Hey there, future traveller. You’ve probably thought about taking a trip for a while now. Maybe you’ve saved a Pinterest board full of beaches and food. Maybe your passport’s still blank, or maybe it’s just dusty. Either way, I’m here to give you a nudge with some of my reasons to start travelling now.
I’ve been travelling for over 16 years. Backpacking through hostels in South America, lounging in luxury villas in the Mediterranean, and everything in between. After 67 countries (and counting), I can honestly say travel has changed the way I see the world—and myself.
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So here’s my no-nonsense list of why you should just go. Right now.
10 reasons to start travelling now
1. You’re not getting any younger
Let’s start with the obvious. Time moves whether you travel or not. One day you’ll look back and think, “Why didn’t I do it when I could?” Whether you’re 20, 35, or 50—there’s no perfect age. There’s only now. Your knees might not thank you for Machu Picchu at 70.
When I was 24, I put off a trip to Peru because of work. I finally went when I was 32. The views were still stunning, but the hike up felt a lot harder. If you have the energy now, use it. The world’s not going anywhere—but your youth might be.
2. Travel makes you less of a jerk
No, really. When you meet people from different cultures, you stop thinking your way is the only way. You realise the world’s not built around your comfort zone. It humbles you in the best way possible.
I once spent three weeks in a small village in Nepal. No hot showers, no internet, and barely any English spoken. But every night, families invited me into their homes, shared their meals, and made me feel welcome. I left feeling like the world is smaller—and kinder—than we think.
3. You learn how to deal with anything
Missed flights, weird street food, scammy taxi drivers, random jungle detours. Travel throws curveballs. But once you’ve navigated a midnight border crossing in Eastern Europe or slept through a sandstorm in the Sahara, your tolerance for daily stress skyrockets.
I once got stranded in rural Georgia (the country, not the city in the U.S.) when my ride forgot to pick me up. No Uber, no taxis, and not a soul who spoke English. I walked for two hours and ended up being invited for lunch by an old couple who gave me directions in mime. Things work out, so do you need more reasons to start travelling now?
4. Food just tastes better when you travel.
Street tacos in Mexico. Fresh croissants in Paris. Mango sticky rice in Thailand. There’s something about tasting local food in its natural habitat that changes everything. You won’t look at your sad sandwich the same way again.
One of my favourite meals ever? A bowl of $1 pho at a roadside stall in Hanoi. Plastic stools, a dog sleeping under my feet, motorbikes zooming by—and the richest broth I’ve ever tasted. That memory has outlasted every Michelin-star dinner I’ve ever had.
5. You’ll collect stories, not stuff
You don’t remember the shoes you bought three years ago. But you’ll never forget the night you danced with strangers at a festival in Spain or saw the Northern Lights in Iceland. Stories beat souvenirs every time.
I met a retired teacher from Canada while hiking in Patagonia. We ended up sharing a tent after a storm washed out our camp. She told me about her life, her travels, and why she never regretted a single solo trip she took. That story has stuck with me longer than any postcard.
6. You stop needing a plan all the time
Sure, planning helps. But some of the best travel moments come from pure chaos. That random bus that dropped you off in a town you had never heard of? Turns out, it’s got the best coffee of your life. Being okay with the unknown is a life skill, trust me.
On a trip through the Balkans, I intended to spend one night in Mostar, Bosnia. I stayed for a week. I found a local café that served Turkish-style coffee, got to know the owner, and helped his daughter with her English homework. None of that was on my itinerary.
7. You realise you need less than you think
After living out of a backpack for months, you learn what matters. Spoiler alert: It’s not your skincare routine or three types of jeans. Travelling strips it down. You become lighter, in every sense.
I once packed for a six-month trip with just one pair of shoes. Not ideal, but I made it work. The less I carried, the more I noticed. The smell of spices in a Moroccan market. The way the air feels on your skin in the Scottish Highlands. You stop focusing on things and start paying attention to moments. Why do you need more reasons to start travelling now?
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8. You meet people who change your life
Some become lifelong friends. Others are a one-night conversation on a beach at 2 AM that leaves a permanent mark on your soul. Travel connects you in ways your office water cooler never will.
There’s a guy named Luca I met in Italy. We were both lost trying to find a vineyard and ended up spending the entire day wine tasting and talking about life. We still message occasionally. Would we have ever met otherwise? Not a chance.
9. You see beauty in the mess
Travel isn’t always pretty. There are delays, dirt, and days you just want your bed. But there’s beauty in the chaos. In kids playing soccer barefoot on the streets of Rio. In grandmothers selling snacks at dusty train stations. Real life. Up close.
There’s something oddly comforting about navigating a busy wet market in Yangon or watching the sun rise behind traffic jams in Cairo. You begin to see that life doesn’t have to be neat to be meaningful. Messy is real.
10. You’ll never be truly ready—so just go
Waiting for the perfect time, perfect budget, or perfect travel buddy? You’ll be waiting forever. Sometimes, you have to book the ticket, figure out the details later, and trust that you’ll handle whatever comes next.
The first time I travelled solo, I had no clue what I was doing. I booked a one-way ticket to Bali with no plan. I ended up staying two months, volunteering at a shelter, meeting incredible people, and learning more about myself than any self-help book ever taught me.
Bonus: Because regret sucks
Ask any seasoned traveller what they regret. Nine times out of ten, it’s the places they didn’t go. Not the jobs they left. Not the things they missed at home. Just the trips they didn’t take.
So, what are you waiting for? What other reasons to start travelling now do you need? You don’t need to quit your job, sell everything, or become a full-time digital nomad. Start small. A weekend trip. A solo getaway. A new country on your map. Book the ticket. Take the ride.
The world’s weird, wonderful, and waiting. Pack badly. Get lost. Eat something unidentifiable. Dance like nobody’s watching (but someone probably is). Laugh when things go wrong. Take photos, but live in the moment too.
And remember—home will always be there. But this version of you, right now, ready to explore? That’s a limited-time offer.
Safe travels, my friend.
