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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think travelling is overrated

89 replies

Agitsanaamchange · 14/03/2021 21:19

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.

OP posts:
ghostyslovesheets · 14/03/2021 22:32

@Sparklingbrook

covered in salt and pepper and maybe marinade?

Probably Himalayan Pink rock Salt none of your table salt. Grin

Oh goodness yes - and from Waitrose not Aldi
Bluntness100 · 14/03/2021 22:32

I don’t really understand the grammar in your first sentence to be honest.

Personally I love travel and exploring new countries, I’ve been to more than I can count. If you do not travel either through choice, mental health issues or you can’t afford it, that’s fine.

Everyone should do them, right?

Bookriddle · 14/03/2021 22:35

In general I love travelling, my favourite place in the world is Botswana, it was a 3 week holiday and loved every minute of it!

I used to love city breaks, but I just dont like them anymore, me and my wife did a long weekend in Rome a few years back, there was so much to see and no time at all and found it very stressful, I refuse to do city breaks now

ExtraordinaryQuince · 14/03/2021 22:36

I enjoy it but often think that the money spent on every day life could make a huge difference.

ShanghaiDiva · 14/03/2021 22:36

I love to travel and lived overseas for 25 years. You can learn a reasonable amount even in two weeks, depends what you do.
I also enjoy friends holiday pictures on Facebook and have visited several places because of their posts.

smellyolddog · 14/03/2021 22:36

I love travelling or did, but I feel the older I get the less I enjoy it. And I always get sick, so for me travelling now is linked with some random illness.

I think it's nerves and anxiety over flying I work myself up internally while trying to pretend I'm loving an adventure. The run up to a break is so stressful with work, I have to cram in a months work in two weeks and I'm frazzled.

So I'm not going to pretend anymore and I'm going to focus on the UK driving and short breaks for the next few years discovering this country and then see how I feel.

MessAllOver · 14/03/2021 22:42

I think being a "seasoned traveller" means you have one of those blow up neck pillows. You also don't smell great because you're an expert at packing light and don't take fresh clothes for each day.

"Globe trotters" wear shell-suits and can walk on water.

Incogweeto · 14/03/2021 22:42

This is one of those threads that lifts a big weight off my shoulders. I feel like I'm more normal than I realised. I honestly thought that my anxiety about travel made me a minority, not that this was a fairly common thing.

I LOVE seeing new places and experiencing different cultures. I just wish I could come home at the end of each day. I enjoy travel but at the back of my mind have a roaring 'I want to go home' feeling. It's hard to ignore and it takes a big edge off the enjoyment. And I do often get an upset tummy, probably from anxiety, which then makes sight seeing and things difficult.

Sparklingbrook · 14/03/2021 22:45

Can you imagine if you could see the world and yet return to your own bed each night. That would be amazing. Grin

First night away on holiday I can never sleep. It gets better as the week or weeks go on but I love my own bed and home comforts.

AlexaShutUp · 14/03/2021 22:51

Yanbu to dislike travel or find it stressful. We're all different.

Yabu to think it's overrated, though. There is nothing I like more than exploring a new country and culture. I don't take that many photos, though, and don't do social media.

Maybe you just do it wrong?Wink

Changeforchangessake · 14/03/2021 22:53

My dream is still a camper van and doing the uk tours with eldest during uni breaks............

Original poster
Agitsanaamchange · 14/03/2021 22:55

I don’t really understand the grammar in your first sentence to
be honest.

I speak 2nd language English. Many people i meet on travels and some friends appear to travel just so to stunt, social media has made it worse

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 14/03/2021 22:55

If I’m honest op I don’t think you are a seasoned traveller, because If you were I don’t think you would question the value in travel or think it over hyped.

It’s ok, you know, not to travel. And yes it’s understandable not to want to be looked down on for that. It’s ok for your world to be small. We all need to do what makes us happy.

Of course many people who don’t travel, don’t do so because they don’t have rhe money and can’t afford it. And yes some don’t want to experience new cultures. There is a stereo type of Brits abroad demanding egg and chips for a reason, there are close minded people who exist. Others don’t travel for other reasons too.

You can just own it. For whatever reason. It’s ok to do what ever makes us happy or what life forces us to do.

Bluntness100 · 14/03/2021 22:56

Many people i meet on travels and some friends appear to travel just so to stunt, social media has made it worse

Where are you travelling to and who are you meeting? I don’t meet these people, I only see this when it’s z list celebs in Dubai on Instagram or something, not in real life.

Dustyboots · 14/03/2021 22:58

I've always felt this OP.

It feels like a lot of stress to me. I hate airports and flying though. Not too keen on traveling for hours. Always conscious of the fact that it's really bad for the environment.

Also when you get there - there's no time to actually find out what a place is really like. In my opinion that only happens if you live and work somewhere.

I think holidays abroad are about keeping up with the Jones's.

Scottishskifun · 14/03/2021 23:00

I can't wait to get back in travelling holidays again but sadly it will be at least 2 years away.
I absolutely love exploring new places and whilst we will see some of the recommended sights mostly we just go explore, find walks and enjoy other cultures!

I think travelling can be done very cheaply if you know how and 3 weeks in SE Asia is cheaper than the holiday cottage and day budget that I've forked out for in Scotland for a week not even in school holidays in early summer!

WhoStoleMyCheese · 14/03/2021 23:02

100% agree - where I come from lots of people book group tours, go to the main tourist sites, take lots of pictures, and come home, don't seem particularly more cultured.
While many people who've stayed at home but read about things going on in the world are more open minded.
Also if you keep jetting off to different beach/skiing destination are you REALLY going to get more cultured?
Travel CAN broaden the mind but does not necessarily.

MrsTerryPratchett · 14/03/2021 23:03

@Bluntness100

Many people i meet on travels and some friends appear to travel just so to stunt, social media has made it worse

Where are you travelling to and who are you meeting? I don’t meet these people, I only see this when it’s z list celebs in Dubai on Instagram or something, not in real life.

I wonder this too. Maybe Dubai or Venice, but are people travelling in Uzbekistan or Moldavia really 'stunting'?
Original poster
Agitsanaamchange · 14/03/2021 23:10

@Bluntness100 I have been to over 100 countries(combination of work/holidays or rather personal trips) including studies in 2 outside home country, worked in 4 others, this in over a period of 20 years.

Just to clarify further, I also worked at some point for a country's tourism authority for 5 years determining the strategic direction, I understand different types of holiday makers.

OP posts:
bigfishing · 14/03/2021 23:14

YABU. I love travelling. I've spent every spare penny taking my dc all over the world. They're grown up now and have left home but looking at photos and reminiscing make me well up with joy. Nothing compares to seeing an iconic sight for the first time.

Original poster
Agitsanaamchange · 14/03/2021 23:18

@MrsTerryPratchett actualy it is the ones who visit these sort of countries (e.g. Turkey vs Armenia, Botswana/SA, etc) you mention I find smug

OP posts:
SchrodingersImmigrant · 14/03/2021 23:27

YABU and YANBU.

Yanbu to say people shouldn't be bloody snobs and automatically assume if you don't travel, you are close minded.

Yabu to say it's over rated and stressful. As with anything it is what you make from it. 🤷🏻 I don't find it stressful. If I don't see something, well happens. If I forget something, I can just get something instead (except passport obviously). That's it. I just go, see, taste, drink.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 14/03/2021 23:29

And like. I post on sm some pics. Is that stunting?

hansgrueber · 14/03/2021 23:43

@dotdashdashdash

I love traveling. I take virtually no photos and never post on social media about it.
Oh you're my kind of traveller! I do take some quick photos but I detest the people who make a three day event of taking a snap on their phone! It's a phone, not a Hasselblad, point it and press, don't expect the kind people waiting to cross your field of vision to wait forever.
hansgrueber · 14/03/2021 23:46

@WhoStoleMyCheese

100% agree - where I come from lots of people book group tours, go to the main tourist sites, take lots of pictures, and come home, don't seem particularly more cultured. While many people who've stayed at home but read about things going on in the world are more open minded. Also if you keep jetting off to different beach/skiing destination are you REALLY going to get more cultured? Travel CAN broaden the mind but does not necessarily.
I do have to smile when I hear people saying they've 'done' Egypt when in fact they've spent 14 nights inside an all-inclusive compound on the Red Sea!