Travelling in 'the old days' was the same as now - an adventure, but an adventure with less preparation and sometimes more sponteniety. Perceptions also change depending on where you went and where from.
The biggest change is definitely communications. I wrote to my family every week, regardless of whether they received it or not, and they did the same sending mail to Post Restante. I would hate to think how much time and effort went into communications that were not received. My face was a study in horror when a new arrival in our flat announced she was off to the post office to phone home. The cost of that call would have fed us for a month.
My hometown was small, remote and quite isolated - and no TV reception My schooling was practical rather than arts, history and geography. The nearest library had a very small travel section, and the big city travel agent had a few brochures, so basically I travelled 'blind' until I found a good library and people who had been to Europe to work out what I wanted. When I look back I am horrified at my lack of knowledge of what to see, where to see it and how to get there. Now if you wish you hop on the net and probe until you have a much better understanding of what to see, where and why and view photos of almost everything, including your probable hotel room, before you leave.
Solo travellers met and arranged groups/ flats/ jobs through public notice boards in places such as NZ/Aust or SA "house" Travellers formed groups and purchased beaten up old combi vans and travelled together. Some solo travellers with funds took camping bus tours with groups such as ConTiki. As for guide books - I am sure there were some but my early travels were at the same time as the Wheelers were travelling and you know their story.
Most long term travellers were leaving home for the first time, and the feeling of freedom was rather heady. Many in their early 20's were indulging in experiences that are today have been experienced by many 14 -16 year olds - liquor, drugs, short term relationships etc. The ships on the south to northern hemisphere run were nicknamed "cherry pickers" (no need for more explanations I am sure). Because of cost and distance - most left their hemisphere for a long stay. It was a huge decision. No flying home to attend a family wedding: If things got tough - you toughed it out or went home for good. Families migrating from the slowly recovering but still War torn Europe also had that same decision to make - long term not short.
Work visas were far easier to obtain and many visa restrictions were no where near as complex as those of today. It was possible to earn extra money legally with very little red tape interference - but the world in some ways was smaller. The communist block was almost off limits and the Middle East expensive and difficult to get to unless your ship happened to travel via the Suez.
Now I travel with a phone for emergencies (ill health within the family). I occasionally email if I am in the mood and never ever carry a laptop, but do carry a good but light weight camera instead of the heavy SLR I carried around the world for years.
My grandmother used to marvel at the power of communications and laughed at me for worrying about missing mail. She came to NZ on a sailing ship in 1902, and returned to England with my mother in time to get caught up in WWII and did not return home until afterwards. Communications were really difficult then and she thought I was a bit of a wuss. I wonder what she would think of the internet?
