to time, day trips or camping. Once in a blue moon a weekend road trip.
In my 30s we started having more money, flew to Maui a few times, Thailand, Costa Rica. Other than those big ones just weekend or day trips in the car.
Late 30s it all changed – work went remote and we hit the road full time in a camper van. By far the best experiences in my life since then. We flew and spent 2 months in Portugal, travel all around the western states, Baja twice. Discovered festivals and go to a few music fests, nomad fests, and Burning Man. Visit cites and all sorts of natural scenery. Learn or pick up new skills and hobbies like scuba, climbing, and kayaking.
Drinking and partying has always been a big thing, but I’m married so it’s just having fun not trying to get laid. Quit drinking so now I’m left with saving the shenanigans for bigger events.
I no longer go to all inclusive resorts. I rent vehicle and a house or apartment and do my own thing
After 30, I got a job that gives me 5 weeks of PTO per year. I started traveling internationally along with a ski roadtrip.
went to miami when I was 25. by the end of the trip I was buying beers at the corner store and slugging them before going out because I was tapped out of money. went to maimi last month and just did what I wanted and bought what I wanted without thinking about money because the vacation budget exists.
one of the things I like to do in a new city is book a bike tour. it’s somewhat active, you might meet some new people, and you get to see all the tourist spots in rapid succession and you dont really have to put up with the crowds. when I was younger, this would be an added expense. It would also likely happen during sleeping in time after a late night out
In our 20’s we stayed in airbnbs and flew economy. We ate street food and random restaurants in strange cities.
In our 30’s, it’s always 5 star hotels now and we often fly first class. Even traveling with our baby. Our elders were right – things get better with age!
Camping is now a no-go for me. I used to be able to sleep in a tent and stay up until 4am partying. Now, I value my comfort and sleep far too much. I still enjoy getting outside on hikes, but I need to be able to sleep in a comfortable bed at a reasonable hour.