It's Not For Everyone
We all have that one friend who can't stop talking about their last "life-changing" travel experience. Are you fully there for all they claim it to be, or are you inwardly rolling your eyes? If it's the latter, don't feel bad. We're here to make the case for why traveling is really an overrated experience. From the "hurry up and wait" airport stress to the crazy expenses you'll inevitably incur, here are 20 reasons why traveling is a waste of money.
1. Expensive Accommodation
Accommodation is expensive these days. Whether it's Airbnb, a hostel, or a hotel, in certain places, you can expect to spend more than $50 a night, which really adds up!
2. Flight Costs
Another major travel expense is the flights. A flight ticket can cost several hundred dollars, and sneaky airlines love to add fees wherever they can.
3. Travel Stress
When you picture a vacation, you probably think of relaxing, sipping a margarita on the beach. However, the real travel experience almost always entails some degree of stress, whether it's rushing through the huge security line at the airport or getting swarmed by taxi drivers upon your arrival. It almost makes you want to have that margarita in your backyard instead.
4. Jet Lag
Going to a faraway destination, you can expect some jet lag. Jet lag makes you feel like you don't have the energy to do anything, you're always tired, but can't sleep at night because your internal clock is confused. Depending on how far you're traveling, it can take over a week to go away: there goes your whole vacation!
5. Time Away From Work
If you're a career-focused individual, the time away from work that travel entails may not seem worth it to you. Even if you have a remote gig, traveling is so distracting, it derails you from any meaningful progress.
6. You Can See Photos Online
Every famous landmark is so well documented, going to see it in person can be underwhelming, especially if it's crowded with people. Ask anyone who has been to The Louvre what they thought about the Mona Lisa.
7. It's Uncomfortable
From seats on planes and trains to hostel beds with bad pillows, traveling isn't comfortable. You probably won't be getting the same quality of sleep as you do at home.
8. It's Not A Good Investment
Although traveling can be fun and adds some degree of enrichment to your life, it's nothing compared to learning a new skill or getting certified in something. It's a huge cost and doesn't necessarily give you enough back to justify it.
9. You Waste Time In Transit
Think of all the time you waste just getting around when you're traveling. Also, figuring out transit systems, avoiding getting scammed by cab drivers, and simply waiting for trains and buses to show up takes a lot of time and energy.
10. Overrated Destinations
Many places in the world are so overrun by tourists, it's almost impossible to have a good time. Sure, Rome is amazing, but is it so great when you have thousands of tourists blocking your view of every historic landmark in the city?
11. Planning Is A Hassle
Traveling necessitates a lot of planning, especially if you don't have much time. Making a plan and sticking to an itinerary doesn't necessarily feel like a relaxing break. Also, a lot of curveballs can be thrown at you which can be frustrating if it keeps you from seeing something you had your heart set on.
12. It's Dangerous
When traveling to a new city, you don't necessarily know where the "bad neighborhoods" are. This can get a lot of tourists into tricky spots. The fear of getting robbed or harmed when traveling is very real.
13. You Could Get Scammed
In other countries, dishonest business practices are common. As a traveler in a foreign land, you're more prone to falling for scams as you're jjudgmentisn't always great when you're trying to navigate through unknown places.
14. Enjoyment Is Short-Lived
Considering how much of travel is time spent in transit, rushing to different destinations, not sleeping well, and only sometimes getting good meals in, the time you spend fully just enjoying and taking it all in is a small portion. Compared to material possessions that might cost you around the same amount, which you can enjoy for years, traveling is a short-lived joy.
Rafael Cisneros Méndez on Unsplash
15. Too Much Travel Can Set You Back In Life
You've probably heard the cliche saying "travel while you're young," but in fact, it's a better plan to get your career sorted while you're young. If you spend all your 20s in a transient state, when will you have time to focus on your career? You might suddenly realize you're middle-aged and haven't moved forward in your professional life.
16. People Who Travel Have Fewer Deep Connections
While it's easy to make connections abroad with locals or fellow travelers, those connections are hardly ever as deep as the ones you make at home through years or decades of knowing one another. People who travel for long periods often struggle because they feel they lack true friendships.
17. It Disrupts Your Routine
At home, many of us have a very specific routine around work, exercise, and our social lives. Traveling disrupts this routine, and it can be hard to get back to it when we return, throwing a wrench in our progress and preventing us from reaching our goals.
18. It's Exhausting
One of the biggest turn-offs for those who don't enjoy traveling is that it's exhausting. It's waking up early to catch a train to catch a ferry, running around to take in sights before rushing off to another place to do it all over again in the morning. We have exhausting lives already, why would be want to go abroad and spend a lot of money to just be even more exhausted?
19. Health Risks
Especially after the wake-up call that was COVID, traveling poses many health risks, whether it's catching a virus or injuring yourself. Foreign medical care can be stressful to navigate, and insurance issues may also arise.
20. Language Barriers & Cultural Differences
When traveling to new places, encountering language barriers and cultural differences is an inevitability. This adds a lot ot confusion and even culture shock that can be incredibly draining.
