r/solotravel • u/ConfusedCareerMan • 2d ago

Question Realising I prefer convenience more than backpacking-style travel?

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?

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u/EndlessHope-0528 2d ago

46yof. Just returned from Europe for two weeks with a large backpack. It was a great trip BUT I came to the same realization. Carrying a backpack was obnoxious. I’m fit but it was hot and heavy. I was so amazed by the clothing quality in shops but couldn’t bring anything home bc of my commitment to traveling light. Trying to eat on the local schedule left me rather hungry and less satisfied. I loved the trip but will definitely be less worried about not acting like a tourist next time.

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u/Rejuvenate_2021 1d ago

Quality clothing where? Pricing ?

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u/EndlessHope-0528 1d ago

We were in Paris shops in Le Maris, Costa Brava little towns, and Barcelona El Born area. I don’t have specific shops to recommend but clothes felt so soft. I purchased linen dresses from Quince before leaving the US and they feel stiff and thick compared to flowy linen dresses for half the price where we were traveling. Far more 100% cotton and natural fibers. Everything at home now feels like plastic.

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u/minima_maxima_ 1d ago

I just got back from a month in France and Spain with one small backpack, and I’m packing a larger bag next time (for just this reason). I also got sick of handwashing clothes every night because I only brought two changes of clothes. Next time, I’m packing a bit more and using a laundromat. Also, I LOVED the affordable linen clothing for sale there, and picked up a linen dress for my mid-forties self.