Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To have lost the travel bug

48 replies

Sundaynightterrors · 25/04/2026 20:07

I have always loved travelling and have been fortunate to have visited lots of amazing places - Grand Canyon, Sahara Desert, Niagara Falls, Caribbean Islands etc. There are obviously still lots of places I haven’t been to but I seem to have lost to desire go far. We have been to some beautiful beaches etc in this country and I am now happy just doing this. Next year is a big birthday and DP has mentioned doing a special holiday - Maldives, Mauritius, or similar. This lack of desire to travel isn’t just to do with beach holidays but also exploring other countries in general.

AIBU just want to find some lovely empty beaches here to explore rather than flying half way round the world any more

OP posts:
Pugglywuggly · 25/04/2026 20:10

For his big birthday I'd follow his lead unless you've got incredibly strong opinions/finances don't allow it. For other holidays local exploring is fine I'd say.

outerspacepotato · 25/04/2026 20:20

I'm a bit the same. I traveled all over, loved it, but in recent years not enjoyed it so much.

I think in my case it's a combination of factors. I live in a huge city where there's a lot to see and do and take a day trip outside the city and get to mountains and beaches. Airline travel is like slow torture now, the lines and congestion are pretty bad and the plane itself is uncomfortable. The environmental impact adds up.

If he's really set on a huge trip there, I'd go but I'd be doing some diving.

PixelDreamer · 25/04/2026 20:27

I'm the same. As I've got older I struggle to sleep in new places and can't nap at all to catch up on missed sleep so I end up exhausted. Add in jetlag and that's worse again. I'm also now coeliac so eating is a massive pain.

Cocktailglass · 25/04/2026 20:29

I get you, have always had the travel bug and loved adventures, especially when younger before online bookings and you went with what came next.

Now, mid 50s, I do still enjoy gping abroad but it's the airports/crowds/rude people I struggle with but was all part of the fun previously.

I do still have the desire because I know when you're at your destination, a new beautiful place, being away once settled is still magical. X

Wintom · 25/04/2026 20:49

After going to Sri Lanka (which was amazing) 3 years ago, I realised that my long haul days are over. There are so many great places within 2-3 hours , so why go further on an uncomfortable plane? I also realised that my nerves can not cope with Cornish and Devon country lanes and having to reverse into passing points. I will stick to short haul flights from my local airport (30 mins away by a £3 airport bus). Just got back from Cinque Terra in Italy... stunning.

toothcrackedow · 25/04/2026 20:51

YABU. seeing the world is a gift.

WildGarden · 25/04/2026 21:21

I'm the same OP. I don't care if I never get on another plane again.

That said I'm really enjoying train travel and have done lots of exploring in the UK and hope to travel down through France soon.

MesonBoson · 25/04/2026 22:20

I have never been anywhere worth going. And I have been to a lot of places.

Penkie · 25/04/2026 22:23

I'm glad I've travelled in the past, but it's losing its appeal now. If I could click my fingers and arrive somewhere exotic in 2 hours then I might be persuaded, but otherwise all the hassle is not worth it.

NormasArse · 25/04/2026 22:28

Sundaynightterrors · 25/04/2026 20:07

I have always loved travelling and have been fortunate to have visited lots of amazing places - Grand Canyon, Sahara Desert, Niagara Falls, Caribbean Islands etc. There are obviously still lots of places I haven’t been to but I seem to have lost to desire go far. We have been to some beautiful beaches etc in this country and I am now happy just doing this. Next year is a big birthday and DP has mentioned doing a special holiday - Maldives, Mauritius, or similar. This lack of desire to travel isn’t just to do with beach holidays but also exploring other countries in general.

AIBU just want to find some lovely empty beaches here to explore rather than flying half way round the world any more

I’m exactly the same.

I have chosen to spend my upcoming 60th near a beautiful cove in Wales, surrounded by nature and my family.

Then I’m going to the Inner Hebrides with my best friend of 50+ years.

I just feel there’s so much to explore here, and I’ve spent so much time exploring elsewhere.

NuffSaidSam · 25/04/2026 22:30

YANBU

I'm the same. I think it's just because I'm so happy and content at home. I've just got no desire to leave for extended periods.

Lemonbutters · 25/04/2026 22:39

Maybe it’s because the world doesn’t feel as safe a place to explore anymore!

Maraudingmarauders · 25/04/2026 22:46

MesonBoson · 25/04/2026 22:20

I have never been anywhere worth going. And I have been to a lot of places.

How sad! I struggle think of a place I’ve been (which is many) that wasn’t worth going
to. I’d imagine perspective counts for a lot.

Meadowlands · 25/04/2026 22:46

Me too.
Stress of getting to airport on time , queuing to get on plane, queuing to get off plane etc etc
Much prefer holidaying in own country.

Minniliscious · 25/04/2026 22:52

Maraudingmarauders · 25/04/2026 22:46

How sad! I struggle think of a place I’ve been (which is many) that wasn’t worth going
to. I’d imagine perspective counts for a lot.

Same here! I’ve been too so many amazing places and have memories that’ll stay forever.

However, now that I’m older and settled down, I do prefer just packing up the car and going on holiday within the UK. We’ve holidayed like this for the past 3 years and I love it. Camping in huts, staying in motor homes, amazing hotels etc ….. I think the joy of travelling abroad has been kicked out of me by the airports. It’s now too much of a faff.

crackofdoom · 25/04/2026 22:55

I don't feel that way. I still love travel.
Then again, the fact I haven't flown for 8 years and have no plans to in the future might have something to do with that. Sitting on a train and watching the countryside whiz by is so much more relaxing.

lovealieinortwo · 25/04/2026 22:55

I loved travelling when younger & had some fantastic trips. But it’s so painful now, air travel has zero joy unless you are in business class or on a private jet. There is just so much waiting involved in the entire process

toothcrackedow · 25/04/2026 22:56

Meadowlands · 25/04/2026 22:46

Me too.
Stress of getting to airport on time , queuing to get on plane, queuing to get off plane etc etc
Much prefer holidaying in own country.

Do people actively find this stressful?

DancingFerret · 25/04/2026 22:58

Visiting new and far-flung places is still enjoyable. Flying, and the herding and sense of being out of control that it involves is what's painful.

Once the frustrations of air travel outstrip the pleasure of exploring new destinations, I'll probably reconsider (assuming, of course, Donny Trump's arrogant and shortsighted stupidity doesn't put paid to air travel for the Ordinary Joe for the foreseeable future).

lovealieinortwo · 25/04/2026 23:00

I still like the Euro tunnel as you can just turn up & don’t have to stress about times. No lugging of stuff as it’s all in the car.

Beaverwheels · 25/04/2026 23:10

toothcrackedow · 25/04/2026 22:56

Do people actively find this stressful?

Not so much stressful as tedious. It sucks all the joy out of it.

toothcrackedow · 25/04/2026 23:11

Beaverwheels · 25/04/2026 23:10

Not so much stressful as tedious. It sucks all the joy out of it.

I don’t think I’ve ever had an airport experience bad enough that it wasn’t forgotten by the second I stepped off the plane!

Imanexcellentdrivercharliebabbit · 25/04/2026 23:19

I adore travel and have been all over the world, still am, and still want to do so much more.
HOWEVER I would categorically never ever fly again, despite my yearnings unless it’s business class which luckily is something we are able to afford/pay for with BA Avios points 2/3 times a year.
If that were not the case I would stick to Europe and the UK which I adore on train or by car.

Imanexcellentdrivercharliebabbit · 25/04/2026 23:20

toothcrackedow · 25/04/2026 23:11

I don’t think I’ve ever had an airport experience bad enough that it wasn’t forgotten by the second I stepped off the plane!

I love airports
Get there early,fast track then book the lounge -25 quid each and once through it’s peace n quiet and lovely

sunsettosunrise · 25/04/2026 23:31

I think if it is a big birthday you should maybe suck it up unless you really can't bare plane travel anymore.

We are taking a break from long haul or exotic locations, we did a lot of travelling in our 20s and then when our children were primary and secondary age. I would love to see more of the world but I am getting more and more exhausted by working, and I really need to use my annual leave to potter round the house, instead of coming back more exhausted from far flung holidays. It's also expensive and we need to reallocate that money to house repairs after years of wear and tear.