5 Reasons to Travel the World in Your Twenties

5 Reasons to Travel the World in Your Twenties

Round-the-world travel alumni Yun Qing shares why it's best to travel in your 20s.

“I really want to travel the world, but….”

Stop.

I heard that line before.

It continues with the endless list of factors that are holding you back – money, career, security, fear, parents… But you know what? In actual fact, you are the only one who’s stopping you from travelling the world. If you REALLY want to travel the world, drop the excuses and take the risk. There’s no better time to do this than when you’re in your twenties.

Here are reasons why travelling in your prime years is the best decision you will ever make.

Also read: 9 Signs You Are Ready to Quit Your Job and Travel The World

1. You have the energy to do so

If you are in your twenties, this is probably the fittest you will ever be. You can lug a monstrous backpack and trek on the Inca Trail to see Machu Picchu with only a tiny feeling that all the bones in your body are crumbling. (Not that I’ve done it before, or ever will.)

If you shelve your travelling dream till your post-retirement, imagine how much harder it is to walk the 2-kilometre stretch of pebbly road to reach the Rose City of Petra in Jordan. (Very hard. Trust me, I was there with a cruise ship full of elderly folks.)

You have the energy to do it now! Why wait till you’re 65 years old to go see the world?

2. You don’t have a lot of responsibilities

As a 20-something, you are unlikely to have mouths to feed or loans to repay. Well, at least for most 20-somethings I know, these experiences come later in life. That makes this period the best time to go all out and explore nary a worry. The only thing you might worry about is repaying your student loan, so make sure you take care of it before you leave.

3. You don’t need to spend a lot

Travelling on a budget is not hard. As a 20-something, you can scrimp on food, accommodation and transport because your poor body hasn’t reached its limit yet – not even close.

The things I’ve done to save money on the trip weren’t extreme but I’ve stayed in a dormitory for 12, cooked in hostels, took public transport and visited many free places of interest. Compared with paying more for comfort, you can save a lot and still enjoy your trip.

Also Read: 23 Awesome Tips to Budget Travel Like a Pro

4. It’s possible to make money on the road

Don’t worry that you’ll be without any income while you’re travelling. There are actually ways for you to make money while travelling. You can consider a working holiday where board or food is free. If you don’t want to be shackled to a place when travelling, explore what skills you can use to freelance. This gives you the flexibility of earning money while travelling. As a Gen-Y/X, you probably have skills that can be used to earn money. All you need is a steady wireless connection.

5. Not doing it is the worse option

A wise person (Lucille Ball according to my version of the internet) once said, “I’d rather regret the things I have done than the things that I haven’t.”

You won’t fully understand and appreciate this pearl of wisdom until you’ve done something grand and amazing by your standards. When I came back from my round-the-world trip, a friend asked if I had ever regretted it. I first thought about the jobless months and the anxiety that had followed. Then I thought about how happy I was on the road. In the end, my answer to her was I didn’t regret it as I would have been much more depressed if I did not do it.

If you are hesitant about quitting your job to travel consider this:

Can I live my life never knowing what I would otherwise gain if I were to quit my job to travel? For me, I knew the question would haunt me forever, so I did what I needed to do. Sure, it wasn’t all smooth-sailing, but I enjoyed being able to achieve my biggest dream till date. If travelling around the world has always been your dream, know that you can do it. Stop dreaming; make it a reality!

Contributed by YQtravelling.

About Author

Liau Yun Qing
Liau Yun Qing

Liau Yun Qing is a writer, explorer and glutton. She finished her 4.5-month round the world trip in August 2013 and is now getting reacquainted with normal life. Follow her travel blog and instagram

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