Travel Isn’t Always Fun; And That’s Okay

August 6, 2025

We romanticize travel a lot. Social media has us looking forward to the aesthetic airport shots, the cute cafés, hidden gems, and perfect itineraries. Don’t get me wrong, I am also guilty of this. And while all of those things can be true, there’s another side of travel that often gets left off social media: the moments that are stressful, disappointing, and exhausting.

And that’s okay.

Travel Comes With Highs and Lows

No matter how carefully you plan, things go wrong. Flights get delayed. The weather ruins your beach day. Your feet hurt, your mood dips, and you wonder why you even bothered booking this trip in the first place.

The reality is, not every experience will be perfect. I have yet to find a destination even close!

The Overwhelming Pressure to Enjoy Every Second

We often feel this weird guilt when we’re not enjoying a trip, especially since we’ve invested time, money, and vacation days to be there. Like we have to be on the move 24/7 or squeeze every drop of joy out of the experience. But that pressure can make things worse. It’s okay to admit that a place didn’t meet your expectations or that you didn’t love a certain part of your trip.

I’ve learned that high expectations make a destination or experience prone to failure. Just let go and live in the moment.

Instagram Is a Liar (Kind Of)

No one is posting the times when they didn’t know the exchange rate and paid $60 USD for ONE magnet, or the moment they got scammed when booking a tour of a literal church (me lol).

But these kinds of mistakes happen to everyone. Travel creators just don’t share them as often.

Some Trips Are More “Worth It” Than Others

Not every trip will change your life. Some trips are just okay. Some are for family. And some are just…bad.

You don’t need every trip to be a 10-out-of-10 experience. You’re still gaining something from the journey, whether it’s patience, perspective, or a funny story to tell later.

Shifting into this mindset will help a lot.