At 22, I took a gap year fresh out of college, packing my backpack with a shoestring budget. I traversed 5 continents and 17 countries in 12 months, racing against a clock set by a consulting job waiting for me back home. Fast forward to 30, and I’ve quit my latest corporate tech job to embrace long-term travel once again—but this time, the experience feels profoundly different.

The way I approach travel now, compared to my early 20s, reflects not just the evolution of my circumstances but also my priorities, mindset, and understanding of myself. Here’s a look back—and forward—at what I’ve noticed.

The Purpose: A Sprint vs. A Slow Dance

20s: My goal was to see everything. Knowing I had exactly one year before starting my consulting job, I treated the world like a checklist. I raced through continents—Europe to South Africa to South America to Southeast Asia—trying to hit all the highlights. The longest I stayed in one place was 7 weeks in Vietnam, where I traveled the length of the country on a motorbike I barely knew how to ride. My main purpose was to just travel and meet as many people as possible (also more party-centric). I learned new skills during this time as a necessity to travel instead of planning my travels around what I wanted to learn.

30s: Now, my purpose feels less urgent and more intentional. I’m “slow traveling,” spending months in a single country—nearly three in Nicaragua, two in Sri Lanka now, and 2.5 in France this winter. My journey isn’t about ticking boxes anymore; it’s about going deeper, learning skills, and pursuing personal growth. I don’t have a timeline or anything waiting for me at the end of this journey—just the hope of figuring out what’s next. My main purpose now is to still explore the world, but I’m determining my travels based on specific things I want to do and learn (ex: YTT and Camino) and reconnecting with my values and figuring out what comes next.

The Budget: Frugality vs. Flexibility

20s: My gap year costed around $15,000—or $1,250 a month. I stretched every dollar by traveling overland (buses, motorbikes, and trains), hitchhiking, and avoiding long-haul flights. For example, I made free pasta with McDonald’s ketchup packets, stayed in dirt-cheap hostels, took a 24 hour bus instead of a flight and rarely splurged. Inflation aside, the way I traveled then was defined by necessity.

30s: I still budget (old habits die hard), but I’ve loosened the purse strings where it matters. I prioritize comfort (for a good night’s sleep), a flight instead of a 15-hour bus ride, or splurging on an experience I know I’ll treasure forever (yoga teacher training isn’t cheap…) — it’s worth it. Traveling with a bit more financial cushion doesn’t just improve comfort; it enhances the freedom to focus on things that I am most interested in learning, experiencing, and developing. My budget goal is $2,500 a month or $30,000 a year.

The Vibe: Party Mode vs. Balance

20s: Party hostels were my go-to. I loved the chaos, the endless stream of new faces, and the shared adventures. I partied multiple nights in a row, made countless (though often fleeting) friendships, and packed my days and nights with activity. It was exhilarating but exhausting. The thrill of meeting new people was intoxicating. Every hostel common room felt like a stage for instant friendships. I wanted to connect with everyone—if only for a night. I was surrounded by people all the time and rarely did an excursion alone.

30s: Comfort is my first priority when choosing accommodations. I avoid party hostels, preferring places where I can sleep well while still meeting people (chill social is my preference). I’ve embraced quality over quantity when it comes to relationships, forging fewer but deeper connections. I still go out occasionally, but it’s more intentional—once a week or for a special occasion—and I’m often home early, prioritizing a good night’s sleep for an early surf or a productive morning. I’ve found myself doing more activities, eating meals, and spending time alone. I used to consider myself a pure extrovert but as I’ve gotten older, I really treasure time alone to decompress and slow things down (am I becoming more introverted??).

The Pace: Go, Go, Go vs. Slow and Steady

20s: My days were packed with sightseeing and activities. Rest was rare because I feared missing out on anything. I moved constantly, rarely staying in one place for long, and spent my time almost exclusively with others. I covered a lot more ground and focused on hitting all of the main destinations and touristy activities. I was also a true backpacker in the sense that when I went to a region, I traveled around that area for an extended amount of time (4 months in South America, 4.5 months in South East Asia).

30s: I’ve learned to embrace stillness. I spend my days balancing exploration with (a lot of) downtime. A perfect day might involve surfing, journaling or reading at a café, then getting dinner with new friends. I am traveling to destinations for specific reasons and I’m spending a lot more time in each place to really embrace everything that area has to offer but also listening to what my heart wants to do. For example, when I was in Popoyo for 2 months, I didn’t really care about doing all the touristy things (Ometepe and Leon) because I was really enjoying my time at Tukasa and surfing.

The Learning: Trying Everything vs. Deepening Skills

20s: My travels were about trying new things in the moment. I learned to ride a motorbike in Vietnam, got my scuba diving certification in Malaysia, and took Spanish lessons in South America. But these experiences were often spur-of-the-moment that fit with my travels, and I didn’t think much about how to integrate them into my life long-term or how to go deeper.

30s: Now, I’m more focused on deepening skills. I spent months in Nicaragua learning to surf and gaining hostel management experience. I am going to complete my 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training in Sri Lanka as a way to deepen my practice and integrate it into my travels. The places I’ve been and way I’ve traveled since April have been built around these intentional pursuits, aligning with my goal of figuring out what I want to do next.

The Personal Growth: Bold and Carefree vs. Intentional and Reflective

20s: I was fearless, hitchhiking through South America, partying until dawn, riding a motorbike through Vietnam (when I didn’t even know how to drive a manual bike) and jumping headfirst into flings (met my long distance boyfriend) and friendships. It was a carefree time. I didn’t think twice about doing anything dangerous, spontaneous, or questionable. I was also not very reflective about my experiences and what/how everything was impacting me.

30s: I’ve become more reflective and intentional. I’m less about chasing adrenaline and more about aligning my travels with my values. My days include an activity, journaling, side projects, and reading—a stark contrast to the whirlwind pace of my younger years. I enjoy the slower pace of my travels, which has allowed me to stay in places longer and not feel rushed to go through a place. This substack page is direct proof of me being more reflective with myself and my journey.

The Takeaway: Evolution, Not Comparison

While I sometimes miss the boundless energy and carefree spontaneity of my 20s, I’m deeply content with the intentionality and depth I’ve found in my 30s. Traveling now is less about seeing the world and more about understanding myself within it. I’ve traded FOMO for focus, and while my days are quieter, they feel more meaningful.

Both chapters of my travels reflect who I was—and who I am. And in many ways, this is what travel is all about: a mirror reflecting how you’ve grown, changed, and stayed the same.