THE LESSON You’re here for a good time, not a long time

This is something a fellow traveller said to me when I was 17, and I’ve never forgotten it. The idea is that you don’t get many holidays in this life. You don’t have long to explore the world. So with that in mind, don’t sweat the small stuff. Don’t get upset when things go wrong. Just savour every little moment.

THE LESSON More money does not equal more enjoyment

As a budget traveller you find yourself occasionally lusting after five-star hotels and fancy dinners, but as you grow older you realise that universal truth: “Mo money, mo problems”. Some of your best travel experiences will be had on low-budget journeys to unfashionable places.

THE LESSON You travel for you

This is not a competition. You’re not holidaying to impress your friends, or to make your colleagues jealous, or for any other reason besides the pure enjoyment of travel. You choose your destinations for you. You choose your experiences for you. No one else matters.

THE LESSON There’s a cruise for everyone

Cruising is a colossus of the tourism world, and yet it seems, for young travellers at least, that it’s not something you’ll ever be interested in. That is, until you realise you’ve already been on a cruise. You’ve done the Croatian islands. You’ve been to the Galapagos. You’ve sailed in Turkey. There’s a cruise for everyone.

THE LESSON Kids don’t have to slow you down

There’s an assumption that having kids will put an 18-year halt on your travel plans, that you might as well get used to staying at home for a long while. But it’s not true. Travel with kids of all ages is not only possible, it’s enjoyable, and rewarding for everyone involved.

THE LESSON Less is more …

It takes a while to get your head around the adage that you should take all the money you think you’ll need for a holiday and double it, and take all the clothes you think you’ll need, and halve it.

THE LESSON … But you will always ignore that mantra

Ahem. Yes, you understand that you really don’t need all that gear, and that you could easily ditch half of it – but which half? Wheelie luggage makes it even more tempting to over-pack.

THE LESSON Backpacking is a state of mind

You don’t have to be young to backpack. You don’t need to stay in hostels. You don’t even need an actual backpack. Independent, long-term, experiential travel – the sort of travel backpackers do best – is open to anyone at any time.

THE LESSON You’re too old for dorm rooms

That said, there will come a point – usually before the age of 40 – when you realise you’re too old for dorm rooms. The rustling of plastic bags, the lights on at 4am, the drunks stumbling around … There’s only so long you can put up with that.

THE LESSON People rarely just want to practise their English

There’s a wariness that comes with experience for travellers, a knowledge that, sadly, not everyone you meet on the road has the best intentions. One of the classic warning signs is the friendly local who wants to practise their English. This has “scam” written all over it.

THE LESSON Haggling is essential

It’s an uncomfortable feeling, essentially arguing with someone over money – but haggling is a deeply ingrained part of many cultures, and it’s something you should try to enjoy. But don’t go too hard.

THE LESSON Take it slow

That first holiday, you want to see everything. Ten countries in two weeks: no problem. Check all the boxes, do all the things. After a while, however, you realise that sometimes less is more when it comes to travel. Spend more time in fewer places, and you’ll be richly rewarded.

THE LESSON Language is power

You can travel without being able to speak the local language. Easily. However, you’re just floating across the surface; you’re seeing everything in 2D. Learning a language allows you to interact with locals, to learn and experience and show respect. It’s a difficult skill, but so valuable.

THE LESSON Bad days happen

You can plan everything to the finest degree: you can do your research, you can read reviews, you can book ahead, you can pack everything you need. Some days, however, will just be a disaster. Move on.

THE LESSON It’s OK to splash out

Want to spend $300 on dinner because you love food? Go for it. Want to experience a night in a five-star hotel? Do it. Want to fly business class just once? Make the booking. There’s no shame in saving up for something you really want to do and then splashing the cash.

THE LESSON You’re capable of amazing things

You can survive when things go wrong. You can make yourself understood in another language. You can befriend strangers. You can explore the world on your own. You can change your life with a split decision. This might be the most important lesson of all: you are capable of amazing things.

THE LESSON People are fundamentally good

There’s a tendency to be on your guard at first, to listen to tales of thievery and scams and believe it’s safer to assume the worst in people. But that’s a mistake. The people you meet on the road are overwhelmingly good of intention and of heart. You might run into the odd exception, but the vast majority of people are kind, generous and well meaning.

THE LESSON Risks are worth taking

Travel is at its best when it challenges you, when it forces you to reconsider what you thought you knew, when it takes you outside your comfort zone. It’s a thrill, an experience, a story. The idea of “risk” is different for everyone, but the benefits remain the same.

THE LESSON Off the beaten track is good

Most people tend to begin their travel careers in popular, safe destinations. As time goes on, however, you discover that sometimes the best experiences can be found in the most unlikely places. The entire world is worthy of exploration.

THE LESSON But some of the best things have been done before

There’s a reason Italy is so popular; same as it’s no surprise everyone goes to Canada. These are truly amazing places. Just because a destination is mainstream, doesn’t mean it isn’t worth a visit.

THE LESSON Stereotypes are ridiculous (and sometimes true)

Experienced travellers know that Germans aren’t really uptight, the French aren’t rude, the Americans aren’t boorish, the English aren’t whingers, and Australians aren’t drunks. Occasionally, however, they are.

THE LESSON Two weeks is enough

Anyone waiting for that perfect time to see South America, or Africa, or North America, to hold out until they have six months to “do it properly”, will probably never make it there. Two weeks is long enough to have an amazing experience. And there’s no better time to make it happen than now.

THE LESSON The world is a safe place

Despite all of the security issues, all of the unrest, all of the bad news stories and potential danger, you learn as you travel that the world is actually a pretty safe place. Countries you thought were dodgy are not that bad. People are trustworthy. The world is good.

THE LESSON Your own country is worth exploring

Though it’s tempting to view Australia as a destination for “later”, there’s so much to explore here, so much to appreciate. Want cultural interaction? Go to the Northern Territory. Want spectacular landscapes? Head to Western Australia. We have so much that’s worth seeing now.

THE LESSON Travelling alone is amazing

At first, it seems intimidating: going out on your own, tackling all of travel’s challenges without anyone’s help, existing purely in your own company. But solo travel is something everyone should experience. It’s the ultimate freedom, and will teach you more about yourself than you’ve ever known.

THE LESSON Expect the unexpected

Things will go wrong when you travel. Trains will run late, hotel bookings will fall through, restaurants will be terrible, and nothing will look like the brochure. That’s life. The sooner you accept these mishaps and move on, the more enjoyable your travels will be.

THE LESSON Drinking is fun – in moderation

There are some amazing travel experiences to be had with drink in hand, from sipping pastis with Frenchmen to downing caipirinhas with friendly Brazilians. As long as you do your boozing in moderation, it’s something to be enjoyed.

THE LESSON It’s not wrong, it’s different

It’s easy to judge other cultures, to decide that their way of doing things is a mistake. But your world changes completely when you take on this mantra: “It’s not wrong, it’s different.”

THE LESSON If you can’t afford to lose it, leave it

There’s no point stressing out your whole holiday over your expensive watch, or those nice earrings, or the bag you really love. If you’ve can’t bear to lose something, then don’t take it travelling. It’s not worth the worry.

THE LESSON You’ve never “done” anywhere

Any traveller who tells you they’ve “done Asia”, or they’ve “done the US”, or they’ve “done” anywhere, are kidding themselves. Nowhere is ever done. Particularly not entire continents. There’s always something new and amazing to discover.

THE LESSON Trains are better than planes

The hierarchy of transport options goes like this: trains, then planes, then buses. Trains are the best way to see the world, a way to mix with locals and stretch your legs while travelling efficiently. Planes are fast but soulless. Buses have character, but take forever to get anywhere.

THE LESSON You’ll probably never see these people again (and that’s OK)

When you’re young you part with new travel friends promising to stay in touch, swearing you’ll catch up soon, convinced this will be the start of a lasting friendship. But then you come to realise that with 99 per cent of those people, that won’t be the case. You just have to enjoy these fleeting relationships while you can.

THE LESSON Always carry toilet paper

It’s a simple trick, but a good one: always carry toilet paper. And always know where the nearest public facilities are (our tip: in pubs, shopping malls, and fast food restaurants).

THE LESSON Anything you want to do, anywhere you want to go – you can.

This is a revelation for so many travellers, the fact that all of these places you thought were out of reach, all of these experiences you thought you’d never have – you can make them happen. Easily. All it takes is a decision.

THE LESSON Gaffer tape is amazing

Is there anything this stuff can’t do? From fixing backpacks and suitcases, to patching holes in clothing, to holding your old hiking boots together.

THE LESSON Great holidays can never be recreated

It’s an easy trap to fall into, wanting to go back and do the same things again, wanting to recapture the magic, to see and feel the same things you did before. But travel doesn’t work like that. It will never be the same. Better to go somewhere new and make fresh memories.

THE LESSON You need far more money than you thought

You really do. Something tends to happen to money when you’re travelling: it just disappears. Best to take lots of it.

THE LESSON Local food is best

By far the safest way to eat when you’re travelling is to dine on whatever it is the locals enjoy. The food is fresher, it’s cooked with passion and skill, and you eat it surrounded by new friends.

THE LESSON Insurance is essential

This is a lesson that’s occasionally learned the hard way – with a whopping medical bill – but one that everyone picks up eventually. You need travel insurance.

THE LESSON It’s never too late to get started

Though we’ve chosen to focus on age, one thing to stress is that there’s no wrong time to begin your wanderings around the globe. At any age, or any point in your life, the decision to travel will be a game-changer.

THE LESSON Coming home is the worst

There really is no more miserable feeling than the “back-home blues”, the knowledge that all that excitement, all that anticipation, all of those challenges and joys and thrills, are all finished. There’s only one cure: book another trip.

For the complete article link on the link below.

http://www.traveller.com.au/40-things-to-do-before-youre-40-gyc7ai#ixzz4tSY4Z3Bu