Balam at Loch Ness

I am approaching the benchmark that society has been telling me to fear. The big 3-0. The era of the end of youth rates for travelling, and being grilled at every potluck by women twice my age why I don’t have a husband/kids/house.

That was never my goal for 30.

Instead I have been in the search for an adventure. An epic tale where I fall off the earth and into the stories most only read about/watch on TV. I want to be the Josh Gates from expedition unknown (hey josh, if you need an assistant, I come with a degree in archaeology, and masters in museums.)

I’ve been chasing the latest dream since I moved back to the US 3 years ago; to have traveled to 30 countries by the time I’m 30. In these 3 years I’ve done the grow-up thing, went to open houses for places for sale, been shaping my career, and paying student loans.

I’ve also been putting money aside for my 30-by-30.

With six months till my 30th, I bought myself a 13 country Contiki tour of Europe. I know- I know… almost every other country I’ve been to has been a solo excursion of mishappening and heartfelt realisation. But this spring I will be on a time crunch. I only need 8 more countries.

I work 2 jobs that have both been amazingly good to me, and I’m lucky that I will be getting 3 weeks off to whirlwind through Europe.

I feel guilty that in these last three years I’ve save up content to write on, from practicing my French in Quebec to drinking a “Funky Monkey” on a beach in Mexico eating fish tacos and visiting Mayan ruins. I sat on swings drinking margaritas with the girls, and (tried and failed to) run up a mountain in Tuscon. I have explored more of the US from DC to Seattle with some of the key people in my life.

The Braid bunch

I’ve realised THAT is the kind of travel most get to experience. That is the family weekend trip, the get away with the girls, the short epic adventure that feeds the soul.

Now comes the “how do you do it!?” list:

1. SkyScanner

The App that finds every deal, sale and transfer that makes the flight a little cheaper.

2. Plan ahead, but adapt

I research the best time to buy tickets and book tours. I plan when work is slow enough to take 3 weeks off. I plan when to have my planning sessions. It keeps costs down. But when you’re travelling, there is the stand by- even the best laid plans often go astray. Go with the flow, think on your feet, plan two steps ahead so whichever direction the next step makes you, you’ll be ready.

3. Time is money

Staying in a hotel or a hostel, each day costs. Plan a per a diem. The tour of Europe I will be on has pretty much everything planned out with a few meals and excursions that I’m on my own. With being busy with that “adulting” thing I’m trying out, a tour is a good option for me. A few countries on the tour I’ve been to before so instead of the tours that I’ve done before I might go see another part of the city. But having the plan in place has saved me a lot of time at home. Now I can plan things like…

4. International Sim Card

I’m going to post on social media. I want to send photos and brag about the delicious food. And I don’t want to be constrained to the hostel wifi. Check out simoptions.com, I’ll let you know how my experience is once I get to use the sim I bought about 2 hours ago.

5.Pack light

I have been living by the Pinterest boards for “Europe in a carry on” and other packing tips that has me already planning my full 3 weeks from biking the Netherlands to a nice birthday dinner in Italy. All in a duffle carryon with room for souvenirs.

There is much more where this came from, keep an eye out for more updates as I get ready, and especially as I embark on epic adventures.