To feel that people who constantly travel are just running from their problems?

We go on holiday (abroad) about 3 times a year, we could go more (as financially we can afford it) however there is always some things that needs to be done at home, which can’t be done during the working week/weekends as life with kids is busy. And yes I see some of our friends ‘escaping’ on multiple holidays as they can’t face life at home, their houses are a mess, finances are a state, and their kids are barely thriving in anything at school. So yes OP I agree with you.

What real life issues are people who travel a lot avoiding?

I have noticed a very weird obsession on MN when it comes to everyone following the same path and 'settling down'. Anyone that chooses something different is automatically wrong.

This too. (DH just arrived in Riyadh for work, but his luggage stayed in Istanbul, unfortunately...)

But why would you see travel as any kind of escape from reality? I've realised from frequent Mn threads over the last few months that a significant proportion of Mners absolutely loathe leaving home, even overnight, loathe holidays even when they're in pleasant places with nice accommodation, because they hate packing, planning, travelling to the airport, and being in an unfamiliar place without their familiar surroundings, routines and creature comforts. They view the world as something to escape from, but the world is whatever is out there, and the 'escape' is inside their own homes and routines.

Personally, I love seeing new places, learning about a new culture, a new language, and I've lived longterm in five different countries. I don't think that makes me in any way escapist, it just makes me someone who likes to experience the kind of expanded reality that comes with seeing how different cultures do things, finding my way, whether that's figuring out the trains in south India, or camping on an island off the west coast of Ireland with no one but seals and sheep around.

People have all sorts of reasons to travel and escapism is definitely one but most people know that's temporary.
You can't avoid issues at home. There are still bills to pay and people you live with that you may need to deal with.

It feels like this is about a specific person OP and if you want opinions you might as well just tell us about them! In such general terms I don’t really know what you mean.

Does the constant escape make it harder to address things at home or find contentment without the next trip lined up?
What if seeing new places and having new experiences is how they find contentment? Is there something inherently better about finding contentment in your home town?

I’m usually running to my problem as all my travel is work related, and most problems are work related!!!

Exactly.

What makes you think this? Do you know any frequent travellers with problems they're running away from?

For some, yes. Probably a very small proportion though. I’ve certainly done it in the long past and dream of doing it again.

But I think what I am trying to escape is an unreasonable way of life that I feel forced into and nothing to do with being immature or irresponsible. I have little interest in things that many people think are important and find society in general increasingly rigid and conformist. I try to find an middle ground but usually fail.

Well funnily enough I find I travel less now I live where I want to rather than where I had to for work so there may well be something in it

Like most things , there will be lots going on

This is a variation on another comment I've read on here that people who travel a lot must hate their home/where they live.

Ridiculous.

Perhaps the enlightenment they receive whilst travelling to run away from a boring staid existence is an answer to that existence in the first place. Perhaps then their real lives improve

I think maybe people who are constantly moving house or changing jobs (both through choice rather than necessity) seem to be in search of something that will make their lives whole, but I think going on holiday is just that?

@BluntGoldPoster but what do you mean by "address things at home"? If they're leaving three kids to fend for themselves then yes that's a problem, but what things does a single person need to address?

And fair enough, if it's bringing them some peace

Who says they have problems? What if they just love travelling? If I were over 45 with no kids (or any age and didn't want kids) I would probably do the same thing myself.

I know someone who bought a camper van and has been travelling constantly since her child died. In her case, yes, she’s escaping. And she’d be the first to admit that. But plenty of people just enjoy travelling because they like seeing new places / eating different food / being in the sun during our winter etc etc etc.

It’s possible for people to be in an addictive cycle of travelling, where travelling is all that matters, home is just a place to park while gathering the funds to set off again. So it’s like any other addiction that takes over a person’s life and distracts them from the business of maturity.

So nobody should be going on holiday? How frequent is too frequent?
What real-life issues do you think they are escaping in particular?

What a silly proposition.

Do you think real life doesn’t exist in other countries? Do problems evaporate when you cross a border?

What about people who order takeaways a lot? Are they being lazy to avoid real life issues?
Or people who watch TV every night - shouldn’t they be working on ways to solve inequality and reverse climate change instead of watching soaps and crime dramas?

What's wrong with wanting to escape reality?

Why do you assume frequent travellers have problems to begin with?

You must know there is just no basis for a generalisation like this.