5 Travel Experiences Worth Doing Again and Again

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These are travel experiences I paid to do... and are absolutely worth doing again.

There's a travel content creator I've been following for awhile who goes by @thisgirlswanderlust_, and she regularly talks about her "boujee on a budget" travel preferences — the idea that there are some things she's willing to splurge on, and others she's ready to rough it through to have the money to splurge later. I consider myself the same kind of "middle traveler;" I don't think every single travel experience needs to be a huge splurge (I did not pay to tour La Sagrada Familia, but I did visit), but sometimes shelling out the extra cash is totally worth it.

In my travels, I've certainly had the I-can't-believe-I-spent-money-on-that regret, but I've also had experiences that had me ready to turn around and buy another ticket the same day. Below are five of the experiences I'd pay to do again.

Culture: The Little Museum of Dublin

Dublin, Ireland

The Little Museum of Dublin is — well, just that. It's a small museum located in Dublin, but don't let its size fool you: It's packed with Irish history. The tour is quick (perfect if you want to squeeze it in on a workation), informative, and the tour guides are hilarious. I learned and laughed more in that one hour than I had in my entire trip to Ireland up to that point.

The museum is pretty affordable — the ticket falls around the $22 USD mark. And while the entire museum is relatively small inside, it covers everything from the city's political history to its cultural impact in literature, music, and film. I'll remember the milk moment for the rest of my life (if you know, you know), and when I'm back in Dublin, I'll absolutely be paying this one a visit again.

Thrill: The Big Apple Rollercoaster

Las Vegas, Nevada

For those of you who aren't aware, the New York-New York Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas is home to one of the most unique selling points for a Vegas hotel: There's literally a rollercoaster inside the hotel.

The coaster wraps around the casino, and it's in my top rollercoasters if only because the view of Las Vegas from the top (before you take the plunge) is unparalleled. That said, it far surpassed my initial expectations — I really only wanted to do it for the novelty of it, but it's actually a very fun ride. While I did ask myself "Do I really want to pay $20 for a single rollercoaster ride?" beforehand, I certainly wasn't asking after. In fact, I paid it again the following day, and I'd pay it again tomorrow, too.

Practically speaking, the line isn't long, and it moves quickly. If you're on that side of the strip, I'd say it's worth a go. If you're not on that side of the strip, I'd say it's worth a go anyway.

Physical Activity: Sunrise Paddleboarding

Barcelona, Spain

Technically, you don't need to be in Barcelona to go paddleboarding at sunrise, but if you find yourself there, I'd highly recommend it as part of your Barcelona experience. This is another experience on my list I'd say is particularly friendly to those who are on a workation, or even if you find yourself on a solo trip and want an experience you'll never forget.

Regardless of what coast you find yourself on, sunrise paddleboarding experiences are a great way to get in some physical activity and enjoy the water, even if you aren't highly experienced. Going on a guided tour allows you to work with an expert, get some incredible photos you won't forget, and make friends, if you're flying solo.

Sunrise a bit too early for you? You can go during the day, too — but you'll miss out on the breathtaking view of the sun rising over the Balearic Sea.

Adventure: Van Camping in Ibiza

Ibiza

Ibiza is most known for its party reputation — I've personally watched Charli XCX's Boiler Room set only 1,000 times, and there are hundreds of DJs, raves, and parties across the island's many clubs. But if you're looking for an island getaway and a little bit of adventure, I'd highly recommend exploring the island via camper van, instead.

While it used to be easy to find a camper van on Airbnb, getting a camper van usually involves going through more official channels as of last year. That said, they're relatively affordable, and finding spots to camp in Ibiza is easy.

The whole experience was a little surreal; I never imagined myself waking up to coffee brewed directly on the beach, or snorkeling in some of the bluest water I could ever imagine. If I ever get the chance, you bet I'd do this one again.

Splurge: The Moulin Rouge

Paris, France

No, I'm not talking about the Broadway hit — I'm talking about the actual Moulin Rouge, and this one will top my list every single day and twice on Sunday, potentially for the rest of my life. Founded in the late 1880s, the Moulin Rouge is the birthplace of the French can-can, but the show itself is so much more. Photography is not allowed at all inside the building, so to experience the show, you really need to book the ticket.

While it comes in at the priciest experience on my list, it's easily the one I'd say is worth the other four combined. I truly have never seen anything like the Moulin Rouge. I was surprised, delighted, and enthralled through the entire show. All I can really say is: You have to see this one for yourself.

Bonus: Dita Von Teese

Las Vegas, Nevada

Dita Von Teese is currently residing at the Venetian in Las Vegas, but she's toured all over the world, and she isn't dubbed "The Queen of Burlesque" for nothing. If you're looking for a burlesque-style show and you find yourself in Vegas, this is one I'd add to the list. In fact, Dita should be at the top of your list for any burlesque experience in Vegas.

The Litmus Test: More Than Price

I'm not the kind of traveler who limits herself to specific types of experiences — if it's worth doing, or I think I'll regret passing on it later, you can count me in (yes, the FOMO gets to me). If the variety of this list tells you anything, it's that I'm generally open to trying anything once.

The one thing these experiences do have in common with one another is that I'd do them again without hesitating. If you find yourself in a position to try one of the above, I'd highly recommend it.

Do you have a specific travel experience you'd do over and over again? Submit it here, and I just might cover it in Part 2.