Travel in Your 20s -The Story That Shows “One Day” Is a Gamble

Traveling in your 20s can feel impossible — money, school, and fear often get in the way. This true story shows why waiting for “one day” is the biggest mistake young adults make, and how travel now can shape your entire life.

If you’re in your 20s, you’ve probably heard yourself say it:
“I’ll travel one day.” “When I have more money.” “When I finish school.” “When I find someone to go with.”

But here’s the truth no one tells you when you’re young: 

Time is generous in your 20s — and ruthless later. 

Life gets heavier. Responsibilities grow. Freedom shrinks. And the window you think will always be open… quietly closes. 

This isn’t theory. It’s a lived experience. 

And the story you’re about to read is proof.

When I was 21 years old, my mom passed away at 59.
She had spent her whole life talking about the travel she would do “one day” — when she retired, when life slowed down, when the timing was right. But that day never came.
She never got to see England or Scotland. She never got to take the trips she planned. She never got her “one day.”
Losing her so young changed me. My perception of life changed, my reality changed. It forced me to confront something most people don’t face until much later, which is that if you wait, it might be too late. 

Life doesn’t wait. Dreams don’t wait. Time doesn’t wait.

So I made a decision, one that would change and shape the rest of my life. I would flip the script on how society thinks we should live our lives. 

I would travel now for my mom and for me.

I told my friends I was going to tour Europe for six months in my mom's honor and to make sure I was able to see the world, well, at least Europe, while I could. It was a bold statement. 

All my friends laughed at me. They listed 101 reasons why I couldn’t do it. “You can’t afford it.” “You don’t know anyone there.” “You’re going to get lost.” “You’re making a stupid mistake.” “You’ll be back in a week.” After all, I had no money. I had a minimum-wage job. I had no plan. I had never traveled alone. I didn’t know a single person in Europe. 

Maybe they were thinking, "hey, we couldn't do that, so how is Larry going to do that"? After all, I was just like them. Wasn't I? They even took bets on how long I’d last — the longest guess was two weeks. Some even bet I wouldn't even go. 

My mom always told me I had my head in the clouds and I was a dreamer. My friends no doubt felt the same. Their banter wasn't lifting me up or supporting me; it was meant to pull me down, even if it wasn't on purpose. 

But here’s what they didn’t understand:

I had a reason, I had a purpose. 

I had a purpose, and I didn't need permission or approval from anyone to do this. I just needed to take one step at a time.

I saved every dollar I could. I focused. I ignored the noise. I kept putting one foot in front of the other. And six months later, My trip began, I boarded a plane to London, England with:

It was a bit scary, and it was the bravest — and best decision I ever made.

I didn’t travel for two weeks or for six months. I traveled for two and a half years. 

There were challenges, but I overcame them. I worked odd jobs. I learned to navigate new cultures. I met people who changed me. I discovered who I was and what I could do outside of everything familiar. 

Travel didn’t just show me the world — it built my character, shaped my confidence, and became the foundation of the life I have today. 

And when I finally came home, 

I still had $1000 in my pocket. (not the originally $1000, Lol) 
My friends were the same. My hometown was the same. But I wasn’t.
I had grown. I had lived. I had seen. I had become someone a little different, a little less ordinary.
And I have never — not for a single moment — ever regretted my decision to travel. 

Don’t Wait!

Seize the moment, travel now! 

If you’re in your 20s, hear this clearly: 

You will never again have the freedom you have right now.

Not the time. Not the flexibility. Not the resilience. Not the ability to live cheaply. Not the openness to change. 

Your 20s are the decade where you can say yes without rearranging your entire life.
If you don’t use that freedom, you lose it.

Me 45 years later, with my wife, Joanne, and still traveling.

Traveling has a way of sharpening our perspective on life—it reminds us what matters, slows us down, and reconnects us with a sense of curiosity we often lose in the routine. There’s no perfect moment waiting in the future; the best time to travel is when the desire is there, and the opportunity presents itself. Experiences don’t age the way plans do, and the memories you create now become the stories, confidence, and clarity you carry forward for the rest of your life.

1. You don’t need money — you need creativity
Hostels, work exchanges, seasonal jobs, volunteering, and budget flights — travel in your 20s is built for low budgets. 

2. You don’t need a plan — you need courage
Some of the best experiences happen when you don’t know what’s next. 

3. You don’t need someone to go with — you need to go
Solo travel builds confidence faster than anything else. 

4. You don’t need perfect timing — you need to start
There is no perfect moment. There is only now. 

5. You don’t need certainty — you need movement 

Life rewards action, not hesitation.

Ask yourself:
If not now, when?
Not in theory. Not in fantasy. In reality. 

Your life is happening right now. Your freedom is happening right now. Your chance is happening right now. 

Take the step. Buy the ticket. Pack the bag. Start the journey. 

Your future self will thank you. Your older self will be proud of you. And your life will never be the same.

Does this sound scary? 

Good! That's how you grow.