Before I turned 45, I traveled to over 100 countries.
I hope to pass on the life lessons I learned from travel to my children.
I live like a local and never forget to pack an important item.
I traveled for the first time when I was 21. I wanted to visit 100 countries before I turned 50. I did it by the age of 45.
I spent a lot of time and money overseas when I was a child. My vacations were always domestic.
I traveled for the first time at the age of 21. I went to Hawaii for 10 days after saving a lot of money. I set a goal of visiting 100 countries before I turned 50 after I visited a new country and learned about a different culture.
I was able to travel extensively after I got a marketing job with a large Australia-based travel company. I began to go on regular international business trips. My connections through work gave me access to discounted airfare and hotel rooms. My friends spent a lot of money on cars and houses.
When I was 45 years old, I reached my goal of 100 countries when I traveled to Ukranian.
One of my friends was waiting for me at the airport in Kyiv with a banner and trophy to celebrate my big day.
I now have five more countries on my list. My passion for travel to my twin sons has been passed on to other people.
My boys were 12 years old when I showed them the trophy and photos. They wanted to reach 100 counties before they turned 50.
They traveled more quickly than I did. I wanted them to be able to travel from a young age because I experienced it when I was young. Every year, I set a budget for our family to go on an overseas trip.
They will meet that goal quicker than I did, that's for sure. I hope they will learn from the lessons I've learned along the way as they travel more.
When I started traveling, one of the first things I learned was that it's important to be open to new experiences. I try to kill the routine whenever I can.
I stood in line for a museum in Israel. I received a text from a friend asking if I would like to go to the West Bank with them.
The limited bus schedule would cause me to forgo the museum. The museum was recommended by me as I had put together a detailed itinerary for my trip. It seemed like a good chance to take.
I thought it was correct. I had a wonderful day visiting a place I had never been to. I spent Iftar with a local family because it was the breaking of the fast.
I was able to have an authentic cultural experience if I didn't allow myself to be tied down to a minute by minute schedule. The museum will be there when I visit again.
I decided to go with the flow and not bother with travel planning anymore. I like to have a rough idea of what I want to see in a new place, but I also like to be able to change my mind at will.
Friends of mine put together detailed spreadsheets that show every minute of their holidays. In my opinion, this type of routine may work in daily life, but when it comes to travel, leaving room for spontaneity is where the best memories are created.
When I travel, I always bring an Australian football with me. It's a great way to get to know people and teach them about my country.
Australian rules football is one of my favorite sports. I think the ball is a great way to meet people and engage with locals.
I take out my football and ask people if they want to learn a new game. I have played Aussie football with children and adults in countries such as Russia and China. I went to a Texas Longhorns football game last month and got a game happening among the college tailgaters.
My sons are following in my footsteps. I stopped in a small village on my way to Cape Town for a coffee. My sons were playing in the street and asked if they could learn a new game. None of the children had ever played a game of football before.
I think it's a great way for my sons to travel with their friends around the same age in another country. It was the highlight of their trip, they said.
It does not have to be a ball. A good way to engage with locals is to bring an item from home.
I realized that traveling allows me to meet people I wouldn't normally meet. People who travel should spend time with new people.
I added a few days in Pristina to my trip to Macedonia. It's the capital of Kosovo and a place that few tourists visit.
After getting off the bus, I walked to my room. They were interested in why I was there.
My love of travel and desire to explore new places were mentioned. They were excited to meet a foreigner and wanted to show me around their city.
I was 41 and the boys were 17 years old. I usually decline such an invitation as I am concerned about how it will look to others, a middle-aged man with two teenage boys. I promised to join them for a couple of hours after they were so excited to speak with a tourist.
Two of my new friends studied history at school and gave me a city tour that was as good as any I've had from a guide. Even though I'm the oldest person there and the only foreigner, it was one of the best meals I've had.
I enjoyed the experience and forgot about our differences. When they took me to see a statue of Bill Clinton, they didn't show their lack of life experience.
They assumed we all knew each other because they hadn't met any tourists, Australians or Americans before. They thought I was a friend of Bill.
I prefer to ask the person where they eat. I try to find small tours that are led by locals.
I don't think that travel research is as easy as it is made out to be. Many travelers like to go to the same restaurants. These places are usually overpriced and full of tourists. I always look for where the locals eat when I'm traveling.
The first time I went to a cafe, it was by mistake. I was looking for a place to eat. I couldn't find the restaurant I was looking for because I didn't have a phone or map. A small cafe was found after an hour or so of walking. There was no menu on the seats. There was no one else in sight.
The waiter asked what he wanted to eat. He took my order and I waited for him to serve it. The best meal I've had on my travels was that one.
If I don't find a place that's special, I ask the person I meet where they would get a coffee or a beer. I think these places are more special than the ones tourists know about.
I don't like joining big bus tours and looking for smaller walking or cycling tours. In my travels, I've foundAirbnb Experiences to be an excellent resource in finding locals offering a more authentic experience than on a bus with 50 other tourists
My children love to cycle and I found an experience that offered a personalized tour of the city. We were taken to markets, temples, and through his neighborhood by the local guide. We never would have found ourselves in many of the places we traveled to. He took me and my kids to his favorite candy store. It's been a great way to connect with locals in a new place and see the city through their eyes.
It can be tempting to sleep in. You will remember your experience even if you don't remember how tired you were.
Everyone who goes on vacation is told my last point.
In 2012 I traveled with my cousin. We only returned to the hotel at 2 a.m. after we were out late. I was disappointed that we didn't visit Frogner Park, which is the world's largest sculpture park made by one artist.
It would take us two hours to explore Frogner if we set our alarms for 5 a.m. I was worried that I wouldn't have enough sleep the next day. The thing that Yonatan told me stuck in my mind.
You won't remember how tired you were, but you will remember the time you spent at Frogner Park.
We were the only people in the park when we woke up. I will never forget watching the sunrise and admiring the sculptures.
I realized my cousin was correct when I flew home. The memories I made and the photos I took were much better than the sleep I got.
My children have also put this mentality into practice. We went to Disney World in September and woke up at 6 a.m. every day to be among the first at the theme parks. We were able to do all the rides we wanted before the crowds showed up. They were taught that if you snooze, you lose.
They will get to 100 countries much quicker than I did.
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