One of my favorite things about travel is that it changes you. It changes your perspective, stretches your comfort zone, and sometimes completely flips your opinions upside down.
I used to think I had travel figured out. I had strong opinions about the "right" way to travel and what worked for me. But after years of family travel, international trips, road trips, solo experiences, and seeing different corners of the world, I've realized that some of my travel beliefs have shifted dramatically.
Some changes happened because I simply got older. Some came from experience. And some came after realizing that what works for one season of life doesn't necessarily work for another.
Here are 10 travel opinions I've completely changed my mind about over the years.
10 Travel Opinions I've Changed My Mind About Over the Years
1. Group Tours Aren't Just for Older Travelers
There was a time when I thought group tours weren't for me.
I imagined giant buses, strict schedules, matching name tags, and being shuffled from attraction to attraction with no flexibility. I assumed independent travel was always a better option.
Then I took my first small group tour with Intrepid in Vietnam {I paid my own big girl dollars for the tips, this was in no way sponsored} and honestly, it completely changed my perspective.
Read more about my first small group tour experience here
What surprised me most was how much freedom still existed within the structure. I didn't have to worry about transportation logistics, language barriers, or figuring out every small detail, which meant I could actually focus on experiencing the destination.
I also loved having local knowledge built into the experience. There were moments we would never have discovered on our own. Small restaurants, local insights, and conversations that added so much depth to the trip.
The group itself also became part of the experience. Traveling with people from different places and different stages of life added another layer that I didn't expect.
Now I see group travel differently. A good small group tour doesn't take away from the experience, it can actually make it better.
2. Carry-On Only Travel is Freedom
If you had met me years ago, you would have seen someone bringing way too much stuff. If I was allowed a suitcase that weighed 50 pounds, I packed that suitcase to 49.9 pounds! I was firmly in the "just in case" category of packers. Just in case I needed another pair of shoes, or just in case I needed to change outfits six times in one day. Just in case...
Then I slowly started realizing something. I rarely used half of what I was packing. I'd wait for what felt like hours in lines to check my bag and then again to retrieve my bag. I was wasting precious time instead of enjoying the trip.
Now I avoid checking bags whenever possible.
Don't miss this post: How to Pack Everything You Need in a Carry On Bag
There's something freeing about getting off a plane and walking straight out of the airport. No waiting at baggage claim, no worrying about lost or delayed luggage and no dragging giant suitcases over cobblestone streets or worrying if our luggage will fit in a tiny car rental.
Packing lighter has made me a more thoughtful traveler. I pack versatile clothing, prioritize comfort, and focus more on experiences than outfits.
Shockingly, sometimes bringing less actually feels like having more!
3. Overplanning Can Ruin a Trip
I'm a go getter when I'm on a trip. I want to see as much as I can see while I'm at a location because who knows when I will get there again. While there is something really satisfying about a perfectly organized trip, I have learned that overplanning can leave no room for spontaneity.
Now I approach planning differently.
I make a list of the highlights. The places I want to see and the experiences I don't want to miss out on. But I leave space around them.
There are some things that need reservations well in advance, but not everything does. I found that I don't want to spend my vacation on a timeline and trying to rush to get to a reservation just made travel less fun. Because sometimes the best moments aren't the things you planned and you can miss out on those opportunities when you're on a deadline.
Sometimes it's discovering a hidden cafe. Sometimes it's wandering longer because you can. Sometimes it's meeting a local and following their recommendation.
The older I get, the more I realize that travel isn't about checking off boxes.
It's about making room for surprises.
4. Airport Lounges are Fun...But Still Not Worth Paying For
This may be an unpopular opinion. Airport lounges have become one of those travel experiences people seem obsessed with. And don't get me wrong, they can be a nice perk.
Free snacks, comfortable seating, less chaos, a quiet place to relax before a flight...I'm here for all of that.
When I was in my teens {back in the early 90's}, my dad traveled a lot for work. He had access to the airport lounges as a frequent traveler perk. I swear that was a much different time. Now they just don't seem like the same experience for me.
I've visited airport lounges before and I have enjoyed them. They're fun. But hear me out, I think they've lost their luster.
They used to feel like an exclusive perk, and now it seems like just about everyone has access to them.
If I'm paying out of pocket for access, I just don't think it's worth it. Most of the time I'd rather put that money toward a great meal or experience at my destination. If lounge access comes as a perk, great, I won't turn it down. But I'm not convinced that you need it to have a good travel experience.
5. Travel Insurance is Worth It
For years, I skipped travel insurance. That is, until I started taking a few different international trips that required it and now I look at it differently.
I used to see travel insurance as an extra expense. I assumed I would never need it. Now I purchase it for most international trips.
Not because I'm worried about cancelled flights or lost luggage, but the biggest reason is for evacuation coverage.
As the mom and wife of a pilot, I know how expensive airplanes are. A trip I've paid for and can't take would suck, but it wouldn't bankrupt me the way an evacuation flight would if I was in a precarious situation.
We are talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars for a flight. When you travel internationally, especially to more remote areas, medical evacuation costs can be incredibly expensive. That's something that can be life changing.
You really hope you don't need it, but if there's anything I've learned about travel is that unexpected things happen.
I'd rather have coverage and never use it than need it and wish I had it.
6. Repeat Destinations are not "Wasted" Trips
I used to think travel was about collecting destinations. Counting countries and states, keeping a tally of the stamps in my passport. There can be a little bit of pressure to constantly move on to the next place.
Over time, I've changed my thinking. Now I'm less interested in checking off boxes and more interested in truly experiencing places.
There are destinations that deserve more than one visit. The first trip often feels like an introduction and the second trip lets you go deeper.
You start to move slower and you notice more. You can revisit those favorite spots and discover new places. Sometimes returning feels more like seeing an old friend.
7. Solo Travel isn't Scary! It's Empowering
For a long time, solo travel felt intimidating. Maybe because I thought I'd be lonely or awkward if I was on my own. Or maybe I thought I'd be lame by not having a travel companion to go with me.
But then what happened was that I didn't go at all.
After a rough season of life, I realized just how short life really can be. I didn't want to put off living.
And you know what I discovered? I found that solo travel can be incredibly empowering.
You decide where to go, what to do, how long to stay and you can do what matters most to you. All without any judgement or concession for another person.
There is freedom in realizing you don't need to wait for someone else to have experiences you want to have.
And you also discover something interesting about yourself when you're completely outside of your normal routine.
If solo travel feels intimidating, start small.
Take the trip. It just might surprise you!
8. Rest Days are Part of the Trip
Like I mentioned before I like to cover a lot of ground when I travel. I don't slow down for too long. I don't want to miss a thing. But sometimes when you are rushing from thing to thing, you actually miss the whole point!
I used to feel like if I wasn't actively seeing something, then I was wasting time. I felt guilty about slower days when traveling. Now I see rest differently.
Travel can be exhausting. There are lots of early mornings, long flights, time changes, and constantly being on the go can really catch up to you quickly.
Sometimes the best thing you can do is sleep in, sit at a cafe for an hour, or spend an afternoon with no agenda.
Rest isn't wasted travel time. It's all part of the experience!
9. Tourist Attractions Exist for a Reason
Everyone wants to find the hidden gems...even me! I want to get off the beaten path and find the areas the locals want to gatekeep. I want to make room for those authentic experiences because I think they change who you are as a traveler.
But there are some attractions that are famous because they're genuinely incredible. Not everything popular is overrated.
The key to experiencing the popular attractions is to find the less popular times to visit. If you're in a cruise port but not on a cruise, find out what day and time the cruise passengers dock. Work around that. Visit an area early and book the first ticket of the day or check out an attraction near closing time.
Those iconic places are iconic for a reason. They are worth visiting. But you can find balance to how you visit. You can see the major sights and leave room for those smaller moments in between too.
10. The Best Experiences Aren't Always the Most Expensive
Some people would assume that bigger budgets automatically mean better travel experiences. But some of my most favorite travel moments have come from very simple moments and mostly free experiences.
It doesn't cost anything to watch a sunset. Outdoor experiences like hiking or beach going are often free or inexpensive. It doesn't cost anything to strike up a conversation with a local.
One time in Ireland, we were at dinner and then stayed for the {free} live music afterwards. The tables were full and one of the locals asked to sit at our empty seats. We struck up a conversation and within in hour, we were invited to his favorite local pub playing traditional Irish music with some of the best musicians while being treated to pints of Guinness. It was a true Irish experience and it cost us nothing.
Travel has reminded me over and over again that meaningful experiences don't always come with a high price tag. The things that I remember years later usually aren't the most expensive parts of the trip. They're the moments that made me feel something.
Travel is a bit like parenthood...it has a funny way of humbling you. I've learned over time that I need to be open to shifting and changing how I travel to adapt to some of the best experiences.
The opinions I once held very confidently have shifted, softened, or completely changed after years of experiences.
And honestly, that's one of my favorite parts of traveling. Because changing your mind usually means you've learned something.
Who knows...give me another ten years and I may write another version of this list with ten entirely different opinions.
That's the beauty of travel.
You never stop discovering new places and you never stop learning new things about yourself along the way.
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