Anyone else lost excitement for travel?

[Anonymous]

Traveled from ages 25-40 or so even with young kids. It was fun but really tiring. Novelty of new spots does wear off with age.

With growing wealth, we have now realized that we like going to the same four or five places, and no need to explore weird crazy off the beaten path things. We like good food, a bit of luxury, manageable touring.

So we generally travel to the same 4-5 destinations, and have even bought a place in one of these international locations.

My suggestion is find your spots. Settle down there.

You can still explore but in a more manageable way, especially with family in tow.

If you have the means/interest, explore r/FATTravel

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love to travel. The crowds everywhere though push the enjoyment factor to the limit. Standing for 2+ hours in line everywhere or having to time out to the minute the day that tickets for your planned visit date drop is not fun.

It really helps to avoid following the latest IG trends. We just got back from a lovely vacation in Costa Rica, but went to an area with fewer tourists. It was awesome. We felt like we had the place to ourselves, but still had spectacular views, wildlife and food. We literally spent one whole day at a national park beach that looked straight out of Lost and didn't see another person all day. Just monkeys, macaws, and lizards. There was only one morning the whole week where we had to deal with other tourists and, if I was to do it again, we would have skipped that activity (a tour of Manual Antonio). The rest of the week was glorious. No lines. No waits. So peaceful.

I"m not on IG so how do I know what's trending?

DCUM is social media too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love to travel. The crowds everywhere though push the enjoyment factor to the limit. Standing for 2+ hours in line everywhere or having to time out to the minute the day that tickets for your planned visit date drop is not fun.

It really helps to avoid following the latest IG trends. We just got back from a lovely vacation in Costa Rica, but went to an area with fewer tourists. It was awesome. We felt like we had the place to ourselves, but still had spectacular views, wildlife and food. We literally spent one whole day at a national park beach that looked straight out of Lost and didn't see another person all day. Just monkeys, macaws, and lizards. There was only one morning the whole week where we had to deal with other tourists and, if I was to do it again, we would have skipped that activity (a tour of Manual Antonio). The rest of the week was glorious. No lines. No waits. So peaceful.

+1 the most people we saw on our Costa Rica trip was at Manual Antonio. Would pass next time...

Interesting. I’m headed to CR with my sister for 12 days in January. And we decided to skip Manuel Antonio and do something else based on lines.

I was unable to travel in college. Went to law school at 22. Graduated, married and started practicing at 25. Had my kids at 27 & 29. And limited ourselves to beach condo and mountain condo until they were both in HS. Did a couple of trips to well travelled areas with them and had a blast, but advance planning was key. Getting skip the line tickets, small group tours, marking well regarded places to eat near where we would be at lunch, etc. so, even if Paris, we skipped the 2 hour lines.

Now, I just made the last tuition payment for the oldest kid, who will graduate a month before I turn 50. I have the money, the good health and the leave (Fed 15 + years in) to travel, and am loving it. Some travel with my college aged DD (great travel companion), DH, my mother and sister, my law school BFF.

[Anonymous]

I haven’t lost my desire to travel, but it surely doesn’t feel as special as it used to be. Like a lot of people, what I like about travel is food. Now, and I guess this can be a good thing, is I don’t have to travel to get great Italian, Korean, Japanese, or even Afghani food- not that I’m going to Afghanistan anytime soon.

Maybe it’s not as easy to come by and reaquires a little effort, but you can find Italian food here, in the states, every bit as good in Italy. Fun fact, you can also find mediocre Italian in Italy- mostly in the tourist hubs, but I did have a couple pedestrian dishes.

I also agree with the notion that with so much of the world at our fingertips- internet, YouTube, Instagram, that once we arrive somewhere it feels too familiar. This is self-inflicted and maybe I need to unplug and plan less for my next trip.

In short, I still love to travel and cherish it mostly for the shared experience with family. These trips can be overseas or just a simple week at a local beach.

[Anonymous]

In my life, there would be no exciting-enough house project. In my life, that's almost the antithesis of joy. But Op, I get what you're saying. For me, the passion for adventure travel has subsided. I travel a lot and hope that always continues but it's to spend time with loved ones. I can find joy anywhere I go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A little bit. I used to LOVE to travel in my 20s.

I think all the social media has made travel so performative these days. I spend so much time researching the trip and seeing thousands of photos of everything, reading blog posts that describe the process, reading reviews, etc. that by the time I get there it just feels like going through the motions and I've seen it all before.

Some of the excessive research is necessary with kids - I don't have nearly the flexibility that I did in my 20s to just show up in a city and find a bed somewhere for a night. But I don't think it's ALL necessary, my kids are pretty easy going and fun to travel with.

I'm experimenting with my next couple of big trips... Doing barely any research. I don't want to know what to expect and I want my days to still hold a little mystery and possibility. We'll see if that helps.

Yes, this! I tried explaining this feeling to my husband, who does almost none of the planning, and he was surprised, go figure.

I have two teenagers who really enjoy traveling, so I will keep planning trips with them while I can, but I am feeling really unmotivated about it.

Conversely, if you don't plan you're likely to miss some places, and hit some of them at the wrong time.

We don’t really plan anything. And aren’t bummed out if there is a “must see” we don’t see.

[Anonymous]

No I still like to travel. But I have somewhat lost my appetite for long multi-city jaunts with multiple flights, trains, hotels etc. Before kids DH and I used to travel like that and it was fun but now I. am. tired. I just don't have the energy to do all that anymore. I still want to go places but now we keep it simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No I still like to travel. But I have somewhat lost my appetite for long multi-city jaunts with multiple flights, trains, hotels etc. Before kids DH and I used to travel like that and it was fun but now I. am. tired. I just don't have the energy to do all that anymore. I still want to go places but now we keep it simple.

Same. One, maybe 2 destinations for 10 days.

Embarking on a 17 day trip in December:
4 total hotels/lodging with all having at least 4 nights…
no reason to quickly hop around….better to settle in…more high end establishments too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never had any excitement for travel. I think you've grown up and realized it's a waste of time.

For YOU

[Anonymous]

No way jose. I visited Bali, Singapore, Palm Springs, Atlanta and Banff this year. Nothing planned for next year yet, but I can’t wait to see where life will take me!

I have no kids though, it sounds like travelling with kids is what ruins it lol.

[Anonymous]

It’s not going to be as exciting at 40+ as it is in early 20s or whenever you started traveling.

For me, as I get older, I weigh more the difficulties of travel vs the pleasure it gives. Standing in security lines (museum lines, check in lines, etc), being crammed in airline seats, jet lag, restaurant food, hotels with all their +s and -s, has its cost in reduced comfort and effort (beyond the actual price of everything), and for me, the pendulum sways more towards home comfort, than enduring the discomforts of travel.

I still travel because now I travel with kids, and I get to see the world again through their eyes (for places where I’ve been before). It’s also a shared experience that I cherish, so we travel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No way jose. I visited Bali, Singapore, Palm Springs, Atlanta and Banff this year. Nothing planned for next year yet, but I can’t wait to see where life will take me!

I have no kids though, it sounds like travelling with kids is what ruins it lol.

Kind of. Not sure when you travel, but with kids, our travel ends up being right with everyone else with kids, I.e. during school breaks, with all the masses when the prices and the crowds are at maximum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s not going to be as exciting at 40+ as it is in early 20s or whenever you started traveling.

For me, as I get older, I weigh more the difficulties of travel vs the pleasure it gives. Standing in security lines (museum lines, check in lines, etc), being crammed in airline seats, jet lag, restaurant food, hotels with all their +s and -s, has its cost in reduced comfort and effort (beyond the actual price of everything), and for me, the pendulum sways more towards home comfort, than enduring the discomforts of travel.

I still travel because now I travel with kids, and I get to see the world again through their eyes (for places where I’ve been before). It’s also a shared experience that I cherish, so we travel.

All of this. It's less of an adventure now and more of an inconvenience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Meeting people in other cultures isn’t something Amazon can replace.

But I do understand.

Those people do not care about meeting you. What does meeting strangers for a few moments, that you will never see or speak to again do for you or your children?

If you want to visit new places and see the world, that’s fine and well. But people make me cringe when they talk about “going where the locals go”, “meeting the locals”. The inhabitants of other places and cultures are not there for our entertainment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s not going to be as exciting at 40+ as it is in early 20s or whenever you started traveling.

For me, as I get older, I weigh more the difficulties of travel vs the pleasure it gives. Standing in security lines (museum lines, check in lines, etc), being crammed in airline seats, jet lag, restaurant food, hotels with all their +s and -s, has its cost in reduced comfort and effort (beyond the actual price of everything), and for me, the pendulum sways more towards home comfort, than enduring the discomforts of travel.

I still travel because now I travel with kids, and I get to see the world again through their eyes (for places where I’ve been before). It’s also a shared experience that I cherish, so we travel.

This was so well said.

+100

I used to live for traveling. But traveling now as a single mom of an ornery teenage boy who would always rather be at home playing video games with his friends, has made travel more of a chore than the joy it used to be.