10 Travel experiences that are truly priceless

In David Jobanputra's latest article in the 'Why we travel' series, he looked at how travel has become commoditised and how many of the must-do experiences on a traveller's list are no longer priceless, but in fact can be quite easily given a monetary value.

This makes for sobering reading for those passionate travellers who enthuse about the life-changing experiences that money can't buy - it seems, according to this argument, that money can indeed buy any travel memory. As an antidote to this somewhat unromantic hypothesis, I felt it worth listing a few real travel experiences that for me at least, will always remain priceless. Feel free to add your own as always.

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1. Unexpected guests. You arrive at your hotel late at night, check in and just want to flop onto the bed with exhaustion. As you turn the key to your room you wonder about that noise you can hear, and your worst fears are confirmed when you half-open the door and spy two pairs of unfamiliar feet at the end of your bed. 

2. The last bus. You always wondered about the wisdom of that tight connection in a one-horse town. 5 minutes to make the only bus out of town that day, and as you pull in to the deserted parking lot you see the last of the dust settle as the departing bus disappears into the distance. 

3. A good soaking. You head out for a day's hiking and decide there's no need for the waterproofs. After all there isn't even a cloud in the sky. Within an hour the heavens open and you are treated to a complete drenching, leaving you to complete the long walk back to civilisation feeling like a freezing cold drowned rat. 

4. The nightmare returns. You spend a long journey, or perhaps even a tour, with the traveller from hell. You count down the hours until your paths diverge and you never have to see them again. A few days later, you're in a new town, enjoying a relaxing evening drink. You hear your name shouted from the other side of the room, and your heart sinks as you instantly recognise the voice. 

5. The Heathrow Stack. No explanation needed for anyone flying into London's busiest airport. Forget the estimated time of arrival on the Sky Map on your in-flight screen; as you descend you just know that the pilot is going to make that announcement about traffic and embark on a series of frustrating loops above the London suburbs for the next 30 minutes.

On a brighter note...

6. The late switch. You step forward in the line to board the aircraft, and hand your boarding pass to the gate staff. They look at it for a while, confer, and then take out a big fat marker pen, changing your seat in 54G to one in 4A. Your day has take a sudden turn for the better.

7. The power cut. You've just sat down for a beer in the friendly cafe when the lights go out. The staff bring you out a candle and you continue your evening uninterrupted. After a couple of hours with no power the manager asks your group to do him a favour. The ice-cream freezer contents are now going to have to be disposed of, and you and your fellow travellers can help yourselves to as much as you like to save him the trouble of throwing it all away. 

8. Only one room left. You arrive late at night and present your tatty piece of paper that proves that you have a reservation for the cheapest room in the hotel. The receptionist looks sorry and tells you that the hotel is full. Just as you are considering your options the manager comes out, sees your forlorn expression and shows you the greatest mercy. Moments later you are sitting on a sumptuously soft bed and counting your luck at bagging the best suite in town. 

9. The kindness of strangers. You're in a strange place and you're lost. At home you might check your GPS or read a map, but here there's nothing, and no-one speaks your language. Then someone tries to help you. They call over another person who once knew someone who lived in England. Very soon you have tea; you have snacks; you have an offer of a bed for the night. You still have no directions, but you soon realise that you're having the type of experience that will make a brilliant story when you get home.

10. That travel feeling. You arrive in a faraway place at the start of your trip. It's day one, the sun is shining and you remember with a smile how gloomy it is back at home. An epic journey lies ahead and with it the chance of any number of as yet unknown adventures and misadventures. You're on the road again and it feels good. 

What are your priceless travel moments?

Decisions...

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