It may seem strange for me to talk of regrets as a 26-year-old who hasn’t seen anywhere near what the world has to offer, but the point is, I’m at a point where I have wild travel ambitions and I want to take a minute to reflect on what I feel I’ve missed out on thus far so I can take a different approach to my travel going forward. As the saying goes, you regret the things you didn’t do, rather than the things you did. And so I’ve compiled some such regrets in this post.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.”
Mark Twain
Interrailing
I remember talking with friends about getting an Interrail pass and travelling around Italy, exploring the different areas, immersing ourselves in the culture, but it was just one of those things that never made it out of the group chat.
I think we just got side-tracked and the conversation was lost and never discussed again, but I think it would have been a lot of fun and a different experience compared to travelling with a partner.
And while I’m looking forward to campervan adventures with Hayden and Lucy where we’ll explore all those places and more, I can’t help but reflect on the roads (or rails) not taken.
Hostel Stays
I have never stayed in a hostel, and I don’t think I ever will at this point. They’re likely a great option for when you’re travelling solo or with a group of friends, and I imagine it’s a great way to meet new people and build connections.
Even if I travelled with a group of friends now, we all like our own space and are open to spending a bit more to get that, so we’d likely opt for a hotel or a private holiday let instead.
At this point, I look for accommodation that enhances my travel experience, which for me, is comfort and privacy to unwind after a long day of exploring.
Money
Worrying about money is another regret of mine, thinking back to mine and Hayden’s first trip when we went to London; we didn’t go into the Tower of London because tickets were “too expensive”, we stayed in a 13m2 hotel room to save money (a brave move when you’re a new couple!), and we didn’t buy any souvenirs.
Now I’m of the mindset that I may only visit a place once, so I’m going to go and see the things, try the food, buy the souvenirs, and remind myself that money can’t buy back lost time.
Since then, we have accumulated a display case full of souvenirs in our home, little tokens, whether picked up from a local artist, or gifted to us in a car park, they all have a memory attached to them.
Risk Taking
A regret that I briefly mention in my NC500 post is not doing the Golden Eagle Zip Line at Ceannabeinne Beach, you best believe that I’ll be going on it when I’m next touring around the NC500.
And there was the “007” bungee jump in Ticino, Switzerland. I think it was shut when we drove by it, but the point still stands, I regret not taking advantage while I was there.
And these are things I can make up for, I’ve been ziplining in Costa Rica, I’ve found a bungee jump spot in Scotland to try, and I’m more open to trying new experiences. But who knows if I’ll ever be driving by that iconic GoldenEye spot again.
Takeaway
Reflecting on these travel regrets serves as a reminder that life is full of opportunities waiting to be seized. While I can’t change the past, I can learn from it and take full advantage of my future adventures. That doesn’t mean I’ll be speeding around the globe doing absolutely everything, I want to travel slowly and truly appreciate a place, it does however mean that I’ll be making a point of embracing every opportunity, cherishing every adventure, and living with no regrets.
Have you done any of these things? What travel regrets do you have? Let me know down below!
