Has anyone else gone off travelling?

[TennisToday]

When I was younger I did loads of travelling around the world. USA, Australia, New Zealand, SE Asia, & Europe. I loved it, I worked abroad and traveled with friends and by myself.

Im now in my 40s and my family were talking about holidays and they were coming up with this plan to do some elaborate travelling. I made sounds of being excited and enthusiastic but inside I was thinking ‘please no’. I genuinely would be happy with a cottage in the U.K. with lovely walks and my dog and lots of good books.

I feel so boring, my DH really wants to ‘travel’ as we get more freedom as the kids get older but I don’t. I will do it because it’s what he wants but it just fills me with dread. I used to have no fear, not one bit of anxiety traveling by myself but now even packing puts me in a spin. I find the whole experience so stressful.

What’s happened and am I the only one???

I travelled lots in my 20s but have only been abroad twice in my 30s (now 37) which is due to trying for / having difficulty and then having children. Now I have a newborn which is definitely my last and I am looking forward to travelling again. Will definitely start off simple with AI holidays while both children are little, but in my head I’m planning all sorts of trips as the children get older. I have had a few UK breaks over the last 7 years and have really enjoyed them. I never holidayed in the UK in my 20s so it’s been nice seeing more of ‘home’ and any time away and change of scenery is good for me. I am absolutely ready to start expanding my horizons again tho

We were just saying this the other day.
I used to be really adventurous but so much less so these days.

What appeals more now is the idea of spending a few months somewhere, learning a language or working on a charity project. I am not so drawn to the idea of ticking off as many sights as possible in a short timeframe.

I'm the same. Travelled a lot. Now late 40's and we're off on an overseas trip & all I feel is anxiety & dread.

However, I've accepted it's peri & too many years of standing still causing it. (Add to that the frustration of DH actually trying to help plan it.) So I'm going anyway & have tailored the itinerary to be simple & stress free. I know deep down I love nothing more than travelling & don't want to regret not going, once we can't anymore. If I hate it, I know we'll stick closer to home. I'm in Aus - we've plenty to discover here!

Oh, I thought you meant heading off to South America with a backpack and a guitar! None of that sounds wildly challenging — what is it you find so stressful and unappealing about it?

It's the airports that put a lot of people off these days.

Since covid, we've been quite happy mooching around at home. We have made our house nice and I am a homebody. I do also wfh so I spend 95% of my time at home. I am quite well travelled, as a child we did road trips through Europe, USA and Australia. Unfortunately due to finances, my kids haven't travelled half as much.

Only in the last year we have wanted to travel a bit more, the high prices have put us off. We did a motorhome trip around Scotland last summer which was brilliant and cemented that we need to see more of the UK and Europe. After that, DH convinced me to try camping ( not something I'd ever do in a milion years) but I'm really enjoying it so we are planning as many trips as we can all over the UK this year and a Northern European road trip in the summer.

No way!! I’m in my 40s and absolutely love it 🥰 We go abroad a minimum of twice a year plus weekends. We’re currently planning our first BIG trip away in 5 years which will be 3 months doing Route 66 🙌 Going to need to save up a lot as we’ll only get about 3 weeks each paid off work so we’ll need enough saved to pay all household bills before we even think about the holiday!! I reckon we’ll need about £25k all in all but it’s going to be mega!!

Let them go without you! I have the opposite situation, in that I want to travel but DH doesn't. So I go on my own, which suits us both. South America and Antarctica last year, Canada, New Zealand and Australia this year. I love the trips and love coming home too!

I've got a list of countries I went to in my 20s that I'm desperate to go back to now I've got a bit of money. Travelling with my DH who wouldn't do an over night bus or stay in a hostel (or even self catering) is very different!

he didn't really travel when he was younger so he's keen. And so am I. I find I'm anxious before hand but great when I'm there.

The hassle is a pain. Look at it this way, if you were suddenly completely unable to travel due to a major medical condition, would you have regrets? Personally I think Japan would be amazing.

I am less inclined to slum it these days though and can't afford biz class so I'm holding off for now.

I haven't gone off traveling as such, but I have gone off the planning part. It's easy when it's just for me, I know what I like.

Far harder is planning around activities/nightlife/accommodations to suit the family.

I'd rather throw my cash at a recommended bespoke agency to organize for me than tie myself in Knots trying to keep up with my overwrought/over actioned itinerary!

I know myself and my kids (tween/early teen) - and anything more than one or two activities a day frustrates and means none of us can enjoy the experience.

I love when I've no idea about a destination and an agency will come up with a perfect itinerary for me to follow and if I can get picked up and dropped off at each of those itinerary points even better!

Had a bit of a dip post-COVID but for whatever reason, has bounced back with a vengeance this year. Got lots planned.

OP, which bit is stressful to you?

I find even a night away can be a complete bind. Sometimes packing and prep is just as arduous for a night, a weekend, a week, and so on. Took off for a month once without much of a care. Usually once you get to the destination you are happy enough, it can just be a pain getting there. I've certainly had more arduous trips in the UK. The thought of the M25 brings me out in a rash.

If you don't want to do it, I wouldn't do it regardless of what DH wants. I would hate it if my DH did something for me which 'filled him with dread'. Like me, you did a lot of travelling when you were younger, so that need has been met, and travel today is seriously stressful. Does your DH want long haul, adventurous travel, or just a trot over to the Canaries? You don't want to go so can he go with a friend / relative? Can you go to your country cottage alone? I would embrace your own boundaries and stick to them. Then everyone's clear.

I always feel a little uncomfortable when I travel. I can't quite express it but it makes me feel uncomfortable and I can't help thinking the locals view me as a voyeur. I grew up in a part of the world with lots of tourists and currently live in another part of the world that attracts a LOT of tourists so perhaps I am projecting. Anyone feel similar?