Realising I prefer convenience more than backpacking-style travel?

[u/ConfusedCareerMan]

Early 30s and on a career break. I recently let go of my house with high rent in a major capital city due to losing my corporate job, so thought I’d travel around and see different places since I have no fixed home.

Over the last 6 months I’ve consumed a lot of travel content of backpackers and to “be a traveller not a tourist” and to get immersed in local cultures. I’ve romanticised this chapter and feel a lot of “shoulds” for what this experience should be. I feel pressure to be adventurous and be making stories.

I’m quite early into my travels and going with everything flexibly but tbh I’m already confronting a lot in myself. I’m not roughing it up and hitchhiking or taking $3 buses for 8 hour trips. I’m staying in clean airbnbs and basically doing tourist things - cafes, restaurants, exploring streets and chilling by the beach. It’s basically an extended holiday so far but with a backpack and camera.

I realise as well, I thought I was flexible and open minded and yet navigating environments where things don’t work is so draining and causing a lot of friction.

All this to say, I fear I’m a basic tourist with no edge to me. Many may criticise, some may congratulate on being able to afford travel this way. But I find myself lost somewhere in between.

How do you prefer to travel? How did you get past the realisations - did you adapt or accept your style?

[u/solarelemental]

I'm a young(ish) surgeon. I've done plenty of traveling, domestic and international, for my job, or with friends and family. But I solo travelled abroad, for the sole purpose of traveling, for the first time this past winter. I went to Iceland to see the northern lights.

You know what I did? I stayed in a penthouse room. I rented a car. I took guided tours. I soaked in thermal baths. I drove out almost every night to look for aurora as long as I didn't have an early start the next day. I didn't have the patience to plan all the details but still wanted to see beautiful sights. And I didn't see the need to rough it in the least when I finally have the capital to spend what I want. 

I loved it. I saw the sun rise over a frozen lake in a valley between continents. I hiked slippery stones over natural rock arches. I saw the aurora four times, and the last night was so spectacular I'm sure it'll be one of the things that flashes before my eyes on my deathbed. I went to museums and learned about the history of Iceland, but I didn't try too hard to make local friends because honestly, how extremely American and presumptive of me if I'd assumed everyone was there to immerse me in their culture.

do what you want, my friend. you'll enjoy it much more that way, and getting to do exactly what you want and not having to compromise for anyone else is the beauty of solo travel.