I can hardly believe 2024 os already coming to an end—it’s as if I’ve lived a hundred lives in just 365 days. I’ve grown so much, and now I have a clearer sense of who I want to be, as well as my aspirations and inspirations for the future. I’m so grateful for this year that allowed me to connect with different cultures, improve my social skills, and explore parts of the world I never imagined to go. In this article, I’ve tried to summarize five key lessons I’ve learned during my travels in 2024. Lessons that I will apply as well in 2025.
LESSON 1 | EXPERIENCES > LUXURY COMFORT
It’s not for everyone, haha, but during my travels, I chose to save on accommodation and restaurants so I could invest in unforgettable memories. For instance, I went glacier climbing at Fox Glacier in New Zealand. It was expensive, yes, but I prioritized it by cutting back on temporary pleasures, and I have no regrets. Similarly, even in Asia, I opted for budget guesthouses and hostels over more luxurious hotels—despite being able to afford them—so I could stretch my travels longer and immerse myself in more experiences. In Australia, I even spent a month in the countryside of Western Australia, in the middle of nowhere, volunteering to care for orphaned baby kangaroos. It was one of the most rewarding experience I’ve ever done—caring for them and giving them the love their mothers couldn’t. It was so fulfilling that I wouldn’t trade it for any luxury experience.
LESSON 2 | CHOOSING LONGER STAYS OVER RUSHING WITH SHORT GETAWAY
My volunteering in Kotor, Montenegro made me realise that I enjoy more staying days and days at a place than rushing to the next one the day after. While it’s possible to see Kotor in just a day, I truly enjoyed spending two weeks volunteering there to immerse myself in the place, explore the surroundings at my own pace, and enjoy the cool summer atmosphere in the evenings. To really understand the essence of a country or a place, you need to stay longer than just a weekend. Imagine visiting Rome for a weekend and claiming you’ve seen Italy —next country … No, you haven’t even scratched the surface of what Rome and Italy have to offer. Sure, extending your stay from a weekend to a week takes a certain budget, but for me, traveling isn’t about ticking off boxes from a list of the world’s 195 countries to visit. Traveling is about absorbing a culture, discovering local spots, spending an afternoon in a park you just discovered without rushing, or spending an entire day in a museum without worrying about ticking off other sites before closing time.
LESSON 3 | YOU ARE CAPABLE OF AMAZING THINGS WITH YOUR BODY
Before 2024, I would have never thought I could hike for an entire month in New Zealand. And not just day hikes, but treks of 30, 50, or even 90 kilometers for several days in a row. I learned to set up a stove, plan a week’s worth of food, climb when the trails were poorly marked, and trust my instincts when I got lost. It was challenging, but I loved every hike and learned so much about myself and my abilities.
LESSON 4 | PRIORITIZING SLOW TRAVEL & LOW-BUDGET TRAVEL
Often, slow travel and low-budget travel go hand in hand. This means choosing an 8-hour night bus over a 1.5-hour flight. It’s not the most comfortable, I’ll admit, but it consumes a lot less energy and is a more economical way to travel. For instance, I managed to take a Toulouse-Barcelona overnight bus in November for just €35 round trip. You cannot beat that! Slow travel also meant finding new ways to move around that brought other benefits. And I found that in hitchhiking. I’d never hitchhiked before my stay in Tahiti and then New Zealand. I really started hitchhiking a lot in New Zealand during February and March 2024. And it’s an incredible way to connect with people who have fascinating stories to share, offer great local tips, and create beautiful human connections.
LESSON 5 | ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOUR GUT
The last thing 2024 taught me was to always trust that little voice inside. If you feel something is off, or if something tells you a person can’t be trusted, listen to it. On two occasions during my travels, I found myself in situations where I didn’t feel safe, and instead of letting the problem drag on, I immediately reached out to someone who could help or removed myself from the situation. As a female solo traveler, I’ve learned not to put myself in risky or uncertain situations unnecessarily. Sure, I may have missed out on some incredible stories, but I’d trade a hundred wild adventures for my safety any day.
And you ? What 2024 taught you about travel ?