Most people who contribute here seem to be reasonably well travelled, and most are not under 25 years old (again, just my impression).

Do you find that as you accumulate travel experience over the years that your tastes and demands change, or do they stay the same?

I mean most of us start out in our younger years with limited money and we enjoy whatever vacations and travel experiences we get. But with time (and maybe accumulation of assets plays a big part) do your expectations change? Do you become more jaded or do you still appreciate all the little things you did in earlier years?

First time seeing the Grand Canyon, or Golden Gate Bridge, or a Caribbean beach is usually very memorable.
First time staying in a really nice hotel, same thing.

Do you still enjoy the 'little things' as much as you did when you first started travelleng? (Does it matter?)

Mr. Franklin, Can I hand in this assignment tomorrow? Also, does it have to be typed and double spaced?

I still appreciate all of my earlier trips when I was younger. It's the great memories, who I went with, special meals and the special unique things I discovered - I like to explore new places and find unique things and dig in and get to know the area and people. Of course, as I could afford it I would go to nicer places. I like my nice resorts even better and love to be pampered.

Intersting question. I am 27 and have already been to 22 counrtries and 40 states. I find that even as i get older i still enjoy going to more local places, avoiding tours and luxury hotels and try to see wherever i go as a local.

While biking through europe at age 19 I stayed in a castle built in the 1100's that had been converted to a youth hostel. I had a great time, but really didn't appreciate it. If I were to stay there again today, 30 years later, I'm sure I would appreciate it, but I probably wouldn't enjoy it. Has nothing to do with changing tastes; has everything to do with getting old!!

I travel about the same way now as 20 years ago, although i have more money now. The three biggest differences are:

1) I often pay for good food from restaurants and markets instead of cooking Knorr soup over a camp stove.

2) I don't have to agonize over a $10 decision.

3) I sometimes pay more for convenience; for example, I may spend $200 more to fly out of our local airport as opposed to driving 4 hours each way to Albuquerque where I can catch a Southwest Airlines flight.

Way more spoiled. I used to stay in cheap traveler type places. In Indonesia about 8 yrs ago I often stayed in places that were $US2/night and survived on less than $10/day. In Euro the typical hostels and boarding houses. Now as a professional who travels quite a bit and stays in extremely nice resorts- it's hard to go back. Travelling with miles and hotel points is cheaper that paying for budget hotels and flying econo. I enjoy the history and native cultures much more now and have a greater appreciation for our differences. I still feel very comfortable walking around and mixing with people in the streets in not so nice countries but when it comes time to sleep and rest I prefer my 5 star property.

Dear Traveller:
"I don't have to agonize over a $10 decision" LOL!!! Boy do I relate to that! AND we don't have to cook in our room anymore. When the kids were little, the only way we could afford to go anywhere was to take the electric skillet with us and cook meals in our hotel room! But, it was good times and good memories. I do enjoy the little things just as much today as I did then, probably because we never go to the same place twice, there's so much of the world to see and I want to see as much of it as possible.

Travellyn hit it right on the head. Typically, when you're older you have more money and because you can afford it, you'd rather stay in a hotel than camp, and rather eat at a nice restaurant than eat a cup o' soup. I still camp, but only when I have to (i.e. when there are no "real beds" for miles).

My tastes have changed since I was kid (of course...all I wanted then was amusement parks and swimming) ...but not at all in the past 10 years. I still love to hike and visit remote areas, see beautiful architecture, and eat local cuisine.

My tastes have stayed the same. I've been to all the lower 48, 15 countries and traveled all my life. I've always tried to appreciate each experience for what they are. I enjoy staying in the top hotels as much as I enjoy camping.

I find this an interesting question as well. Many years ago I spent three months in Thailand in a hotel that doubled as a brothel. Regular rooms for $3 a night were on the second floor, entertainment rooms on the first floor around back. Interesting mix of clientle, regular travelers, Chinese families, G.I.'s on R&R, the working girls, everyone minded their own business.

Just returned from a stay at a Four Seasons property, so yes, my tastes in accomodations have changed, but my love of travel remains.

Good question. I am now able to travel where I wish and stay in whatever accomodations I desire. What I have found is the level of satisfaction I feel derives from the value of the accomodations. I am not one that finds that club level floors or suites are worth it, nor domestic first class air travel. I do not like to be pampered to where I feel like a slug, so I generally avoid the very poshest accomodations. I am also very active on vacation, so generally am not at the hotel and the view matters little. I generally stay at better resort properties when traveling with family, but cheap and simple when I am traveling solo. I still like to carry my own bags and park my own car. I just don't need much to make me happy, and never have. I like to travel in "local" mode more than "tourist" mode as well.

I must say I'm a bit surprised by the answers above. I expected to read a lot of sarcastic and snotty responses to this question.
Very refreshing to find that so many people really seem to enjoy travelling for less than materialistic reasons.
Appreciating local (non-touristy) culture, appreciating the freedom to travel in the first place.

Seems like a nice crowd here.

We have gone from economy to luxury and back in the past 30 years. Part of the equation is time at destination. As a college student you have no money and one week spring break. This defines your travel experience. As a young professional you have 2 weeks vacation for the first five years so you want the most out of those 2 weeks (luxury). As an older professional you get lots of vacation time and so the hotel/resort amenities become less important.

At this point I would much rather take a long in depth vacation at a less than fabulous place than a short high $$$$ vacation. I have 4 shower heads that put out 29 gal/min in my home shower so am not really impressed by a seperate tub shower in a resort location. I guess that after 30 years the little bottles of shampoo and the snooty staff don't do anything for me anymore. (We bring our own soap and shampoo and sometimes our own sheets for long stays.) OH NO MR BILL we have become old fogeys.

I do agree with travllynn no more $10 WORRIES, no more crummy connections, and way better food, a lot of cooked on a grill at condo rather than at a restuarant. Although I am partial to Roy's.

Interesting question Chris. My husband and I were just discussing this. I told him at how on a recent trip to St. Augustine I was disappointed at the "Living Spanish Village" or whatever it was called because I had been to Williamsburg and it was so much nicer. After visiting Quebec, other places of a similar nature failed to impress me as much. Once you've seen the "best" of something, it's hard to enjoy other things of the same type. I never had this problem when I was younger - any trip was wonderful. People who really travel a lot must have this problem.

I guess the biggest difference for me from traveling now or traveling in my 20's and 30's is I do a lot more research before I go and know more about where I'm going. It's more fun now and I appreciate it more. Also have more $$ for travel now, but enjoy the bargains more. Yes, your demand and tastes changes. In my 20's it was all about partying. Now I have have kids and enjoy showing them things.

Glad everyone isn't being mean about this post.

I travel frequently, have done so all my life, both expensive and moderate, and it never fails to thrill me.

Chris,
Great question.
I'm with Bob, for the most part. I find we are much more confident and willing to engage staff to find out where they're from, why they're here, etc. And less tolerant of shoddy service. I don't need to be treated like a king, just politely and as the customer.

Great thread...My wife and I have found that we would rather travel alone and do whatever we want to do,and where we want to go. In years past,traveling with other couples because we thought it would be more fun, has become the opposite. I would'nt say my "demands or tastes" have changed. We are not as often to let a budget dictate our trip. I suppose kids have made us more appreciative of time away,alone.

We have definitely "stepped up" over the years, but we still seach for deals and look for value. We prefer a higher class hotel and a better restaurant, but not because it's the poshest place in town or the "in" place to eat. It still has to be worth the money spent. I'd much rather be pleasantly surprised with extra amenities, better service or an upgrade than be disappointed by high expectations that just didn't delivery.

My husband and I have become very spoiled over the years and motels just dont cut it for us. If we can't afford a luxury place to stay we wait until we can. Why stay at a place that is not as comfortable as your home and have to pay for it? This is just our opinion.