30 Trips To Take Before You Turn 30 – The KSB Edition

UPDATED MAR 2020. Whoever created the idea that getting old is something to dread or fear was living wrong in my opinion. For me, each year gets better. The more I learn and grow, the more I enjoy life. As I’m writing this, I’m about to enter a new decade and I’m not scared or dreading it at all. I’m not embarrassed about my age. I’m excited about the next chapter, I’m excited to keep developing as a woman, and I’m excited to see where life takes me. I wanted to celebrate my big birthday here on the blog and I decided to do it with this post on 30 trips to take before you turn 30. But with my own twist.

30 Trips To Take Before You Turn 30

Usually, these types of ’30 trips to take before you turn 30′ posts are destination-based.

I think it’s unrealistic to think that people could take 30 trips to far off destinations before they turn 30 – considering you only get to adulthood at 18.

It’s just not feasible for the people who are working on building their career, don’t live near a hub airport or don’t have enough money to take trips every year.

So I’ve done mine not as destinations, but as experiences so that it can be something different and more realistic.

It’s just for fun anyway, so if you don’t do all these before you’re 30, who cares!

I just didn’t want to be part of the elitist and overly privileged travel blogger group.

Anyway, here it is and happy birthday to me. I hope I’m still doing this blog with you guys in another 30 years!

1. The one where you visit an iconic city

I’m talking Sydney, London, Paris, New York or one of the other world-famous and iconic cities.

Make sure you tick one off before you hit the big 3-0.

2. The girls trip

Grab a girlfriend and scoot away somewhere fun either overseas or in your own country.

Remember to pick wisely when it comes to travel buddies so your friendship will be intact at the end.

3. The local weekend away

There’s so much in our local areas that we take for granted.

Make sure you take a weekend away somewhere local, even if it’s just getting a hotel in the city for the weekend.

4. The one where you see WrestleMania (or whatever you LOVE)

Ok, this one’s a non-negotiable!

Your 20’s are your chance to selfishly go after your dreams. Think of your biggest travel dream, the thing that makes you come alive at the mere thought of it, and make it happen!

5. The solo trip

You know this was going to make the list.

Your 20’s are all about finding out who you are independent of other roles (wife, mother, etc.)

Having a strong sense of self will be a solid foundation for those future chapters if you choose them. Solo travel is a great way to learn about yourself.

6. The one where you do something challenging

You have to have at least one trip where you do something you think is hard.

Not good at hiking? Go on a hike. Don’t like driving? Rent a car and drive somewhere new.

Try whatever you find difficult or think you’re not good at and then do that every day in your home life too.

7. The yoga retreat

Your 20’s are often fast-paced, work-work-work, ‘sleep when I’m dead’ years so it’s important to take some time for yourself.

Take at least one trip that’s either a yoga or wellness retreat of some sort.

Here’s a look at Talalla Retreat in Sri Lanka where I stayed for a yoga retreat in 2017.

8. The one where you stay in a guesthouse

You have to have one of these experiences because they’re such a good way to meet local people and experience a different side of travel.

My stay in Tonga was one of the coolest guesthouse stays I’ve had.

9. The one where you stay in luxury

On the flipside, treat yo’self and have at least one trip where you stay in an over the top, completely unnecessary luxury accommodation and lap it up.

Unless you’re rich, once you get older and settle down it’s hard to justify that in your budget so do it at least once while you’re young.

Getting a penthouse suite at the Bellagio in Vegas came with a price tag but was so worth it for the one-off experience!

10. The group tour

I still have friends from the group tour I did years ago.

We had a lot of good times from exploring cities, dancing the nights away and we all left with photos of each other sleeping on the bus!

11. The one where you host friends where you live

Invite a friend to visit you and explore the city you live in together.

Even if it’s just for a long weekend.

It’s fun to play tour guide and it’s a good way to see the area you live in through someone else’s eyes.

12. The romantic getaway

If you find a special someone, take one of those romantic trips where you splurge a little, experience new adventures and spend quality time together.

If you’re still looking for a special someone, just take another solo trip 😉

13. The one where you volunteer

I think volunteering is really important for everyone to do, whether that’s while traveling or at home.

I’ve found volunteer work at Australia Zoo, a children’s hospital, and an animal shelter and they were all incredibly rewarding.

Whether it’s for a day or a longer volunteer trip like WWOOFing, make sure you give your time to those who could use it.

14. The Christmas away from home

Your family might not love this idea but I think it’s good to experience the holidays in a different country.

It’s so cool to be able to experience in a different way than usual. If it snows for Christmas where you live maybe go somewhere warm and vice versa.

If you really want to experience the Christmas spirit, nothing beats the magic feeling of European Christmas Markets. Here’s a look at my Christmas in Prague.

15. The one where you drink too much

I suggest doing this in your early 20’s because once you hit 25 it gets a little harder to recover from the big drinking nights!

Sure, drinking Grey Goose from the bottle in a VIP booth dressed as snow white in a club in Vegas (true story) isn’t going to lead to your finest moments, but it’ll still be a lot of fun and good to get that stuff out of your system while you’re young so you don’t have a mid-life crisis later.

16. The road trip

You gotta try the road trip at least once.

Since driving is boring, this is a good one to take with a friend or partner (and make sure to whip out your best ‘I spy’ skills and car karaoke performances).

My favorite was one I did recently in the Balkans – here’s more info.

17. The one in nature

The world has a lot of beautiful nature to take your breath away.

Whether you take a trekking tour (hashtag badass), camping, finding a cabin in nature or just head out on a day trip to experience the outdoors, make sure you get out and enjoy some of mother nature’s goodness at least once.

18. The one where you take a food tour

I’m really not a foodie or anything, I kind of just eat anything, but taking a food tour was such a fun experience.

I got to try so many things I wouldn’t usually eat.

I did a day-long walking food tour in Lisbon with Culinary Backstreets and they do tours in many other countries too. 10/10 recommend them.

19. The go with the flow trip

Even if you usually love to plan things, you gotta experience at least one time where you go with the flow.

I like to do a little of what I call ‘walking without a plan’ in each city I visit, where I literally just go walking and see where the day takes me.

Sometimes I’ll just ask a local for a recommendation and go from there.

It always ends up being a lot of fun, and it’s nice to not have a schedule or plan to follow.

20. The one where you learn something new

Maybe you take a cooking class (like this one that I did in Umbria, Italy) or a dance class, or a cultural craft lesson.

Whatever it is, you should have one trip before you’re 30 where you try and learn something new.

It’s a lot of fun to open yourself up to new things, you can have a skill as a souvenir and it keeps the brain young.

21. The snow trip

Winter sucks, but taking a trip to the snow is a lot of fun.

I don’t know if it’s the cozy accommodation, the firepits or the snowman making, but I think one of your trips before you’re 30, should be to the snow.

I loved the remote, cozy cabin in Norway where I got to see the Northern Lights for the first time and where I’ll be spending my 30th birthday this year.

22. The beach trip

Anytime is a good time for the beach.

Grab your best maxi and get ready for some Pina Coladas and beachy days.

My favorite beach trips are Hawaii, Albania, and The Maldives.

23. The one where you don’t speak the language

I feel like this is an obvious one, but you have to get out of your comfort zone and visit somewhere that you don’t speak the language.

Before you visit, learn a couple of basic phrases like ‘good morning’ and ‘thank you’, and ask people to teach you when you’re there too – it’s a good ice-breaker.

24. The one where you take a tour where you live

It’s easy to think of far-off travel dreams and forget to explore where you live.

Make sure to take a touristy tour where you live to experience your city in a different way.

I did the Jumping Crocodile Cruise after years of living in the area and it was so much fun.

25. The wildlife trip

Being able to experience animals in the wild is a special kind of magic.

From the safari I did in Sri Lanka to my recent Lion King dreams come true in South Africa, these are just incredible experiences to have.

It’s important to research a little first and make sure it’s an ethical encounter. Riding Elephants is never ok. Patting tigers who live on a chain (I’m looking at you Tiger Temple) is never ok. Giant marine mammals in a tank are never ok (I’m looking at you SeaWorld).

If you’re not allowed to get close to them, it’s a good sign it’s ethical.

26. The one where you go to an event

Maybe it’s going to see your fav performer in concert. Or maybe it’s going to a big music festival. Maybe it’s a big sporting event.

At least once on a trip though, you should definitely do something different than regular tourist activities and go to a big event.

27. The one where you do touristy stuff

Being a tourist is so much fun.

Do a day tour, jump on the hop on-hop off bus, see the big sights – all that fun, touristy stuff that reminds you that you’re on holiday.

I like to mix touristy stuff with things that are a little less popular in all my trips if possible so I can get the best of both worlds.

28. The holiday fling

Brief but intense, like a shooting star, the holiday fling is its own little piece of travel magic, isn’t it?

Of course, it goes without saying to be safe and don’t put yourself in excessively risky or dangerous situations.

I had a fling with an American stud and it’s led to a marriage so you never know where life will take you.

29. The one where you disconnect

No emails, no Wi-Fi, no scrolling. Get out of your phone and back into life.

I used to think everything needed an answer straight away and I needed to be contactable at all times, but traveling and not getting a sim card each time has taught me that not much is actually urgent.

It’s such a nice feeling to be more present in life.

30. The one where you face your fear

The last of the 30 trips to take before you turn 30 is to do something that scares you.

That makes you a little nervous.

Now is a good time to face that fear and show yourself what you’re made of. Imagine how unstoppable you’ll be in your 30’s if you act boldly now?

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