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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if anyone else doesn't see the appeal of "Travelling"

277 replies

LornaDuh · 27/07/2024 09:49

So many on MN talk about doing lots of travelling in their 20s. Or their DC "going travelling."

Anyone else not see the appeal of backpacking round Asia sharing hostels with randoms and eating authentic street food?

I've worked abroad but that was an office job not picking fruit or working on a cattle ranch in Australia.

I love going on holiday but like coming home after a fortnight ... months on the road don't appeal.

Anyone else?

OP posts:
Polarnight · 27/07/2024 10:21

I always regret I didn't in my 20s. I would have done Europe.

Disturbia81 · 27/07/2024 10:23

Yeah not for me but understand why some love it. And for lots of young people it was to escape their life at home and be free. Maybe there's less need now in our more enlightened times

Original poster
LornaDuh · 27/07/2024 10:24

really believe anyone who doesn’t travel really misses out

Well the majority of humans don't travel as you have described, so what are they actually missing out on?

OP posts:
Alwaystimeforacupoftea · 27/07/2024 10:25

I had the opportunity to travel when younger and didn't take it. I've never been a backpack and hostels type of a gal (I go abroad plenty for work now).

My dd loves it, prides herself on her resourcefulness, gets the best deals, loves meeting new people, happy to sleep in a room of 8 to achieve it.

You have to know yourself, some people love that life, some don't. I love not travelling, she loves travelling, it's all good!

Moglet4 · 27/07/2024 10:25

EmoCourt · 27/07/2024 10:08

Look, OP, Mn is full of people who never want to sleep anywhere other than their own bed, people who never have people over, people who will not poo anywhere other than their own bathroom and regard it as their human rights being infringed if someone does in theirs. People who won’t eat unfamiliar food, people who think going to a film alone takes considerable courage, people who think they’ll be mugged the second they arrive in London/Paris/Barcelona. People who find weekends away stressful, people who go on a week’s AI on the Costa del Sol because they think they’re supposed to, but pack their own teabags and staples, and only heave a sigh of relief after they’re home again and unpacked, with the laundry done.

It is hardly surprising that these people don’t see the appeal of backpacking. And that’s fine, obviously. It’s not compulsory.

🤣

Vettrianofan · 27/07/2024 10:27

curlycurlymoo · 27/07/2024 09:51

Couldn't think of anything worse.

Second this.

SanMarzano · 27/07/2024 10:27

Going travelling for longer periods a) is cheaper to explore a region because you don’t need to pay for repeated flights home and b) allows you to experience the culture at a slower pace and more in depth. Rushing around around trying to hit the key sights on a short trip sounds pretty awful to a lot of people.

Also, sorting laundry in a lot of places (eg SE Asia, central/South America) is actually easier than at home because it’s cheap to pay for a laundry to do it for you and give it back folded the next day! Wish I could justify paying for that at home!

DustyLee123 · 27/07/2024 10:28

It’s not for me either, and having been to Thailand, I wouldn’t go back.

Original poster
LornaDuh · 27/07/2024 10:28

There have been many threads like these- one very recently

Not seen them @CharlotteRumpling . Love your user name BTW. Gorgeous woman in her youth and old age.

OP posts:
CharlotteRumpling · 27/07/2024 10:30

DustyLee123 · 27/07/2024 10:28

It’s not for me either, and having been to Thailand, I wouldn’t go back.

Edited

This just shows how we are all different, as Thailand is one of the places I want to explore over months when I retire. I absolutely love the country, the scenery the food, the people.. all of it. Malaysia too.

Thanks @LornaDuh I would love to age like her!

usernother · 27/07/2024 10:31

I can't even be bothered to do a long haul flight so definitely cannot see the appeal of 'travelling'.

Arrivapercy · 27/07/2024 10:31

It has never appealed to me at all.

I love a good holiday and will happily immerse myself in local culture when on one but i find it a bit irritating when people yak on about Travelling like its something special and somehow more worthy than any other holiday.

EatTheGnome · 27/07/2024 10:31

Depends what you want tonsee and do. I want to see temples, wildlife, eat foreign food, hear other languages, hear the noise, smell the smells. Culture shock. I don't get that with a week in an all inclusive hotel in Europe where I don't leave the resort. Its not about the hotel, its about the places, the history, knowing there is a whole world out there and knowing my tiny place in it. I did a little travel as a teen and I learnt some pretty serious life lessons about trusting yourself and your gut and being resourceful amd self reliant. I'd do it differently as an adult, but there is a world in between 5* and fleabag hotels.

It's ultimately personal taste. I enjoyed a week in an all inclusive a few years ago and it was great, but doing it every year would feel like closing myself off to just doing something else I like. I'm like being out of my comfort zone.

PointsSouth · 27/07/2024 10:32

I like being places, but hate travelling.

Almostwelsh · 27/07/2024 10:32

I don't see the appeal either, but then I don't even like holidays.

I can answer my own front door tho and I regularly go to the cinema alone. I'm not an incapable person, just one that doesn't sleep well away from home.

HairyToity · 27/07/2024 10:33

Never appealed to me either. I've always had to work to pay bills. The financial implications would make me jittery.

Rummly · 27/07/2024 10:34

I’m sure travel broadens the mind. I’ve travelled a fair bit, for work and leisure, and I’d like to think I’m the better for it.

But young adults gap yar ‘travelling’ is a farce. They just follow the middle class student trail, armed with Daddy’s credit card in case of ‘emergencies’ (like not enjoying a hostel and having to run off to a hotel).

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 27/07/2024 10:35

I never did the whole backpacking thing as such but lived abroad in a couple of places for many years and visited a lot of countries.

It seems to me that you must be rather lacking in imagination if you can't see the appeal of "travelling". Even if you don't fancy it yourself, surely it's pretty obvious as to why some people might enjoy it?

the80sweregreat · 27/07/2024 10:35

Most people I know went off traveling in their late 20s and a few people I know have children who have gone off and come back broke but happy. I don't think it would appeal to me as I'm getting on now and the idea of hostels or hot coaches or trains to move around long distances wouldn't do it for me these days. I did travel to visit relatives when I was younger , but never did the back packing type trips.
Everyone is different though and you are more likely to enjoy it when you're much younger and fitter. Everyone is different though and I can imagine it's a lot more expensive these days just for flights.

Wendycoping · 27/07/2024 10:35

LornaDuh · 27/07/2024 10:24

really believe anyone who doesn’t travel really misses out

Well the majority of humans don't travel as you have described, so what are they actually missing out on?

A chance to learn more about yourself.

You can't do that sitting on your sofa glued to your phone.

Didimum · 27/07/2024 10:37

wastingtimeonhere · 27/07/2024 10:13

Same for me, I would love the money and opportunity to travel. It was my youthful dream but I didn't have the confidence or maturity when I had the chance. I made stupid decisions instead. having children young

Show quote history

I didn’t have kids til 30s, and still didn’t!

LightFull · 27/07/2024 10:38

I backpacked in my 20's

It was amazing and I loved it

The experiences were priceless

I never thought at the time I was that type of a person but I did it and I never in my wildest dreams would have expected it to be so fantastic

Luckily I had worked and bought my own flat in the 90's with my own money which I rented out whilst travelling so had that to come back to

I just dropped everything and left with friends

Crazy really

Simonjt · 27/07/2024 10:40

I really enjoyed it, for those who haven’t given it a go private hostel rooms are readily available and still very cheap, you don’t have to be in shared bunk rooms if you don’t need to. I’m hoping to do it again when the kids are old enough to be home alone/young adults.

Luio · 27/07/2024 10:41

I thought it was very common knowledge that lots of people don’t like travelling and don’t want to do it.

Gogogo12345 · 27/07/2024 10:41

Didimum · 27/07/2024 09:58

I understand why some people wouldn’t enjoy it. Some people hate Christmas, parties, pets, children, hot weather … others love them. I do see the appeal of travelling and would love to experience it one day. Unlikely now, but oh well.

Why is it unlikely now? I'm 53 and I spend a lot of time travellng