What Traveling Was Really Like in the 70s—15 Things You Forgot or Never Knew
Back in the 1970s, travel was a serious commitment. You had to visit a travel agent, mail in checks, pack a paper map, and hope your hotel looked something like the brochure. There was a kind of raw excitement to it—messier, slower, but somehow more personal. Here’s what travel in the 70s actually looked like—from planes to passports, and everything in between.
Planes Were Fancy, But Not Cheap
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Flying in the 70s wasn’t for budget travelers. A New York to London flight could cost around $550, equivalent to $3,200 today. But for that, you got something close to today’s business class: real legroom, full meals, even seating pods with tables for four. The only downside was that you were eating dinner next to a guy chain-smoking Marlboros with no ventilation in sight.
You Could Smoke Just About Anywhere
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Smoking bans on planes didn’t roll in until the 90s, so in the 70s, it was fair game. Airplanes, buses, lobbies, restaurants—no one blinked. If you were stuck in the middle seat between two smokers, too bad. And hotels’ “non-smoking room” label didn’t exist. You got what you got, ashtray included.
You Could Hitchhike or Jump a Freight Train
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If you didn’t have money for a flight or didn’t trust flying, your options were a little more DIY. Hitchhiking was normalized. So was hopping freight trains, which sounds romantic until you’re clinging to steel in the dead of night. It wasn’t necessarily safe, but it was free, and that mattered to a lot of people back then.
Travel Agencies Were Your Lifeline
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They had connections, handled your reservations, and you called them if something went wrong mid-trip. Without their help, international travel was a maze of forms, stamps, and foreign phone numbers.
Hotels Were Cheap—And Kind of Homey
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In the U.S., a Hilton hotel room could set you back about $24 a night. That’s roughly $150 today. Décor leaned heavily on earth tones and shag carpeting, but you got decent service and some real space. Mini-fridges weren’t a thing, and forget about a gym or a spa—though by 1979, hotels were just starting to ask you to turn off the AC when you left the room.
The Middle East Was a Tourist Hotspot
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It’s hard to imagine now, but in the 70s, people traveled freely to places like Syria, Turkey, and Afghanistan. The region was politically stable and culturally rich. This was the era of the overland “Hippie Trail,” a long route from Europe to Asia through some now-inaccessible parts of the world.
Airfare Deregulation Changed Everything
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Until 1978, the U.S. government controlled airline prices and routes. Once deregulation hit, airlines could set their own fares, which opened the floodgates for competition and eventually cheaper flights. But in the early 70s, flying was still elite, and airlines behaved like it.
Disney World Cost Less Than Lunch Today
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When Disney World opened in 1971, admission was $3.50. By 1979, it was $7—but that didn’t include rides. Tickets were tiered, from 10-cent “A” rides to 90-cent “E” tickets for the best attractions. Today, people still refer to “E-ticket rides,” even though that ticket system disappeared decades ago.
Bottled Water Wasn’t a Thing Yet
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Travelers in the 70s drank tap water, even abroad. Bottled water hadn’t gone mainstream, so if you were sensitive or cautious, you boiled it—or you didn’t drink much. That meant more stomach issues, more time spent recovering in your hotel room, and a whole lot of Pepto-Bismol packed in every carry-on.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites Didn’t Exist Yet
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The official list launched in 1978, so for most of the decade, there was no curated guide to the world’s most treasured spots. You had to rely on guidebooks or word of mouth. And yes, that meant you sometimes traveled halfway around the world just to find out the ruins were mostly rubble and the beach was overrun with goats.
Vaccines Were Non-Negotiable
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Smallpox wasn’t eradicated until 1979, so proof of vaccination was mandatory for certain destinations. Yellow fever cards were checked at customs. Planning a trip meant checking embassy warnings, mailing for information packets, and scheduling shots weeks in advance. There were no last-minute getaways if you were crossing continents.
Airports Were Basically Malls With Planes
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Security was minimal. You could walk someone straight to their gate, shoes on, without showing ID. There were no metal detectors. You boarded with full-size shampoo, scissors, and sometimes knives. The shift to today’s strict security didn’t happen until after 9/11, so in the 70s, airports felt more like train stations than what we have now.
You Relied on Maps, Not Devices
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No GPS, no cell phones, no translation apps. You had a paper map, maybe a phrasebook, and your own instincts. If you got lost, you asked a stranger or stared at a street sign until something clicked. There was no “recalculating route.” You just tried again and hoped for a helpful local and decent daylight.
Most Destinations Were Still Rough Around the Edges
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Mass tourism hadn’t exploded yet, which meant less infrastructure, fewer chain hotels, and more culture shock. You couldn’t assume English signage or Western toilets. You packed toilet paper. You learned to adapt. The upside was that there were crowds, untouched landscapes, and experiences that felt less curated and more real, because they were.
Guidebooks Were Gospel
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Before online reviews or social media recommendations, travelers leaned hard on guidebooks. Lonely Planet and Let’s Go were bibles for anyone with a backpack. They read them cover to cover, dog-eared pages, and trusted their sometimes-outdated advice. If the book said the hostel was safe, you stayed there. If it didn’t, you moved on.