“30 Things to Do Before You Turn 30” Travel Bucket List

One of the best parts of my 20s was having the privilege and ability to travel and see the world. I started The Blonde Abroad when I was 24, and having just turned 30 this past year, it’s safe to say I had some of my biggest adventures before hitting the big 3-0!

There are SO many amazing, unique and life-changing destinations and experiences around the world that make for some incredible memories. Whether it be an African safari, traveling solo for the first time, an epic road trip, or facing your fear of heights (or the deep sea), there are so many things to add to your “30 Before 30” bucket list.

Here’s my “30 Things to Do Before You Turn 30” travel bucket list!

Travel Solo

There are few things as liberating and exciting as traveling alone. My first solo trip changed my life (it’s when I started this blog), and the experiences it’s given me are priceless.

Before you hit the big 3-0, plan a solo trip. You can start with a small road trip in your country or book a ticket to a faraway place you’ve been dreaming of. Whichever you decide, you’ll find that solo travel empowers you. You get to decide what you want to see, when you’re going to see it, if you’re going to sleep in late, where to eat, and so much more!

Check out my all of my posts on solo travel!

Learn to Cook a Traditional Dish

Whenever I travel abroad, I make it a priority to check out the local food and learn how to cook a new cuisine. Over the years, I’ve learned how to whip up traditional dishes from Amman, Chiang Mai, Barcelona, Tokyo, Rome, and New Orleans.

Adding a global twist to your cooking repertoire will wow your friends and family, but also transport you back to an incredible trip.

Read More on Foodie Travel:

• Rome Food Tour & Pizza Making with Walks of Italy
• Top Vegetarian-Friendly Cities Around the World
• Traditional Foods to Try in Morocco
• Where to Find the Best Food Around Iceland
• Where to Find the Best Food in NYC
• Where to Find the Best Food in Tokyo

Go on an African Safari

During my first trip to Africa in 2016, I fell hard for South Africa and the beauty of the African bush. With stunning landscapes and incredible wildlife, going on safari has quickly become one of my favorite travel experiences. My favorite safari experiences have been in South Africa, Kenya, Namibia, and Botswana so far!

There’s nothing like seeing a cheetah run at full speed over the arid plains of the Masai Mara or waking up at dawn and watching the bush come to life!

Read More on Safari Travel in Africa:

• The Ultimate Africa Travel Guide
• How to Choose an African Safari (That’s Right for You)
• The Beginner’s Guide to Photographing an African Safari
• The Top Safari Destinations in Africa
• Top Things to Look for When Choosing a Safari Lodge
• What to Pack for an African Safari

Backpack Around Europe

Staying in hostels and exploring Europe on the cheap is a rite of passage and an amazing travel experience in itself. When I first started my blog, I traveled around Europe with less than $30 per day.

I learned important travel skills, like how to plan and budget for trips, tips for finding cheap flights, and figuring out public transportation in another language all by myself.

Read More on Backpacking in Europe:

• The Beginner’s Guide to Backpacking Europe
• 10 Itinerary Planning Tips for a Trip to Europe
• 15 Tips for Traveling Europe
• How Much to Budget for Backpacking Europe
• The Beginner’s Guide to Budget Airfare in Europe
• The Beginner’s Guide to Train Travel in Europe

Go Somewhere That Requires a Visa

Since I started dating a South African, I’ve really come to appreciate how fortunate I am to have a first-world passport. I don’t need to apply to Europe, Australia or Canada. More often than not, I get a free visa on arrival, or I pay a small fee.

Before entering a whole new decade of your life, travel somewhere that’s not easy. Go to places like Brazil, India, Mozambique or China where you’ll need to visit a consulate beforehand. It will make you appreciate the trip and your passport that much more.

Read More:

• How to Expedite Your U.S. Passport Renewal
• How to Plan Your First Trip to China
• Tips for Getting a Visa for Brazil in Los Angeles

Plan a Road  Trip

There’s nothing like hitting the open road! From the California Coast to Iceland to Namibia, I’ve experienced some unforgettable road trips over the years. The best part? You’re in total control.

If Iceland is on your bucket list, I highly recommend taking 7-10 days (or more!) and driving the Ring Road around the island! If you crave desert sunsets and dirt roads, be sure to road trip through Namibia.

You don’t have to worry about sticking to a rigid itinerary, making it an empowering travel experience.

Read More on Road Trip Travel:

Overcome a Fear

If you scroll through my Instagram, I might seem fearless on the surface. I’ve jumped out of a plane, gone scuba diving around the world and hiked the world’s most dangerous trail in China.

But, before I did any of those things, I was terrified.

Try doing something that scares you– whether it’s heights, flying or the deep ocean. When you step out of your comfort zone you grow as a person.

Read More on Adventure Travel:

• Cycling the World’s Deadliest Road
• Diving the Silfra Fissure in Iceland
• Glacier Hiking and Ice Climbing in Iceland
• Hiking the World’s Most Dangerous Trail
• Skydiving in Skydive Wanaka in Queenstown

Get a Travel Rewards Credit Card

Curious about how I afford to travel? I signed up for a rewards credit card a few years ago, and it’s changed how I travel!

It’s helped me afford bucket list worthy trips, travel more comfortably on long-haul flights and stay in luxury hotel rooms for a fraction of the price. Recently, I’ve started using my miles to upgrade my seat from economy to business class.

It’s totally worth it!

With so many different travel credit card options out there, it’s easy to find one that works for your lifestyle. Plus, many of the sign-up bonuses are super generous, and you’ll be able to afford a trip before you even make your first swipe.

Read More on Travel Credit Cards:

• Using the Capital One Venture Travel Reward Credit Card

Learn to Scuba Dive

I love everything about scuba diving! I got my PADI Open Water certification in Panama, I completed my Advanced Open Water in Mexico and received my Nitrox certification in French Polynesia.

Fast forward a few years, and I’ve dived in over 12 countries!

With more than 71% of the Earth covered by water, there’s so much to discover beneath our oceans. Gift yourself with a PADI certification and open yourself up to how beautiful life “unda da sea” truly is!

Check out all of my posts on scuba diving!

Get a Job Working Abroad

Want to stay on the road for longer? Get a job that will let you live abroad! You can get your TEFL qualification and teach English in destinations like China, Thailand or Cambodia.

But if the classroom life is not for you, there are tons of other career options. You can become a bar crawl leader, work in a hostel or a tour guide for companies like Contiki or G Adventures.

Read More on Travel Jobs:

Book a Business Class Flight

Once you’ve saved up your miles with your travel credit card, splurge on a long-haul business class flight. You’ll get delicious food, more than enough legroom and high-class service.

Read More on Business Class Travel:

• Avianca 787 Business Class Flight from LA to Bogotá
• British Airways Club World Business Class from London to San Diego
• Emirates Business Class Flight from Dubai to Los Angeles
• KLM World Business Class Flight from LA to Cape Town
• Qatar Airways QSuites Business Class (A350-900) Review

Go to a Music Festival

I love attending music festivals around the world! Over the years, I’ve danced my heart out in the Karoo Desert at AfrikaBurn, attended Tomorrowland in Belgium and went to big festivals in the US like Coachella.

Read More on Festival Travel:

• 15 Music Festivals Around the World
• The Ultimate AfrikaBurn Survival Guide
• The Beginner’s Guide to Burning Man
• The Ultimate Survival Packing Guide for Burning Man
• What to Pack for AfrikaBurn

Go Camping

As a native Californian, I grew up spending my summers outdoors with my family. We organized trips to some of the states most beautiful camping sites on the beach, in the middle of the forest and out in the desert.

Use your camping trip as an opportunity to disconnect from the online world for a weekend. Swap the buzzing of your phone for complete silence as you gaze up at the stars and roast marshmallows by the campfire.

Read More on Camping:

• Amazing Glamping Destinations in the USA
• How to Survive Iceland’s Ring Road in a Camper Van
• Morocco’s Sahara Desert Glamping Guide
• The Top 10 Campsites in California

Visit World Heritage Sites

As of 2018, there are 1092 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world. Why not make it your goal to visit as many as you can before you turn 30?

The UNESCO sites represent some of the world’s greatest treasures. From Cambodia’s ancient Angkor Wat to the Rose City of Petra and the Sydney Opera House, there are gems to discover in every single country around the world.

Read More on World Heritage Sites:

Go on a Multi-Day Trek

One of the most challenging, but rewarding things I’ve ever done is the Inca Trail. It took me four days to finally reach Machu Picchu, and the sore muscles were worth it!

Before you set on your first multi-day trek, make sure you’re prepared. You’ll need to train for it (even if it’s hiking smaller one-day trails) and have good quality gear to make the experience as comfortable as possible.

Read More on Hiking Travel:

• Glacier Hiking and Ice Climbing in Iceland
• Hiking King’s Canyon in Australia’s Outback
• Hiking the World’s Most Dangerous Trail
• Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Peru

Visit Every Continent

Every continent offers completely different cultures and experiences. While getting to some might be difficult (like Antartica), visiting every continent is top on my bucket list.

Read More:

• The Ultimate Africa Travel Guide
• The Ultimate Asia Travel Guide
• The Ultimate Australia Travel Guide
• The Ultimate Europe Travel Guide
• The Ultimate North America Travel Guide
• The Ultimate South America Travel Guide

Explore Your Own Country

While I’ve visited over sixty countries around the world, I’m guilty of neglecting the United States. I’ve only traveled to a handful of states, and there’s a long list of National Parks I still need to cross off my list.

Instead of visiting your usual haunts on the weekend, explore your city like a tourist! Or if you have the time, plan a road trip to a nearby state.

Check out all of my USA travel guides here!

Stay in a Fancy Hotel

After a few years of backpacking and staying in cheap hostels, I decided to upgrade to a night in a fancy hotel. I used my points from my travel credit card and splurged on a night of luxury at The Ritz-Carlton in Budapest.

I was picked up from the airport by a private chauffeured limousine service, I had the entire Charmain suite to myself and a 24/7 dedicated butler.

I felt like royalty!

Read More on Luxury Travel:

• Staying at Conrad Bora Bora Nui
• Staying at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong
• Staying at Lion Sands Ivory Lodge and Treehouses
• Staying at Riad Yasmine in Marrakech
• Staying at The Hotel Californian in Santa Barbara
• Staying at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore
• The Ultimate Suite Experience at The Ritz-Carlton Budapest
• Staying at Mandarin Oriental Geneva
• Staying at Mandarin Oriental Paris
• Staying at Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town
• Staying at Ventana Big Sur

Volunteer Abroad

I love the idea of giving back to the local community when I travel. My first volunteering abroad trip was with the Global Water Brigades in Honduras. I was in my second semester at San Deigo State University (SDSU) and wanted a different type of spring break vacation.

Since then, I’ve volunteered in countries like Cambodia, Bolivia, Peru, and Panama!

Read More on Volunteer Travel:

• The Ultimate Guide To Volunteer Travel
• Unique Ways to Volunteer Abroad
• Epic Arts Cambodia: Charity for the Disabled
• Finding Purpose in Panama
• Global Water Brigades Honduras

Go on a Cruise

I went on my first ever cruise with my mom for 15 days over Christmas and New Years. We boarded Crystal Cruises in San Juan, Puerto Rico and cruised to Rio, Brazil.

I loved the experience so much that I signed up for other cruises in The Galapagos, Seychelles and a Christmas Market River Cruise in Europe!

Read More on Cruise Travel:

• Aboard Crystal Cruises Crystal Symphony
• Danube Christmas Market River Cruise with Crystal Cruises
• My Seychelles Itinerary on Crystal Cruises Esprit Yacht
• River Cruise Onboard Crystal Cruises’ Mozart
• Cruising the Galápagos with Ecoventura
• What to Expect on a Luxury Galápagos Cruise

Attend a Major World Event

Need an excuse to hit the road? Travel to another country and attend a major event. Over the years, I’ve attended the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and volunteered at The Paralympic Games in London.

Read More:

• The Paralympic Opening Ceremonies in London
• Things To See & Do At The World Cup in Brazil

Eat  Something a Little Foreign

Besides jumping out of planes, I like to test the boundaries of my comfort zone by trying weird and strange foods in countries around the world.

I’ve nibbled on rotten shark in Iceland, roujiamo (marinated beef or lamb in a wheat bun) and yangrou paomo (pita bread soaked in lamb soup) in China and I ate my weight in Pho (a traditional broth) in Vietnam.

Eat  Something Delicious

Once you’ve tried all the unusual local delicacies, spoil yourself with a fine dining experience in another country. While living in South Africa, I’ve had the chance to eat out at one of the top restaurants in the country, Test Kitchen.

It’s usually booked out up to three months in advance, but the food was worth the wait!

If you’re a foodie like me, spend some time researching a country’s dining scene. Whether it’s a Michelin-rated restaurant or luxury wine tasting—choose something that’s going to make your time there an unforgettable experience!

Read More on Foodie Travel:

• Durbanville Hills Table Mountain Wine Safari
• Staying at Boschendal Wine Farm in Franschhoek
• Where to Find the Best Food in Cape Town
• Wine Tasting in Valle de Guadalupe in Mexico

Learn a New Language

Always learn a little bit of the local language when you travel! Not only will it make getting around easier, but you’ll learn a new skill.

If you want to take it up a level, travel to a destination like France or Italy for a month or an entire semester and immerse yourself in the local language.

My boyfriend, Meyer, spent four years living in Italy as a professional rugby player. As a result, he speaks fluent Italian!

Improve Your Photography Skills

When I started traveling six years ago, I knew nothing about photography. All I had was my iPhone and a pretty basic point and shoot camera.

Over the years, I’ve spent hours learning photography and editing. I’ve upgraded to the Fujifilm X Series, and I’ve even released my own collection of Lightroom presets!

If you’re serious about improving your photography skills – sign up for a class on Skillshare, go on a photography tour in South Africa and shoot as much as possible! All your hard work and effort will be worth it when you come back with vacation shots.

Check out all of my travel photography guides here!

Live in a New Country

Since moving to Cape Town, my life has changed so much! I started my TBA Escapes Tours, met my boyfriend Meyer and explored so much of South Africa.

If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend living in a new country! Whether it’s for a couple of months or indefinitely, it’s an experience that will shape your life for the better.

You’ll get to immerse yourself into another culture, make new friends and travel deeper.

Read More on Moving Abroad:

• The Ultimate Guide to Moving to Iceland
• The Ultimate Guide to Moving to Morocco
• The Ultimate Guide to Moving to Seoul
• The Ultimate Guide to Moving to Tokyo
• 10 Essential Tips for Couples Moving Abroad

Travel  to a Remote  Tropical Paradise

Are you dreaming of sandy white beaches and sparkling blue water? Then make it your goal to travel to a tropical paradise before you turn 30!

Venture out somewhere remote, like Mozambique, French Polynesia, The Seychelles, or Mauritius. You’ll escape the crowds and have miles of pristine beaches all to yourself.

Read More on Island Travel:

• 20 Photos to Inspire You to Visit Mauritius
• The Ultimate Bimini Islands Travel Guide
• The Ultimate Flores Island Travel Guide
• The Ultimate Seychelles Islands Travel Guide
• 10 Amazing Islands You Need to Visit Now
• 10 Day Itinerary for French Polynesia
• 20 Photos to Inspire You to Visit Bazaruto Island
• 20 Photos to Inspire You to Visit Aruba

Stay in an Epic Airbnb

Instead of staying in another hotel for your next vacation, hop onto Airbnb and stay somewhere unique! You can spend the night in Airstream trailers, yurts, tree houses—you name it!

Read More:

• Using Airbnb For Apartment Rentals Around The World
• Renting a Luxury Villa in Cape Town with Blue Views

Go on a Ski Vacation

You don’t need to be a whiz on the slopes to go on a skiing vacation! There’s nothing wrong with taking lessons and learning a new skill while you soak up the winter wonderland atmosphere!

Read More on Winter Travel:

• What to Pack for a Winter Vacation
• 10 Reasons to Go on The Ski Week
• 10 Winter Weekend Getaways in the USA
• The Best Ski Destinations in North America
• Top Ten Things to Do in Interlaken in the Winter
• What to Pack for a Week in Whistler

Book Your Dream Trip

I traveled for five years before I truly splurged on my “dream” trip. It’s what inspired me to start TBA Escapes to give other female travelers the same amazing experience I had!

While I still have to save up for big trips, I always make a plan to fit them into my life goals.

Some of my big bucket list trips are:

• Antarctica
• French Polynesia
• Galapagos Islands
• Northern Lights
• South Africa

What trips are on your travel bucket list? Let me know in the comments below!