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Midlife Travel Is Different — Here’s What I Plan for Now That I Didn’t in My 30s
- Anne Marie aka Baldgirlwilltravel
- May 31
- 9 min read
There’s a certain kind of freedom that comes with traveling in midlife.Not because everything suddenly becomes easier — but because you finally stop pretending you enjoy things you actually hate.
In my 30s, I traveled very differently than I do now. Back then, I thought “doing the most” was part of the experience. Red-eye flights? Fine. Tight layovers? Sure. Twelve-hour sightseeing days with no breaks? Why not? Staying in a cheap hotel just to save money for shopping? Absolutely. Now? Absolutely not.
One of the biggest gifts of getting older is that you become more honest with yourself about what actually matters to you. And for me, travel in my 50s is much more intentional, comfortable, safe, and realistic than it was decades ago. I still love adventure. I still love exploring new countries. I still love beautiful clothes, rooftop dinners, museums, people-watching, and wandering through neighborhoods with no plan.
But now I also plan for things I never even thought about in my 30s. And honestly? My trips are better because of it.
I Plan Around Comfort First — Not Just Cost or just to make Content
In my 30s, I would tolerate almost anything to save a few dollars. Now I understand that comfort is not a luxury — it is part of the experience. That does not mean I need five-star everything. I am still practical about money. But I do not believe suffering is part of “real travel.”
I pay attention to flight times now. I avoid brutal layovers when possible. I think carefully about how far my hotel is from the activities I actually want to do. I prioritize walkability, convenience, safety, and sleep.
Because being exhausted for seven days straight is not my idea of a vacation anymore.
And let’s be honest: once you hit midlife, your body will absolutely humble you if you ignore it.
I Build Rest Into My Itinerary
This is probably one of the biggest differences between how I traveled in my 30s versus now.
Back then, I felt like I had to maximize every second of the trip. If I sat down for too long, I felt guilty. If I skipped an attraction, I felt like I was “wasting” the destination.
Now? I intentionally schedule downtime.
Sometimes that means sleeping in. Sometimes it means spending half a day sitting at a café people-watching. Sometimes it means choosing one really meaningful excursion instead of trying to cram six things into one day.
Midlife travel taught me that exhaustion is not a badge of honor. You do not need to “earn” rest on vacation.
I Think About Safety Differently Now
As a woman over 50 who travels solo often, safety is always part of my planning process now. Not fear. Not paranoia. Just preparation.
I pay attention to transportation options before I arrive. I think about airport transfers. I research neighborhoods more carefully. I make sure someone knows where I am. I keep copies of important documents. I avoid carrying my original passport unless necessary. I think about arrival times in ways I honestly never did in my younger years.
And yes — I absolutely think differently about how exhausting it is to navigate unfamiliar places late at night now. That is not weakness. That is wisdom.
Experience teaches you that “it will probably be fine” is not actually a strategy.
That mindset is actually one of the reasons I created my e-book, “A Guide to Travel Safety & Security for Solo Female Travelers.”
Because I wanted women — especially Black women over 40 — to feel more prepared, more confident, and more empowered when navigating the world solo.
The reality is that solo travel can absolutely be joyful and freeing while still requiring preparation and awareness. Both things can be true at the same time.
I Pack Smarter — Not Harder
I Pack Smarter — But I Still Care About Style. Let me be clear about something: I am absolutely still a style girl. I care about how I look when I leave the house — including when I travel.
Just because I prioritize comfort more in this season of my life does not mean I suddenly stopped caring about fashion or personal style. I still want the outfit to outfit. I still want the shoes, the bag, the jewelry, and the overall vibe to make sense.
But interestingly enough, in my 30s I was actually more minimalist when it came to clothing packing than I am now.
Back then, I was much more focused on practicality and packing light at all costs. Now? I still believe in packing strategically — but I also fully believe in taking my style with me wherever I go.
Because style is part of how I express myself. These days, I take much more of a capsule approach to travel. I usually start with a color family first and then build around it intentionally. A lot of times, I actually begin with the accessories — the shoes, handbags, and jewelry — because those pieces help shape the entire aesthetic for the trip.
In the summer, I tend to gravitate toward warm, vibrant colors like orange, royal blue, red, and hot pink. Those colors mix and match beautifully together — orange with royal blue, pink with red, and so on — which allows me to create multiple outfits without needing to pack excessive amounts of clothing.
I also pay much more attention now to fabrics. I prefer linen and breathable cotton fabrics when I travel to warm destinations because I want to be comfortable and stylish. At this stage of my life, I am not interested in being overheated, uncomfortable, or miserable just to wear something cute for a photo.
In cooler months, I lean heavily into black, white, chocolate brown, red, and leopard because those colors work seamlessly together and make styling much easier while traveling.
I also think much more realistically now about the actual logistics of the trip.
Am I walking all day? Will there be cobblestone streets? Am I climbing stairs?Will I have access to laundry? Do I really need five pairs of heels for this trip?
Those are the questions I ask myself now.
And while I usually travel carry-on only because I genuinely enjoy moving through airports more easily, I will absolutely check a bag if doing so makes the trip smoother or less stressful for me.
Because another thing age has taught me is this: I do what works for me for that trip.
I am no longer interested in rigid travel rules or performing for the internet about how “minimalist” or “hardcore” of a traveler I am supposed to be. If checking a bag makes my life easier, then I check the bag.
Because at this stage of my life, ease matters too.
And honestly? One of the biggest lessons I have learned is that style and practicality do not have to compete with each other. You can absolutely be fashionable, comfortable, and appropriately prepared for your trip at the same time.
I Budget for Peace of Mind
One thing midlife has taught me is that unexpected expenses feel very different when you are older.
Now I think ahead about travel insurance. I think about emergency money. I think about transportation backups. I think about whether I really want to book the absolute cheapest option available if it creates unnecessary stress later.
Because sometimes paying a little more upfront saves you a major headache later.
And at this stage of life, peace matters to me more than performing “budget traveler struggle content” for the internet.
I Care More About Meaningful Experiences Than Checklists
In my younger years, I sometimes traveled like I was trying to collect destinations.
Now I travel for connection. I care more about how a place feels than how many landmarks I can photograph. I care about conversations. Food. Energy. Culture. Small moments. Some of my favorite travel memories are not the “big” moments at all.
They are the random conversations with strangers. The sunset views. The café I stumbled into accidentally. The music playing in the background while walking through a neighborhood. The feeling of realizing I am exactly where I am supposed to be.
Midlife travel feels slower in the best possible way. More intentional. More grounded. More joyful.
I Started Being More Honest About What I Actually Enjoy
Lately, I’ve also started a series across my social media platforms called “Unpopular Opinions.” And honestly? Part of the reason I started it is because I wanted to be more honest about the things I do — and the things I absolutely do not do anymore in this season of my life. Subscribe to my Youtube Channel to check out the series.
As you get older, you stop performing for people. You stop pretending you enjoy things that drain you just because they look good online or because everybody else says that’s what “real travelers” are supposed to do.
I think a lot of women over 40 — especially Black women — are finally giving themselves permission to say:“I actually don’t like that.”“I don’t want to do that anymore.”“That no longer works for me.” And that is perfectly okay.
It is okay to change as you get older.It is okay to travel differently now than you did in your 20s and 30s.It is okay to prioritize your comfort.It is okay to protect your peace.It is okay to spend more for convenience.It is okay to rest.And it is okay to build a life — and travel experiences — that actually fit the woman you are today instead of the woman you used to be.
Honestly, that kind of self-awareness is freedom.
So if you’ve been seeing my “Unpopular Opinions” series floating around online… now you know where a lot of it comes from.
Follow me on social media and join the conversation — because apparently I have a lot more unpopular opinions to share in this chapter of my life.
I No Longer Wait for Other People
This may be the biggest lesson of all.
In my 30s, I spent too much time waiting for schedules to align, budgets to align, relationships to align, or people to finally commit to trips they talked about for years.
Now? I go.
Because one thing age teaches you very clearly is that time is not guaranteed.
And honestly, some of the most powerful experiences of my life have happened because I stopped waiting for permission, company, or perfect timing.
Final Thoughts
Midlife travel is different. Not worse. Not less adventurous. Not less exciting.
Just wiser. I travel now with more confidence, more boundaries, more intention, and honestly, far more enjoyment than I did when I was younger.
I know myself better now. I know what matters to me. I know what kind of experiences I want to create for myself.
And I no longer feel guilty for choosing comfort, safety, ease, beauty, rest, or joy.
Because travel in this season of life is not about proving anything.
It is about living.
Ready to Plan Your Own Solo adventure?
Whether you want to join one of my curated BaldGirlWillTravel meet-ups or plan a custom solo itinerary designed just for you, I help Black women over 40 travel safely, stylishly, and intentionally.
Whether you want to join one of my BaldGirlWillTravel group adventures or create a custom solo itinerary just for you, I can help you plan the trip you’ve been dreaming about — stress-free, stylish, and unforgettable.
I now offer custom travel planning for women who are ready to explore the world on their own terms—with safety, style, and confidence.
Want to Travel Even More Confidently?
If you want a deeper dive into staying safe — especially as a solo traveler — I’ve put everything I’ve learned over years of traveling into my guide:
This guide covers:
Practical safety strategies before and during your trip
How to reduce risk without limiting your freedom
Situational awareness tips that actually make sense in real life
How to move confidently — not fearfully — while traveling
It’s designed for women who want to explore the world prepared, informed, and unbothered.
Because travel should expand your life — not stress you out.
👯♀️ Prefer group travel with like-minded women?
Join one of my 2026 or 2027 Girls Trips curated just for Black women 40+.—and yes, payment plans are available!
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Thank You For Reading!
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