Travelsavvywanderer
Recently, many of us stumbled upon an intriguing article from the New Yorker called “The Case Against Travel,” which was promoted on Facebook. Given my title, you might think I’m about to make a case for travel, but it’s not that simple. Just like many aspects of life, travel can’t be boiled down to a simple for or against argument. If you’re curious about my perspective, keep reading…
The New Yorker asked, “Travel gets branded as an achievement: see interesting places, have interesting experiences, become interesting people. Is that what it really is?” These words struck a chord with me, especially the repetition of ‘interesting.’ Is that all travel is about? In my view, the answer is NO. Over the past weeks, I’ve written about mental health, travel anxiety, and solo travel tips. Some people struggle with travel, some see it as therapy, and others use it to break from their routines. Life in 2024 is not easy or cheap, and travel offers a respite from daily stress for some.
I recently spoke with a friend who used to get stressed about travel but couldn’t stop. She told me, “I can’t stop, Deanna. It’s my ME time!” She wasn’t looking for interesting experiences or people; she just needed a break.
So, is seeing interesting places wrong? I recently shared a post about visiting Norway to see the Northern Lights, an experience I found amazing and memorable. I also shared my experiences in New York. What’s interesting to me might not be interesting to someone else, like my friend who didn’t enjoy New York. It’s all subjective and personal.
When I was younger, traveling abroad was a dream. I listened to stories from friends and family and dreamt that one day, I would experience it too. For some, like my aunt, travel wasn’t an option due to financial constraints, although they might say they simply don’t like traveling to avoid discussing the real reason. Travel costs money, and not everyone can prioritize it.
But what if you could afford it? Would you turn down a chance to see Cape Town, Chennai, or Thailand? People are different; some don’t prioritize travel even if they can afford it. This isn’t necessarily an argument against travel—it’s just personal preference.
Ultimately, the decision is yours. It’s a subjective and personal matter. I’d love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to comment below or subscribe to share your opinions.
I couldn’t read the whole New Yorker article, but their introduction made me think. They stated, “I love to travel” is uninformative because nearly everyone likes to travel. But is that true? Not everyone enjoys traveling. In a guest post on Lifesfinewhine about Pre-Travel Anxiety, many people shared their struggles with travel anxiety.
I’m not claiming travel solves all problems or that it’s immune to criticism. Some people find the break isn’t worth the post-travel workload, while others have unpleasant travel experiences. Some would rather invest in their child’s education or buy a home. Opinions vary, making this a complex debate.
Hamlet pondered ‘To be or not to be…’ and now we’re faced with ‘To travel or not to travel,’ or perhaps, ‘Is travel overrated?’ In academia, differing viewpoints are valuable for a more holistic understanding.
In a consumerist world, travel can sometimes be about showing off. But true travel lovers seek tips for safe and budget-friendly trips or solutions for travel anxiety. Ultimately, travel opens our eyes to a global reality, helping us respect different cultures and understand that people everywhere face similar struggles.
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Safe travels, my dear readers!
