I’ve been writing pretty much all my life and first started publishing online in 2000 – wow, 23 years ago! – although I didn’t start my first blog until 2005. My first six online posts were published on a travel website back in 2000 and have unfortunately been taken down recently when they got rid of thousands of old posts (according to their website). I only recently found out they had been removed when I went to look for them over the holidays as I’m planning a trip this May with three friends and we plan on visiting one of the places I’d written about so many years ago and I’d wanted to refresh my memory about what I had seen, done and where I stayed while there. Thankfully, I had saved them so I could still do so.
And while I can’t wait to see how my visit to the Giant’s Causeway differs in 2023 from when I first went in 2000, I thought while reading the posts that they might still have some value. If nothing else, it was a bit surprising to me to see how my travel style has changed in the past twenty or so years, and how it’s stayed the same.
How has my travel style changed?
I book more in advance now, especially accommodations. While most places I stayed when I was younger were fine, some were not, and I’d rather have accommodations booked in advance just in case. I do the same with any longer travel, not just flights but bus, train or ferry travel, when recommended or if doing so will save money.
My packing has gotten lighter. I’ve talked about this before (a few times, lol) but it really is worth saying especially as this series of posts is the time I traveled with a backpack that ultimately weighed over 50lbs (although that was at the end of the trip when I did Europe, not the beginning as described in the six posts).
I’m more comfortable solo but also more reserved now. When I traveled in my 20s, as I was in the upcoming posts), I was friendly and outgoing. And you’ll see that I didn’t spend much of my adventure alone but rather exploring with new people I met in the hostels I was staying at. While I still frequently stay at hostels and I’m not unfriendly, I’m more reserved and tend to explore on my own nowadays, unless traveling with friends.
How has my travel style stayed the same?
I’ve always loved researching trips, although back in 2000 I mostly used through physical guidebooks and nowadays, it’s mostly done online although I do still buy actual books for long distance walks and hikes as I refer back to the maps. The internet has made it easier to doublecheck that things are still open and operating which hopefully will help prevent issues like the one I ran into back in 2000 trying to get to Scotland via ferry from Northern Ireland (post #5).
I create rough itineraries that show where I’ll be when, plus a list of things to do, places to eat and drink in each location, ranked from “I have to do it” to “If I have time”. However, I have never like a schedule or specific itinerary (except for multi-day walks where it’s unavoidable). I like having flexibility whenever possible.
I still prefer to travel with a backpack, although a much smaller one. It just makes everything easier and quicker when I don’t just have one location for the trip. And of course, it makes flying easier as I don’t have to wait for checked baggage. The last time I traveled with a suitcase was super annoying.
Walking and the outdoors is still a part of every trip, to a greater or lesser extent, as I love hiking and walking (and camping and canoeing, lol). I remember reading an article about the West Island Way back in 2019 and remembering walking much of it back in 2000. Although I didn’t thru-hike it then so perhaps I should visit again to do so.
Final Thoughts
Sure, re-publishing the following six posts is a bit of vanity, I won’t deny that. But it was fun for me to read them and it might be for you too. Plus, I’m super interested in hearing from others in how their travel style has changed over the years and what’s stayed the same. And I just like sharing stories so I hope you’ll enjoy them. I’m publishing them once a day all week so there will be a new post next Monday on schedule.
How has your travel style changed over the years? What has stayed the same?
Rambles and Walks 