To think travelling is overrated

[Agitsanaamchange]

In recent years, the many I met on travels or friends travel to stunt on social media, not necessarily to discover other cultures (often secretly wonder how much you can discover in 2 weeks).

Travelling is not for everybody, I find it stressful and heightens my anxiety.

I am a seasoned traveller but AIBU to think it is overhyped and misplaced snobbery for people to assume if you aren't a globe trotter you are close-minded or have no means.

I went to Japan just before the pandemic and I found it extremely stressful. The flight felt like it would never end, I had terrible jet lag and I missed my home comforts. It was an amazing country to see but I was secretly so pleased to leave and get home as i felt so drained.

I think you might be on to something. I have been to a few countries but not a seasoned travel by any stretch. I don't really get it. I don't feel I am really experiencing the country I am visiting. I sense a resentment and grudging acceptance of my presence.

I agree that when traveling to meet friends I have a much better time. And then there is the impact on the planet which cannot be ignored.

@springtimesunshine

I love visiting other countries and cultures.

I hate getting there and back with a passion. It makes me stressed and anxious and reminds me how much I hate people! I get cross as soon as I start packing, even that annoys me.

But once you're there, it's fab, and worth it.

I love it all, the journey, the flights, all of it.... even being stuck waiting for a train for two days was fun.

But travelling doesn't have to be foreign travels, there are some amazing places in the UK, just pick the place and avoid the peak holiday seasons.

I travelled a lot as a kid. DF had a job that involved us living all over the world and frequently moving.

I hated it. Hated always being the 'new' kid. Hated being surrounded by other kids in the playground asking me to say something so they could laugh at my accent, because it was different from theirs. I never felt that I had a proper 'home' because it was always very basic, rented accommodation and we were never encouraged to own many possessions because it would be a nuisance to pack up/move. Stuff I did love was often discarded by my mother on the next move because she was a great one for paring down the things we had. She was also a great one for culture - so however short a time we were in a country we were dragged round the 'must see' places/attractions. A six month stint in Amsterdam meant every single weekend we were traipsing round the Anne Frank museum, or spending two days in Rotterdam - or nipping into Belgium to Antwerp or Bruges. It maybe sounds great as an adult. As a child it was hideous and I never got to make many friends.

I now loathe travelling. I've lived all over the world, on every continent (except Antarctica? Does that count as a continent?) I am the anti-Jack Reacher for those of you that know the books. Because I never settled I am now reluctant to go anywhere.

I hate going on holiday and would prefer to spend a fortnight pottering about my house. For me, travelling is very overrated.

If you don't like being judged for not enjoying travel, why are you so judgemental about people who do?

Travel has existed as a passion long before social media. It's a privilege, of course. But not being able to see any reason why people might enjoy it outside of using it for Facebook is a bigger sign of a limited mind that not really liking it yourself.

I am a seasoned traveller but AIBU to think it is overhyped and misplaced snobbery for people to assume if you aren't a globe trotter you are close-minded or have no means

It isn’t over hyped
And
Of course there is not a direct correlation between not-globetrotting and closed mindedness.

You seem a bit overwrought about this.

I am not a super keen traveller, I've travelled quite a lot but I don't like lots of things about it, not least new places! I have had some great individual experiences though, seeing things that have stuck in my memory. I don't over-do it, though, I don't go see that extra museum, I just sit and have a coffee. I need to travel for work anyway so that amount is enjoyable. I guess it's just not relaxing, I don't enjoy packing whilst still at work and then rushing to the airport.

@DrSbaitso

Travel has existed as a passion long before social media and I clearly said in recent years

I hate travelling, I find getting to the airport the most stressful thing and make my family all stay there the night before, even for afternoon flights, because I get so worried. I hate the flight -not being able to pee when I want stresses me out! When I'm away I'm constantly worried I'll be ill and ironically that it will ruin the holiday even though I've already ruined it by worrying.

When I was younger university to 20s I didn't really get the travel thing and pushed back against the broadening the mind narrative a bit. I'm still a homebody and prefer short trips, not great long round the world tours (although I've never been on one...).
But as I've got older you really do feel the difference when you visit somewhere and it's definitely given me perspective on my own country. But I think you also do that by listening and being open minded, it's not just about the travel.
Right now I would kill for a change of scene! Doubt I'll be on a plane this summer though.

@dotdashdashdash

I love traveling. I take virtually no photos and never post on social media about it.

I post lots.

The pop up on my feeds regularly, and I get to remember the best bits.

I'd love to @Bluethrough but we now have young and just in school aged DC! So it's peak holiday times for us for the next ten years at least. Sod flying with small children though airports are bad enough without them!

Ho hum. I agree the UK has some beautiful areas and although I've seen lots of other countries I've never actually been to the Lake District or that area, so that's our next adventure.

NovemberR
I had the same kind of childhood! I love travelling.

I did find that settling in international schools with other travellers and expats was easier than being thrown among people who had known each other since birth.

But I have kept many very close friends from most places, more than people who have stuck to the same school all their life.

I love travelling. I love being in places very different from home, and experiencing cultures very different from my own. I find it invigorating.

Other people have different interests and enthusiasms. We show interest in each other's up to a point. I try not to bore them with mine, and I appreciate it when they don't bore me with theirs.

The end.

I like the travelling bit. Going to places gives me hope! Planes are just plain cool, boats and ferries are exhilarating and road trips are really fun.

I’ve always had a good time where I’ve got somewhere too. However I agree you either feel like a tourist or you just create a home from home somewhere different in a 2 week holiday.

It sounds as though you might be suggesting that only 'globe trotters' or 'seasoned travellers' would claim that travel is culturally enriching, or that it's pointless expecting to get any cultural experience out if travel unless you are a real 'globe trotter'.

I don't think that's true at all. I am not a seasoned traveller. I don't go abroad often, only ever stay a couple of weeks, and have only been out of Europe once, except for spending 8 months living in France as a student. I still think travel broadens mind and experience. I teach languages. It makes a real difference to children's attitude to the language if they have been to the country and interacted with people who actually speak it!

What do you mean by a ‘seasoned traveller’? Because you seem to also to think that travel necessarily takes place in two-week holiday chunks. Maybe you’re just not temperamentally suited if you find it so stressful? And you do sound rather closed-minded yourself...

Of course travel isn't for everyone, and the people who don't like it don't do it. For people who don't know if they'd like it or not - of course they should be exposed to the idea, and it's OK if they like you don't want to travel. I don't think this necessitates a ticker tape parade for you.

Who is even travelling during a global pandemic, and where are they going?

Personally I disagree but each to their own. I’m happiest in new places, trying new foods, meeting new people although feel guilty about my lack of language skills wherever I go. I do t judge people who don’t like it but when I speak about it I probably do sound more enthusiastic and excited because it is something I’m passionate about so maybe that’s what you pick up in others. 2 weeks I think is nice for a taste of culture and scenery, most people don’t go to integrate into that culture and wouldn’t attempt to. I know wherever I go I see the very best that place has to offer and not the drudgery or inequality and hardship as that is the nature of tourism. Personally if I am giving advice to younger people, travelling when they can is always my go to as it keeps your mind and heart open. I agree the travel part can be boring/stressful/tiring but totally worth the pay off.

You're confusing two things. It's absolutely not overhyped. I utterly adore travelling. I miss it horribly and yes, I do think you can learn a lot in two weeks (even if 'a lot' just means the depth of your own ignorance).

People who are horrible to people who don't travel are arses too.

I have a complicated theory. Many nervous travellers actually reinforce their own hatred because they feel they have to travel, but stick to well-worn places. This means they experience the very worst of travelling; crowded, crime-ridden, touristy, fake and full of rip off merchants.

Going off the beaten track to more scary sounding but nicer places is better. Nicaragua not Mexico, Laos not Thailand, Monserrat not Jamaica, Botswana not South Africa. You have to work a bit harder with language and travel is a little less comfy, but it's a lot nicer.

@beyondtheshoe You are more Reacher than me!

We just got thrown in the local school, rather than an international one. Quite often we were in fairly remote places where there was only one school and I was often struggling because I didn't speak the language - particularly in primary years. DM thought I would 'pick it up' - which to be fair, you do...but by the time I'd picked up enough Spanish to work out what I was being asked to do (in a small school in Ecuador) we were off to Kenya...

I worked in quite a few countries on medical contracts in my early 20's. It was hard work but I got to travel and experince other places and people. It was OK and I glad I did it but it wasn't always a pleasant experience and I wouldn't want to do it again. In fact you wouldn't get me on an aeroplane now for all the tea in China.

NovemberR

I did get called by the racist insults describing the country I just came from many times...but I think it only put me off small towns!

I haven't travelled much at all.
I wish I could. I have a long list of places I aspire to go. As soon as covid is over I'm going to book a trip.
I guess If you've been to the places and had the experience it's easy to think its overrated but if you haven't then its completely different.

For there’s no feeling better than the day I wake up knowing I’m off to another country.

What I cannot abide though, is the fucking packing. ☹️
And even worse, unpacking 😭 (even though I’m usually bring back clean clothes)

I truly detest it.