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2019 is all about experiences and what a better way to experience life than traveling! I spent my 20’s traveling to a few domestic locations here and there. However, I truly got into travel in my 30’s and I’m so glad I did.
Waiting to travel until I was in my 30’s was worth it. However, I technically didn’t purposely hold out until this decade to travel, it just sort of happened. Most of my friends had settled down in their late twenties and started families. Therefore, girls trips took a break as did my travel schedule. Sadly I wasn’t brave enough to travel alone, but looking back, I wish I was.
I took my first solo international trip at age 33 to London, England for a work trip. My anxiety level on the trip was a bit out of control. I was very worked up. I cried my eyes out getting on the plane, because I was terrified! How would I find my way? How would I get around the town? I had worked myself up so much that I had a rough time adjusting on the trip. I finally felt comfortable in London on the day I was leaving. Go figure.
The following year I went to Italy with my parents and that trip was amazing. We actually did a Disney Adventure Tour and it worked out perfectly. I was still too inexperienced to do the trip on my own with my parents so a group tour was a good choice for us. I’m so glad I got to experience that country with my parents, seeing the looks on their faces at the Sistine Chapel was inspiring.
The following year, Mike and I got married and we truly traveled as much as we could. Seeing the world and experiencing it was high on both of our lists, so off we went. We went to Greece, France, Italy, Hungary, Iceland, Canada and plenty of domestic locations. We lived it up!
What I absolutely loved about traveling in my 30’s was the ability to actually afford the trip and not skimp on anything. By nature, Mike and I are savers. We love to save money (see how I save $6K a year without even trying in this post) . We have a dedicated travel budget and put money away in it each month. And we also love our miles. We kind of hoard them. We use a credit card that pays us back in miles and maximize all purchases we make to earn those miles. We’ve taken many business class round trip flights (including international) for little to no cost by using miles.
Out of all my travels I believe that there are 5 trips to take in your 30’s. Whether its solo, with friends or with your partner. These places are top of my list for travel.
Reykavik, Iceland
Winter vacations are on the top of my list. Over the past few years we’ve started taking a winter trip in search of the perfect winter scene. Reykavik is a great place to take a winter vacation with a fairly fast and reasonably priced flights. IcelandAir flies direct from many major US cities and is only 6 hours from Chicago. They also offer an Iceland Stopover, which allows you to visit Iceland for a few days and jump back on the plane to head somewhere else in Europe, all included in the price of the ticket.
When in Reykjavik you can experience the great outdoors and soak up the beautiful nature. Think rolling green hills, snow capped mountains, waterfalls galor and the Northern Lights. You can experience it all there. You can see my full travel guide here.
Quebec City, Canada
Keeping with the theme of winter vacations, Quebec City is next up on the list. This town is hands down the most charming, magical little town ever. It’s actually one of the top ten snowiest places in the world, which is what makes it so magical.
This town offers local boutique shopping, adorable cafes for warm drinks, five star restaurants, great hotels, and a good old fashioned toboggan slide. Most activities are outside in Quebec, unless you are cozied up by a fireplace, so you’ll need to pack for cold weather. I’ve curated a capsule wardrobe that is perfect for cold weather trips. You can find the full post here. And if you are looking for more details on Quebec City check out my full travel guide for the town. It should be on your list of 5 trips to take in your 30’s.
Positano, Italy
This town on the Amalfi Coast will make you want to quit your job and move to Europe. There are five reasons to visit this town:
- Food – The freshest seafood you will eat in your entire life.
- Weather – Warm sunshine and gentle breezes make this an ideal beach town.
- Shopping – The whole town is filled with local boutiques with handmade shoes, dishes and clothes.
- Beaches – You are never too far from a beach or a beach club. Spend the day seaside with a bottle of wine.
- Vibrant Colors -Colors are everywhere, from the buildings to the sunrise and sunset, its spectacular.
Read my full travel guide featuring what to do, see and where to stay in Positano, you can find it here.
Paris, France
You will fall in love with the city of love! From the cafes to the iconic sights this city is packed with things to do and see. While I loved taking in the culture and visiting the museums and landmarks, like the Eiffel Tower, the best thing to do in this city is live like a local.
Snag a table at a local cafe and sit for hours. Read, people watch, eat, just take it all in. The French live life to the fullest, they slow down and enjoy each moment, and you should do the same. Of course you’ll want to do some shopping while you are there. Local brands like Longchamp seem cheap compared to U.S. prices, so stock up while you can. I picked up this convertible bag while I was there and wish I bought a few more.
While I highly recommend that Paris be one of the 5 trips to take in your 30’s, I do love the country of France in general. We spent several days driving around the country and absolutely loved it. You can read all about my trip here, here and here. Each post has excellent recommendations and tips about how to get around.
Budapest, Hungary
Nicknamed the Paris of the East, this city will not disappoint. It’s filled with rich culture and delicious food at a surprisingly decent price. In addition, the city itself is easy to navigate, clean and the locals are kind and helpful.
My favorite spots in this city include the Danube River, the Chain Bridge and the Szechenyi Baths (Disclaimer…I only liked the outdoor bath, the indoor ones just weren’t for me). Take in the river at night on a cruise and see the city come alive. And when you are done with the night cruise head to one of the many restaurants located along the river, as the views are breathtaking. You can see my full travel guide here.
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