Also, there is more to it than just the meeting girls aspect. The other aspect is a bit more abstract and harder to explain. I guess it has to do with the "image" associated with traveling as a young 20something vs as a 30something. When you are in your 20s, most of the other people traveling are around your age. You feel like you fit in, like you're doing it right. Particularly when we are talking about the "backpacker" kind of travel as opposed to a "vacation." When you are in your 30s, people probably expect that you would have been doing it for years already if it was your thing. It makes me feel like I would be out of place. Actually, from my facebook feed, it seems like every other person went on a cool trip this summer. When I see all these people my age and younger getting their traveling done, it reinforces the feeling that I should be doing it too and can't afford to keep waiting around.